Year 2

Knowledge and Content

Life Processes and Living Things

Children will learn that most living things live in habitats most suited to their needs. They will interpret a simple food chain and identify and name different sources of food. Pupils will explore what plants need in order to grow healthily.

Animals, including humans

Pupils will study the life cycle of animals and they will find out the basic needs of all animals. They will learn to describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene.

Materials and their Properties

The children widen their knowledge of materials, naming common materials and identifying that some of them are found naturally. They use their knowledge of simple properties to group materials. They develop their understanding of the uses of materials and how they are chosen on the basis of their simple properties. They learn that the shape of some materials can be changed. They explore how some everyday materials change when they are heated or cooled.

Physical Processes

Children learn about everyday appliances which use electricity and how to make simple circuits, including switches. They find out about and describe the movement of familiar things and recognise that when things speed up, slow down or change direction, a force has caused this.

Working Scientifically

Through studying the content listed, the children will learn that they need to collect evidence through making observations and measurements when they are trying to answer a question. They will ask questions and decide how to find answers and begin to consider whether a test is fair. They will follow instructions to ensure their own and others’ safety. They will record simple observations and measurements and communicate these in different ways. They will make simple comparisons and identify patterns in evidence collected. The children will compare what happened in an investigation with what they thought would happen and will be able to explain to others what they did.