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At Oakfield Academy our Science curriculum provides pupils with a broad and balanced understanding of the three main disciplines of Science. We give our pupils sufficient Scientific knowledge to enable them all to make informed decisions and reasoned choices, as well as developing skills that can be used throughout their lives to better understand the world, we live in and the changes that continuously happen within it.
We firmly believe all pupils deserve an aspirational Science curriculum, which ignites their curiosity and creative ideas while encouraging a spirit of independent inquiry. We nurture a growth mindset culture, discussing relevant up to date Science issues and allowing them all the expand their education to their fullest.
Our curriculum is diverse and assessable by all pupils. It provides a better understanding of the uses and implementation of Science past, present and future, leaving the pupils the ability to apply the skills learnt to the world around us.
Head of Science: Mr M George
Science Teachers:
Mrs H Curtis, Mr C Shaddick, Mrs R Gardner, Mr N Ward, Miss M Pike, Mr D Coleman and Mr O Mepham
Science Technician: Mrs C Hughes
Aims:
- To enjoy Science.
- Promoting that it is fine to get things wrong as long as we do this safely and learn from our mistakes.
- Understanding of key concepts to help solve problems in unfamiliar situations.
- Using scientific skills to solve problems in a disciplined way.
- Appreciating the contribution Science makes to society and realise that applying Science can lead to moral and ethical issues having to be addressed.
Most Key Stage 2 and all Key Stage 3 children are taught Science in Science labs, as timetabling allows.
The skills of Science are taught during each topic. Our students learn how to be scientists by developing skills in predicting, planning investigations, measuring, observing, recording results, displaying results, analysing results and evaluating the success of their investigations.
The Science Department has strong links with Frome College. We are continuously adapting and improving our schemes of learning to ensure that our students continue to have an excellent grounding in Science concepts and skills.
Implementation:
- Quality first teaching strategies and cognitive load theory are used when planning and teaching lessons.
- Our curriculum across each year builds on the skills from previous years, allowing pupils to retrieve information, thus developing schema, and to develop more sophistication through more challenge year on year.
- Cross curricular links are made explicit in teaching to enable pupils to embed skills and knowledge.
- Resources are kept up to date to ensure that the needs of pupils are always met
- Subject terminology is shared across the key stages and used regularly to develop skills and understanding; pupils are encouraged to use it in their learning.
- All staff are offered the opportunity to complete regular training to ensure that they are confident in teaching science.
- All staff promote a love for science in the way that they teach and showing how it applies to the world around us.
- Displays are regularly updated and pupils encouraged to use them to aid their learning.
- Growth mindset strategies are used to develop pupils resilience and confidence in science; Good work is regularly celebrated within school using several ways, such as displaying it in school, achievement points and contacting home.
- A wide range of intervention strategies are implemented from the start of the academic year to support pupils not meeting age expectations or not making expected progress; interventions are reviewed to monitor their effectiveness.
- Analysis of available data is used to aid future planning and to identify misconceptions across classes and year groups.
Impact:
At Oakfield academy, our pupils:
- Feel safe in taking risks with their learning and feel confident in answering questions, justifying their responses and forming opinions based upon their experiences.
- Can use their writing skills and knowledge to write for a range of genres, purposes, text types and audiences.
- Have a curiosity that engages them in their learning of new experiences, texts and contexts and are able to develop as independent learners.
- Use their skills and knowledge to apply them to new concepts and contexts.
- Analyse a range of texts using a range of reading skills and strategies.
- The majority of pupils meet or exceed age expectations.
- Have developed many skills required for them to successful in the next stage of their education and beyond.
Science Documents
Bunsen Burners
STEM
Last Friday (16.5.25) the Y7&Y6 STEM/GoIT team presented their ideas directly to the active travel team from Frome Councillors on how to make Frome a more sustainable place. The Y7 team (Charlie, Tyler, Annabeth, Mila, Sofia, Archie & Toby) presented their UK winning and global young innovator of the year entry the app Somershare, where the Y6 team (Jayden, Logan S, Johnny & Rubus) presented their Somerscience entry Recycling Rewards: Bin it to Win it app aimed at reducing littering and increasing recycling rates. They were very impressed with the research both teams put into their innovations & practical ideas. Next step: Actually building both apps for possible use in Frome!
Thank you to Fiona Barrows, Matt Mellen & Lucy McMahon from Frome Council & Chair of Governors Melody Hunter-Evans for setting up the meeting.
STEM News
STEM GoIT (Globel Young Innovator of the Year)
Stargazing
PH Scale lesson
On Friday 20th December 5O were lucky to create the pH scale in a confident lesson delivered and planned by Y8s Romilly S, Genny C, Lola J, Zoja B & Lillian T. Well done 5O and Y8s!
PH Scale
Spotlight on Science Dec 24
This week in Science Students from Y8 have acted as guest teachers for several of our KS2 classes. They planned their lesson, created a PowerPoint and worksheet and carried out an experiment with the classes on Acids and Alkalis and creating the pH scale.
On Monday Minty M, Ava M & Clara H taught a very confident lesson to 6R. On Tuesday Ethel D, Kiera C & Scarlett K taught 6N. On Wednesday Ruben M, Hunter V, Morris F & Ava C taught 5S who impressed their guest teachers with their practical skills, maturity & enthusiasm. Also on Wednesday Dylan B, Ole D, Joel W all taught 6S however the show was certainly stolen by Aiden O who lead from the front, thoroughly entertaining the class making them all laugh.
6C & 5O will be taught on Thursday and Friday, and updates will follow in the first newsletter of 2025.
Well done Y8, Y6 & 5S. Well done for rising to the challenge. You've all been amazing.
Pictured: 6S being taught by Aiden O, Millie B and Bea B 6S, Daisy G, Olive B, Betty B, Camille J, Coralie H and Eva W 5S & Ashton O 5S.
Spotlight on Science Dec 24
STEM Club news
STEM Club have now been selected to represent the whole UK in the TCS Young Global Innovators 2024 of the WORLD award, from all the entries across the entire UK across 2024. Their idea "Somershare" will represent the UK and Ireland one of 8 global regions where the competition takes place including America, Canada, Australia, Middle East & Europe.
Congratulations to Mila P, Sofia P, Tyler A, Annabeth A, Charlie T, along with supporters Archie H & Toby P.
STEM Club
How to make Blood/Copper Sulphate
On Wednesday 5S explored what makes up blood. They made their own model of blood using cooking oil as plasma, red Cheerio’s as red blood cells, marshmallows as white blood cells and crushed up shreddies as the platelets.
Pictured: Mostyn C extracting some Connor P's "blood"
Year 7 have been exploring compound by putting their chemistry skills to the test by making copper sulphate. Techniques practiced included evaporation, careful heating of acids, and filtration.
Pictured: Lillian S and Tristan H.
Bonus picture of Baxter C 6S who also got to make some crystals (and helped Mr Shaddick with his marking) while the rest of Y6 enjoyed the pantomime!
Blood/Copper Sulphate
Identifying Chemical and Physical Changes
This week in Science Y7 have been looking at identifying Chemical and Physical changes by carrying out a circus of 8 different experiments & recording their observations. Pictured Lily S, Toby P, Paddy H, Mason A, Lacey P, Elena C.
Y8 have been revisiting prior knowledge on Acids and alkalis. Ava C was able to recreate the whole pH scale using universal indicator all by herself. Well done.
Chemical and Physical changes
YEAR 6
6N & 6S have been studying classification of vertebrates, invertebrates, plants and Microorganisms. They have used the bug box with invertebrates in resin to create classification trees based on their features. Here are some of the best! Well done. 6N & 6S have been studying classification of vertebrates, invertebrates, plants and Microorganisms. They have used the bug box with invertebrates in resin to create classification trees based on their features. Here are some of the best! Well done.
Verterbrates
Stargazing
In science Mr Shaddick told us about “100 hours of stargazing” - there were 4 challenges and I completed them in my garden with my dad. We saw The Plough, The Summer Triangle, Cassiopeia and Saturn.
The next night we saw ‘Bath Astronomers’ had a family stargazing night.
Me, mum and dad got to look at Saturn through a telescope which was amazing. I even managed to take a picture of Saturn through the telescope!
Saturn had an orange yellow colour and we could see two moons next to it orbiting Saturn. They answered lots of our questions about Space and it was really fun. - Poppy W
Our Friends at Bath Astronomers run regular public star gazing events, which are free for anyone to attend, where, (like Poppy and her Family) you can learn more about astronomy and use their high tech telescopes to observe the wonders of the nights sky for yourself.
Please use the link below to sign up to their mailing list to find out about their next public stargazing event if you are interested.
Thank you so much to Simon at Bath Astronomers for lending us the astronomy box for September to help support our teaching of the Y5 Earth and Space topic! Lots of fun was had by Y5 using the tellurium, gravity well, binoculars and making their own planisphere.
Astronomy
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Safety
Thank you to Mr Colman and Mr Mepham who helped Mr Shaddick demonstrate the importance of FIRE SAFETY in Science
lessons
Science Safety
STEM Champions
Huge congratulations to Charlie Tolcher-Jones, Tyler Amphlett, Archie Hinchcliffe and Toby Parker who have won the June GoIT monthly challenge on their app design CTA Pro on combating solutions to poverty.
Well done also to Romilly Squirrell Bowman, Indigo Dixon, Lillian Tucker, Genny Conway, Sofia Peet, Mila Peet and Annabeth Apps who also submitted an entry to the challenge.
"The judges were highly impressed with your app idea “CTA Pro”. They loved how intentional you were about reducing poverty by creating a platform to aid your community center in an innovative and practical way and the topic was clearly well researched and reflected highly within your work."
Stem Champions
Rock Cycle
Last week 8C and 8S used sweets to model the rock cycle, involving eroding the rocks using scissors to form sedimentary rock, applying pressure to flatten and form metamorphic rock & heating and cooling using the Bunsen burners to form magma and igneous rock.
Y7RNS have been learning about ecology and undertaken several field studies on analysing the distribution of plant life using quadrats & transects in the harmony garden & school field. Pictured: Genny Conway and Romilly Squirrell-Bowman, pictures taken by Indigo Dixon.
In a sneaky preview of Y7 & KS3 Science, 6S have been learning about variables and how to make experiments fair, reliable and valid by investigating how the temperature of water affects the time it takes for sugar to dissolve. I am super impressed with the maturity and safe behaviour shown and thoughtful contributions. Pictured: Billy C, Isla H, Lily St C and Mollie W.
Rock Gallery
DNA Structures
Pupils from 8N investigated DNA structures this week with the help of assorted sweets.
DNA
Van Der Graff generator
Fun with the Van Der Graff generator this morning with 7S and 7R.
Van Der Graff
Changing Substances Topic
These wonderful pictures were taken by Indigo Dixon 7N as part of the Changing Substances Chemistry topic in Science
Pictures include the reaction between magnesium and oxygen, melting chocolate and investigating the pH scale using Universal indicator and Red cabbage. Well done Indigo!
If you want to make your own red cabbage indicator at home over Easter to investigate the pH of household substances the instructions are below. If you do, please share a picture with your Science teacher.
- Chop up the red cabbage into small pieces and place it in a mug.
- Add freshly boiled water from the kettle.
- Stir the cabbage and boiling water until a deep purple solution is made.
- Put drops of your substance sample onto a white plate and then add your red cabbage solution.
- Use the colour comparison chart to find the pH of your substances.
Changing Substances
Fruit & Vegetable Batteries
Y6 have been concluding the Electricity topic by making a battery using fruit, vegetables, copper and zinc nails (electrodes) and crocodile clips to light an LED.
This particular battery was made by students in 6S.
Fruit & Vegetable Batteries
Star Gazing
IET Faraday Engineering Challenge Day.
