Moorlands Primary School Curriculum

Questioning lies at the heart of the Science curriculum. Each lesson begins with a key question for pupils who develop their scientific knowledge through the five working scientifically types:

• Observation over time.
• Pattern seeking.
• Identifying, classifying and grouping.
• Comparative and fair testing.
• Research using secondary sources.

Understanding of key scientific vocabulary, communication and the principles of Philosophy for Children are taught alongside the subject-specific skills.

Pupils are taught to think like a Scientist as they develop their knowledge of the topics covered.

Curriculum Overview

Year 1:

Plants

Animals including humans

Everyday materials

Seasonal changes

Year 2:

Living Things and their habitats

Plants

Animals including humans

Uses of everyday materials

Year 3:

Plants

Animals including humans

Rocks

Light

Forces and magnets

Year 4:

Living things and their habitats

Animals including humans

States of matter

Sound

Electricity

Year 5:

Living things and their habitats

Animals including humans

Properties and changes of materials

Earth and space

Forces

Year 6:

Living things and their habitats

Animals including human

Evolution and inheritance

Light

Electricity

For more information on specific learning objectives for science

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-science-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-science-programmes-of-studyAout Us

This year, we took part in The Great Science Share For Schools event. The main theme was Climate Change and ended with a special day of activities including the 'Your Planet, Your Questions' discussion where pupils from all around the UK were invited to pose their own scientific questions to put to a panel of climate experts. We were so proud that one of our pupils' questions, out of many thousands submitted, was chosen for this event by the organisers at Manchester University.

A link to The Great Science Share for Schools is below (see a question from a Moorlands Pupil 10 minutes into the clip).

Great Science Share Recording Link

British Science Week

During British Science Week this year we had lots of opportunities to explore, plan, test and present all things scientific! Each class worked extremely hard to prepare presentations for our very first Science Fair at Moorlands as classrooms were transformed into science exhibition spaces.

There was a real ‘buzz’ around the school building on Friday as pupils presented their learning and scientific knowledge to pupils and parents visiting their Science Fair exhibitions. Thank you Moorlands scientists for your hard work – we’re already looking forward to next year’s Science Fair!

Year 3 and Year 4 Fossil Talk

Year 3 and Year 4 were extremely fortunate to take part in a talk on the subject of fossils which was delivered by the renowned paleontologist, Dr Stephen Etches MBE. Dr Etches was visiting the area from his home in Dorset, where he has spent the past 30 years searching for, studying and documenting fossils found in that area of the UK. His work and collection is of such great value in educating us about the evolution of animals and plants over millions of years that a Lottery funded museum was built to display the huge range of fossils that he has discovered.

Year 3 and Year 4 enjoyed listening to Dr Etches and were very eager to share what they knew about fossils and creatures that had once lived on the Earth – which was a lot! In fact, we received an email afterwards to say that he “Couldn't get over how knowledgeable and keen the children were”.  Well done Years 3 and 4!