Medium Term Overview
Subject: Science
Unit: Evolution and Inheritance
Year Group: 6
Term: Autumn
Aims of the Unit:
Recognise that living things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the earth
millions of years ago
Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents
Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment and adaptation may lead to evolution
Learning Intentions:
To investigate what fossils can tell us about the early origins of living things
To recognise that humans have genes DNA, and chromosomes
What can fossils tell us about the earth in the past?
What is a chromosome? What are genes? Why are genes important? What is DNA? Why is it important?
How does the environment effect adaptation?
How have humans adapted to the earth?
What is evolution?
What have I inherited from my parents? What parts of your nature have you developed yourself? Why?
What is a family tree? Why is it important to evolution/inheritance?
Why have some animals become extinct? Could humans become extinct?
Essential Skills:
Examples of Activities:
Examine photos of themselves and parents to look for inheritance
Comparing human skulls to primates
Make a family tree – looking at hair colour/eye colour/height etc.
for inheritance
Investigate and examine fossil using electronic microscopes
Discuss, research and examine the work of Charles Darwin and rent
research/discoveries
Compare humans and animals to their habitats
Design a creature for a habitat
Essential knowledge:
Resources: (websites/books/workshops etc.)
Essential Experiences:
Visits/Visitors:
Science museum – Who am I? exhibition
Natural History Museum
Centre of genealogy
Sites to dig for fossils
Digital Literacy Opportunities:
Assessment Tasks: