United Kingdom Year 6 National Curriculum - Science Course Entries

Living Things and Their Habitats

Classification

Students learn to classify living things into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences. They explore the five kingdoms of life: Monera (e.g., bacteria), Protista (e.g., protozoa), Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. Within the Animalia kingdom, they differentiate between vertebrates (animals with a backbone) and invertebrates (animals without a backbone). The five classes of vertebrates (fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals) are also studied. Students learn about classification keys and how to use them to identify living things.

Animals, Including Humans

The Circulatory System

The focus is on the human circulatory system, including the heart, blood vessels, and blood. Students learn to identify and name the main parts of the circulatory system and describe the functions of the heart, blood, and blood vessels. They explore the double circulatory system, where blood is pumped to the lungs and then around the rest of the body. The importance of exercise, hygiene, and a balanced diet for maintaining a healthy circulatory system is also covered.

Evolution and Inheritance

Students learn about evolution as the process of adaptation over long periods. They explore how inherited traits can change over time and how natural selection leads to the survival and reproduction of organisms with advantageous traits. The concepts of variation, adaptation, and inheritance are explored through examples and activities.

Light

Students investigate how light travels in straight lines and how we see non-luminous objects through reflection. They learn about how different surfaces reflect light and explore the concepts of reflection and refraction. They also learn about how we see colors.

Electricity

Students learn about electrical circuits and their components, including cells, wires, bulbs, buzzers, motors, and switches. They construct simple series circuits and learn how to represent them using diagrams. They also explore how electricity can be generated from different sources and how it is used in everyday appliances.