Science Worksheets for Primary School: What Every Parent Should Know
Navigate primary school science topics from plants to forces. Learn what your child studies at each year and how worksheets support scientific understanding.
Science education in primary school sparks curiosity about the natural world and develops critical thinking skills that extend far beyond the science classroom. From learning about plants and animals in Key Stage 1 to exploring forces, electricity, and evolution in Key Stage 2, primary science covers fascinating topics that children naturally find engaging.
The National Curriculum for Science is organised around two key elements: scientific knowledge and working scientifically. Scientific knowledge covers the content children need to learn, while working scientifically describes the skills of enquiry, investigation, and evidence-based thinking. Both elements are equally important, and the best science education integrates them seamlessly.
In Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), science focuses on topics children can experience directly. They learn about [plants](/worksheets/science/key-stage-1/plants), observing how seeds grow and identifying basic plant structures. [Animals including humans](/worksheets/science/key-stage-1/animals) introduces classification, body parts, and basic needs. Children also explore everyday [materials](/worksheets/science/key-stage-1/materials), comparing properties and suitability for different purposes. Seasonal changes throughout the year provide opportunities to observe weather and day length.
Key Stage 2 science builds on these foundations with increasing depth and complexity. In Year 3, children study plants in more detail, including water transport and the role of flowers in reproduction. They explore [light](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/light), shadows, and reflection, as well as [forces](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/forces) including magnets. Year 4 introduces [sound](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/sound), [electricity](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/electricity), and states of matter, where children learn about solids, liquids, and gases.
Year 5 brings [Earth and space](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/earth-and-space), where children learn about the solar system, Earth's rotation, and the Moon's phases. They also study forces in greater depth, including gravity, air resistance, and water resistance. Life cycles, reproduction in plants and animals, and changes as humans develop are also covered. Year 6 addresses classification, evolution, and inheritance, alongside light, electricity circuits, and the [human body](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2/human-body), particularly the circulatory system.
Working scientifically skills progress throughout primary school. KS1 children learn to ask simple questions, observe closely, perform simple tests, and use their observations to suggest answers. By the end of KS2, children should be able to plan different types of scientific enquiries, take accurate measurements, record data in various formats, use scientific evidence to support findings, and identify scientific evidence that has been used to support ideas.
Science worksheets play a valuable role in consolidating scientific knowledge. While practical investigation is essential, worksheets provide opportunities for children to recall key facts, apply their understanding to new situations, interpret data, and explain scientific concepts in their own words. They also prepare children for the style of questions they might encounter in assessments.
When using science worksheets at home, encourage your child to explain their answers rather than just writing single words. If a worksheet asks why something happens, a full sentence response demonstrates understanding. Discussing worksheet questions together can reveal misconceptions that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Linking worksheet practice to real-world observations brings science to life. If your child is studying plants, grow seeds on the windowsill and observe changes daily. If they are learning about materials, go on a material hunt around the house, identifying objects and their properties. If forces are the topic, visit a playground and discuss pushes, pulls, and friction on different equipment.
Science vocabulary matters too. Each topic introduces specialist terms that children need to understand and use correctly. Words like photosynthesis, evaporation, friction, and habitat are not just vocabulary to memorise; they represent concepts that children need to understand deeply. Worksheets that reinforce scientific vocabulary support this learning.
Our [science worksheets](/worksheets/science/key-stage-2) are designed to cover all the topics in the primary science curriculum, with age-appropriate content and a balance of knowledge recall and applied understanding questions. Combined with hands-on exploration at home and in school, they help build the scientific literacy that every child needs.