KS1 & KS2 science curriculum

This unit builds on pupils' prior learning from Living things and where they live, where they explored how different habitats support various plants and animals. In Living things and the environment, pupils will examine how environmental changes can impact living organisms and their habitats. This prepares them for the next unit, Why we group and classify living things, where they will learn how to classify organisms based on characteristics, deepening their understanding of biodiversity and the relationships between species.

1. Introducing observable characteristics
2. Grouping animals
3. Grouping plants
4. Identifying living things (non-statutory)
5. Classification keys
6. Classification keys to identify animals
7. Classification keys to identify plants
8. Environments and seasonal changes
9. Extreme weather: flooding (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)
10. Extreme weather: heatwaves and wild fires (non-statutory CC & Sustainability)
11. Changing environments: land development and deforestation
12. Changing environments: waste creation and pollution
13. Animals in danger
14. Protecting animals in decline (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)
15. Changing environments: plants in danger
16. Changing environments: nature reserves
17. Changing environments: reforestation and recycling
18. Environmental changes in the news (non-statutory)
19. How scientists communicate with the public (non-statutory)

• Animals and plants can be classified into groups based on their features
• Animals are often grouped into: mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles
• Animals can be classified into groups according to what they eat
• Everything can be classified into groups according to whether they are alive, dead or never alive
• Plants can be classified into groups depending on where they are found