Science at St Francis de Sales
'The important thing is, to never stop questioning' Albert Einstein
Our scientists will:
- Be curious about the natural and humanly constructed world around them.
- Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding
- Work scientifically
- Begin to understand the importance of science in their world
- Begin to develop a specialist scientific vocabulary
Click here for our Science Intent, Implementation & Impact Statement 2024
Click here for our Science Policy
Click here for our Progression in Science
Click here for our Science Vocabulary
Check out what Science we are doing in our school.
Autumn 2
Reception - The children will use the book Owl Babies to explore owls and other birds of prey, with a visit from a local falconry! This will also be an opportunity for the children to explore the concept of Life Cycles.
Year 1 - The children will begin this block with a Wow Start in the form of a visit to Chester Zoo! The children will then begin to learn about the 5 basic animal groups and use their characteristics to make comparisons..
Year 2 - The children will begin by exploring different bulbs before planting them ahead of an Observation over Time which they will revisit in the Summer. They will then begin looking at different plants and animals in their own habitats and micro-habitats and identify what makes them suitable to live there.
Future Scientist Alert
Meet James from Year 2, a future superstar of Science who attended Science Club with Mr T last year. One of our experiments had been to see whether seeds needed light to germinate and having discovered that they didn’t, James took the seedlings home and cared and nurtured them until they became tomato plants. Well done James!
Year 2 - Animals inc Humans
Year Two have enjoyed looking at the 5 basic food groups that we can split our foods into. The children explored ‘Food Pyramids’ that allow us to see how much we should eat of each group as part of a balanced diet.
Year One Weather Reporters
Year One have continued their exploration of the seasons by looking at Winter this week. Having discovered why we experience winter and how this brings about changes in the weather and in nature, the children had a go at producing weather reports for Winter. Be warned it sounds like we’ll need to wrap up this year!
Reception - Autumn 1
Reception were introduced to the text ‘Pumpkin Soup’ by Helen Cooper. They then had the opportunity to explore lots of different types of Autumn vegetables, using their senses to describe how they felt and smelt and talking about whether they had tried them before. The children were then able to prepare and chop some of these vegetables, witnessing how they will change once boiled and blended. Some of us even got to try what it tasted like!
Year 1 - Observation over Time.
Over the last few weeks Year One have been using rain gauges to record the rainfall we receive each week. In Week 1 we observed 30mm of rain and in Week 2, only 3mm. Come back soon to hear whether the weather gets better or worse!
Observation Update
Year One have now completed our 5 week observation of the rainfall in Autumn 1. Having looked back at our findings we then used maths resources to represent each week to give us a clearer view of what we’d recorded. Watch this space for more weather observations across the year!
Have a look below to see what we got up to in Science last year (23-24).
Year 2 Science Club - Paper Aeroplanes & Rockets.
Following on from our successful Y1 Science Club, this half term it’s been the turn of Y2. Day 1 was an attempt at the World Record for the longest paper aeroplane flight. While the current record of 88 meters is still intact, we still managed an impressive 18 meters (wind assisted).
The following week was Y2’s attempt at Mr T’s famous rocket experiment. Sadly a hole in our rockets cork prevented the build up of gas we were hoping for, resulting in a less than impressive flight! We still got to see how the two elements created a chemical reaction however, so that was fun!
Year 1 at the Storybarn
Year 1 visited the Storybarn in Calderstones Park this week to encourage a life-long love of reading. While we were at the park we put on our 'science hats' to explore the Sensory Garden using our senses to enjoy all the sounds and smells on offer. We were also able to enjoy an open air reading of a science related book. There's always time for Science at St Francis de Sales Infants!
Science Club - What do seeds need to germinate?
Last week Science Club posed the question whether seeds needed soil or sun to grow. Most of the children thought that they would so we set up an experiment to see if they were right. Look at what we found just one week later! We now know that seeds can grow without either soil or light provided they have water!
Year One - Science Club (Summer 1)
Science Club continued this Week with Mr T’s famous ‘Bottle Rocket’ experiment! The children explored how mixing vinegar and bicarbonate of soda created a chemical reaction strong enough to propel our rocket! We also learned that science doesn’t always work the first time, as it took a second launch to see our rocket take flight!
Year 1 - Plants (Summer 1)
Year 1 have begun our 'plants' topic by exploring how plants develop first from seeds. The children began by classifying different seeds and then planted these so that we can watch them develop into seedlings over the next few weeks.
Year 1 - Science Club (Summer 1)
Year 1 began our Science Club this week by exploring the famous ‘Skittles’ experiment. The group made predictions and explored how the results were affected by changing the temperature of the water.
Year 2 (Living things and their habitats - Spring 2)
Year 2 enjoyed learning about the Ocean as a habitat and how it is a home to many different creatures (not just fish). By using what they learnt in the lesson and carrying out their own research using non fiction texts and the internet, the children were challenged to complete a cross section of the ocean, adding some of the creatures that might be found at different depths.
Year One Materials (Spring 2)
Year One have been exploring how different materials are used for different purposes. Watch our videos below to see three lessons exploring which materials would make the best walls, roof and windows for the home of the 'Three Little Pigs'.
Stop the Block! (Spring 1)
We were joined in school by the team from Mad Science, for an assembly entitled 'Stop the Block'. The children learned about what should and shouldn't be put down the toilet, in order to become part of the solution to the problems experienced with our drains and sewers across the North West. From now on it's only the '3 Ps' - Pee, Poo and (toilet) Paper!
Year One - Classifying Animals (Autumn 2)
Reception - Autumn 2
Using the texts 'Owl Babies' and 'The Owl who was afraid of the Dark' as a hook, Reception have enjoyed exploring the 'Natural World' by taking part in activities that introduce scientific concepts such as animal habitats, life cycles and nocturnal animals, as well as a visit from some Birds of Prey!
Science Week 2023 10th-19th March 2023
Science at Home
Please use these resources to provide your children with the chance to revisit their science learning from across the year.
We use Knowledge Organisers for each topic to promote discussion and provide visual reminders and also to outline the key knowledge and scientific vocabulary that we want children to retain.
The chance to revisit and rehearse new knowledge and vocabulary supports children in securing this knowledge into their long term memories. This knowledge then supports further learning connected to the topic and subject.
Vocabulary games ideas using the Knowledge Organisers
• Who am I? Choose a key word. Other people have to ask you question to find out which key word you are.
• Who am I? (alternative). Write a key word on a sticky note and place on another’s forehead. Ask questions of the other players to find out which key word you are.
• Splat. Write some key words on small pieces of paper and spread out on the floor. Describe the word without saying it, e.g. I am a process that describes a seed beginning to grow. Players look for the right word (germination) and then place their hand on top to win the card.
• If the answer is… , what is the question? Choose a key word, place in the sentence stem and then think of questions. E.g. if the answer is leaf, what is the question?
Knowledge Organiser - Year 2 Plants Spring Term
Online learning
BBC Bitesize has a number of games, video clips and information to support the topic areas.
• Years 1 and 2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z6svr82