Science at Thringstone
At Thringstone Primary School, we want every child to be curious about the world around them. Science encourages children to ask questions, investigate ideas and develop an understanding of how the natural and physical world works.
Our Science curriculum reflects our curriculum drivers of Aspiration and Communication. Children develop the confidence to think like scientists, explain their ideas using scientific vocabulary and investigate the world through observation, enquiry and evidence.
We believe that practical experiences and curiosity are at the heart of great science learning.
How We Teach Science
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that scientific knowledge and enquiry skills build progressively from Reception to Year 6.
Each unit is centred around a Big Question, encouraging children to think deeply and make connections between what they already know and what they are about to learn. Throughout each unit, children revisit key knowledge and vocabulary while developing their understanding through practical investigation and discussion.
Science is taught every half term, ensuring all areas of the National Curriculum are covered and revisited over time.
Early Years
In Reception, science is taught through Understanding the World, where children explore the natural world through play, outdoor learning and first-hand experiences.
They observe seasonal change, investigate plants and animals, explore materials and begin asking questions about how the world works. Through Forest School, practical exploration and purposeful discussion, children develop the curiosity and vocabulary that provide the foundations for future science learning.
Working Scientifically
Science is about much more than learning facts.
Throughout the school, children develop the skills to:
- ask scientific questions
- make predictions
- observe carefully
- carry out investigations
- identify patterns
- classify and compare
- record results accurately
- draw conclusions using evidence.
Children experience a range of enquiry types, helping them understand that science is a practical subject built on investigation, observation and evidence.
Developing Scientific Knowledge
As children move through the school, they build knowledge across the key areas of science, including:
- Plants
- Animals, including Humans
- Everyday Materials
- Living Things and Their Habitats
- Forces
- Light
- Sound
- Electricity
- Earth and Space
- Properties and Changes of Materials
- Evolution and Inheritance
Children also learn about influential scientists whose discoveries have shaped our understanding of the world, helping them recognise how science improves lives and continues to influence the future.
Science Beyond the Classroom
Science comes alive through first-hand experiences.
Outdoor learning, Forest School, investigations and cross-curricular opportunities allow children to apply their scientific understanding in meaningful contexts. Whether observing seasonal change, exploring habitats, investigating materials or carrying out practical experiments, children are encouraged to question, explore and discover.
By developing curiosity and a love of enquiry, we help children understand not only how the world works, but also the important role science plays in everyday life.