Key Stage 1 Science

 

The principal focus of science teaching in key stage 1 is to enable pupils to experience and observe phenomena, looking more closely at the natural and humanly constructed world around them.

 

They will be encouraged to be curious and ask questions about what they notice.

 

They will be helped to develop their understanding of scientific ideas by using different types of scientific enquiry to answer their own questions, including observing changes over a period of time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple comparative tests, and finding things out using secondary sources of information.

 

They should begin to use simple scientific language to talk about what they have found out and communicate their ideas to a range of audiences in a variety of ways. Most of the learning about science should be done through the use of first-hand practical experiences, but there should also be some use of appropriate secondary sources, such as books, photographs and videos.

 

‘Working scientifically’ is described separately but is always be taught through and clearly related to the teaching of substantive science content in the programme of study.

 

 

Scientific Method

• Ask simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
• Observe closely, using simple equipment
• Perform simple tests
• Identify and classify
• Use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
• Gather and recording data to help in answering questions

 

Plants

• Identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including deciduous and evergreen trees
• Identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees

 

Animals, including humans

• Identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
• Identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores
• Describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals including pets)
• Identify, name, draw and label the basic parts of the human body and say which part of the body is associated with each sense
• Notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults
• Find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air)
• Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene

 

Living things and their habitats

• Explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive
• Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
• Identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
• describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food

 

Everyday materials

• Distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made
• Identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock
• Describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials
• Compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of their simple physical properties 

 

Uses of everyday materials

• Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses
• Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching

 

Seasonal changes

• Observe changes across the 4 seasons
• Observe and describe weather associated with the seasons and how day length varies

 

Plants

• Observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
• Find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy