Mrs Mactivity

Year 2 Science Block 3: Animals Including Humans - Growth

Year 2 science – Animals Including Humans

This Year 2 animals including humans unit helps pupils explore growth, survival and healthy living through practical science investigations and discussion-based learning. Across six lessons, pupils compare life cycles, investigate how offspring grow into adults and develop understanding of why nutrition, exercise and hygiene are important for human health.

Aligned with the National Curriculum, the unit encourages pupils to make connections between lifestyle choices and wellbeing while developing scientific vocabulary linked to growth, health and development. Pupils take part in practical activities including pulse investigations, food discussions and comparative observations to help deepen scientific understanding through real-life contexts.

Part of our comprehensive Scintillating Science scheme, this unit includes lesson plans, interactive teaching slides, differentiated worksheets, practical investigations and assessment materials to support engaging Year 2 science teaching.

Looking for the full Year 2 science curriculum?

Visit our main Year 2 science page to explore curriculum coverage, progression and long-term planning.

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View lesson overview and curriculum coverage

Lessons in this unit

  • How do humans grow and change?
  • How do mammals grow from offspring to adult?
  • How do non-mammals grow and change?
  • Why is food important for growth?
  • Why is exercise important for humans?
  • Why is hygiene important for humans?

National Curriculum objectives

Animals including humans

  • Notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults
  • Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food and hygiene

Working scientifically

  • Ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways
  • Observe closely, using simple equipment
  • Perform simple tests
  • Use observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Gather and record data to help answer questions

What this Year 2 animals including humans unit covers

This Year 2 science unit helps pupils develop understanding of growth, development and healthy living through practical enquiry and real-world investigation. Pupils explore how humans and animals change over time while learning about the importance of exercise, balanced nutrition and hygiene for staying healthy.

Lessons encourage pupils to compare stages of growth, investigate how bodies respond to exercise and discuss how healthy choices support wellbeing. Through practical activities and scientific discussion, pupils build confidence using vocabulary linked to growth, offspring, nutrition, pulse and hygiene.

The unit also strengthens working scientifically skills through observation, comparative testing and recording findings using tables, drawings and simple explanations. Pupils begin using evidence from investigations to answer scientific questions and explain patterns they notice.

What’s included?

  • Six fully planned science lessons
  • Interactive teaching slides for whole-class teaching
  • Differentiated worksheets and practical investigation activities
  • Knowledge organiser to support scientific vocabulary
  • Hands-on activities linked to growth, exercise and healthy living
  • Assessment materials to support tracking pupil progress

This unit forms part of our wider Scintillating Science scheme, supporting progression from EYFS science through to KS1 science.