Science Blog

British Science Week 2023

This year's theme for Science Week was 'Making Connections!' We decided to make our own connections by taking part in our first whole school experiment - 'Which biscuit is the best biscuit to dunk?'.

It took place in 3 rounds...

Round 1 - Each of the 10 classes had 3 biscuits to test (one chocolate, one cream and one wildcard) in room temperature water. The longest lasting biscuit went through to round 2.

Round 2 - The Science Ambassadors enjoyed testing the class winners in warmer water.

Round 3 - The final 3 biscuits went head to head in a live dunking session in a whole school assembly.

We found out that the much forgotten about FIG ROLL was the best biscuit for dunking!! Try it!!

Our Science Competition this year required pupils to take a Science Selfie connecting themselves with Science in the outside world - we had some fantastic entries and the winners are pictured here.



British Science Week 2022


This year the theme for British Science Week was "Growth".  Each class was tasked with choosing an experiment or activity based on this theme, for example Birch Class made soap grow using a special bar called 'Ivory Soap'.  The children expected the soap to melt in the microwave but it grew into a soap cloud!
An extra assignment was to research either a contemporary (modern) or giant (older) scientist. At the end of the week, we had a special Science assembly where each class showed what they had done and learnt.  
The winners of the Science Week Competition were also announced - Milo (EYFS/KS1) with his Hungry Caterpillar, Stanley (LKS2) with his 'Birdling' and Anya (UKS2) with her cress garden.  Thank you to Mr Robinson (Mrs Mercer's dad) for judging and providing the prizes.  Well done to the winners and all the children who entered.




Our Science Principles:

  • We are excited, enthusiastic and engaged in our learning.
  • We are hooked in by imaginative lessons and wish to continue our learning at home.
  • We ask questions and have lively discussions.
  • Our learning builds on what we already know.
  • We have the right resources to use.
  • Our lessons are hands on and practical so we can make discoveries.
  • We have a balance between learning scientific knowledge and working scientifically and practically.
  • We use the correct scientific vocabulary.
  • Our learning is linked to the world around us.  

July 2021

We have worked really hard over the past two years to gain a Primary Science Quality Mark. As Science Lead, Mrs Mercer looked at where Science was at St James', created action plans, encouraged staff and children and then showed evidence of our plans in action. This task was more challenging this year due to the pandemic as finding evidence was a lot harder!

Ash Class - Animals

Throughout the half term and from our visit to Blackpool Zoo the children learnt to identify and name a variety of common animals including, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The children started to identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. The children also learnt to describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals.

Ash Class - Humans and Animals

Throughout Spring Term 1 the children will learn to:

  • Identify, name, draw and label the basic parts of the human body and say which part of the body is associated with each sense.
  • Recognise that humans are animals.
  • Compare and describe differences in their own features (eye, hair, skin colour, etc.).
  • Recognise that humans have many similarities.

Rowan Class – Spring Term 2020 – Life Cycles

In Science Lessons this term, the children in Rowan Class will be finding out about the life cycles of a variety of animals and plants both in the local environment and further afield.

The children will observe life-cycle changes in a variety of living things, for example plants in the vegetable garden or flower border, and animals in the local environment. They will also be finding out about the work of naturalists and animal behaviourists, such as, David Attenborough and Jane Goodall.

Throughout the Spring Term the children will:

  • Describe the differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a bird.
  • Describe the life process of reproduction in some plants and animals.
  • Describe the changes as humans develop to old age.
  • Draw a timeline to indicate stages in the growth and development of humans.
  • Learn that plants produce pollen from the stamen (male part of a plant) which is transferred to the stigma and then the ovary (female parts of the plant), fertilisation occurs in the ovary of the flower, seeds are formed as a result of fertilisation and dispersed away from the parent plant.

Seeds may be dispersed in a variety of ways: blown by the wind, carried on animal fur, floating on water. They may be eaten in a fruit and pass through an animal's digestive system or might appear to explode into the air.

If you could create a far-flying seed, what would it look like?

CHESTNUT CLASS

We designed a fair test to see how different surfaces affect a toy car’s movement. We used different surfaces on a wooden ramp for one of our investigations. We changed the height of the ramp for the second of our investigations. What happened......?

Elm Class

Elm Class have been naming parts of a flower as part of their life cycle lessons. The children needed to find and name any features of a flowering plant that is needed for reproduction. The children examined the flowers closely and named and labelled the parts. We discussed the role of the different parts and what would happen if any of the parts were missing. Here are some photos of their examination of the flowers and the naming labelling.

SYCAMORE CLASS

This half term, Sycamore Class have been focusing on animal life cycles. The children have researched different animal groups: mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. In particular, the children have researched gestation periods, number of offspring, whether they give birth to live young and how dependent the offspring are.

In addition to this, all this data is then compared to see what similarities and differences different animal groups have.

The children have found out some amazing facts too.


Did you know

A bird native to the Amazon rain forest - the hoatzin bird- is a bizarre and unique bird known as the flying cow! They have claws on their wings when young, it groans and hisses and, more extraordinarily, it has a foul body odour!

BIRCH CLASS

Birch Class have enjoyed discussing our Science Principles this half term and identifying when we may be using one or two. We have also been excited to see our new Science Display Board that is next to the climbing frame in the hall (see picture). Mrs Pendlebury has done a sterling job putting up all the various parts and adding to it every couple of days to build up the excitement…. You can see we have a Mad Scientist and a friendly skeleton kindly put together by Mrs Woodward. There is a section called ‘Scientist of the Month’, which will include contemporary scientists as well as from days gone by. This will be changed every month. There is also space (and Post Its) to ask the Mad Scientist questions, which she will hopefully answer!!! Finally, at the top there are suggestions of careers that Science can lead to. Do take a look