During Year 5 the children will learn about and investigate the following topics:

Autumn – Earth and Space

• describe the movement of the Earth, and other planets, relative to the Sun in the solar system
• describe the movement of the Moon relative to the Earth
• describe the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical bodies
• use the idea of the Earth’s rotation to explain day and night

Forces

• explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and
  the falling object
• identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces
• understand that force and motion can be transferred through mechanical devices such as gears, pulleys, levers and
  springs

 

Spring – Properties and Changes of Materials 

• compare and group together everyday materials based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, including their hardness, solubility, transparency, conductivity (electrical and thermal), and response to magnets
• understand that some materials will dissolve in liquid to form a solution, and describe how to recover a substance from a solution
• use knowledge of solids, liquids and gases to decide how mixtures might be separated, including through filtering, sieving and evaporating
• give reasons, based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, for the particular uses of everyday materials, including metals, wood and plastic
• demonstrate that dissolving, mixing and changes of state are reversible changes
• explain that some changes result in the formation of new materials, and that this kind of change is not usually reversible, including changes associated with burning and the action of acid on bicarbonate of soda

 

Summer – Animals Including Humans

• describe the changes as humans develop from birth to old age.

All Living Things 

• explain 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.

 

Working Scientifically

Pupils will be taught to use the following practical scientific methods, processes and skills throughout the year:

• planning different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary
• taking measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision
• recording data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels, classification keys, tables, and bar and line graphs
• using test results to make predictions to set up further comparative and fair tests
• using simple models to describe scientific ideas
• reporting and presenting findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of results, in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations
• identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments