KS1 & KS2 science curriculum

This unit builds on pupils' prior learning from Living things and the environment, where they explored how organisms interact with their surroundings. In Why we group and classify living things, pupils will learn how scientists classify organisms based on shared characteristics. This prepares them for the next unit, Species and classification (differences between species), where they will explore the variations between species and how these differences help in identifying and understanding the diversity of life.

1. Comparing characteristics of living things
2. How and why we group animals
3. How and why we group plants
4. Micro-organisms are living things
5. Grouping micro-organisms
6. Micro-organisms living on food: plan and do (non-statutory)
7. The 5 Rs (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)
8. Microorganisms that help us (non-statutory)
9. Growing yeast: plan (non-statutory)
10. Growing yeast: do and review (non-statutory)
11. Micro-organisms living on food: review (non-statutory)
12. Carl Linnaeus and classification
13. Discovering and naming new species

• Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways
• Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in the local and wider environment