You can view or download our Science Long Term Plan by clicking the link below:
Science-Curriculum overview with Golden Threads
Ropery-Walk-Science-LTP-2025-26
Science Knowledge Matrices Y1-6
Working scientifically matrix – Y1 – 6
Our aim is to increase the children’s knowledge and understanding of their immediate environment and the world at large. The children will be encouraged to develop scientific skills including observing, enquiring and experimenting. Studies of the local environment, animals, plants, forces and the elements will be included in this aspect of the curriculum.
In a school curriculum, “golden threads” are key concepts or skills that are revisited, built upon, and connected across multiple subjects and grade levels, creating a sense of coherence and continuity. These threads, such as scientific skills or specific knowledge, ensure that students build deeper understanding over time, moving from shallow to deeper understanding by making connections between what they learned in the past and what they are currently learning.
The golden threads of the science curriculum are established in EYFS. Pupils begin to develop an understanding of science through understanding of the world, in particular through stories, real life experiences, observations and exploring.
Working Scientifically and Scientific Knowledge
Working scientifically (or investigative skills) focuses on an understanding of practical investigation and the skills needed in order to do so. These skills include, observing, investigating, classification, asking and answering questions, exploring data and working as a team through practical learning. Scientific knowledge is the understanding of scientific facts and phenomena and responding to questions about their scientific learning.
EYFS
In the EYFS, the building blocks to Science are taught through ‘Communication and Language’, ‘Physical Development’ and ‘Understanding the world’.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, pupils will experience, observe and investigate the world around them through first-hand practical experiences as well as secondary sources such as books, photographs or videos. They will be encouraged to be curious, ask questions, investigate through different types of scientific enquiry and use simple scientific language. Scientific Knowledge: Plants, Animals incl. humans, Everyday materials, Seasonal changes, Living things and their habitats
Lower Key Stage 2
In Lower Key Stage 2, pupils continue learning about the world around them through exploring, discussion, testing and developing ideas. Pupils will continue to develop working scientifically skills by deciding which type of enquiry is most suitable, drawing conclusions and using increasing scientific vocabulary to discuss and write about their learning.
Scientific Knowledge: Plants, Animals incl. humans, Rocks, Light, Forces and magnets, Living things and their habitats, States of matter, Sound, Electricity
Upper Key Stage 2
In Upper Key Stage 2, pupils develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas through exploring and discussion; asking questions; and analysing functions, relationships and interactions more systematically. They will encounter more abstract ideas and begin to recognise how these ideas help them to understand and predict how the world around them works. They also recognise that scientific ideas change and develop over time.
Pupils will select the most appropriate ways to answer science questions using different types of scientific enquiry and draw conclusions based on their data and observations, using
evidence to justify their ideas, and scientific knowledge, understanding and vocabulary to explain their findings.
Scientific Knowledge: Living things and their habitats, Animals incl. humans, Properties and changes of materials, Earth and Space, Forces, Evolution and inheritance, Light, Electricity.