Best Science Topics for Key Stage 2 Students

Key Stage 2 science opens up a world of fascinating discoveries for children aged 7-11. From understanding how their own bodies work to exploring the solar system, KS2 science topics are designed to inspire curiosity and develop scientific thinking. Here we explore some of the most engaging topics and how you can support your child's learning at home.

The [Human Body](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/human-body) is consistently one of the most popular science topics among KS2 children. Learning about the skeletal and muscular systems in Year 3, the digestive system in Year 4, and the circulatory system in Year 6 helps children understand their own bodies. Worksheets that label body parts, trace the journey of food through the digestive system, or explain how blood flows around the body reinforce classroom learning. At home, you can explore this topic by feeling pulses, discussing why exercise makes hearts beat faster, or examining what happens when you eat.

[Electricity](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/electricity) captures children's imagination because they can see immediate results of their learning. In Year 4, children learn about simple circuits, identifying what makes a complete circuit and drawing circuit diagrams using symbols. Year 6 extends this to investigate how the brightness of a bulb or volume of a buzzer depends on the number and voltage of cells. Circuit-building kits provide hands-on exploration, while worksheets reinforce understanding of components, circuit diagrams, and conductors versus insulators.

[Forces](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/forces) explain so much about the physical world. Year 3 introduces forces in the context of magnets, exploring attraction, repulsion, and magnetic materials. Year 5 expands this to gravity, air resistance, water resistance, and friction. Children learn that unsupported objects fall to Earth because of gravity and how forces affect movement. Practical investigations with toy cars, parachutes, and ramps bring forces to life, while worksheets develop understanding of force diagrams and the relationship between forces and motion.

[Earth and Space](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/earth-and-space), taught in Year 5, consistently excites children. Learning about the planets, the Sun, the Moon, and why we have day and night connects to children's natural wonder about the universe. Models and diagrams help explain the movement of the Earth relative to the Sun and the Moon relative to the Earth. Worksheets covering planet facts, moon phases, and the solar system reinforce this learning.

[Light](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/light) is explored in Year 3 and Year 6. Children learn that light travels in straight lines, understand how shadows are formed, and investigate reflection. They also learn how the eye works and why we need light to see. Practical activities with torches and mirrors make this topic hands-on, while worksheets develop diagram skills and understanding of light behaviours.

[Living Things and Habitats](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/animals) runs throughout KS2, with increasing complexity each year. Children learn to classify living things, understand food chains, explore life cycles, and eventually learn about evolution and inheritance in Year 6. This topic connects beautifully to real-world observation: watching birds in the garden, growing plants, or visiting nature reserves all enrich classroom learning.

[States of Matter](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/chemistry), taught in Year 4, explains solids, liquids, and gases using the particle model. Children investigate changes of state through melting, freezing, evaporating, and condensing. The water cycle provides a real-world context that connects to geography learning. Practical investigations with ice, water, and steam make these abstract concepts concrete.

[Plants](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/plants) are studied in Year 3, building on KS1 knowledge. Children learn about the functions of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, the requirements for plant growth, and the role of flowers in reproduction and seed dispersal. Growing plants from seeds or taking cuttings provides first-hand experience, while worksheets reinforce understanding of plant parts and life cycles.

[Sound](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/sound), taught in Year 4, explores how sounds are made through vibrations and how they travel to the ear. Children investigate pitch and volume, learning how these relate to the properties of the vibrating source. Making musical instruments from everyday materials brings this topic to life.

Supporting science learning at home does not require expensive equipment. Kitchen ingredients become chemistry experiments. Garden observations become biology lessons. Shadows, magnets, and simple circuits can all be explored with readily available materials. The key is encouraging questions, making predictions, testing ideas, and discussing results – the scientific method in action.

Our [science worksheets for Key Stage 2](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2) cover all these topics with age-appropriate questions that develop scientific knowledge and enquiry skills. Used alongside practical exploration, they help children build a solid foundation in science.