We were delighted to be awarded the PSQM Gilt award for science teaching across our school.
The Primary Science Quality Mark is led by the University of Hertfordshire, School of Education in collaboration with the Primary Science Teaching Trust.
Jane Turner, PSQM National Director said: “Gaining a Primary Science Quality Award is a significant achievement for a school. The profile and quality of science teaching and learning in each awarded school is very high. Children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as secure scientific understanding and skills. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, head teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.”
ce is certainly being fostered in the children at Smithdown Primary and you should all be incredibly proud of the impact your whole school actions have had on every child’s learning journey”
“Children are leading learning, engaging in hands on practical enquiry and showing curiosity and excitement in all that they do..”
“The outdoor environment is used as a resource to enrich learning”
“The school is so fortunate to have such dedicated and
committed staff who are prepared to go above and beyond for the
children”
“You should all feel very proud of what has been achieved and the ethos to learning that has been created. I
have no doubt that there is a tangible buzz of science excitement and curiosity
around school and that children are certainly well supported to be the scientists of
the future.“
“The important thing is to never stop questioning” Albert Einstein.
Intent
Science teaches an understanding of natural phenomena. It aims to stimulate a child’s curiosity in finding out why things happen in the way they do. At Smithdown Primary School, we follow the National Curriculum and we aim to develop a lively interest in science; encouraging children to ask “Why?” and “How?” We strive to develop children’s curiosity through child led enquiry; developing a range of skills which will enable them to work scientifically in a range of ways. Through this we hope to encourage a scientific approach to problem solving and an understanding of the world around them.
We value the importance of developing inquisitive young minds by giving our children a range of experiences working scientifically. we endeavour to provide our pupils with a range of opportunities to work scientifically- starting in EYFS. Please click on the links below to see how we build on prior learning to ensure progression in working scientifically. .
We are proud to be members of the Science Association; adapting and adopting key policies and documentation. The following documents are useful to see how we further break down the progression in our science curriculum.
We combined science with history with our TIME topic and looked at how tools to tell the time have changed over the years. We created a timeline of discoveries and measured out our own sundials with our protractors.
Yesterday RLMc had lots of fun visiting Speke Hall. We looked at the changes for Autumn and we even saw a sleeping giant! We visited the giants house, kitchen, music room and even his playground. It was lots of fun!
Year 2 have been sorting things into 3 categories – alive, dead and ever been alive. We had a lot of fun looking at some living things from the playground too!
Lots of discussion with our connect retrieval task today matching features of different stages of development
19-10-2023
Lots of discussion with our connect retrieval task today matching features of different stages of development. It was lovely to hear some of our fabulous new vocabulary being used independently #smithdownsci @SmithdownPrimY2 @baronbedford @Edu_Meadows
After learning about life cycles, @SmithdownPrimY5 kindly invited us to watch their butterfly release this afternoon. 4 classes of pure excitement 🦋 #smithdownsci @SmithdownPrimY2
We then focused on how animals mature by looking at some life cycles…
19-10-2023
We then focused on how animals mature by looking at some life cycles. Mr. Ma let the Y5 caterpillars visit KS1 and just look at their faces. We identified some at pupa stage for some science in action #smithdownsci @baronbedford @Edu_Meadows
Today we kicked off our topic and Curriculum project
19-10-2023
Today we kicked off our topic and @Curriculum_USP project in @SmithdownPrimY2 by recapping what an animal is and learning about vertebrates/invertebrates @baronbedford @Edu_Meadows #smithdownsci
4LA ~ Sorting mains and battery powered appliances today
19-10-2023
4LA ~ Sorting mains and battery powered appliances today, then working scientifically to test our predictions about positions of components in a circuit @SmithdownPrimY4 #smithdownsci
Great afternoon with 4KM back to doing what we love the most – investigating!
19-10-2023
Great afternoon with 4KM back to doing what we love the most – investigating!! This time, circuits. They took up the challenge of making the light bulb light 💡 #smithdownsci @SmithdownPrimY4
We are looking at life cycles in science, so now have 40 caterpillars that we are going to watch transform into butterflies. We have given them food, and are going to monitor them turn into chrysalises. #smithdownsci @MrsKellyx @MissGuy_
We have been exploring different push and pull forces that require contact between two objects
19-10-2023
We have been exploring different push and pull forces that require contact between two objects. Lots of toys and actions helped us understand these forces. Year 3 did a great job of organising the forces into our Venn diagram. #smithdownsci
We love incorporating baking into our Understanding the World lessons!
19-10-2023
We love incorporating baking into our Understanding the World lessons! We watched how the cake mixture changed state after we added water. #smithdowneyfs #smithdownsci
Making unicorn 🦄 playdough today to develop fine motor skills…
19-10-2023
Making unicorn 🦄 playdough today to develop fine motor skills and see what happens when cornflour is mixed with hair conditioner #smithdowneyfs #smithdownsci