Science
Our Science curriculum is designed to excite children’s curiosity about the world and help them to understand the uses of science, as well as its implications for the future. Throughout school, pupils continuously develop their scientific vocabulary and enquiry skills as they revise different topics. This allows them to direct their own investigations as independent, active learners, seeking to answer their own questions.
We enrich our Science curriculum with school trips and hosting visits at the school. The children have been visited by the RSPB, who taught them about habitats and different types of trees. Some children also got the chance to take part in the Great Science share, where they demonstrated an investigation and explored different investigations from children at other schools.
Year 5 recently learned all about space in a virtual talk delivered by Manchester University students. Children were tasked with designing space suits and rockets in preparation for a mission to Mars. See below for pictures of a display that sums up the children’s learning.
"I liked the talk because it was about space and it was about Science. I remember learning about Mars, fact and fiction."
"I liked it because I designed a space suit and a rocket for a trip to Mars. I also learnt a few interesting facts."
As children explored plantlife in Science, we decided to take a hands-on approach and helped children plant flowers across the school grounds. The children love getting their hands dirty and watching their plants grow!
Autumn 2 Topics -
Nursery - Space - Use all their senses in hands on exploration of natural materials. Explore collections of materials with similar and/or different properties.
Reception - Space - Explore and talk about different forces they can feel, Describe what they see, hear and feel whilst outside– (change of seasons).
Year 1 - Seasonal Change - Observe changes across seasons, weather and day length.
Year 2 - Little MasterChef's - This topic explores food, including making healthy food choices, and cooking various different foods.
Year 3 - Forces and Magnets - This topic looks at magnets and their uses, and what makes magnetic poles special, along with the idea that some forces such as magnetic force can act without contact – unlike pushes and pulls, which require direct contact.
Year 4 - Living Things - This topic teaches the children to recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways. They explore and use keys to identify and name a variety of living things. Finally, they look at how changes to habitats can pose dangers to living things. Whilst most of the work for this topic can be carried out in spring and summer, it is important that children visit the local environment throughout the school year so that they continue to develop their understanding of seasonal changes and how these impact on living things.
Year 5 - Let's get Moving -In this topic children learn about forces and machines. They start with the force of gravity then study friction forces, including air and water resistance, before investigating how simple machines work .
Year 6 - Evolution and Inheritance - Building on what they learned about fossils in Year 3, children find out more about how living things have changed over time. They are introduced to the idea that characteristics are passed from parent to their offspring, but that they are not exactly the same. They should also appreciate that variation over time can make animals more or less likely to survive in particular environments (adaptation). Children look at evolution and Charles’ Darwin’s theory of natural selection, as well as palaeontologist Mary Anning’s work with fossils.
Experiment to do at home:
Culcheth Lane, Manchester, Lancashire M40 1LU
0161 681 2779
For telephone enquiries please ask for Mrs Potter.
contact@christtheking.manchester.sch.uk
At point of contact, enquires and queries will be dealt with by Mrs. Potter.
For a paper copy of any information on this website, please contact the school office.
SEN enquiries will be passed on to the school SENDCo Mrs Holroyd.