West End scientists are naturally curious about the world they live in. Science in every year group ensures that children explore, investigate and question what they see around them.

The acquisition and progression of scientific skills underpins our teaching of the science curriculum and through this, children will experience the joy of having wonderful ideas, exploration, and investigation – that is, the joy of finding out. It is these skills that will form the building blocks which will ensure that children have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to better prepare them for and increasingly scientific and technological world. Science at West End aims to enthuse, excite, question what we know and create wonder about the incredible world we live in. 

In Year 2 we have been investigating different materials and their properties. The children looked around the school grounds to determine which materials were man made and which were natural. 

STEM Day

After an inspiring week focused on ocean pollution, we followed this week with a STEM focus. We linked our day to the plastic pollution that is going into our oceans. We were lucky enough to be joined by Mr Broadbent in the morning who delivered an opening assembly based around his company Unilever and how plastic is useful and necessary if used correctly. The children were mixed between their keys stages and each teacher delivered a session based around the impact that plastic is having on our planet.

Year 3 have been planning a comparative / fair test to understand what a plants needs to survive. Firstly, they learnt about what a fair test means and then they thought about the question. What does a plant need to survive? 

In groups the children discussed what one thing they would change and what they would keep the same. They then made their scientific predictions and set the investigation up. 

In year 3 the children have been investigating our muscles. They identified that humans and some other animals have muscles for movement by examining how muscles work. They then set up simple practical enquiries in the context of investigating pairs of muscles. They went outside for a gentle run and then read a book. In both cases they identified which pairs of muscles they used. 

Heron class have had a lot of fun this half term investigating circuits and electricity. They’ve spent time constructing a simple series electrical circuit, identifying, and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches, and buzzers. They were able to identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery.

Finally, recognising that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights in a simple series circuit.

Starling class have been investigating light and dark. They began by recognising that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light. They then investigated that light is reflected from surfaces and that mirrors are the best form of reflecting light. They had so much fun drawing wiggly lines on the playground and then using the mirror above their head to try and follow the line. 

Puffins have been using their senses to explore the world around them, exploring textures and items - developing vocabulary to be able to describe and explain what they are experiencing.

They walked to Morrisons to choose and buy winter bedding plants which they have planted in their nursery garden; they are looking forward to tending to them and watching them grow.