Science Curriculum Intent Statement

At St Joseph’s, our science curriculum is designed to nurture children’s curiosity about the world and help them develop secure scientific knowledge and skills. Children in Key Stage 1 build a strong foundation in understanding themselves, living things, materials, and the natural environment.

Our intent is that ALL children will:

1. Know More

• Develop secure knowledge of key scientific concepts such as plants, animals, materials, habitats, and seasonal changes.
• Build understanding step by step, revisiting and deepening ideas across Cycle A (Human Senses, Everyday Materials, Seasonal Changes, Plant Parts, Animal Parts) and Cycle B (Human Survival, Habitats, Uses of Materials, Plant Survival, Animal Survival).
• Use precise scientific vocabulary to describe, explain and discuss their learning.

2. Do More

• Learn to work scientifically by asking questions, making predictions, observing closely, testing ideas, gathering evidence, and drawing conclusions.
• Take part in hands-on enquiries that develop both knowledge and skills — for example, testing everyday materials, exploring habitats in our school grounds, or investigating what plants need to grow.
• Apply science in meaningful contexts across the curriculum, making connections with maths, English, geography, and design & technology.

3. Remember More

• Retain and recall key knowledge through regular revisiting, knowledge organisers, and retrieval activities.
• Build long-term understanding of scientific concepts so that they are well prepared for Key Stage 2.
• Use prior knowledge to make sense of new ideas and explain changes in the world around them (e.g. seasonal change, growth, survival).

4. Be Inspired by Science

• Develop a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world.
• Recognise how science relates to their own lives (e.g. healthy living, caring for animals, making safe material choices).
• Gain early insight into the role of science in wider society and the environment.