Science

Our Science Vision

Pupils and staff worked together to come up with a Science vision statement. This is a promise to each other about what Science teaching and learning will look like at St Patrick’s. You can read our vision statement below.

Approaches to Scientific Enquiry:

In order to conduct a scientific enquiry, children should be able to identify and choose the best approach for the question they are answering. There are six approaches in total. At St Patrick’s, we want children to be able to explain each approach and identify which one they are using when conducting an enquiry. These approaches are outlined below:

Comparative/fair testing

This skill is used to identify a causal relationship between two variables. One variable is identified and changed and the effect it has on another variable is observed or measured.

Research

This skill allows us to answer questions that are impossible or unsafe to answer using first hand experiences. Therefore, we need to use secondary resources to conduct research.

Observation over time

This skill helps us to identify and measure changes in living things, materials and physical processes and events. These observations may take place over time spans from minutes or hours.

Pattern-seeking

This skill involves observing, measuring and recording evidence to look for links between variables which are not associated by one causing the other.

Identifying, grouping and classifying

This skill helps us to make sense of the world by sorting into categories, often answering yes or no questions.

Problem-solving

This skill involves following a series of steps to find a solution or answer a question.

Working Scientifically:

There are also seven ‘working scientifically’ skills. Children can be developing more than one of these skills at a given time. They will need to develop these skills in order to successfully conduct scientific enquiries using the approaches above. The working scientifically skills are: