Year 5 Science · Growing up to old age · Lesson 4.3

Year 5 Science: Childhood

Part of the Year 5 Science growing up to old age chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

4.3

Childhood

Year 5
A1: childhood, the changes between babyhood and puberty

Story. Mei is seven. She can read short books on her own, she has made new friends at school, and she can ride her bike without stabilisers. “I could not do any of that when I was a baby,” she says, with a smile.

Childhood is the stage between babyhood and puberty. A child grows steadily, and learns many new skills: speaking clearly, reading, writing, counting, and playing with others.

A child needs good food, enough sleep, regular exercise and clean habits, such as washing hands. Friends and family help a child to feel safe and happy.

The second figure, childhood, is highlighted. It is taller than the baby, and its head is smaller compared with its body.

Key ideas

Childhood comes between babyhood and puberty.
A child grows steadily, and learns to speak, read, write and count.
A child needs good food, sleep, exercise and clean habits.
Compared with a baby, a child has a smaller head for its body.

Worked example 4.3.1

Which skill does a child learn at school? Write one word.

Method. Think about what school teaches.

Think about school. At school a child learns to read and write.
read and write
Name one skill. One skill is reading.
reading
Write the answer.
reading

Check. Accept reading, writing, counting or speaking. ✓

Worked example 4.3.2

Which stage comes before childhood? Write the word.

Method. Read the order of the stages.

Read the order. The order is babyhood, childhood, puberty, adulthood and old age.
babyhood, childhood
Name the stage. The stage before childhood is babyhood.
babyhood
Write the answer.
babyhood

Check. Childhood follows babyhood. ✓

Worked example 4.3.3

Name two things a child needs to stay healthy. Write the two words.

Method. Think about a healthy child.

Think about the needs. A child needs good food, sleep and exercise.
food, sleep, exercise
Name two. Two needs are good food and sleep.
food and sleep
Write the answer.
good food and sleep

Check. Accept any two of: good food, sleep, exercise, clean habits. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a child is not a baby, and is not yet a teenager. Childhood is a stage of its own, with its own learning and changes.

Try it (with your teacher or a grown-up). Ask a grown-up to help you make a list of the skills you have learned since you were a baby. Put a tick next to each one you can do now. Count the ticks.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “What new skill have you learned this year? Who helped you learn it?” Praise effort, not just results.

Exercise 4C Childhood

FWhich stage comes between babyhood and puberty? Write the word.

Done

FWhich skill is learned at school: reading or walking? Write the word.

Done

FFill in the gap: a child grows ___. Write one word, to describe steady growth.

Done

FName one thing that a child needs to stay healthy, from the key ideas in section 4.3. Write one word.

Done

FWhich of these helps a child feel safe and happy? Write the word: friends or sweets.

Done

FWhich stage comes before childhood? Write the word.

Done

PSLook at the figures in section 4.3. Is the child figure taller than the baby figure? Write yes or no.

Done

PSLook at the figures in section 4.3. Which figure has the smaller head for its body: the baby or the child? Write the word.

Done

PSTrue or false: a child stops learning new skills when it starts school. Write true or false.

Done

RWorking scientifically. Plan a healthy routine. Write one thing a child can do each day to stay healthy. Write one sentence.

Done

RExplain why friends and family are important to a child. Write one sentence.

Done