Science
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Mr Scott Markham
Science Lead
Heamoor School has been awarded a PSQM award - a recognition of the hard work and achievement of all our teaching staff who deliver fantastic Science experiences for the children in school! A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helps make Science great at Heamoor!
Science Intent and Implementation
At Heamoor, we asked our parents, children, governors and staff to help us understand when Science works best. We used the answers to help us to create our vision for Science.
Our intent for Science:
Children can ask questions, explore, experiment and discover new things for themselves!
It is fun and exciting!
We work together so everyone can learn.
It relates to the real world.
We can explain our learning in lots of ways!
To help the children develop key skills within Working Scientifically and to ensure they are working towards a strong understanding of the different types of enquiry, we use the following documents:
Progression of Skills
Within Key Stage 1, our children will develop their Working Scientifically skills by sparking their curiosity through a range of interesting experiments, some adult-led and some they can complete themselves! We encourage them to ask questions, notice and observe, use language they know and introduce Scientific vocabulary. We refer to the five types of enquiry to help build their understanding of the types of enquiry and ensure Science is fun, interactive and interesting!
Within Key Stage 2, in Years 3 and 4, our children build upon their previous understanding of enquiry type and conduct more experiments, learning to ask questions and consider their own experiments. They observe, record and measure with more accuracy and in a range of ways.
In Years 5 and 6, the children use their knowledge of enquiry types to plan and conduct their own range of experiments, considering safety, equipment, how best to gather information and how to display it clearly. They understand variables that can be controlled to conduct fair tests and raise more questions from their findings. They also conduct their own research using Scientific vocabulary to understand changes in scientific thinking through time, differentiating opinion from fact and looking for evidence to support their ideas and refute others.
By using the structure of Working Scientifically to build on the skills through each year within Chemistry, Physics and Biology as well as five clear types of enquiry, the children can become confident Scientists at Heamoor School.
Coverage of Curriculum
We LOVE Science at Heamoor! As well as teaching Science through our Topics, we also have 3 Science Weeks EVERY year.
For 2021 - 22 the dates are:
w/b 1st November - Chemistry
w/b 28th February - Physics
w/b 6th June - Biology
These weeks give our children the opportunity to spend lots of time working on their scientific skills as well as learning the content expected within their year group. For a breakdown of Science covered through the year, please see the document below. Don't forget to scroll down for a breakdown of the Science Weeks and lots of lovely photos of our children LOVING Science at Heamoor!
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Mr Scott Markham
Science Lead/Year 6 Teacher
We had SO much fun in our Chemistry Week 2021!
Red class enjoyed being Scientists this week, one of the children said that Science is "when we test things." We looked at observations over time. We predicted what would happen if we put droplets of food colouring into oil. We predicted that they would mix together and make a rainbow but to our surprise it stayed on top of the oil in small blobs. We then poured it into a glass jug of warm water and were fascinated to see all the blobs of food colouring float on top and then pop to make firework patterns! Some children wanted to test out other ways such as using cold water and only using one colour. We had lots of fun and enjoyed predicting and trying new ways of doing things.
Orange Class spent the week performing simple tests, making observations and asking relevant questions. They took part in many practical enquiries, ending with their own firework party!
Yellow Class had so much fun finding out about everyday materials this week. We were able to make our own boats out of these materials, exploring which materials were waterproof. We took part in fun experiments, melting ice and changing shape of solid materials such as play dough.
Green Class spent the week focussing on Chemistry, and the science behind rocks, fossils, and soil. We spent a lot of time identifying the three types of rock, and how to recognise and classify the differences between them. We were lucky enough to study some real fossils, and found out about the process of fossilisation, as well as the different types of fossils you might find. We finished the week by looking at the formation of soil, the different types of soil, and how permeable these soils are. We absolutely loved getting our hands dirty during science week!
Blue Class enjoyed exploring solids, liquids and gases and acting out their particles. We had fun soaking Mr Dorrit in coke, when we put Mentos inside a balloon on top of a coke bottle, to see the reaction. We explored the difference in weight between fizzy drinks and flat drinks and we experimented with melting ice and chocolate. We had a lot of fun and can't wait to do some more science!
Indigo Class spent the week focussing on experiments and enquiry based on chemical changes. We carried out the following investigations:
- an ‘observation over time’ enquiry to investigate the effect of different drinks on teeth;
- making ‘lava lamps’ involving mixing different liquids and solids and describing the effects and chemical changes;
- making ‘balloon magic’ by creating carbon dioxide gas using bicarbonate of soda and vinegar;
- finding out what materials make the best thermal insulators with a focus on ‘fair testing’ and ‘observations over time’;
- identifying soluble/insoluble materials
Violet Class looked at Working Scientifically and the Five Types of Enquiry. We conducted experiments in class for each enquiry type, asked questions based on our findings and planned our own experiments!
We thought about safety, the materials required and the best way to find out what we wanted to know. We also considered the audience for our experiments because we went to another classroom and conducted an experiment with the younger children! It was brilliant! We learned so much and had such a good time becoming Scientists for the week!
ANOTHER FANTASTIC SCIENCE WEEK - WELL DONE, HEAMOOR!
Our Biology Week was so much fun with experiments, trips and lots of learning!
In Orange Class, we have been classifying herbivores, omnivores and carnivores this week and talking about the differences between them. We also re-capped on lifecycles this week, making comparisons between them- including ours! On our trip, we looked at habitats of local creatures in rock pools and talked about the importance of preserving them! We had so much fun and learned lots!
In Yellow Class, for this Science week we built on some of our project knowledge, and continued to develop our understanding of habitats, and how these are best suited to individual species. We completed a brilliantly successful minibeast hunt in the woodlands, and went back the following day to construct our very own microhabitats that would be suitable for the minibeasts we found. On Wednesday we visited Marazion beach and developed our knowledge of the marine creatures that make their homes in rockpools, and why these rockpools are suitable for the creatures. On Thursday we returned to the woodland to assess how well our microhabitats had withstood the elements, and if they had become home to any minibeasts (they had!).
Green Class had so much fun this week exploring humans, animals, habitats, food and nutrition. We enjoyed our 'rainbow flowers' experiment where we observed over time, finding out what would happen if we put food colouring into water and put a flower into the pot. We explored how water travels through plants. We loved exploring plants, their features and their purposes. We became confident with understanding how food chains work and how animals are suited to their habitats. We took part in a plant and flower hunt in our beautiful woodland!
Blue Class had another home learning Science Week and the children were fantastic! They looked at food chains and classification of animals in a range of ways. They even made up their own animals, drew and labelled them, considering whether they were carnivores, omnivores or herbivores. We are really proud of Blue Class for all their excellent learning whilst being at home and their enthusiasm for Biology!
Indigo Class were very busy. Through the week they:
Did lots of classifying by:
• creating databases of chosen plants/animals using 2investigate;
• scavenging leaves in the woodland area and classifying and reclassifying them into various groups;
• reading and creating branching databases of living things.
Researched by:
• finding out about David Attenborough’s life and career;
• using books to research a chosen animal and presenting findings to the class;
• Watching an episode of Planet Earth 2.
They also learned about the life cycle of mammals, birds, amphibians and insects and the children drew the life cycle of a chosen animal.
Violet Class enjoyed their end of year trips so we did not have Science Week with the rest of the school. However, we have completed a whole morning of Science activities based on our Topic of water! We looked at how water moves, what happens when warm water meets cold water, how things in the water are affected by additives such as pollution and even 'polluted' our water with a range of materials from hot chocolate, paint and plastic. We recapped the names and locations of the oceans and discussed the interconnectedness of the world's water, human affect on it, plastic pollution and throughout our morning of experiments, we ensured our observations and our findings were recorded!
As well as ALL this, we have also been looking at human biology through our Jigsaw PSHE! Phew! What a busy time!
WELL DONE to EVERYONE for another amazing Science Week!
Our Physics Science Week looked very different this year due to the children learning from home! Although it was trickier for the children to complete some elements of the curriculum such as circuits, the teachers at Heamoor still managed to give the children lots of opportunity to discover new things, conduct experiments and learn with other members of their families!
Orange Class focused on using Working Scientifically through using Scientific vocabulary to describe their findings, looking at colours and textures in their learning.
Yellow Class listened to George's Marvellous Medicine and completed lots of practical experiments including making sweets, string telephones, straw rainbows as well as thinking about Working Scientifically all week.
Year 3 found out about light - looking at shadows, reflective surfaces, light and asked lots of questions about the sun and sun safety! They designed their own sunglasses to protect their eyes and created a shadow show!
Blue Class looked (or should that be listened to?) lots of ideas about sound - they considered loud, quiet, high and low pitch as well as frequency. They conducted experiments and research to find out the loudest animal on Earth and discussed reliability of sources!
Indigo Class looked at different forces through the week including air resistance and friction, making their own straw rockets and considering the best material to keep an egg safe on a flight in an egg basket! They conducted LOTS of practical experiments and focused on fair test - changing the variable. Year 5 also conducted research on famous black physicists and looked at Earth and Space, discussed the heliocentric view vs the geocentric view and the universe (phew!).
Violet Class studied light and shadows, delving into how light moves, why shadows take the shape of the object that makes them and how best to show our understanding as well as teach others (which included a shadow puppet show too followed by our observations all about shadows). Year 6 completed mini-quizzes, made posters, video presentations, 3D models and observations through the week! Our Home Learning grid was a combination of ALL five types of enquiry and Working Scientifically and the children conducted a range of experiments including researching a range of questions generated through the week!
Well done, Heamoor! You have shown that your love of Science through your hard work at home and made us proud!
What the children say about Science at Heamoor
After each Science Week, Miss Shields always asks the children to give their opinion about Science, how it is taught and what would make it better. Here is what the children had to say about Science:
97% of the whole school enjoyed Chemistry Week
96% of those asked enjoyed Physics Week
The best parts of Science are (according to the children):
- the experiments
- learning new things
- it's fun
- being proud of the work completed
The majority of children also stated that Science is an important subject and that they enjoyed it even if they did not want a job in Science when they grew up! This shows that the children acknowledge the role of Science as a vital subject whether or not they felt they were going to be a scientist when they are older.
And what would make it better? Overwhelmingly, the response was...
EVEN MORE:
- experiments
- Science
- Science Weeks
Thank you everyone! We are SO pleased you enjoy Science so much that you just want EVEN MORE than 3 separate weeks dedicated to the subject as well as your regular Science lessons within the term!
We asked the children to complete the sentence Science is...
This word cloud represents the most common responses:
Home Learning
As well as conducting LOTS of experiments during Science Week, our children have been completing Science throughout lockdown too! Here is just a selection of fantastic examples of our AWESOME Heamoor Scientists' efforts!
In Class
Mars Day - 18th March
Indigo Class took part in Mars day in March! They watched a fascinating Q and A with Tim Peake, the astronaut, finding out about life in space and training to be ready for such a difficult and rewarding profession!
After this, the children were also challenged to work in groups to figure out where to land the Perseverance rover on Mars! They had to consider the formation of the land from rivers of water which once ran through the planet, the elevation of the land and many other factors to ensure the safe arrival of the rover!
The children had a fantastic day and worked well in their groups with this difficult challenge! Well done, Indigo!
Local Learning
To help link Science with the real world and celebrate this amazing subject within our amazing county, we try to link our learning with places around us.
In previous years, this has included:
Geevor Mine, Penzance - we have had visitors from the mine visit us for a cross-curricular discussion of mining life and history as well as Year 3 visiting to further their understanding of rock types.
Porthcurno Museum - links with electricity, telegraphs and communication, this visit has helped a range of year groups to appreciate the importance of Science in Cornwall's communication history.
We also try to link with our local secondary schools, Mounts Bay Academy and Humphry Davy School to show the children the next steps in their Science journey!