Science
Studying science helps pupils explore, investigate, analyse and explain the world around them.
At Portfield we have chosen to use Kapow’s Science scheme of work which has been designed to nurture inquisitive minds, build foundational scientific knowledge and develop skills in scientific inquiry.
The Kapow Science curriculum aims to:
-
develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
-
develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help answer scientific questions about the world around us
-
equip pupils with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future
The Kapow scheme is designed around three main strands:
-
scientific knowledge and understanding (core facts about science)
-
working scientifically (how to think like a scientist)
-
science in action.
Although these strands serve different purposes within the curriculum, they work together to help build pupil understanding. Each strand weaves throughout the scheme using a spiral curriculum approach where knowledge is sequenced so that, over time, it is revisited and built upon with increasing complexity.
Pupils deepen their substantive knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics, following the specific content outlined in the national curriculum. They gain foundational concepts, address common misconceptions and learn specialist vocabulary to articulate their understanding.
The 'working scientifically' strand enables pupils to develop disciplinary knowledge alongside their conceptual understanding. They learn about the nature, processes and methods of science. Through varied methods of enquiry like observing over time, pattern seeking, identifying, classifying and grouping, comparative and fair testing, and researching using secondary sources.
The 'science in action' strands shows pupils the uses and implications of science in the past, present and future. They learnt about: famous scientists of the past and the methods and equipment they used, how scientific knowledge and understanding have changed over time, and jobs and careers related to science.
The national curriculum programmes of study set out the substantive science content to be taught in each year group. The Kapow Science scheme organises this content into six key areas:
-
animals including humans
-
living things and their habitats
-
plants
-
materials
-
energy
-
forces, earth and space.
The scheme also includes a further key area called ‘making connections’. In each phase of the school, pupils will complete a unit of learning that focuses on a single inquiry question, giving them a meaningful chance to integrate and apply their learning. This unit encourages pupils to make connections between topics and gives a valuable chance to revise key concepts and scientific skills.