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What forces do

The different kinds of force

Measuring forces

Using force arrows

Balanced and unbalanced forces

Friction

Reducing friction: practical

Reducing friction: analysis

Energy

Transferring energy

In the Hidden forces unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn about turning forces, forces that hold objects on a surface, and those that make some objects float.

In primary science, pupils learnt that air resistance, water resistance and friction push back against moving objects. 

This unit focuses on quantifying and comparing energy transfers in different processes, such as motion changes, electrical circuits, and fuel burning. It examines forces as interactions between objects, using diagrams and measurements, including contact and non-contact forces.

Forces

Solid and liquid states

Melting: particle model

Bunsen burners

Melting: melting points and freezing points

Particle model of substances in the gas state

Boiling and condensing

Changes of state: energy and evaporation

In the Solutions unit, pupils will build on their understanding of the states of matter to learn about mixtures, solutions, and dissolving in terms of the particle model.

In Y4 of primary science, pupils learnt about ‘solids, liquids and gases’ and changes of state.

This unit covers the properties of solids, liquids, and gases using the particle model, including gas pressure. It explains changes of state in terms of the particle model while developing skills in using appropriate techniques, apparatus, and materials in lab work.

Solid, liquid, gas states and changes of state

The common processes of all living organisms

Observing cells with a light microscope

Preparing and observing a microscope slide

Animal cell structures and their functions

Plant cell structures and their functions

Multicellular and unicellular organisms

Specialised cells are adapted for their functions

Pupils will learn about bones and muscles as examples of tissues made of cells.

In Y2 of primary science, pupils learned about some processes that happen in all living things (and do not happen in things that are dead or have never been alive).

This unit explores cell structures, their functions, and differences between plant and animal cells. It includes adaptations of unicellular organisms and the organisation of multicellular organisms. Skills in using safe techniques, recording data, and evaluating methods in lab work are developed.

Cells

The spinning Earth

Our solar system

Gravity

Stars, galaxies and the universe

Heating by the Sun

Earth's tilt

Seasons on Earth

Changing ideas about Earth

In the Gravity in space unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn to how gravitational forces cause orbital motion and about stellar evolution and cosmology, including red-shift and the big bang. 

In primary science, pupils learnt about the cause of day and night, the movement of Earth orbiting the Sun and the Moon orbiting Earth, and about stars and planets we can see in the night sky.

This unit explores gravity as the force between masses, including weight calculation using gravitational field strength. It covers the relationship between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun, the concept of light years, and seasonal changes due to Earth’s tilt.

Our solar system and beyond

Pure substances

Mixtures: choosing equipment

Mixtures: equipment diagrams

Mixtures and solutions

Diffusion

Dissolving

Variables

Dissolving: scientific methods

Solubility: practical

Solubility: analysis

Saturated solutions

In the Separation Techniques unit, pupils will build on their knowledge of solutions to learn about methods for separating mixtures, including filtration, evaporation, distillation, and chromatography.

In the Solid, Liquid and Gas States and Changes of State unit, pupils learned to categorise substances into the solid, liquid or gas state and explored particle behaviour during changes of state.

This unit explores the concepts of pure substances, mixtures, and diffusion in liquids and gases. It emphasises accuracy, precision, and the use of appropriate techniques during investigations. The focus is on making predictions and recording reliable observations.

Solutions

Food chains

Predator-prey relationships

Adaptations of predators and prey

Food webs

Ecosystems and habitats

Pollination and human food security

Using chemicals in farming

Bioaccumulation

The importance of biodiversity

Pupils will move on to construct and interpret pyramids of number and biomass from food chains data. Pupils will learn about how plants and animals are adapted to survive and the impact of changes to the environment on biodiversity. The importance of biodiversity and the importance of gene banks. How to sample plant and animal populations to aid our understanding and monitoring of populations. 

In Y4 pupils learnt about their local environment and to recognise that environments can change. Pupils also explored examples of human impact (both positive and negative) on environments. Pupils looked at a variety of food chains to identify producers, predators and prey.

This unit explores the interdependence of organisms in ecosystems, including food webs and insect-pollinated crops. It examines how organisms interact with their environment and the impact of toxic materials. It also highlights the importance of biodiversity and preserving genetic material.

Ecosystems

Sound vibrations

Travelling vibrations

Travelling sound

Reflecting and absorbing sound

Shadows

Reflecting light from mirrors

How we see things

Reflections in mirrors

In the Making images unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn that white light is made of different colours that can be detected by the eye, and how pinhole cameras and lenses form clear images.

In the Light and how it travels (Y6) unit, pupils learnt that light travels in straight lines, which explains why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them, and objects are seen by the light that reflects back into the eye or travels directly into it from a light source.

This unit explores sound and light waves, including frequencies, echoes, reflection, absorption, and the need for a medium for sound to travel. It also compares light and matter waves, investigates light transmission and colour, and examines wave properties and effects.

Sound, light and vision

Heredity

Heredity and genetic material

Genetic material and DNA

A model of the structure of DNA

DNA from fruit

The discovery of the structure of DNA

DNA, chromosomes, genes and the genome

Pupils will learn about sexual reproduction in humans, including the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems, menstrual cycle, gametes, fertilisation, gestation and birth.

In Year 6, pupils learned that living organisms produce offspring of the same kind, that characteristics are passed from parents to their offspring, and that offspring look similar to their parents and to one another but are not identical to them.

This unit examines the transmission of genetic information through heredity, how scientific methods evolve with new evidence, the importance of publishing and peer review, and the Study of DNA, chromosomes, and genes while developing lab skills focusing on safety.

Heredity and DNA

Separating an insoluble solid from a liquid

Separating a soluble solid from a liquid

Separating pure salt from dirty rock salt

Separating liquids

Simple distillation

Distillation: practical

Chromatography

In the Understanding Chemical Reactions unit, pupils will build on their understanding of physical changes to learn how atoms rearrange to form new substances during chemical reactions (chemical changes).

In the key stage 2 Properties, changes and separating materials unit, pupils learnt about mixtures, including solutions, and separation techniques including filtering and evaporation.

This unit covers techniques for separating mixtures, including filtration, evaporation, distillation, and chromatography, as well as identifying pure substances. Conduct experiments safely, record observations, evaluate methods, and suggest improvements.

Separation techniques

The human skeleton

Muscles

Movement

Biomechanics

Pupils will learn that particles of substances move within, into and out of cells by diffusion.

Pupils learned that in multicellular organisms, all the tissues and organs are made of cells.

This unit investigates the structure and functions of the human skeleton, including support, protection, movement, and blood cell production. Explore biomechanics, the interaction of muscles and the skeleton, and antagonistic muscles while measuring muscle force.

Human skeleton and muscles

Measuring temperature

Changing temperature

Mixing substances of different temperatures

Cooling

Thermal conductors

Thermal insulators

Energy and temperature

Energy and substance

In the Particle explanations of density and pressure unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn how the arrangement and movement of particles in solids, liquids and gases explain density, pressure, floating and convection.

In the Solids, liquids, gases and changes of state unit, pupils learnt to categorise solids, liquids and gases, how the particles are arranged and moving in each state and what happens to particles during a change of state.

This unit explains energy transfer between objects due to temperature differences, through conduction or radiation, the role of insulators, and thermal equilibrium. It covers particle arrangements and motions in solids, liquids, and gases and Brownian motion.

Heating and cooling

Diffusion: moving particles

Diffusion through a permeable material: practical

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