Science

At Manland, we believe that science gives children the opportunity to be curious about the world around them, ask questions, investigate ideas and discover how and why things happen. Through science, children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to make sense of the world and think scientifically.

To achieve this, we use the National Curriculum alongside White Rose Science planning. Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that children develop their scientific knowledge and understanding progressively from Year 1 to Year 6.

Through practical investigation, observation and discussion, children are encouraged to ask questions, make predictions, carry out investigations and use evidence to explain what they have discovered. We want our children to see science as something they can actively do, rather than simply something they learn about.

Our science curriculum builds both scientific knowledge and scientific enquiry skills. Children revisit and develop key ideas throughout their time at Manland, becoming increasingly confident, independent and curious scientists as they move through the school.

Our curriculum covers the key areas of science, including:

• Plants – exploring how plants grow, survive and reproduce, and the conditions they need to thrive
• Animals, including humans – learning about living things, life cycles, nutrition, healthy bodies and how animals and humans change as they grow
• Living things and their habitats – identifying, classifying and comparing living things and exploring how they are suited to their environments
• Materials – investigating the properties of materials and exploring how and why materials can be changed and used
• Forces and magnets – exploring pushes, pulls, movement, friction, magnets and how forces affect objects
• Light – investigating light sources, shadows, reflections and how light travels
• Sound – exploring how sounds are made, how they travel and how their volume and pitch can change
• Electricity – building and investigating circuits and exploring how electrical components work together
• Earth and space – developing an understanding of the Earth, Moon, Sun and wider solar system
• Evolution and inheritance – exploring how living things change over time and how characteristics are passed from one generation to the next

Alongside developing scientific knowledge, children are taught to work scientifically. They learn how to ask questions, make predictions, observe, measure, record, classify, compare, identify patterns and draw conclusions from evidence.

Children are also introduced to a wide range of scientific vocabulary and are encouraged to use precise scientific language when talking and writing about their ideas.

Science at Manland is centred around curiosity and investigation. Whenever possible, children experience science through practical activities that allow them to explore ideas for themselves.

Children might investigate how shadows change throughout the day, explore how different materials can be changed, build electrical circuits, observe plants growing or investigate how forces affect movement.

Practical experiences are carefully selected to develop children’s understanding rather than being activities simply for the sake of doing an experiment. Children are encouraged to think about what they are doing, explain their observations and use evidence to support their ideas.

Our science curriculum also provides opportunities for children to make meaningful connections with other subjects. Scientific learning supports the development of English, mathematics, geography, computing and PE, while giving children opportunities to apply their knowledge in different contexts.

We place particular importance on developing children’s scientific vocabulary and subject knowledge. Children are encouraged to explain their thinking using increasingly precise language and to build on what they already know as they progress through the school.

Our school grounds are an important part of our science curriculum. Our wildlife area and outdoor spaces provide opportunities for children to observe and investigate living things and seasonal changes in the environment around them.

Science also extends beyond the classroom through enrichment opportunities, including science workshops, Science Day, House Learning Days, trips and visits from scientists and other professionals. These experiences help children understand how science is used in the real world and inspire them to think about the many ways science shapes our lives.

Science is all around us! Encourage your child to be curious, ask questions and explore the world around them.

• Go on a nature walk and look carefully at the plants, animals and other living things you find.
• Observe changes over time, such as plants growing, the weather changing, shadows moving or the Moon changing shape.
• Sort and classify objects around your home or garden. Can you group them in different ways? Can you explain your choices?
• Investigate cause and effect, such as what happens when you change ingredients while cooking, alter the amount of water a plant receives or change the surface an object moves across.
• Make predictions before trying something. Ask, “What do you think will happen?” and then see whether your prediction was correct.
• Encourage scientific questions. When your child asks “Why?” or “How?”, explore the answer together rather than simply telling them.
• Grow something from seeds, bulbs or vegetable scraps and observe how it changes over time.
• Explore materials around your home. Which materials are waterproof, flexible, magnetic, transparent or strong?
• Look at the night sky together. Can you spot the Moon or any stars and planets?

There are lots of excellent resources available to help children explore science at home:

• STEM Activities – practical science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities
• Practical Action – STEM activities linked to real-world problems such as climate change, renewable energy and food security
• Science Sparks – simple practical science activities to try at home
• Science Bob – science experiments, demonstrations and explanations
• Woodland Trust Nature Detectives – outdoor activities and ideas for exploring nature
• Wildlife Trusts – ideas for discovering and learning about wildlife
• RSPB – activities for exploring and helping nature
• PhET Interactive Simulations – interactive science simulations that can be explored without specialist equipment
• Jodrell Bank Observatory – resources and ideas for exploring space and the night sky

Most importantly, encourage children to be curious. Ask them what they notice, what they wonder about and what they think might happen. Science begins with a question.