Changes in old age
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe changes in humans as they develop into old age.
Key learning points
- Old age is the last period of human life.
- Old age in adulthood is believed to begin at about 65 years.
- During old age, hair can become more grey and hearing and vision can deteriorate.
- During old age, bones can shrink in size, and muscles generally lose strength and flexibility.
- We can find answers to questions about human development in old age by speaking to elderly people.
Keywords
Human - People are a type of animal called humans.
Develop - To develop is to grow or change gradually.
Adult - The adult is a mature form of a plant or animal.
Elder - Humans past the age of 65 are considered to be elders.
Elderly - An elderly person is an older person past the age of 65.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all elders are like their grandparents or other older people they know, whether they are fit and active or more frail and sedentary.
Using the resources to support, explain that all humans are different and so there'll be differences in how they age. Also make it clear that old age can span up to 40 years so there'll be differences between someone who is 65 and someone who is 95.
Teacher tip
Inviting a familiar elderly person into the lesson, such as an older staff member or pupil's grandparent, will be a great way for children to get answers to their questions first-hand. Make sure to guide them to being sensitive when asking their questions.
Equipment
An elderly person or people to answer children's questions.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Starting with the earliest, put these life stages in order:
Q2.When humans reach the stage of development, they have finished developing physically and mentally.
Q3.What are muscles for?
Q4.What is a person's vision?
Q5.Which of these statements about humans is not true?
Q6.Middle age begins around years of age.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Starting with the earliest, order the stages of human development.
Q2.Old age is the stage of human life.
Q3.Which of these changes happens to humans during the elder stage of development?
Q4.Around what age does the elderly stage of a human’s life generally begin?
Q5.Match the body part or ability to the change that happens during the elder stage of development.
can deteriorate
becomes more grey
lose strength and flexibility
Can shrink in size
Q6.How could we find out about the changes our elderly friends and family experience during old age?
To help you plan your 5 science lesson on: Changes in old age, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 science lesson on: Changes in old age, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Human development unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.