Science

Science at St Andrew's

We want to make Science at St Andrew’s as engaging and hands-on as possible, where appropriate. We want to encourage the next generation of scientists, investigators, engineers, and well-rounded individuals, by:

• Modelling and encouraging use of appropriate and accurate scientific vocabulary in relation to area of study
• Allowing plentiful child-led investigations where the pupils investigate answers to both their own and given questions
• Inspiring and exciting by teaching, visits and/or visitors demonstrating scientific experiments
• Learning about key areas of chemistry, biology and physics depending on their learning stage
• Making predictions using prior knowledge and analyse results of investigations
• Exposing children to relevant real-life examples of scientific theories where possible to deepen understanding

Pupil-Led Investigations Poster Competition

For St Andrew’s Science Week, children across the school worked in teams to complete pupil-led investigations. The children’s own ideas were at the heart of their chosen experiment – it was up to them to choose what they wanted to find out! The children then completed experiment posters to showcase their investigations.

The winners of our in-school experiment poster competition are as follows, showing off their fabulous posters and prizes: 

KS1 Winners: Clara Clarkson & Ethan Smith 

LKS2 Winners: Sophia Bokko, Oliver Justice, Lucy Anderson, Ivy Gentry, Zoe Why & Leo Bailey

UKS2 Winners: Morris Johnson, Leo Puckett & Daniel Simpson

Science Club

Year 3 & 4 had lots of fun at Science Club! The children were so enthusiastic and engaged every single week, actively bringing their own investigation ideas to sessions. We looked at a variety of pupil-led investigations ranging from ‘What material makes the best lava lamp?’ to ‘What sized balloon makes the highest CD hovercraft?’ One week, the children heated different metals to produce different colour flames, making their own mini-firework show on the Bunsen Burner! The children took part in a variety of STEM activities from making super spinners & crafty rafts to planting tomato plants & growing salt crystals.

Science Week

Science Week commenced on Monday 13 March with our whole-school science day and you could feel the excitement in the air. Pupils from all year groups got to experience a range of activities.

All sessions kicked off with a flames test demonstration on the Bunsen burner. The children got to experience how different metals produce different colours when heated. They enjoyed guessing which metal was being burned based on the coloured flame it was producing.

Year 1 & 2 were bridge designers discovering how to make the strongest bridge out of spaghetti & marshmallows for the Three Billy Goats Gruff to cross safely.

Year 3 & 4 were forensic detectives investigating which teacher ate the chocolate cake using a range of powders to take fingerprints.

Year 5 & 6 had a competition to see who could make the slowest marble run.

Year 6 were also treated to an extra special visit from Oxford Brookes University on Thursday 16th March. They investigated connections between different animals and evolution over time. They were lucky to be able to examine a huge range of species. They looked like real scientists with their lab coats and microscopes!

This year’s British Science Week’s theme is connections. Though out the ten-day celebration of Science, all year groups have been planning experiments and investigation posters.