Long-term overview - Space - Year 5

The Year 5 science curriculum in the UK places a strong emphasis on understanding our solar system, specifically the movements and characteristics of Earth, the Moon, and other planets in relation to the Sun. Pupils are expected to describe how the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun, how the Moon orbits Earth, and to recognize that these celestial bodies are approximately spherical in shape. They should also be able to use the concept of Earth's rotation to explain the phenomena of day and night, as well as the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky.

Underpinning this curriculum are key substantive knowledge areas where students should gain a clear understanding of the orbital movements within our solar system. They are encouraged to research and explore the various planets, including the time they take to orbit the Sun. Additionally, they should investigate the dimensions associated with the Sun, Earth, and Moon to enhance their comprehension of scale and distance in space. This unit on space, while being standalone, also ties back to the concepts learned in Year 3 regarding light and darkness, thereby reinforcing and building upon their previous scientific knowledge.