Hatherleigh Community Primary School Caring about learning and learning to care
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Science
At Hatherleigh we understand the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life, how it has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future. We know that for the children to become scientists, they not only need knowledge, but also the skills to work scientifically and opportunities for these skills and knowledge to be applied through a progressive curriculum.
Our aim is to develop enquiring minds and curiosity about science and the natural world through memorable and practical learning experiences. Our children develop the skills of scientific enquiry (across the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics) to plan and carry out scientific investigations and evaluate scientific evidence to draw conclusions.
Science Curriculum Overview and Vocabulary Progression
Science Progression of Skills, Knowledge and Understanding
2024 - 25
British Science Week 2025
All classes celebrated British Science Week 2025 spectacularly this term. We immersed ourselves in science talk and experiments, and built on our scientific skills and knowledge focussing on this year’s theme of ‘Change and Adapt’. We also considered the questions - What is science? And What is a scientist?
Our science-filled week included: building wormeries, growing new leaves on a carrot, a desert island experiment to demonstrate the water cycle, smashing science stereotypes, paper chain engineering, chemical reactions to create volcano eruptions, testing heart rates, learning names of scientists from entomologists to marine biologists, a visit to year 5 from the chairman of the North Devon Astronomical Society, upcycling t-shirts into bags, sound spoons, colour mixing, slime, fizzing reactions, reflective materials, water xylophones and planting potatoes … and a whole lot more scientific talk and thinking!
We concluded our focus on Science with the whole school visiting a Space Odyssey Voyager Dome where the children experienced an amazing 3D journey through the solar system.
2022-2023
Spring term. Oaks class have worked really hard learning all about electricity and circuits. They have tested items to see which are conductors and insulators and then at the end of term combined their knowledge with their understanding of Romans to create their own Interactive Electric Roman board game.
Oaks class experimented with string telephones as part of their unit on sound.
World Space week 2022
Planting
2020 - 2021
Hawthorns looked for evidence to see who had stolen the bone....
For Science week the Chestnuts helped to solve a crime!
Poplars investigated the power of magnets.
2019 - 2020
Poplars made their own compass using a plastic pot, a bar magnet and a tray of water.
Static electricity
Chestnuts made monster slime
4.2.20 Poplars class investigated the strength of magnets by seeing how many paperclips they could attract in a chain.
4.2.20 We were joined by Professor Mirri for a fascinating Science assembly all about air pressure.
Chestnuts used touch to guess what was inside each balloon
A part of their topic on materials, Willows investigated which materials were waterproof.
Beeches were investigating how different layers of bubble wrap affected its insulating properties.
As part of their Light topic, Poplars have been investigating changing the size, clarity and direction of shadows.
Beeches tested nappies to see which brand was the most absorbent.
2018-2019
Whole school Science investigation. Every class was given the challenge of making a boat that would float and to find the maximum number of 'passengers' it could hold.
Professor Schnaffle 'wowed' us all with experiments using bubbles. Mr P was volunteered by the children to get involved with the dangerous experiment. The Fizz Pop Science club starts after half term.
Poplars had fun investigating the permeability of different soils.
Poplars investigated the size of 'craters' created by dropping balls in sand.
Year 3 and 4's Christmas production showcased what they had been learning in Science. The songs and plays were about rocks and fossils, the digestive system, skeletons and electricity.
Year 4 were fascinated by what they found when they dissected owl pellets.
Science opportunities at Hatherleigh Primary School
