The subject lead for Science at Darwen St James is Mrs Davis.

Science Curriculum

Updated: 16/11/2023 115 KB
Updated: 06/05/2021 110 KB
Updated: 18/07/2023 152 KB
Updated: 18/07/2023 147 KB
Updated: 18/07/2023 119 KB
Updated: 18/07/2023 39 KB
Updated: 18/07/2023 120 KB

Year 1

In Science this term, we have started to look at our topic of Plants.  We have identified different plants in our school grounds and been able to name some flowering plants.  In the photos you can see how we looked carefully at the root structure of a flowering plant.

Year 2

In Science this term, we finished our ‘Animals including Humans’ unit by talking about food hygiene and learning about storing and preparing food correctly. We then looked at the different types of food and thought about the question ‘Which foods make a healthy diet?’ We sorted packaging, using the food pyramid to help us, then designed a healthy / unhealthy lunchbox.

Year 3

In Science in Year 3 we have been looking at animals including humans. We have looked at the types of foods our bodies need and what their role is. WE have also been learning about different types of skeletons and naming some parts of the human skeleton. We investigated how our muscles work in pairs to make us move. We also developed our working scientifically skills through accurately measuring and recording in a table.

Year 4

In Science this term we continued learning through the unit of ‘Animals including Humans’. We looked at our digestive system and we learnt about some of the simple functions that happen when we eat food. We worked in groups and used our bodies to recreate how it works and added labels. We planned an experiment, where we used eggs, to recreate our teeth and put them in different liquids and then left them for a week to see what happened to the eggs (teeth!) It was very interesting watching the effect sugar and acid has on our teeth. We finished the unit by learning about food chains. We learnt the words: consumer, producer, predator, prey, herbivore, carnivore and omnivore. We were able to make several food chains and we enjoyed looking at different food chains from different parts of the world.

Year 5

In Science Year 5 have been studying animals including humans. They have developed their understanding of the human lifecycle and how a baby develops in the womb. They have been developing their working scientifically skills by comparing the gestation periods of different animals through research. They have also been deepening their understanding of puberty and what happens to the human body in old age.

Year 6

Year 1

In Science this term Year 1 have been completing a unit on Plants.  This half term we have been learning about deciduous and evergreen trees and spotting these in the school grounds.  They have also been measuring the height and circumference of trees.  Later, they conducted an investigation to find out if plants with long leaves also have long roots.

Year 2

In Science this term we have been learning about ‘All living things and their habitat’. We started the unit by comparing the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive and thinking about what living things need in order to survive. We have learnt about different habitats and microhabitats and explored the different plants and animals that live there. We finished the unit by learning about how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals and completed a variety of simple food chains.

Year 3

Year 3 have been learning about different types of forces. They carried out an investigation to test different surfaces to test for high friction and low friction. They also looked at different types of magnets and devised their own investigations to test the strength of those magnets.

Year 4

In Science this half term we have been learning all about electricity. We have thoroughly enjoyed constructing simple circuits using wires, cells, bulbs, switches and buzzers.We then were able to look at lots of different circuit diagrams and recognise whether a light would work or not and give reasons why. We then looked closely at switches and learnt how the switch opens and closes. We then made a simple switch using paper clips and split pins. We concluded the topic by learning about conductors and insulators and found that metals are good conductors of electricity.

Year 5

In year 5 we are learning about the Earth and Space. We have looked at the planets, learning about their names and the order. We have also being developing our working scientifically skills by taking accurate measurements of craters and recording them using tables and charts.

 

Year 6

Year 1 - Everyday Materials

Year 1 have been learning about materials and their properties.  We have learned that materials are made out of a variety of materials so they can be used for different purposes.  We have sorted objects by their properties and made physical diagrams of this. Year 1 have also  experimented to find the best material to make an umbrella for a teddy bear.

Year 2 - Plants

In Science this term, Year 2 have been learning about ‘Plants’. They have completed a number of investigations to help them understand how plants needs water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy. They looked at daisies in the environment and thought about where they grow best. The children made their prediction first then tested their prediction by looking for evidence around the school grounds.

Year 3 - Plants

In Science Year 3 have been learning about plants. We have looked at the different parts of a plant and what their functions are. We had a fun lesson where we dissected some lillies to see if we could find all the different parts using our scientific vocabulary. Year 3 have also been learning about what a plant needs to grow and carried out  some comparitive tests over time to see the effects on a plant with no light. In another investigation we looked at how the function of the stem is to transport water to the leaves and flower.

Year 4 - States of Matter

Year 5 - Properties and changes of materials

In Year 5 we have been learning about materials and their properties by developing our scientific vocabulary. We have looked at reversible and irreversible changes with different solutions and mixtures. We investigated how to make some very mucky water clear by using sieves and filters. We also looked at dissolving salt in water to create a solution and then reversing this by separating by evaporation. As an investigation we carried out a comparitive test to see which material allowed a drink to cool down the quickest; we got to use the data loggers to measure the temperature.

Year 6 - Living things and their habitats

 

Pre- School

This half term the children have been learning about themselves, we have explored the life cycles of humans. How we looked as a baby and how we have changed through the years. The children identified babies, toddlers, children and adults. The children made comments and drew a picture of when they were a baby.

Reception

Year 1

Year 1 are learning all about the weather.  We talked about ways to measure and monitor the weather.  We made a rain gauge out of a plastic bottle and placed it in the playground to collect water.  We will record the rainfall on a daily basis at 1pm every day.  For our long term study we are going to observe changes in the same place in the playground during each season.  Our focus is deciduous and evergreen trees.  This time we noticed that some leaves had changed colour and that the leaves had fallen to the floor.

Year 2

In Year 2 we have been learning about plants. We started with looking at what plants need to grow - warth, light, nutrients, water and soil. We have also carried out lots of investigations to see how seeds and bulbs grow. What happens if we don't water our seeds? Do all seeds germinate in the same way?

Year 3

In Year 3 they have been looking at the topic light. Initially they looked at how light being blocked created shadows. They then went on a shadow walk to see where they could see shadows being created. After that they investigated the length and height of the shadow using torches and puppets. To further develop their understanding of shadows they created a shadow experiment. They completed some data but the typically British weather had other ideas so this will now be ongoing. But the children had so much fun!

Year 4

Year 4 has been learning about Living things and their Habitats. We have been discussing how we can classify and sort living animals and plants into groups and what shared characteristics they have in common.

Year 5

Year 5 have been learning about Earth and Space.We have been learning about planets, satellites, stars and orbits. We talked about the Sun and how the planets move around it. We learnt that this is why it is called a solar system.

Year 6

Year 6 have been learning about evolution and inheritance this half term.  We have thought about animal adaptation, and studied Darwin’s finches to learn about how the birds evolved different beaks according to the food in their environment.  These photos show us learning about camouflage by finding different coloured strands of wool in a wildlife area.  We could find most colours easily - but we only found one strand of green wool!  The children used this experience to express ideas about how animals have adapted to camouflage against their environment, either to hide from predators - or to be a predator!