A few new National Curriculum 2013 weekly plans are on the site for you to look at... advice and overviews will be added soon. In August there will be a full raft of plans for the new National Curriculum available. Meantime all the old plans are in the archive.

Help

Primary Science Resources

Welcome to the Science planning area of our site! Here you will find a selection of Science Strands for each of the age ranges Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4) and Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6). They include teaching sessions and resources.

Click on View KS1, LKS2 or UKS2 to see which Science Strands are available for your chosen age range and a short description of each Strand. The Overview for each Strand provides more details and the Objectives document lists the objectives which are covered in all that year's Science Strands.

Many of the sessions in the Science Strands are suitable to teach alongside particular cross-curricular Topics. The links between them are shown in both the relevant Science and Topic sessions.

All the Science Strands are available for registered users of Hamilton Trust to use. Friends of Hamilton have access to all other materials for their chosen age range and School Subscription members have access to all the materials on our site. 

For further support click on the Help button at the foot of the page.

Age range



Strand

Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Strand Overview

In this Strand chn discover that some materials are better thermal insulators than others. Several investigations are carried out to discover which materials are best suited for keeping things warm or cool, & chn’s findings help them design a new product.

 
Open / Close
 
Tick to Download

A: Measuring the temperature

Resources Session document
Open or close plan

Description

Use everyday examples to explain that temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is & that it increases or decreases due to heat being transferred to or away from the object. Chn find that thermometers are the best way to measure temperature!

Subject & Objectives & Range

  • Science1: Scientific Enquiry 2f
  • Science3: Materials and their Properties 2c
  • Range: Science 1a, 1c

You will need

  • Range of different thermometers, drawing materials, data-logging software and hardware to record the temperature of the classroom for one day! 3 bowls of water at different temperatures (cold with ice cubes, room temperature and warm). Access to internet.

Related Sessions

  • Romans - FREE Topic, Th4 The Roman Legacy 07: Roman Heating: Temperatures
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold B: Using a thermometer
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold C: Keeping hot!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold D: Keeping cool!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold E: Thermal insulators & conductors
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold F: Dragon's Den

Resources

LKS2 - ScC - SA - Hot & Cold - adaptable

LKS2 - ScC - SA - Hot & Cold

B: Using a thermometer

Resources Session document
Open or close plan

Description

Look at a line graph of temperature changes in the classroom over 24hrs & explain why it goes up & down. Establish how to use a thermometer accurately & safely, including a close look at diff scales. Look at a range of temps of diff places or objects.

Subject & Objectives & Range

  • Science1: Scientific Enquiry 2a, 2c, 2e, 2i
  • Science3: Materials and their Properties 2b, 2c
  • Range: Science 2a

You will need

  • Class set of thermometers. Access to internet.

Related Sessions

  • Romans - FREE Topic, Th4 The Roman Legacy 07: Roman Heating: Temperatures
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold A: Measuring the temperature
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold C: Keeping hot!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold D: Keeping cool!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold E: Thermal insulators & conductors
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold F: Dragon's Den

Resources

LKS2 - ScC - SB - Hot & Cold - adaptable

LKS2 - ScC - SB2 - Hot & Cold

C: Keeping hot!

Resources Session document
Open or close plan

Description

A hot flask of tea introduces the concept of thermal insulation leading to a discussion of how we & other animals keep warm or cool. Chn plan & carry out an investigation on keeping water warm. Which wrapping is the best insulator?

Subject & Objectives & Range

  • Science1: Scientific Enquiry 1a, 1b, 2b, 2c, 2d
  • Science3: Materials and their Properties 1b, 2c
  • Range: Science 2a, 2b

You will need

  • Hot flask of tea, a class set of thermometers, range of diff materials for wrapping, e.g. foil, bubble wrap, cotton wool, fabric, newspaper, 2 bowls of warm water per grp of chn. Diff disposable cups, vegetable fat, icy water. Datalogger, internet access

Related Sessions

  • Mighty Mountains Topic, Th2 Mountain Adventures 05: Keeping warm
  • Romans - FREE Topic, Th4 The Roman Legacy 08a: Materials: Insulators
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold A: Measuring the temperature
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold B: Using a thermometer
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold D: Keeping cool!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold E: Thermal insulators & conductors
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold F: Dragon's Den

Resources

LKS2 - ScC - SC - Hot & Cold - adaptable

LKS2 - ScC - SC - Hot & Cold

D: Keeping cool!

Resources Session document
Open or close plan

Description

Chn continue their investigative work by finding out which material is best for keeping ice cubes cold. What are they going to measure? An understanding of how insulators stop heat from being transferred from or to something is established.

Subject & Objectives & Range

  • Science1: Scientific Enquiry 1a, 1b, 2b, 2c, 2d
  • Science3: Materials and their Properties 1b, 2b, 2c
  • Range: Science 2a, 2b

You will need

  • Ice-cubes; measuring jugs/cylinders in millilitres, rulers/tape measures, clock, a range of materials e.g. bubble wrap, cling-film, newspaper, aluminium foil, fabrics; graph/squared paper.

Related Sessions

  • Mighty Mountains Topic, Th2 Mountain Adventures 05: Keeping warm
  • Mighty Mountains Topic, Th4 Mountain Protection 02: Melting Mountain Ice
  • Romans - FREE Topic, Th4 The Roman Legacy 08a: Materials: Insulators
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold A: Measuring the temperature
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold B: Using a thermometer
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold C: Keeping hot!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold E: Thermal insulators & conductors
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold F: Dragon's Den

Resources

LKS2 - ScC - SD - Hot & Cold - adaptable

E: Thermal insulators & conductors

Resources Session document
Open or close plan

Description

The properties of materials relate to their use as everyday objects such as spoons. Chn test the insulating properties of various stirrers & discuss everyday uses of materials for thermal insulation or conduction. Look at diff meanings of word conductor.

Subject & Objectives & Range

  • Science1: Scientific Enquiry 1a, 1b, 2b, 2c, 2d
  • Science3: Materials and their Properties 1b, 2b, 2c
  • Range: Science 2a, 2b

You will need

  • Range of different materials that can be placed in a jug of hot water, per group; a jug of hot water per group. Access to internet.

Related Sessions

  • Mighty Mountains Topic, Th2 Mountain Adventures 05: Keeping warm
  • Romans - FREE Topic, Th4 The Roman Legacy 08a: Materials: Insulators
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold A: Measuring the temperature
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold B: Using a thermometer
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold C: Keeping hot!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold D: Keeping cool!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold F: Dragon's Den

Resources

LKS2 - ScC - SE - Hot & Cold - adaptable

F: Dragon's Den

Resources Session document
Open or close plan

Description

In the final session chn use all their gained knowledge of thermal insulators & conductors to design a new product that they will present to the ‘Dragon’s Den’ in the hope of marketing it!

Subject & Objectives & Range

  • Science1: Scientific Enquiry 1a, 2h, 2l
  • Science3: Materials and their Properties 1a, 1b
  • Range: Science 1a, 1b

You will need

  • Various catalogues, e.g. Argos, IKEA, John Lewis. Access to word-processing software & internet.

Related Sessions

  • Mighty Mountains Topic, Th2 Mountain Adventures 06: Warm and snug in my sleeping bag (1)
  • Mighty Mountains Topic, Th2 Mountain Adventures 07: Warm and snug in my sleeping bag (2)
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold A: Measuring the temperature
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold B: Using a thermometer
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold C: Keeping hot!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold D: Keeping cool!
  • Science Y4 - Hot and Cold Topic, Y4 Hot and Cold E: Thermal insulators & conductors

Resources

LKS2 - ScC - SF - Hot & Cold - adaptable

Register to access all resources on this page.