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Manor LeasJunior Academy

Where excellence and enjoyment go hand in hand

Science

Science Trailer

Intent

 

At Manor Leas Junior Academy, we aim to provide a high-quality science education that delivers the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. In our school, we educate pupils with the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. Our curriculum provides an understanding of how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave and analyse causes that help them to answer questions about the world around them. Our children will be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future leaving pupils from Manor Leas Junior Academy knowing more about Science and remembering more.

Implementation

 

In order to deliver our intent across the school, we use a variety of strategies and resources that are outlines below:

 

Impact

 

By the end of KS2, pupils will have a thorough understanding of key scientific concepts and the ability to apply these to real-world situations. They will demonstrate proficiency in working scientifically, designing and conducting investigations, and presenting findings. Pupils will be able to articulate scientific ideas confidently, using appropriate vocabulary. The curriculum ensures pupils are well-prepared for the scientific challenges of secondary education and fosters a lifelong interest in science and its role in solving global challenges.

 

Carefully Mapped Curriculum – At Manor Leas Junior Academy, we dedicate discrete time to each subject. This is outlined in our ‘Curriculum Blocking Overview’. Each academic year there are two science blocks, each block consisting of four weeks. This ensures subject focus.

Learning Cycle 

We teach Science on a robust teaching and learning cycle that puts children and hands-on, active learning at its heart and ensures progression for all.

 

 

We believe that to instill scientific confidence in children and to inspire future generations of young scientists, we need to spark their imagination and fuel their curiosity with hands-on, experiential science. 

Disciplinary Knowledge Progression

Knowledge Quizzing

Low stakes quizzing is used to review previous learning regularly.

 

Knowledge Map

The knowledge map can be referred to during lessons and used to display key information. Teachers can show links across the curriculum to develop and build knowledge.

 

FROGS (Working Scientifically Assessments)

Working scientifically is a key strand of Science. The five areas of working scientifically from the National Curriculum (Fair Testing, Further Research, Observation, Classifying and Grouping and Patterns Seeking) have been re-categorized to a memorable mnemonic FROGS (Fair Testing, Research, Observation, Grouping and Classifying and Seeking Patterns). This is because children not only need to understand scientific knowledge, they also need to be able to apply it. TAPS (Teacher Assessment in Primary Science) provides a practical experiment for each topic to enable practitioners to assess security in scientific understanding. These have been adapted to ensure FROGS is covered throughout each year. 

FROGS Introduction Video

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End of Unit Essay

Following each science topic, students complete an essay to answer the key question. This provides students a chance to consolidate their learning through applying keywords and scientific principles articulately. The essay also acts as another assessment tool, further enabling practitioners to identify gaps and intervention needs. 

 

Enrichment Opportunities

Manor Leas Junior Academy are passionate about providing children with a high-quality education, to equip students with the knowledge and skills they require to deal with a rapidly changing world. The Science curriculum has been enriched by an annual school Science Fair (which opens its doors to the community), science competitions (to promote science learning outside of school), trips (to support scientific understanding beyond the classroom) as well as inviting a range of inspirational visitors into our school.

 

Annual Science Fair

 

Each year, families, members of the local community and scientists from the University of Lincoln are welcomed to Manor Leas Junior Academy for the our showstopping Science Fair. Every year, every student spends four weeks delving into the depths of the science curriculum, before all twelve classes challenge themselves to create group projects that demonstrated their scientific understanding. Each of the twelve classes then go on to nominate one group that display excellence in the field of science, technology, engineering and or mathematics.  Then, the twelve winning groups exhibit their projects in the main hall to be judged by STEM specialists. All visitors have the opportunity to see the rest of the science projects across the school too, as they are presented in each classroom. Manor Leas Junior Academy celebrate the scientific achievements of the entire school, with the individuals from the victorious groups each receiving a science kit and an engraved trophy to display in their classroom.

 

View some of our Science Fair highlights below:

Science Fair Winners Video 2023

Science Fair 2022!

Science Fair 2021

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Science Fair 2020 Launch.MOV.mp4

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Science Fair 2020 Projects.mp4

Science Fair Projects

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