Science

Science at Thornhill provides an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help our children to answer scientific questions about the world around them.

Starting in Foundation Stage children learn how to be scientist by being immersed in exploring, questioning and investigating the world around them. By the end of Year 6, they are able to ask and answer their own scientific questions by applying their knowledge and conducting a variety of investigations.

Following the school values:

Respectful:

We endeavour to ensure that our science curriculum give children the knowledge, confidence and independence to further develop their skills into the next stage of their education.
Children will learn the respect for the materials and equipment they handle with regard to their own, and others’ safety.

Resilient:

In every lesson the children become scientists, being immersed in exploring, questioning and investigating. By the end of year 6 they will be able to answer their own science questions independently, by planning and carrying out five types of scientific enquiry. Through this we are giving the children the opportunity to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity. The children are able to develop independence by articulation of their knowledge using scientific terminology.

Ready:

Our children are given the opportunity to develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. They are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. Our science curriculum has been carefully designed around concepts which are revisited regularly to ensure learning takes place. They will develop a range of methods to record and present information in different ways, such as diagrams, graphs and charts and ICT.
We want our children’s knowledge to be supported by a broad scientific vocabulary which they understand and use with confidence. Scientific terminology is identified in medium term planning. It is carefully sequenced and revisited via a robust retrieval practice.