Science

"Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science." 

Edwin Powell Hubble (1889 - 1953) was an American astronomer known for his significant contribution to astronomy.

In science at Mitton Manor, we want the children to ask ‘big’ questions about the world around them, investigating natural phenomena and to be able to form their own opinions and conclusions.

We want children to develop their love of all aspects of science, developing a curiosity and a love of understanding of how the world works. We aim to bring our curriculum to life, through practical experiments, visits from experts or trips.

Children will develop a deeper understanding of scientific ideas, are able to ask their own scientific questions and choose an appropriate line of enquiry. Children will also understand that scientific ideas are ever changing.

We would like our pupils to leave Mitton Manor, with a firm foundation of scientific knowledge and a love of investigating and a thirst to find out more about the world that we live in and why things happen.

At Mitton Manor Primary School, we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects taught in primary schools, we give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires. The Scientific area of learning is concerned with increasing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of our world, and with developing skills associated with Science as a process of enquiry. It will develop the natural curiosity of the child, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence.

Mitton Manor Science Highlights

Science maintains a high profile at our school and as such, we engage in a STEM Week every academic year. Recent themes have included adaptation in living organisms and the use of electrical circuits in moving toys. In 2024-25, Y5 and Y6 even had the opportunity to design and build air-powered model cars with The Bloodhound Land-speed Record Team who are based in South Gloucestershire.

As part of our outreach and encouraging "Working Scientifically", KS2 children have also had the experience of designing simple experiments to be conducted by the Thales-Alenia Mars Project Team on their stratospheric weather balloon.

To ensure a consistent approach to skills and knowledge progression as well as effective coverage, we use the "Grammarsaurus Scheme of Work". This has been adopted across the school. We have also run Science Clubs for KS2 and lead science-themed assemblies. Science-linked trips are also a key feature of our coverage and these have recently included Techni-Quest and Cotswold Wildlife Park. Our current focus is "Working Scientifically" and the integration of the "Pupil Voice" to shape our science provision.

Important Science Curriculum Documents

Science at Mitton Manor

Science, as well as English and Maths, is one of the core subjects in our primary curriculum. It can be one of the most exciting and enjoyable subjects as it is also very practical too. The pupils at Mitton Manor love to learn by being hands on and finding out as much as they can for themselves. This certainly helps to develop an understanding of the world around them and a curious mind. All children are encourage to participate in activities, extending that curiosity and thirst for knowledge, hopefully encouraging them to develop that knowledge further as they grow older into secondary school and beyond

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In the EYFS, science is included within the Understanding the World area of learning. As with other learning in Reception, your child will mainly learn about science through games and play – which objects float and sink during water play, for example. Activities such as these will help your child to develop important skills such as observation, prediction and critical thinking.

The Science Curriculum

The content of science teaching and learning is set out in the 2014 National Curriculum for primary schools in England. Within this, certain topics and areas are repeated across year groups, meaning that children may revisit a particular topic in each year of primary school but with increasing difficulty and with a different focus each time.

For example, the area of animals, including humans is examined in every single year group, with a very clear progression of knowledge and understanding over the six years:
In Year 1 this involves: looking at the human body, recognising animal groups and sorting these animals.
By Year 6, this will have developed into knowing the internal structure of the human body in relation to circulation, classifying living things based on more complex characteristics and exploring scientific research into this classification.

How can I support my child in science?

1. Be interested

Each term every class will provide an overview of the topics being covered that term. Take an interest — find relevant books in the library or bookshop, do some research, brush up your own knowledge about the topic! Then you can have interesting conversations where you are both learning at the same time.

2. Take a trip

Why not take a trip to a science museum, a zoo or an aquarium? These don’t necessarily need to be completely related to what they are learning about at school. Any visit can help their curiosity and engagement with science generally.

3. Make it personal

Find out about famous scientists and research unique and exciting inventions up to and including the present day. Who knows, you may have the next Stephen Hawking or Marie Curie at home!

4. Get hands-on

Look up fun, practical science experiments you can do at home with everyday objects.

For example:

• Ask ‘What happens when you mix food colouring in milk?’ Then add washing up liquid and watch what happens.
• Why not try making your own mini exploding volcano? Just add bicarbonate of soda, food colouring, washing up liquid and vinegar. Then stand back and watch the eruption!
• Cooking is also a great opportunity to mix ingredients, add heat and examine changing states.
• Try exploring changing states with ice and water to begin to see those changes that can be reversed and those that can’t.
• A real favourite would have to be ‘gloop’ — use water and cornflour (add food colouring too if needed) to explore solids and liquids. Just be prepared to get messy!
• Of course, there are also some wonderful science kits available to buy to push your scientists further – making crystals, rockets and even bouncy balls.

Anything where they can be hands-on and see the science happen in front of their eyes is guaranteed to get them interested.

Further support and useful web links

• The National Curriculum for science
• for video clips and activities
• The Science Museum for information, games etc.
• The Children’s University of Manchester Science pages
• The Royal Institute’s annual Christmas lectures make science real for children and are available online, along with lots of other educational goodies
• National Geographic Kids