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Programme of Study: Upper Key Stage 2, Year 6
Skills available for England Upper Key Stage 2, Year 6 science objectives
Dimension
  • Working scientifically
  • Living things and their habitats
  • Animals, including humans
  • Evolution and inheritance
  • Light
  • Electricity
Print skill plan
Working scientifically
Planning different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary
Planning different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary
Taking measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate
  • 1.
    Read a thermometer
  • 2.
    Compare temperatures on thermometers
  • 3.
    Identify laboratory tools
Taking measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate
  • 1.
    Read a thermometer
  • 2.
    Compare temperatures on thermometers
  • 3.
    Identify laboratory tools
Recording data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs
  • 1.
    Understand conservation of matter using graphs
  • 2.
    Collect and graph temperature data
  • 3.
    Describe and graph water on Earth
Recording data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs
  • 1.
    Understand conservation of matter using graphs
  • 2.
    Collect and graph temperature data
  • 3.
    Describe and graph water on Earth
Using test results to make predictions to set up further comparative and fair tests
Using test results to make predictions to set up further comparative and fair tests
Reporting and presenting findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations
Reporting and presenting findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations
Identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments
  • 1.
    What affects traits? Use observations to support a hypothesis
  • 2.
    Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement
  • 3.
    Compare ancient and modern organisms: use observations to support a hypothesis
  • 4.
    Interpret evidence from fossils in rock layers
Identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments
  • 1.
    What affects traits? Use observations to support a hypothesis
  • 2.
    Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement
  • 3.
    Compare ancient and modern organisms: use observations to support a hypothesis
  • 4.
    Interpret evidence from fossils in rock layers
Living things and their habitats
Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including microorganisms, plants and animals
  • 1.
    Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians
  • 2.
    Identify vertebrates and invertebrates
  • 3.
    Use evidence to classify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians
  • 4.
    Use evidence to classify animals
  • 5.
    Describe, classify and compare kingdoms
Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including microorganisms, plants and animals
  • 1.
    Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians
  • 2.
    Identify vertebrates and invertebrates
  • 3.
    Use evidence to classify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians
  • 4.
    Use evidence to classify animals
  • 5.
    Describe, classify and compare kingdoms
Give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics
  • 1.
    Use evidence to classify animals
  • 2.
    Describe, classify and compare kingdoms
Give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics
  • 1.
    Use evidence to classify animals
  • 2.
    Describe, classify and compare kingdoms
Animals, including humans
Identify and name the main parts of the human circulatory system, and describe the functions of the heart, blood vessels and blood
  • 1.
    Body systems: circulation and respiration
Identify and name the main parts of the human circulatory system, and describe the functions of the heart, blood vessels and blood
  • 1.
    Body systems: circulation and respiration
Recognise the impact of diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle on the way their bodies function
Recognise the impact of diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle on the way their bodies function
Describe the ways in which nutrients and water are transported within animals, including humans
Describe the ways in which nutrients and water are transported within animals, including humans
Evolution and inheritance
Recognise that living things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago
  • 1.
    Introduction to fossils
  • 2.
    Identify and classify fossils
  • 3.
    Compare fossils to modern organisms
  • 4.
    Compare ancient and modern organisms: use observations to support a hypothesis
  • 5.
    Interpret evidence from fossils in rock layers
Recognise that living things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago
  • 1.
    Introduction to fossils
  • 2.
    Identify and classify fossils
  • 3.
    Compare fossils to modern organisms
  • 4.
    Compare ancient and modern organisms: use observations to support a hypothesis
  • 5.
    Interpret evidence from fossils in rock layers
Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents
  • 1.
    Match offspring to parents using inherited traits
  • 2.
    Read a plant pedigree chart
  • 3.
    Read an animal pedigree chart
Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents
  • 1.
    Match offspring to parents using inherited traits
  • 2.
    Read a plant pedigree chart
  • 3.
    Read an animal pedigree chart
Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution
  • 1.
    Introduction to adaptations
  • 2.
    Animal adaptations: beaks, mouths and necks
  • 3.
    Animal adaptations: feet and limbs
  • 4.
    Animal adaptations: skins and body coverings
Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution
  • 1.
    Introduction to adaptations
  • 2.
    Animal adaptations: beaks, mouths and necks
  • 3.
    Animal adaptations: feet and limbs
  • 4.
    Animal adaptations: skins and body coverings
Light
Recognise that light appears to travel in straight lines
  • 1.
    How does light travel and interact with matter?
Recognise that light appears to travel in straight lines
  • 1.
    How does light travel and interact with matter?
Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain that objects are seen because they give out or reflect light into the eye
  • 1.
    How do we see objects?
Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain that objects are seen because they give out or reflect light into the eye
  • 1.
    How do we see objects?
Explain that we see things because light travels from light sources to our eyes or from light sources to objects and then to our eyes
  • 1.
    How do we see objects?
Explain that we see things because light travels from light sources to our eyes or from light sources to objects and then to our eyes
  • 1.
    How do we see objects?
Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them
Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them
Electricity
Associate the brightness of a lamp or the volume of a buzzer with the number and voltage of cells used in the circuit
Associate the brightness of a lamp or the volume of a buzzer with the number and voltage of cells used in the circuit
Compare and give reasons for variations in how components function, including the brightness of bulbs, the loudness of buzzers and the on/off position of switches
Compare and give reasons for variations in how components function, including the brightness of bulbs, the loudness of buzzers and the on/off position of switches
Use recognised symbols when representing a simple circuit in a diagram
Use recognised symbols when representing a simple circuit in a diagram
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