Practical Science for Year 6
Introduction
This book of science activities aims to help the busy
teacher deliver high quality science lessons with as
much manageable practical classroom work as
possible. This book is a major update of our previous
Photocopiable Practical Science Series bringing it in
line with the 2014 National Curriculum for England.
Existing material has been rearranged and new material
has been added making full curriculum coverage easy
to complete.
Each lesson follows a similar format with the following
elements:
1. A simple information sheet with questions that
explore the main concept to be studied during the
lesson.
2. A classroom based experiment that, on the whole,
can be carried out by small groups of children
working independently.
3. A simple homework sheet which reinforces the
concept discussed and the knowledge gained from
the experiment carried out.
4. Detailed teacher notes that list the learning
objectives, the main points to be talked about, the
equipment needed for the investigation, how the
investigation should be carried out and the
conclusion that can be made from it.
Topical Resources publishes a range of Educational
Materials for use in Primary Schools and Pre-School
Nurseries and Playgroups.
For the latest catalogue:
Tel: 01772 863158
Fax: 01772 866153
e.mail: [email protected]
Buy online at:
www.topical-resources.co.uk
Topical Resources, P.O. Box 329, Broughton, Preston,
Lancashire. PR3 5LT
Copyright © 2014 Peter Bell
Illustrated by John Hutchinson
Designed by Paul Sealey, PS3 Creative
3 Wentworth Drive, Thornton, Lancashire
Printed in the UK for ‘Topical Resources’ by
T. Snape and Co Ltd, Boltons Court, Preston, Lancs.
Contents
Notes for Teachers / Working Scientifically
2
Animals, including Humans
Programme of Study
Lesson Notes
Lesson 1 – Heart, Pulse and Exercise
Lesson 2 – Food and Health
Lesson 3 – Healthy Living
Lesson 4 – The Human Digestive System
19
20
21
24
27
30
Living Things and their Habitats
Programme of Study
3
Lesson Notes
4
Appendix 1
5
Lesson 1 – How to Group all Living Things
13
Lesson 2 – Life in a Freshwater Pond Habitat 16
Evolution and Inheritance
Programme of Study
Lesson Notes
Lesson 1 – Fossils tell about the Past
Lesson 2 – Living Things Produce Offspring
Lesson 3 – Adapting to a Habitat
Light
Programme of Study
Lesson Notes
Appendix 2
Lesson 1 – Sources of Light
Lesson 2 – Opaque, Transparent and
Transparent Materials
Lesson 3 – How we see Things
Lesson 4 – Shadows
Electricity
Programme of Study
Lesson Notes
Lesson 1 – Batteries
Lesson 2 – Conductors and Insulators
Lesson 3 – Switches
Lesson 4 – Circuit Diagrams
33
34
35
38
41
44
45
46
47
50
53
56
59
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61
64
67
70
First Published January 2014
ISBN: 978-1-909458-39-0
page 1
Lesson Notes
Back to Contents
Evolution and Inheritance
P.35 Lesson 1
Fossils tell us what happened in the past
Learning Objective:
To recognise that living things have changed over time and
that fossils provide information about living things that
inhabited the Earth millions of years ago
Talk about: What fossils are
What scientists do with fossils
What dinosaur teeth can tell us
What dinosaur eggs can tell us
What dinosaur footprints can tell us
What dinosaur ‘poo’ can tell us
Experiment: Can you sort dinosaur bones in the classroom?
Equipment: Scissors, glue stick, paper.
Method: Cut out the shapes on the printed sheet and
assemble into three different dinosaurs.
Conclusion: Dinosaur bones can be assembled in the
classroom.
P.38 Lesson 2
Living Things Produce Offspring
Learning Objectives:
To recognise that living things produce offspring of the same
kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their
parents
Talk about: Different breeds of dog
The characteristics of a Labrador retriever
The characteristics of a poodle
The definition of a crossbreed
The characteristics of a labradoodle
Experiment: Chart the characteristics of a cross bred puppy
Equipment: Worksheet and pen
Method: Discuss the text describing how puppies take on
some of the characteristics of their parents. Select appropriate
characteristics for the imaginary puppies. Decide which puppy
would be best for a family and which would be best for an old
lady.
Conclusion: Different characteristics of puppies suit them for
some homes better than others.
page 34
P.41 Lesson 3
Adapting to a Habitat
Contains elements of QCA Science Unit 4B
Learning Objectives:
To understand the concept of a habitat.
To understand that animals and plants adapt to live in different
habitats.
Talk about:
What a habitat is.
What an animal or plant requires from a habitat.
How long animals and plants take to adapt to a habitat.
How camouflage helps tigers to survive in jungle conditions.
How gills and fins help fish to survive in water.
How feathers and a light skeleton help birds to spend time in
the air.
How cacti store water for long periods in desert condtions.
Investigation: What is the best shape for a fish?
Equipment: a stopwatch, a 2M length of guttering with both
ends sealed up, several different wooden fish-shapes
(waterproofed with varnish) with a pin/small hook at the front,
string, clothes pegs, plasticine/weights and plastic cotton
reels.
Method: Place the guttering across several tables or outside
on the school yard/field. Fill with water. Fasten two pegs on
one end holding a cotton reel sitting on a wooden axle to act
as a pulley. Tie a loop in one end of the string and hook onto a
fish shape floating in water away from the pulley. Thread the
string under the pulley and then up over a second pulley,
which will allow an attached weight to drop to the ground.
Dropping the weight pulls the fish shape along the tank. Time
different shapes to see which the most efficient at moving
through the water.
Conclusion: Thin pointed shapes move through the water
most quickly.
© Topical Resources Ltd. May be photocopied for classroom use only.
Back to Contents
Evolution and Inheritance
Information 1
Fossils tell us what Happened in the Past
Fossils are the hardened remains or impressions of animals and plants that lived millions of
years ago. By placing together fossils of dinosaur bones, scientists can build up a skeleton of
the dinosaur and get an idea of its size and what it looked like. Examples can be found in the
Science Museum in London. Dinosaur fossils can tell us all sorts of things:
Dinosaur teeth and bones can tell us:
• The size of the dinosaur
• Distinctive features such as horns or spikes for attacking other dinosaurs
• If they were meat or plant eaters
• The size of the brain
• If they walked on two legs (biped) or four legs (quadruped)
Dinosaur eggs and nests can tell us:
• How baby dinosaurs developed
• If dinosaurs lived alone or in groups
Dinosaur footprints can tell us:
• How fast the dinosaurs moved
• Whether they walked on two legs or four
• Whether they moved in a herd or on their own
• If the dinosaur dragged its tail or lifted it up
Dinosaur poo can tell us:
• What the dinosaur ate
• If the dinosaur was a meat or plant eater
Dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago leaving the world to be populated by mammals.
Task
Answer these questions:
1. What are fossils?
2. How can scientists get an idea of what a dinosaur looked like?
3. How do you think teeth can tell us if they were meat or plant eaters?
4. How do you think nests could suggest if they lived in groups or alone?
5. How could scientists tell if a dinosaur lifted up its tail?
6. How could dinosaur poo suggest what they ate?
7. When did dinosaurs die out?
8. Draw and colour a dinosaur skeleton.
© Topical Resources Ltd. May be photocopied for classroom use only.
page 35
Evolution and Inheritance
Investigation 1
page 36
Name:
Back to Contents
Date:
© Topical Resources Ltd. May be photocopied for classroom use only.
Name:
Date:
Fossils tell us what Happened in the Past
Back to Contents
Evolution and Inheritance
Homework 1
No one has ever seen a dinosaur, only remains have been found. Research and sketch the
skeleton of a dinosaur of your choice. Next to it draw and colour an ‘artist’s impression’ of what
your skeleton looked like when it was alive.
Skeleton
‘Artist’s Impression’
© Topical Resources Ltd. May be photocopied for classroom use only.
page 37