Science
'Encouraging our children to be confident and independent Scientists!'
Science Leader: Miss K Muir
If you would like to find out more about our Science curriculum, please contact Miss K Muir at kmuir@ridgeway.derby.sch.uk
At Ridgeway, we present Science as an exciting way of investigating and exploring the world around us. Children put on their lab coats and goggles to transform into real scientists.
All children learn about a wide range of topics and will develop their scientific enquiry skills through elements of the curriculum in KS1 such as living things and their habitats, animals including humans, plants, everyday materials and their uses and seasonal changes. In Reception, they develop these skills in the area of learning called ‘Understanding the World’.
We aim to develop children’s scientific skills through first hand practical experiences from their very first term in Reception. Children will take part in meaningful, fun investigations through which their ability to observe, predict, hypothesise, communicate and record will be developed. We also hope to foster responsible attitudes towards our environment and all living things.
National Science Week
In 2021, we celebrated National Science Week a little later in the year, in the Summer Term. We delivered two exciting, practical days dedicated to developing children as Scientists. We started off by each class learning all about a famous Scientist. These included famous icons such as Marie Curie, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein.
Over the two days, the real fun happened! Children completed a range of investigations and experiments which were all linked to a story. For example: we used the popular story 'Room on the Broom' by Julia Donaldson to create potions using bicarbonate of soda, food colouring and vinegar.
At the end of the week, teachers chose a member of their class to be awarded the 'Super Scientist' medal. This was given for their enthusiasm, science knowledge or teamwork amongst many other things that they demonstrated over the two days.
We are currently looking at planning our next Science Days as part of National Science Week 2022.