Science at St Joseph's
"Praised be you, my Lord through our Sister, Mother Earth,
who sustains us and directs us,
bringing forth all kinds of fruits,
and coloured flowers and herbs."
Saint Francis of Assisi: The Canticle of the Creatures
Our vision
At St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, we believe that effective science teaching and learning is vital to ensure that our children become scientifically literate adults who are equipped to cope in a world increasingly shaped by science and technology.
We believe effective Primary Science Education encourages aspiration and curiosity; allowing children the chance to ask questions and explore with confidence. It develops enquiring minds, deep-thinking skills and offers our children a chance to make choices, be resilient when investigations go in a different direction, form opinions and work collaboratively and with empathy.
What does Science look like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
We provide engaging, hands-on, open ended activities which builds on previous experiences and knowledge. Our learning is centred in real and relevant contexts with our REACH values at the heart. We ensure our lessons are accessible and engaging for all by proving support or challenge as appropriate.
Our weekly science learning provides moments of wonder and excitement, with classrooms coming alive with the exciting buzz of investigations!
Year 4 classifying objects.
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Year 4 classifying objects.
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Year 4 classifying objects.
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Year 4 classifying objects.
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Year 5 STEM day at Wycliffe
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Year 5 STEM day at Wycliffe
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Year 5 STEM day at Wycliffe
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Year 5 STEM day at Wycliffe
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Children in Key Stages 1 and 2 are taught the key objectives as outlined in the National Curriculum for England:
Inclusion
At St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms, and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high expectations in Science.
At St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms, and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high expectations in Science.
Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves carefully planned lessons for each area of the sciences. This allows for progression and depths; as well as differentiation to ensure science is achievable for all.
Our Science Curriculum is high quality; well thought out; with opportunities to embed our REACH values; and is planned to demonstrate progression. If our children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. Planning will ensure there is regular pupil conferencing and assessment opportunities to address misconceptions and gaps in understanding so that all children can keep up - not catch up.
Awe and Wonder week 1: 23rd October 2023
Our first Awe and Wonder unit was Hinduism. We looked at influential Hindu Scientists who had made a contribution to our understanding of the world throughout history.
KS1: Varahamihira
Alive in around 500 AD (CE), Varahamihira was an astrologer, meaning he studied the stars. He lived in Madhya Pradesh in India. Not much is particularly known about the extent of his work as it was thousands of years ago, but what little that does remain shows that he was able to explain how a solar and lunar eclipse happened.
In Year 1, the children explored the solar eclipse; which is where the moon passes between the sun and the earth, blocking the sun.
In Year 2, the children explored the lunar eclipse which is where the earth gets between the sun and the moon and the moon turns red!
Both classes decided that if people had seen these phenomenon without Varahamihira's explanation, they would have been really afraid. Thanks to Varahamihira's empathy, and his discovery, we can now look at these events with scientific understanding!
Year 3: Jagadish Chandra Bose
Born 1858 in Bangladesh, India (and died 1937), Jagadish Chandra Bose was a pioneer in microwaves, radio waves and the extensive study of plants. There was so much that he had discovered and achieved, that in 2004- he was ranked 7th in a BBC poll of most influential Bengali people!
Year 3 looked at his work on radio waves and what uses radio waves. They reflected on why we are so grateful for the hard work of Jagadish Chandra Bose and how his work has shaped our world today.
Year 4: Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman
A more modern scientist (1888-1970) from Tamil Nadu, India, Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was a physicist known for his work on light scattering. He won the Nobel prize for Physics in 1930 and is best known for the Raman effect- which is how molecules can disrupt light waves.
Year 4 looked at the basics of the Raman effect by using triangular prisms to split the light into the coloured waves (which looked like rainbows!). Initially, the experiment didn't work at first but Year 4 used the value of resilience to try again! Just like true scientists, it worked eventually and the children were rewarded with beautiful rainbows around the classroom!
Year 5: Vikram Sarabhai
Born 1919 in Gujarat, India (and died 19871), Vikram Sarabhai was a key figure in launching India's first satellite into space! He also helped India use Nuclear power.
Year 5 did an investigation on designing their own rockets and tested to see how far they would fly! Maybe some of Year 5 may have the aspiration to study space too!
Year 6: Meghnad Saha
Born in Bangladesh (1893-1956), Meghnad Saha created the Saha equation: a mathematical formula for calculating the temperatures of stars. This helps astrologers to classify what type of stars they are!
Year 6 had to predict which stars would be the hottest before researching the real temperatures and answering questions about their research. It was a fantastic opportunity for Year 6 to apply their real life knowledge of heat and temperatures and they clearly set High expectations of themselves because the links that were made were fantastic!
Year 1 eclipse
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Year 5 rocket investigation
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Year 5 rocket investigation
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Year 6 Saha effect research
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Year 3 radio waves reflection
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Year 3 radio waves reflection
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Year 6 Saha effect research
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Year 3 radio waves reflection
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Year 4 splitting light
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Year 4 splitting light
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Year 4 splitting light
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British Science Week March 2023
Over British Science Week, we were lucky to have volunteers from Magnox- led by Mrs Shipton- to come and do a range of STEM activities with the children.
From Cartesian divers, to Brush monsters; our school came alive with Science and Technology! The children absolutely LOVED the experience and enjoyed all the problem solving, designing and exploring that each activity brought.
A huge thank you to Magnox and especially Mrs Shipton for making this week so memorable!
Update: February 2023
During the Autumn term of 2022, St Joseph's Science Club worked really hard on getting their CREST award investigations done. We had to complete 8 hours of investigations, which we all completed in 11 weeks!
Just before the Christmas holidays, we sent off evidence to prove we had done this, and at the end of January, the certificates arrived!
The certificates were presented to the 21 children who were in the Autumn term Science club in our celebration assembly.
However, Mrs Carr forgot to get a picture of all 21 children (sorry!), so pictured below are the Year 4 members of Autumn term Science club with their certificates and badges.
If your child received a CREST award certificate, we invite you to email a photo of them with their certificate to ADMIN or SLT so they can be included the website- thank you!
Year 4 Autumn Science club with CREST award certificate and badge!
Academic Year 2022-23: Science Club
As part of our Science Club, the children are working towards their CREST SuperStar award!
The SuperStar Awards are a great introduction to real life problem solving by encouraging children to work scientifically and explore the world around them. As with any area of science, the children need to show confidence and resilience- especially when the investigation goes in a different direction! The children are encouraged to create investigations and explore other routes, always investigating other possible ways to test their theories.
As the Club is for KS2, the children are given opportunities to work with children in different classes which sharpens their collaboration skills and empathy.
We look forward to awarding the children their awards very soon!