At Broom Barns School, we are dedicated to inspiring a genuine passion for science and helping children understand its importance in everyday life. We nurture children’s natural curiosity by encouraging them to ask both “big” and “small” questions as they explore the world around them. Whether investigating gravity, evolution, or the behaviour of light, our aim is to provide children with a strong foundation in the scientific concepts that help us make sense of the world.
Our science curriculum encourages children to be inquisitive, thoughtful, and confident learners. Through hands-on experiences and practical investigations, children are given opportunities to ask challenging questions, consider how best to find answers, and develop their understanding through exploration and discovery.
Children develop these skills through five key types of scientific enquiry:
• Observing patterns over time
• Identifying, classifying, and grouping
• Using secondary research
• Looking for patterns
• Conducting fair and comparative tests
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, children learn to ask simple questions and recognise that there are different ways to find answers. They carry out simple tests, make careful observations using basic equipment, and record what they discover. Children then use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to scientific questions.
Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4)
In Years 3 and 4, children learn how to plan and carry out simple practical enquiries. They begin to make decisions about which type of scientific enquiry is most suitable for the question being investigated. Children conduct fair tests, make systematic observations, take accurate measurements using standard units, and use a range of scientific equipment. They record their findings using scientific vocabulary, drawings, labelled diagrams, charts and tables, before using their results to draw simple conclusions.
Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6)
In Years 5 and 6, children’s Working Scientifically skills are developed further. They are encouraged to independently plan a range of scientific enquiries, including recognising
and controlling variables where appropriate. Children use scientific equipment confidently and accurately, taking repeat measurements when necessary to improve reliability. They present data and results using scientific diagrams and a variety of graphs, before analysing their findings and communicating conclusions through both written and verbal explanations. They also use their results to generate further questions and investigations.
Please refer to your child’s Termly Class Curriculum Letter for information about the science topics being taught each term.
