1: Exploring and experimenting (Science and ICT) rationale
Exploring and experimenting curriculum covers Science and ICT.
These are covered through a cross curricular approach under topic headings, where appropriate for pupils if their interests and motivations allow for.
For those pupils not yet ready to engage in subject specific learning, The exploring and experimenting curriculum will provide a varying context unto which pupils will learn skills and develop knowledge and understanding of the world in a way that is appropriate and meaningful for them.
A small number of our pupils will engage in the curriculum through subjects specific language and outcomes which will support children in their development of the knowledge, skills and understanding required to help them make sense of the world and their place within it.
Our main aims are the following:
- To enable pupils to engage in experiential and multi-sensory learning in a varied context.
- To develop an understanding of the natural world and technologies, through pupils’ engagement in purposeful experiences and observations. .
- To provide opportunities for pupils to experience, think, learn and develop an interest in, and curiosity about the world around them, through exploration and investigation.
- To provide meaningful, fun, exciting and intrinsically motivating activities to enable pupils to find out and learn.
- To provide opportunities and experiences to enable pupils to make sense of the things that happen around them, why things happen, and how things work.
- To provide pupils with hands on practical and meaningful experiences to allow them to understand more challenging concepts
How we deliver Exploring and experimenting
Delivery and pedagogical approaches are unique to each pathway. Engagement and development of knowledge skill and understanding could be delivered through:
- A multisensory approach
- Discrete sessions that the children find motivating and interesting whilst learning new skills and concepts related to changes, science and experiments
- Immersive whole pathway special days/weeks to fully immerse pupils into the area of learning
- Off site learning to allow all children, regardless of stage and age of development to experience science and ICT in the real world
Example of Curriculum Map
RHS Exploring and experimenting
| Sensory Experience | Purposeful | Skill Development | Functional Skills | Intentional Applied Skills |
Similarities and Differences | • Experience a range of textures, weights, light and dark etc | • Respond to their experiences by locating or tracking the source e.g. sources of light, different textures like fur on animals or different coloured hair. | • Explore the objects or materials e.g. explore shadows, reflections, coloured filters etc. • I can identify certain plants or animals by naming or pointing | • I know what a liquid and a solid is? • Properties, plastic, metal, wood etc • I can place and arrange similar items | • I can answer closed questions using speech or other means about what I see, hear, taste or smell |
Observe and Change | • Experience gradients for example Sensory circle/ room –light colour changes, • Explore sensory properties of changing materials | • I can intentionally cause a change. • I respond consistently when a change happens • Switches • Bubble snakes • Tornado bottles • Lava lamps | • I can actively take part in cooking activities or experiments – making slime, melting ice etc. • I can indicate same and different | • I can use simple equipment independently e.g. hand held blenders. • I question why things happen | • I can explain why the change occurred • I can plan a process to make a change |
Explore | • I can use my senses • I engage in touching, smelling, tasting with support | • I am keen to engage in exploratory activities using tools given to me., including magnifying glasses | • I choose and use tools and equipment carefully. • I may have my own ideas on how to explore something further | • I can ask questions about what I have found or about an activity I have been doing | • I can tell someone about what I have found or draw a picture of what I have found |