Home / Children Learning / Key Stage 1 / Key Stage 1 Science /

Helping you to help your child
achieve their best!

 

Key Stage 1 Science

Science in Key Stage 1 is broken down into several strands. Experimental and investigative Key Stage 1 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

Life and living processes

Animals and humans - their similarities and differences, and what they need to keep alive and healthy.

Plants - what they need to grow, how they grow and names of different parts.

Materials

Materials - names and uses of common types of materials, such as metal, plastic, wood and paper, and how different materials are affected by processes (bending and stretching, heat or cold).

Physical processes

Electricity and circuits - everyday electrical appliances and simple series circuits involving batteries, wires, bulbs, switches and other components.

Movement - concepts such as faster, slow down and change direction; the role of pushes and pulls as examples of forces that cause things to propel, slow down or change direction.

Light and sound - 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.

Resource tips

Can You Feel the Force

Dorling Kindersley, £9.99

Richard Hammond puts the fizz back into physics as he takes you on a thrilling high-energy journey through time, space and beyond, discovering what makes the Universe and everything in it the way it is. This is more than a reference book: it's interactive, full of intriguing puzzles, brainteasers, tricks and fun activities that you can try out for yourself. Begin by learning how to impale a potato with a drinking straw or stick two books together with nothing but the mysterious force of friction!

Horrible Science Experiments

Galt, £9.99

For budding young scientists in search of horribly fascinating experiments and mind-boggling facts, look no further than the Horrible Science kit boxes from Living & Learning. Based on Scholastic's best-selling Horrible Science books (Nick Arnold and Tony De Saulles), choose from Deadly Dinosaurs, Space, Stars and Slimy Aliens, and Scary Sight for a truly ‘horrible' twist to make science interesting and fun.

 
bunsen burner

Get ahead at home

  • Show your child plants or pictures of plants such as apple trees, tomato plants, sweet corn, 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, air. Help them to observe the changes as the plant begins 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 him or her 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 he or she 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
 

Related articles

Children Learning | Foundation Stage

Children Learning | Key Stage 3

Children Learning | Key Stage 1

 

What's it mean?

•    Find out more about the terms and names used in education. More...

 

Helping hands

• Your online Directory of support for parents and children. More...