Working Scientifically Matrices

The working scientifically statements for each phase in the science National Curriculum for England (Key Stage 1, Lower Key Stage 2 and Upper Key Stage 2) are what we assess children against. However, in order to provide schools with learning intentions that can be used during lessons and shared with children so that they develop a common language for talking about how they work as scientists, PLAN has broken down the working scientifically statements into 8 PLAN Working Scientifically Skills which are shown below. Some of them only feature in the National Curriculum in Key Stage 2 and these have been indicated.

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• Asking questions

• Planning an enquiry (Key Stage 2 only)

• Making predictions (Key Stage 2 only)

• Gathering data

• Recording data

• Presenting data (Key Stage 2 only)

• Drawing conclusions

• Evaluating an enquiry (Key Stage 2 only)

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The table below shows how these PLAN Working Scientifically Skills align with the working scientifically skills most commonly used by schools with their pupils in order to demonstrate that the new resources support the teaching of the working scientifically skills whatever skills schools choose to use.

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To support the teaching and assessment of the PLAN Working Scientifically Skills, there will be a Working Scientifically Matrix for each PLAN Working Scientifically Skill in each year-group (Years 2, 4 and 6 to follow later in the year). Each Matrix provides the key learning for that skill, as well as working scientifically activity pages that focus on the different elements of the key learning and the expected outcomes for each that a child needs to demonstrate to be secure. Each working scientifically activity page features annotated example(s) of work that illustrate how children’s work can be assessed against the expected outcomes for that element of the key learning and are intended to support teachers to model that element of the skill effectively to children, as well as providing a benchmark against which to assess their work. It is not necessary for children to have demonstrated all the key learning in each year-group, just a sufficient amount so it is possible to provide evidence for assessment of all the key learning by the end of the phase.

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The table below provides links to the Working Scientifically Matrices for each PLAN Working Scientifically Skill in Years 1, 3 & 5 (other year-groups to follow later in the year). Please note that some of the skills only feature in the National Curriculum in Key Stage 2.

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To access all the Working Scientifically Matrices for a year-group in a single document, click on the year-group link in the first column of the table.

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