These are the buttons for going to teacher resources.
Above right is the search button. You can get to this 'toolkit' screen from the search, too. Most useful when students have a specific word in mind.
This is the main textbook. It opens in a new tab or window. To close the book, close the tab or window. On a mobile you can swipe to turn pages and also pull corners. On the top right there is a button for searching within the book. You can also zoom in on a page and drag the page to where you want it. Some books have videos embedded.

If there is an 'explorer' book opposite with a similar title it is also a textbook, but with a 2 year reading level lower than the main book.
These creative topics books cover specific topics and reinforce the main book. Use them as further reading, or when more detail is needed for project work.

The books are colour banded using a system of reading ability levels as is standard across British schools. If there are coloured dots, they tell of reading level and also guide you as to how hard the subject matter is: the more dots the harder it is.
This is the interactive topic. It covers the same ground as the book, but with less text and it focuses on read-outs. Suited to whiteboards as well as individual use. Each text passage can be read out and stopped by mouseover or tap. There is a question with interactive answer. Especially helps those with reading challenges.
This is the video gallery. It contains all of the videos in the i-topic and more. You can use this if you wish to manage videos rather than have them as part of the i-topic.
This is an interactive audio-visual experience. It contains a wide variety of topics to help students approach a topic in a less formal way. They select items and hear them read out. Copyright restrictions apply: the material cannot be used in other websites.
These are additional resources, such as topic books.
  • Statutory programme of study.

• The books below cover the ground needed for each statutory requirement.

• If you need guidance on how to teach the topic, take the academy course by clicking the 'Lessons' icon. (Also suited to parent use.)

• Remember you can enhance this by using our safe search. For example, search tadpole, insect, frog.
• Also remember each book has its own search, top right immediately above the page.
• For teacher guides and more visit the academy links.

Year 5 has the following 5 themes. Please select the one you want:

1. Life cycles

2. Human and animal life cycle (scroll down)

3. Properties and changes of materials

4. Earth and space

5. Forces

2. Animal life cycle

• (a) Animals, including humans


Statutory requirements

Pupils should be taught to:
describe the changes as humans develop to old age.
Notes and guidance (non-statutory)
Pupils should draw a timeline to indicate stages in the growth and development of humans. They should learn about the changes experienced in puberty.
Pupils could work scientifically by researching the gestation periods of other animals and comparing them with humans; by finding out and recording the length and mass of a baby as it grows.



Extra guidance: The importance of nutrition. Movement of animals with or without skeletons. Diets of different animals and grouping by what they eat. Food groups to keep humans healthy.

Text books and academy to use:


Specially written book for this topic

Specially written book for this topic.

Simple, entire book.

More comprehensive



Additional reading books to use:



• (b) identify that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection and movement.


Text books and academy to use:


Specially written book for this topic.

Simple, whole book.

More comprehensive, pages 24-31

Additional reading books to use:

Note: teeth book included here so you can explain that teeth are NOT bone, but at the same time explain why good tooth hygiene is important.



Go to section 3: Materials