St Clare's Science Principles and Vision

At St Clare's there is a clear vision for science, we place great emphasis on investigative skills in science. It is important that children understand scientific methods and are able to conduct fair tests with accuracy.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage science is experienced through the `knowledge and understanding of the world` area of learning. We aim to create a stimulating environment that encourages children to develop an interest in the environment around them both indoors and outdoors.

In Key Stage 1 we encourage the children to look more closely at the world around them, to become more curious and begin to ask questions. In Key Stage 2 we continue to develop scientific thinking and scientific working..

Throughout both key stages, children learn how to make comparisons and identify similarities and differences; make careful observations and draw conclusions from their observations; make predictions and suggest questions that can be tested; plan and carry out investigations with fair tests; collect evidence and present results and draw conclusions. Our main aim is for the children to explore their curiosities about the wider world.

Children learn about physical processes, life and living processes and materials and their properties.

Knowledge in science is learnt through a combination of experiment based learning, class teaching and using software to explain factual information and test learning.

Science Intent, Implement and Impact Statement

Science Curriculum Overview

Progression in Science Learning

This document shows the progression in science learning at St Clare's RC Primary School, beginning in EYFs all the way up to Upper Key Stage two. This is the learning journey that will be taken, and the coverage of the substantive knowledge in all three key areas of primary science; Chemistry, Physics and Biology.

Science Enhancement Opportunities

Take a look at the science enhancement opportunities that tie in really well with your child's current learning in science. If you complete any of these fun activities, or any of your own please do send any photos to k.salza@st-clares.manchester.sch.uk We would love to see science taking place outside of the classroom!

PSQM Outreach Award

We have received confirmation that we have successfully achieved theb PSQM Outreach award! This is fantastic news. Keep your eyes peeled for all of the fun and exciting science lessons, activites and challanges that will take place throughout the year.

Eco-Links & Sustainability in Our Science Curriculum

At our school, we are dedicated to helping our pupils understand the natural world and empowering them to become informed, active caretakers of our planet.

Our Science Eco & Sustainability Overview poster highlights how environmental education, biodiversity, and sustainability are woven seamlessly throughout our science curriculum—from early exploration in Nursery through to global climate research in Year 6.

Bincredible's Recycling Mission at St Clare's

This week (28th September), we were lucky enough to receive a very special visit from R4GM! They joined us for a whole-school assembly, but with a main focus on the children in KS2.

The energy in the hall was fantastic, as the presenters from R4GM talked all about the importance of reducing, reusing, and, of course, recycling. They made the serious business of caring for our planet both informative and lots of fun.

Check out the pictures to see our children in action, learning about different materials and the journey our waste takes.

Space Week 2026

We are excited to announce our school-wide Space Week Home Competition, inviting all pupils from EYFS up to Year 6 to launch their creativity into orbit!

To celebrate World Space Week, we are asking our young astronauts, scientists, and space explorers to get creative at home using household recycled items to build their very own space gear.

Whether it is a cardboard box rocket, a plastic bottle jetpack, or a tin-foil astronaut helmet, we want to see how imaginative St Clare's pupils can be!

How to Take Part

Build Your Space Gear: Gather recycled materials around the house (cardboard boxes, tin foil, plastic bottles, colanders, old blankets) and build a space suit, helmet, jetpack, or rocket.
Snap an "Astronaut Selfie": Put on your creation and take a photo!
Add a Space Fact (Optional for KS2): Upper school pupils are encouraged to research an amazing space fact and hold up a sign in their photo sharing what they learned.
Submit Your Entry: Send your photo via email to k.salza@st-clares.manchester.sch.uk.

Science at St Clare's...

Autumn 1 Science Update: Young Scientists in

Action!

What an exciting and busy start to the academic year our pupils have had in Science! Across every year group, children have been hands-on in their learning—exploring new concepts and developing critical scientific skills across identifying, classifying, grouping, fair testing, pattern seeking, and researching.

Here is a snapshot of what each year group investigated during Autumn 1:

Early Years (EYFS): Me and My World

Topic: Exploring Ourselves and Our Environment
Scientific Enquiry: Identifying & Observing Over Time
Our youngest learners spent the term making observations about themselves, their senses, and their local surroundings. They identified body parts, compared physical features, and explored changes in their immediate environment.

Year 1: My Body and Parts

Topic: The Human Body & The Five Senses
Scientific Enquiry: Identifying, Classifying & Grouping
Year 1 identified and labelled the main external parts of the human body. Through practical activities, they associated each body part with its corresponding sense, sorting objects by how they feel, sound, smell, look, and taste.

Year 2: Everyday Materials

Topic: Material Properties and Uses
Scientific Enquiry: Grouping & Fair Testing
Year 2 explored wood, metal, plastic, glass, rock, and paper. They grouped materials by their properties (e.g., rigid vs. flexible, absorbent vs. waterproof) and conducted fair tests to determine which material made the best umbrella.

Year 3: Rocks and Soils

Topic: Igneous, Sedimentary & Metamorphic Rocks
Scientific Enquiry: Classifying & Researching
Year 3 examined a variety of rock specimens, grouping them based on appearance and physical qualities (such as hardness and permeability). They also researched how fossils are formed over time within sedimentary rock layers.

Year 4: The Digestive System

Topic: Teeth, Organs, and Digestion
Scientific Enquiry: Researching & Model Building
Year 4 journeyed through the human digestive system, researching the function of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. They identified different types of human teeth and investigated how enamel degrades when exposed to different liquids over time.

Year 5: Properties and Changes of Materials

Topic: Comparing and Testing Material Attributes
Scientific Enquiry: Fair Testing & Pattern Seeking
Year 5 carried out rigorous investigations into solubility, conductivity, and transparency. They designed fair tests to measure which thermal insulators keep liquids warm the longest, recording data carefully to spot patterns in thermal conductivity.

Year 6: Light and Shadows

Topic: How Light Travels and Vision
Scientific Enquiry: Fair Testing, Pattern Seeking & Researching
Year 6 investigated the principle that light travels in straight lines. They conducted fair tests using ray boxes and shadow puppets to measure how the distance between a light source and an object impacts shadow size, spotting geometric patterns in their data.

Note from Mrs Salza: "It has been fantastic to see the progression in scientific enquiry skills from EYFS all the way through to Year 6. The pupils aren't just learning scientific facts—they are actively thinking and working like scientists!"

Keep the Science Going at Home!

EYFS & Key Stage 1: Ask your child to point out different materials around your home or identify which sense they use during dinnertime.
Key Stage 2: Challenge your child to explain how shadows change shape or test which rocks in the garden absorb water!
Science work in books Autumn 1