UK Curriculum · Year 5 Science · KS2

Year 5 Science Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A full-year Year 5 science scheme of work for the UK curriculum (Key Stage 2, UK National Curriculum). Week-by-week lessons for 1, 2 or 3 days a week, covering living things and their habitats, animals including humans, properties and changes of materials, Earth and space, forces and working scientifically.

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Year 5 Science learning map

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

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice
September · Living Things and Their Habitats

Year 5 Science — September Lesson Plan

UK National Curriculum · Science
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
September 1st week
(Science)		Living Things and Their Habitats 1: Differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a birdLiving Things and Their Habitats 1: Differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a birdLiving Things and Their Habitats 1: Differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a bird
September 2nd week
(Science)		Living Things and Their Habitats 2: The life process of reproduction in some plants and animalsLiving Things and Their Habitats 2: The life process of reproduction in some plants and animalsLiving Things and Their Habitats 2: The life process of reproduction in some plants and animals
September 3rd week
(Science)		Living Things and Their Habitats Continued Practice & ConsolidationLiving Things and Their Habitats Continued Practice & ConsolidationLiving Things and Their Habitats 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & Check
September 4th week
(Science)		Living Things and Their Habitats 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & CheckLiving Things and Their Habitats 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & CheckLiving Things and Their Habitats Applied Practice Activity
October · Animals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically

Year 5 Science — October Lesson Plan

UK National Curriculum · Science
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
October 1st week
(Science)		Animals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically 1: Changes as humans develop to old ageAnimals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically 1: Changes as humans develop to old ageAnimals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically 1: Changes as humans develop to old age
October 2nd week
(Science)		Animals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically 2: Planning different types of scientific enquiry, controlling variables where necessaryAnimals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically 2: Planning different types of scientific enquiry, controlling variables where necessaryAnimals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically 2: Planning different types of scientific enquiry, controlling variables where necessary
October 3rd week
(Science)		Animals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically Continued Practice & ConsolidationAnimals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically Continued Practice & ConsolidationAnimals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & Check
October 4th week
(Science)		Animals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & CheckAnimals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & CheckAnimals, Including Humans & Working Scientifically Applied Practice Activity
November · Properties and Changes of Materials

Year 5 Science — November Lesson Plan

UK National Curriculum · Science
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
November 1st week
(Science)		Properties and Changes of Materials 1: Comparing materials by hardness, solubility, transparency, conductivity and response to magnetsProperties and Changes of Materials 1: Comparing materials by hardness, solubility, transparency, conductivity and response to magnetsProperties and Changes of Materials 1: Comparing materials by hardness, solubility, transparency, conductivity and response to magnets
November 2nd week
(Science)		Properties and Changes of Materials 2: Dissolving and recovering a substance from a solutionProperties and Changes of Materials 2: Dissolving and recovering a substance from a solutionProperties and Changes of Materials 2: Dissolving and recovering a substance from a solution
November 3rd week
(Science)		Properties and Changes of Materials Continued Practice & ConsolidationProperties and Changes of Materials Continued Practice & ConsolidationProperties and Changes of Materials 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & Check
November 4th week
(Science)		Properties and Changes of Materials 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & CheckProperties and Changes of Materials 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & CheckProperties and Changes of Materials Applied Practice Activity
December · Properties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically

Year 5 Science — December Lesson Plan

UK National Curriculum · Science
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
December 1st week
(Science)		Properties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically 1: Separating mixtures: filtering, sieving, evaporatingProperties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically 1: Separating mixtures: filtering, sieving, evaporatingProperties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically 1: Separating mixtures: filtering, sieving, evaporating
December 2nd week
(Science)		Properties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically 2: Taking measurements with increasing accuracy and precision, using a range of equipmentProperties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically 2: Taking measurements with increasing accuracy and precision, using a range of equipmentProperties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically 2: Taking measurements with increasing accuracy and precision, using a range of equipment
December 3rd week
(Science)		Properties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically Continued Practice & ConsolidationProperties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically Continued Practice & ConsolidationProperties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & Check
December 4th week
(Science)		Properties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & CheckProperties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically 3: Review & Consolidation 4: Practice Activities & CheckProperties and Changes of Materials & Working Scientifically Applied Practice Activity
The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Wonder and question

Start with an everyday question about plants, animals, materials or forces that links to what your child already knows.

25 minutes

Explore and investigate

Explain the idea with pictures and simple models, then plan, observe or record a small investigation together.

10 minutes

Check for mastery

Finish with a short quiz or explain-it-back task that shows what is secure and what to revisit.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for Year 5 Science

Concept lessons

Clear, visual lessons on each National Curriculum science topic.

Practice activities

Short questions and checks matched to each week’s focus.

Working scientifically

Simple investigations, observations and recording skills.

Progress notes

A clear record of what your child has mastered and what comes next.

Free first lesson

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