Animals including Humans - Knowledge Organisers

The curriculum for Year 5 students in the topic of Animals including Humans covers a comprehensive understanding of the human life cycle and biological processes. Prior knowledge required includes the classification of animals into vertebrates and their respective subgroups, familiarity with various life cycles, and the recognition of reproduction and growth as two of the seven life processes. In addition, students should have an awareness of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. The vocabulary section introduces terms such as adolescence, adulthood, foetus, and puberty, among others, explaining their meanings and relevance to human development. Students are encouraged to engage in investigative activities such as researching gestation periods, collecting and analyzing data on physical growth, and understanding the impact of healthy life choices on a person's life story.

By the end of the unit, students will have a clear understanding of the main stages of the human life cycle, from foetus to late adulthood, and the changes that occur at each stage. They will also learn about puberty, the period of significant physical and hormonal changes that transition a child into an adult. The unit includes practical exercises, such as ordering the stages of life from newborn to adulthood, creating Venn diagrams to compare different life stages, and identifying the life processes involved in adulthood. Through these activities, students will be able to articulate the rapid changes that occur during infancy and the complex process of puberty, enhancing their comprehension of human biology.