Science

September 2020 – 2021

Science is everywhere

Outside the window, trees turn sunlight into stored energy and create the oxygen we need to survive.

Whether “natural” or human-derived, every aspect of a student’s life is filled with science — from their own internal biology to the flat-screen TV in the living room.

Imagine taking a journey on a bus:  in that single journey there are many examples of technology based on science.

The bus is a product of many areas of science and technology, including mechanical engineering and innovation.  

What makes your bus move?  

Is it electric or gas powered?

The systems of roads, lights, pavements and other infrastructure are carefully designed by civil engineers and planners.

The smartphone you use to check the bus time table is a miracle of modern computer engineering. Your bus may have free wi-fi – how does the moving bus connect to the internet?  

You could be wearing a face mask – what does this do, how does it keep us safe and how do we know this?

Science at Venturers’ Academy focusses how to think, learn, solve problems and make informed decisions as a scientist. These skills are integral to every aspect of a student’s education and life, from school to the world of work.

As students begin their learning journey at Venturers’ Academy, they are encouraged to think and work as scientists as part of the Curious-city curriculum. These are blended learning themes that cover a wide range of skills and knowledge in a particular theme.

As students continue their learning journey and move in to the transition from primary to secondary, we study science as a subject in its own right, working to investigate such questions as “Which bridge is best?” , “How do I see” and “Where do new materials come from ?”

Each question is linked to the national curriculum, and is a blend of knowledge, application and demonstration. Students are encouraged to work together to solve problems, and to use different ways to present their findings and ideas.

As students come towards the end of the learning journey in upper secondary, the have the opportunity to study science in greater depth to enable them to build credit towards and appropriate qualification, such as the AQA unit award.

Science is about asking questions. In the words of Carl Sagan, "There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primary

EYFS

In the Nursery and Reception students experience science in a very practical way. They investigate and experiment with a variety of materials. They are assessed against the early learning outcomes.

Year 1 and 2

Year 1 and 2 students learn science through the Edison Learning Curriculum, a topic-based programme. This is linked to the National Curriculum. There is an annual Science Week with a subject co-ordinator based at secondary.

Yr 1

Why do we play with different toys as we grow older?

Science Y1

Every day Materials

Animals including humans

 

Hello, I am new here;  Bonjour, je suis nouveau ici

Science Y1

Plants

Animals including humans

Seasonal change

 

 

What can we learn about our world from stories?

Science Y1

Every day Materials

distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made, identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock

describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials, compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of their simple physical properties.

Seasonal change

Why is water so precious?

Science Y1

Plants

Animals including Humans

Seasonal Changes

 

Yr2

Can Party Food be Healthy?

“Which materials would make good party decorations?

Y1/2 Science Everyday Materials

What is the best way for Mrs Armitage to travel

identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses

What makes us like other animals?

Living things and their habitats

Plants

Animals including Humans

 

 

Year 3 to 6

In Years 3 to 6, students learn science through the Edison Learning Curriculum, a topic based programme. This is linked to the National Curriculum. There is an annual Science Week with a subject coordinator based at secondary.

Yr 3

How does electricity work?

Electricity

Forces & Magnets

Working Scientifically

 

 

Let’s go on an adventure. Would we like to visit Guatemala?

Forces & Friction

Measuring forces

Pulling objects

(Air resistance Y5)

Working scientifically

 

Are bugs important?

Science Y3/4 Animals including humans

Y3 Plants

Y4 Living things and their habitats

Working scientifically

 

 

Yr 4

How do I see? How do I hear?

Light & Sound

Working scientifically

 

 

Should we stop eating chocolate?

Chocolate

D&T design, make, evaluate

Y4 Science States of Matter

Working scientifically

What happens inside us?

Y3/4 Science

Y3/4 Animals including humans

Working scientifically

Yr 5

 

What is it made of?

Mysterious Materials

Context Testing materials for companies

Properties and changes to materials

Working scientifically

 

Fairground

D&T design, make, evaluate

Y6 Electricity

Y6 Light

Y5 Forces

Working scientifically

 

Do we make the most of what’s right on our doorstep?

Y5 Living things and their habitats

Y5 animals including humans 

Working scientifically

Yr 6

What’s out there?

Out of This World

Y5 Science

Earth & Space

Working scientifically

Y5 Forces

 

Let’s Go Round Again – Year 6 Science revisit

Y6 Electricity & Light

Why do some creatures no longer exist?

Evolution & inheritance

 

Y6 Living things and their habitats

Y5/6 Animals including humans

 

 

 

 

 

Secondary

Years 7, 8 and 9

Students study a variety of topics from biology, chemistry and physics throughout Years 7 and 8. Where possible they do so using practical investigations to help develop their ability to work scientifically.  In Year 9 students begin a bridging year where they start to cover the topics from AQA GCSE combined science.

Topics studied and content covered include:

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

  • In Year 7, all students start to study a small course named ‘working scientifically’. This short course will equip new students with the essential scientific skills they will need to investigate the topics studied. All students will then study and investigate through practical activities the three different scientific disciplines; biology, chemistry and physics. Units include; cell structure and functions of body systems, reproduction, elements, atoms, and compounds, forces, space, sound and light. Students are tested regularly to ensure subject knowledge is at a satisfactory standard in order to progress to the next stage of learning.

In Year 8, students will have the opportunity to consolidate their learning from Year 7 through a more independent approach with many practical investigations. Topics include; electricity and magnetism, motion and pressure, periodic table, separation techniques, ecosystems, adaptation and inheritance. Students are once again tested regular after each topic to check understanding. Many of the topics studied in this year will appear in their GCSE course.

 

 

  • In Year 9 students start to study the topics needed for GCSE combined science following the AQA specification:
  • Cell biology
  • Organisation
  • Atomic structure and the periodic table
  • Bonding, structure and the properties of matter
  • Forces
  • Energy