Key Stage 1 science is broken down into several strands. Experimental and investigative science involves children exploring, observing and asking questions about living things, materials and phenomena. Investigative skills are developed as children learn about the role of evidence to help answer questions and how to evaluate and compare outcomes.

In the science Key Stage 1 curriculum, children will learn about the following areas:

Life and living processes

Children will learn about animals and humans - their similarities and differences, and what they need to keep alive and healthy. They’ll also investigate what plants need to grow, how they grow and names of different parts.

Materials

Children learn the names and uses of common types of materials, such as metal, plastic, wood and paper, and how different materials are affected by processes, e.g. bending and stretching, heat or cold.

Physical processes

Electricity and circuits will be covered, including everyday electrical appliances and simple series circuits involving batteries, wires, bulbs, switches and other components.

They will also explore movement through concepts such as going faster, slowing down and changing direction. Plus they'll investigate the role of pushes and pulls as examples of forces that cause these different movements.

Finally, they'll look at light and sound. They’ll learn about different light sources and that darkness is the absence of light; that sounds get fainter as they travel away from sources and are heard when they enter the ear.

Help your child at home

• Show your child plants or pictures of plants, such as apple trees, tomato plants, sweet corn, and cabbages and ask them why it is important for humans to grow plants.
• Plant seeds at home. Talk about the things plants need to grow, such as soil, water, light and air. Help them to observe the changes as the plants begin to grow.
• Do you have a pet? Help your child to point out the similarities between animals and humans. Do we both have arms, legs, eyes, ears and a nose? Do we both need food, water and sleep?
• Talk to your child about sources of light. Walk around your environment and point them out - timer switches, clock radio, computer, lamp, light bulb, street lamps, the sun and moon. Which are bright or dim?
• Link science to real life. Talk about how things were in the past and how scientific advancements have brought changes. Share books that show non-electrical or old household appliances.
• Give your child a collection of items made from different materials - paper, cardboards, plastics, metals - and ask them to find different ways of grouping them (rough, smooth, shiny, dull or plastic, metal, wood, fabric).
• Point out materials which are found naturally and those which are not (twigs, unpolished/unfinished wood, sand, rocks, water, bone, clay, wool, glass, plastic, paper, cardboard). Ask your child to try sorting the materials into those they thinks are found naturally. Help if they get stuck!
• Talk to your child about how natural materials are changed to make everyday objects. Use resources to help your child learn about the processes involved.