Unit 5.1 Plants

This unit covers all aspects of flowering plants: parts and functions, life cycle including pollination and germination, seed and fruit production, and dispersal. Learners then study the features of plants that attract pollinators, how seeds disperse and how plants are adapted to survive in different environments.

Learners benefit from observing the stages of the life cycle of real flowers and plants in the classroom and in their natural environment. However, where this is not possible secondary sources of information can be used, e.g. online video clips.

The unit relies on learners observing plants at different stages of their life cycle. Some background research of your local environment will enable you judge when to schedule teaching the different aspects of the unit.

Unit 5.3 Forces

This unit covers forces and how they act. Learners will be able to name forces, describe the situations forces are observed in and the actions that forces have. They will be able to describe how forces act in opposite pairs and that forces can be balanced or unbalanced in different situations. They will learn how to draw force diagrams showing the forces acting in different situations.

Magnetism is also covered to ensure there is clarity about the links between magnetism and forces. Learners will learn about magnetic materials and how they differ from magnets and understand relative magnetic strength.

Learners will have opportunities to discuss the different types of scientific enquiry, make and test predictions and understand the importance of repeating measurements.

Unit 5.5 Waves

This unit covers sound and how it moves through a medium, such as air or water, and is caused by vibrations at the sound’s source. Learners will begin to associate sound to the scientific idea of waves.

Learners will investigate making sounds and how the pitch and volume can be changed.

Learners will have opportunities to ask scientific questions, choose equipment when doing an experiment and identify patterns in results

Unit 5.2 Materials

This unit covers aspects of materials, states of matter, changes of state and dissolving. It uses water as the main example. Learners will understand the particle model as a method to describe different states and learn about the processes involved in materials changing state. They will investigate how some dissolve in liquids, and be separated again, relating this to real life experiences.

Unit 5.4 Animals

Learners will study the digestive system of animals (including humans). They will understand the importance of an adequate, balanced diet and become aware of the health implications of a poor diet.

They will consider the specific adaptations of animals living in different environments and then focus on the adaptations of predator and prey animals.

Learners will have opportunities to classify animals; they will develop a classification key to identify different species.

Unit 5.6 Planet Earth

The first part of this unit covers the Earth’s place in the Solar System and how the orientation and orbit of the Earth affect the climate and seasons. Learners will also research satellites and their place in the Solar System.

The second part of the unit covers processes of evaporation and condensation on Earth: the importance of our atmosphere and how the water cycle ensures the survival of living things. Learners will be introduced to a definition of the term ‘pollution’ and research the negative impact humans have on our environment.