Subject Philosophy
At the British School Manila we recognise the relevance of Science at a global, national, local and personal level and how a scientific understanding can inspire students to develop enquiring minds. The investigative and practical nature of the subject provides opportunities for students to explore and learn through various approaches. Science encourages students to think creatively and be resourceful, through processing information, reasoning, questioning and evaluating, in order to solve a range of scientific problems.
In Key Stages 1 and 2, the emphasis in Science is on scientific knowledge, enquiry and skill development. Children develop knowledge of scientific ideas, processes and skills which they are then able to relate to everyday experiences and the wider world. Children are taught to be curious about things they observe and to explore their environment with all their senses.
Curriculum overview
We operate a spiral curriculum where children revisit and build upon topics and skills taught in previous years. Children progress from explaining their ideas and observations in simple, everyday language to using precise, technical and scientific vocabulary and symbols.
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Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Year 6 |
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Term 1 |
Pushes and Pulls Ourselves |
Sorting and using Materials Variation |
Teeth and Healthy Eating Helping Plants Grow Well |
Movement and Growing Circuits and Conductors |
Changing Sound Gases around us |
Reversible and irreversible changes Keeping Healthy Micro-organisms |
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Term 2 |
Sorting and using Materials Light and Dark |
Health and Growth Forces and Movement |
Light and Shadows Characteristics of Materials |
Friction Keeping Warm |
Changing State Earth, Sun and Moon |
Forces Electricity |
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Term 3 |
Growing Plants Sound and Hearing |
Plants and animals in the local Environment Using Electricity |
Rocks and Soils Magnets and Springs |
Habitats Solids, Liquids and Gases |
Life Cycles Light and How We See |
Interdependence and Adaptation Growing and Changing |
Classroom practice
We want children to be competent investigators and experimenters and therefore practical experiments are an integral part of the Key Stage One and Two Science curriculum. Children are encouraged to ask questions, make predictions and consider fair testing when carrying out experiments. They are giving the opportunity to explore different methods of recording results which they then analyse and draw conclusions from. Children are given opportunities to work individually, in pairs and in groups and are given time to discuss their findings and conclusions.
Assessment Assessment for Learning is used throughout each topic. At the end of each topic, Key Stage 2 children are assessed according the key objectives relating to that unit of work. Feedback is given to Science is timetabled for two lessons per week of 40-60 minutes. Where relevant, the use of ICT is encouraged and wherever possible cross-curricular links are made.