Science

Our aim is that all children:

• engage in a high-quality science education that provides the foundation for their understanding of the world;
• are equipped with the skills for lifelong learning;
• are developed in curiosity, enjoyment, scientific skills and a growing understanding of science knowledge, through an approach in which pupils raise questions and investigate the world in which they live;
• apply their own knowledge across a wide and varied curriculum;
• are confident in the investigative skills required to explore the wider world.

At Balgowan, children build up a body of key foundational knowledge, concepts and skills, with a particular focus on the teaching of practical science.  We aim to foster a sense of excitement and curiosity for the world around them, encouraging children to explore, question, predict, investigate, research and draw their own conclusions.

Our aim is to provide the foundation for the science capital required so children can make a successful transition to secondary school and beyond into the wider world. We support this by adding a rich variety of experiences within lessons, as well as through the use of outdoor learning space, extra-curricular activities and visits from respected scientific institutions.  We also encourage links to be made at home to support and embed the concepts learnt in school through the setting of varied homework tasks and experiences.

Within each Key Stage, we study the following topics:

• Biology: Plants; Animals (inc. Humans); Living Things and their Habitats; Evolution & Inheritance
• Physics: Everyday Materials & their Properties; Electricity; Light; Forces (inc. Magnetism & Sound);
• Chemistry: States of Matter; Changes of State
• Earth Science: Rocks, Seasonal changes; Earth & Space

In addition, working scientifically and researching the work of inspirational scientists, both past and present, is woven into the curriculum at all stages.