Homeschool → New Zealand → Year 5 → Science

Year 5 science

In Year 4, students explore how living things depend on each other in food chains, compare natural and processed materials, and investigate how wind, water and ice shape Earth's surface. They examine contact and non-contact forces such as friction and magnetism, and plan fair tests with clear measurements.

Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.

Biological sciences

Food chains in Australian habitatsTopic outlineStudents build food chains from Australian habitats, such as grass, grasshopper, frog and snake, and identify producers and consumers.

Chemical sciences

Natural and processed materialsTopic outlineStudents compare natural materials such as wood, wool and stone with processed materials such as paper, plastic and glass, and link their properties to their uses.

Earth and space sciences

Weathering and erosionFull lesson · 50 minStudents model how wind, water and ice break down rock and carry soil away, and connect these processes to Australian landforms such as the Twelve Apostles and Uluru.

Physical sciences

Science inquiry

Measuring and recording resultsTopic outlineStudents use rulers, timers and scales accurately, repeat measurements and present results in tables and column graphs.

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Curriculum notes

Australian Curriculum v9.0. Topics are organised around the Australian Curriculum v9.0 Science strands and sub-strands. This is an independent learning resource; it is not endorsed by ACARA and has not been mapped to individual content descriptions.

These lessons were written around Australian Curriculum strands and matched to New Zealand year levels by age (NZ Year 1 is the first year of school). They are not yet mapped to The New Zealand Curriculum, so check them against your own learning programme.