Science

Investigating, experimenting and analysing

Whether in the classroom, the laboratory or outside among nature, there is a buzz among pupils in every Science lesson.

Investigation is at the core of the curriculum and the children have explored so many interesting topics through practical experiments and research led by an enthusiastic team of Science teachers.

Highlights in year 3 have included growing their own plants from beans, comparing how well they

have grown in different conditions in the classroom and hopefully many will be inspired to help with the garden at home this summer.

The children in year 4 have learned more about the physical and chemical processes we see every day, from melting chocolate to burning candles. They have also looked carefully at the natural world and many imitated Sir David Attenborough in observing minibeasts around the school grounds. When year 5 look back on their year, many remember the visual, if vivid, dissection of a sheep’s heart in the Spring. Showing the pupils this important organ made it even more relatable to describe how we can stay healthy and what the benefits of exercise and a balanced diet can be.

Year 6 have had their first year exploring the separate disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Their first foray into the senior Sciences involves many practical investigations and independent ideas. In Chemistry, the pupils have

made their own indicators from red cabbage to test for acids, alkali and neutral substances. In Physics, one memorable lesson involved making rainbows with refracted light just as Sir Isaac Newton had done to show the spectrum of light.

Pupils in year 7 launched into learning about separating mixtures, applying the knowledge to separating the inks in their pens with chromatography. The colourful chemistry creates beautiful patterns to show the different dyes. In Biology, a true highlight was the creativity when they were asked to create a model of an animal cell. The children used Lego, origami, papiermâché and even the videogame Minecraft to create detailed models of the cells and their components.

At the top of our school, year 8 have been able to carry out intricate experiments to demonstrate complex ideas, such as reacting metals with acids. A particular joy was watching them learn more about the natural world with a focus one

ecology. Understanding the delicate balance between populations of a species and their habitat has brought home just how precious life on our planet really is. The year 8 pupils have looked carefully at how conservation is applied in situ and have written thoughtful pieces on the role of humans as caretakers of this miraculous world.

In Biology, a true highlight was the creativity when they were asked to create a model of an animal cell. The children used Lego, origami, papier-mâché and even the videogame Minecraft to create detailed models of the cells and their components.