United States Curriculum · Year 1 Science

Year 1 Science Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A flexible learning roadmap for Year 1, with clear topic progression, one-to-one lesson pacing and practical ways to check understanding. Activities build from core ideas to investigation and confident application.

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4Terms
12Weekly checkpoints
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Year 1 Science learning map

Choose a school term, then compare a lighter weekly plan with a more intensive schedule.

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice
Unit 1 · Autumn · Sep–Nov

Foundations: Living things and their needs

Science strand
Week1 day / wk2 days / wk3 days / wk
Week 1Living things and their needsLiving things and their needs Worked example and vocabularyLiving things and their needs Guided activity Check for understanding
Week 2Key ideas: Living things and their needsKey ideas: Living things and their needs Worked example and vocabularyKey ideas: Living things and their needs Guided activity Check for understanding
Week 3Guided practice: Living things and their needsGuided practice: Living things and their needs Worked example and vocabularyGuided practice: Living things and their needs Guided activity Check for understanding
Week 4Review and apply: Living things and their needsReview and apply: Living things and their needs Worked example and vocabularyReview and apply: Living things and their needs Guided activity Check for understanding
Unit 2 · Autumn · Sep–Nov

Investigation: Weather and seasonal patterns

Science strand
Week1 day / wk2 days / wk3 days / wk
Week 1Weather and seasonal patternsWeather and seasonal patterns Worked example and vocabularyWeather and seasonal patterns Guided activity Check for understanding
Week 2Key ideas: Weather and seasonal patternsKey ideas: Weather and seasonal patterns Worked example and vocabularyKey ideas: Weather and seasonal patterns Guided activity Check for understanding
Week 3Guided practice: Weather and seasonal patternsGuided practice: Weather and seasonal patterns Worked example and vocabularyGuided practice: Weather and seasonal patterns Guided activity Check for understanding
Week 4Review and apply: Weather and seasonal patternsReview and apply: Weather and seasonal patterns Worked example and vocabularyReview and apply: Weather and seasonal patterns Guided activity Check for understanding
Unit 3 · Autumn · Sep–Nov

Application: Materials and their properties

Science strand
Week1 day / wk2 days / wk3 days / wk
Week 1Materials and their propertiesMaterials and their properties Worked example and vocabularyMaterials and their properties Guided activity Check for understanding
Week 2Key ideas: Materials and their propertiesKey ideas: Materials and their properties Worked example and vocabularyKey ideas: Materials and their properties Guided activity Check for understanding
Week 3Guided practice: Materials and their propertiesGuided practice: Materials and their properties Worked example and vocabularyGuided practice: Materials and their properties Guided activity Check for understanding
Week 4Review and apply: Materials and their propertiesReview and apply: Materials and their properties Worked example and vocabularyReview and apply: Materials and their properties Guided activity Check for understanding
The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear question to guided exploration and a check for understanding.

10 minutes

Wonder and question

Start with a real-world science question and connect it to what the student already knows.

25 minutes

Explore together

Work through examples, diagrams, investigations or writing with tutor guidance and student participation.

10 minutes

Check for mastery

Use a short practice task to identify what is secure and what should come next.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for Year 1 Science

Concept lessons

Short explanations of key Year 1 science ideas.

Practice materials

Guided questions and independent practice matched to the weekly focus.

Applied activities

Hands-on tasks, worked examples or text analysis to make learning stick.

Progress notes

A clear record of strengths, next steps and topics to revisit.

Free first lesson

Build a plan for Year 1 Science

Tell us where the student is up to and we’ll shape the first session around their goals, schoolwork and preferred pace.

  • No credit card required
  • A one-to-one session with a subject tutor
  • A recommended next-step study plan