English National Curriculum - Science
Mission Objectives
Understand how water resistance acts on objects
Investigate the impact of streamlining on the force of water resistance
Explain the similarities and differences between air and water resistance
Enquiry Approach - Problem-solving
Applying prior scientific knowledge to solve problems and answer further questions.
Enquiry Skill - Interpreting and communicating results
Using information, results and data to present findings, including oral and written explanations.
Words and meanings to learn
balanced forces
opposing forces that are equal in strength
streamlined
an object that is shaped to travel through air or water with as little resistance as possible
upthrust
any force that is causing something to be pushed upwards
water resistance
friction which acts on an object as it moves through water
buoyant
to float
Heather qualified with a first-class honours degree in climate science from the University of East Anglia. Since, she has joined Developing Experts as a writer and presenter, specialising in earth and environmental sciences.
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Sarah is a former headteacher and charity CEO who founded Developing Experts in October 2015 with the goal to create a fit-for-purpose curriculum for schools. The company has created a science curriculum for children ages 4-16 which is delivered through sequenced lessons mapped against the National Curriculum in biology, chemistry, and physics. Developing Expert's innovative approach to learning has already been road-tested and voted 'best EdTech product in Europe', winning Tech Nation’s Rising Stars earlier in 2019 and a place on Google for Startups Immersion program 2020. In 2022 Developing Experts won the BETT Awards for Best Classroom Resource - Teaching Aid. Sarah is a 'LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leader' 2022. In October 2022 Developing Experts joined Tech Nation's Upscale 8.0 programme.
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Clare is an experienced primary teacher with extensive experience across the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. She has a strong background in curriculum design and development, contributing to programmes across EYFS, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2, ensuring they are engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically effective.
Before joining Developing Experts, Clare served as a QA Inspector for a childcare agency, rigorously applying the Ofsted inspection framework to evaluate and enhance educational provision. She also brings insight into school governance, supporting strategic decision-making and understanding the operational and pedagogical challenges faced by schools.
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Emma has a particular passion for writing high-quality curricula that are carefully sequenced, engaging, and rooted in strong subject knowledge. She is committed to creating lessons that are lively, meaningful, and accessible, helping children to grasp complex ideas through clear explanations and purposeful activities that support long-term learning.
Through her curriculum leadership, Emma has supported schools in preparing for successful Ofsted inspections, ensuring that subjects are well structured and effectively implemented. She is dedicated to designing learning experiences that spark curiosity and help pupils make meaningful connections between the past, the present, and the wider world.
Resources: A small object (such as a marble or penny), a large clear container filled with water, a mini whiteboard, modelling clay, water, a variety of clear containers (such as large bottles with the tops cut off, or large measuring cylinders) and weighing scales.
Support Handout (1): An investigation sheet for the children to record their question, predictions, variables, results and conclusion, with scaffolding to support writing their question and variables.
Core Handout (2): An investigation sheet for the children to record their question, predictions, variables, results and conclusions.
Stretch Handout (3): An investigation sheet for the children to record their question, predictions, explain their fair test controls, results and conclusions.
Challenge Handout (4): A space is provided for children to record the similarities and differences between air and water resisitance, and to draw and label the forces acting on a boat as it moves through the water (as mentioned in the plenary).
Expert film
Mission assignment film
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