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What a 5-year-old learns

293 topics open up at age 5, across 15 subjects. They are listed in the order they build on each other, not by importance: each one needs the ones above it.

age 4age 6
What should a 5-year-old be learning?

At age 5, 293 topics open up across Science, English, Mathematics, Personal & Social Development, History, Life Skills, Arts & Music, Computing, Civics & Economics, French, Geography, Persian, Design & Technology, Languages, Learning to Learn. Each one has prerequisites that come first, so the order matters more than the list: What is a minibeast? is a typical starting point.

How do I know what a 5-year-old already knows?

LightMySky starts by assuming everything below the learner’s level is already known, then checks the assumption as they practise. What holds up stays lit; what does not comes back for review.

Science

  1. What is a minibeast?Insects & Minibeasts
  2. Caterpillar to butterflyInsects & Minibeasts
  3. Common minibeasts: naming and recognisingInsects & Minibeasts
  4. How minibeasts moveInsects & Minibeasts
  5. Minibeast HabitatsInsects & Minibeasts
  6. Minibeasts in the food chainInsects & Minibeasts
  7. Caring for minibeastsInsects & Minibeasts
  8. Temperature & ThermometersWeather & Climate
  9. Types of WeatherWeather & Climate
  10. Dressing for the WeatherWeather & Climate
  11. Rain & PuddlesWeather & Climate
  12. Storm SafetyWeather & Climate
  13. What Is Wind?Weather & Climate
  14. What Is a Rainforest?Rainforests
  15. Everyday Foods from RainforestsRainforests
  16. Indigenous Rainforest PeoplesRainforests
  17. Inside a RainforestRainforests
  18. Rainforest LayersRainforests
  19. Iconic Rainforest AnimalsRainforests
  20. Rainforest InsectsRainforests
  21. Rainforest PlantsRainforests
  22. Where Rainforests AreRainforests
  23. Common Plants & TreesOrganisms & Life Processes
  24. Living Things VocabularyOrganisms & Life Processes
  25. Naming Common AnimalsOrganisms & Life Processes
  26. Animal Body GroupsOrganisms & Life Processes
  27. Body Parts & SensesOrganisms & Life Processes
  28. Herbivores, Carnivores & OmnivoresOrganisms & Life Processes
  29. Parts of a PlantOrganisms & Life Processes
  30. What Living Things NeedOrganisms & Life Processes
  31. Animals EverywhereAnimals of the World
  32. Animal HomesAnimals of the World
  33. Animal Record-HoldersAnimals of the World
  34. How Animals Have BabiesAnimals of the World
  35. Nocturnal AnimalsAnimals of the World
  36. Animal CamouflageAnimals of the World
  37. Wild, Farm & Pet AnimalsAnimals of the World
  38. Dinosaurs Were RealDinosaurs & Paleontology
  39. Famous Dinosaur SpeciesDinosaurs & Paleontology
  40. Dinosaur SizesDinosaurs & Paleontology
  41. Fossils & PalaeontologistsDinosaurs & Paleontology
  42. Plant-Eaters vs Meat-EatersDinosaurs & Paleontology
  43. Real Dinosaurs vs FictionDinosaurs & Paleontology
  44. How Organisms Shape HabitatsEarth's Systems
  45. Local weather patternsEarth's Systems
  46. Seasonal changesEarth's Systems
  47. Seasons & Weather PatternsWeather & Climate
  48. Weather Forecasting & SafetyWeather & Climate
  49. Plants and animals in their habitatsEcosystems & Habitats
  50. Reducing Human ImpactEcosystems & Habitats
  51. Sunlight warms things upEnergy
  52. Forces VocabularyForces & Motion
  53. Pushes & PullsForces & Motion
  54. Testing Push & Pull DesignsForces & Motion
  55. Naming the PlanetsSpace Systems & Earth's History
  56. Sun, Moon & StarsSpace Exploration
  57. Moon PhasesSpace Exploration
  58. Our Solar SystemSpace Exploration
  59. Spotting ConstellationsSpace Exploration
  60. What Astronauts DoSpace Exploration
  61. Earth's Rocky GroundVolcanoes & Earthquakes
  62. What Is a VolcanoVolcanoes & Earthquakes
  63. Power of EruptionsVolcanoes & Earthquakes
  64. What Is an EarthquakeVolcanoes & Earthquakes
  65. Earthquake SafetyVolcanoes & Earthquakes
  66. Fast & Slow Earth ChangesVolcanoes & Earthquakes
  67. Objects vs MaterialsMatter & Materials
  68. Naming Everyday MaterialsMatter & Materials
  69. Describing Material PropertiesMatter & Materials
  70. Grouping MaterialsMatter & Materials
  71. States of Matter VocabularyMatter & Materials
  72. Coasts & BeachesOcean Life
  73. Ocean Animal VarietyOcean Life
  74. Rock Pool HabitatsOcean Life
  75. Whales & Dolphins Are MammalsOcean Life
  76. What Is the Ocean?Ocean Life
  77. What Ocean Animals NeedOcean Life
  78. Ocean Food ChainsOcean Life
  79. Where Are the Poles?Polar Regions
  80. Arctic vs AntarcticPolar Regions
  81. Brave Polar ExplorersPolar Regions
  82. Ice & SnowPolar Regions
  83. Midnight Sun & Polar NightPolar Regions
  84. PenguinsPolar Regions
  85. Polar BearsPolar Regions
  86. More Polar AnimalsPolar Regions
  87. Asking scientific questionsScientific Inquiry
  88. Modelling with SketchesScientific Inquiry
  89. Building shade from the sunEnergy
  90. Observing with simple equipmentScientific Inquiry
  91. Simple tests and experimentsScientific Inquiry
  92. Recording DataScientific Inquiry
  93. Comparing Design SolutionsScientific Inquiry
  94. Bones & MusclesThe Human Body
  95. How Breathing WorksThe Human Body
  96. The Brain Controls the BodyThe Human Body
  97. The Five SensesThe Human Body
  98. The Heart & BloodThe Human Body
  99. Basic Body NeedsThe Human Body

English

  1. Forming Capital LettersHandwriting & Transcription
  2. Letter formation familiesHandwriting & Transcription
  3. Writing digits 0-9Handwriting & Transcription
  4. Compound WordsPhonics & Word Reading
  5. Diphthongs and complex vowelsPhonics & Word Reading
  6. R-Controlled Vowel SoundsPhonics & Word Reading
  7. Reading ContractionsPhonics & Word Reading
  8. Reading High-Frequency Words by SightPhonics & Word Reading
  9. Reading Inflectional EndingsPhonics & Word Reading
  10. TrigraphsPhonics & Word Reading
  11. Split Digraphs and Magic EPhonics & Word Reading
  12. Spelling Simple SuffixesSpelling & Word Study
  13. The Prefix un-Spelling & Word Study
  14. Tricky wordsSpelling & Word Study
  15. Basic Nouns & VerbsGrammar & Punctuation
  16. Joining Words with 'And'Grammar & Punctuation
  17. Regular Plural NounsGrammar & Punctuation
  18. Starting and ending sentencesGrammar & Punctuation
  19. Reading fluentlyPhonics & Word Reading
  20. Spelling from DictationSpelling & Word Study
  21. Capitals for Names, Days and IGrammar & Punctuation
  22. Grammar words: letter, word, sentenceGrammar & Punctuation
  23. Book Features and Author's ReasonsReading Comprehension
  24. Listening to Texts Read AloudReading Comprehension
  25. Characters, settings, and eventsReading Comprehension
  26. Different Types of TextsReading Comprehension
  27. Main Topic of Informational TextsReading Comprehension
  28. Pictures and Text Working TogetherReading Comprehension
  29. Reading between the linesReading Comprehension
  30. Discussing and Questioning New WordsVocabulary
  31. Using New VocabularyVocabulary
  32. Word Parts as CluesVocabulary
  33. Sharing and Publishing Your WritingWriting Composition
  34. Writing Process VocabularyWriting Composition
  35. Shared Research ProjectsWriting Composition
  36. PrepositionsGrammar & Punctuation
  37. Question WordsGrammar & Punctuation
  38. Discussing Texts as a GroupReading Comprehension
  39. Sorting & Categorising WordsVocabulary
  40. Shades of MeaningVocabulary
  41. Comparing Characters Across StoriesReading Comprehension
  42. Reading for MeaningEnglish Thinking
  43. Connecting reading to experienceReading Comprehension
  44. Self-Correcting While ReadingReading Comprehension
  45. Saying Sentences Before Writing ThemWriting Composition
  46. Simple Stories with Beginning and EndingWriting Composition
  47. Responding to Writing FeedbackWriting Composition
  48. Writing opinionsWriting Composition
  49. Writing to informWriting Composition

Mathematics

  1. Counting objects to 20Counting & Cardinality
  2. Rote counting to 100Counting & Cardinality
  3. Counting in 2s, 5s and 10sCounting & Cardinality
  4. Two written numerals between 1 and 10Counting & Cardinality
  5. Fluent adding and subtracting within 5Addition & Subtraction
  6. Number bondsAddition & Subtraction
  7. Adding and subtractingAddition & Subtraction
  8. Early Word ProblemsAddition & Subtraction
  9. Comparing 2-D and 3-D shapesGeometry
  10. Building & Drawing ShapesGeometry
  11. Combining Simple ShapesGeometry
  12. Flat vs Solid ShapesGeometry
  13. Capacity and volumeMeasurement
  14. Days, Weeks, Months & YearsMeasurement
  15. Measuring length and height (age 5+)Measurement
  16. Measuring mass and weightMeasurement
  17. Measuring TimeMeasurement
  18. Multiplication as repeated additionMultiplication & Division
  19. Arrays for multiplicationMultiplication & Division
  20. What Is a Half?Fractions
  21. Finding quarters (age 5+)Fractions
  22. Turns & DirectionsGeometry
  23. Reading and writing numbers to 20Number Representation & Place Value
  24. Reading +, −, and = symbolsAddition & Subtraction
  25. Coin ValuesMeasurement
  26. Telling Time: Hours and Half HoursMeasurement
  27. Number Words to TwentyNumber Representation & Place Value
  28. Reading and writing numbers to 100Number Representation & Place Value
  29. The teen numbersNumber Representation & Place Value
  30. Sorting into categoriesData & Statistics
  31. Early Maths VocabularyMathematical Thinking
  32. Finding efficient methodsMathematical Thinking
  33. Hands-On Problem SolvingMathematical Thinking
  34. Making Sense of ProblemsMathematical Thinking
  35. Real-World to Maths ConnectionsMathematical Thinking
  36. Showing Your WorkingMathematical Thinking
  37. Spotting mathematical patternsMathematical Thinking
  38. Using objects to model real problemsMathematical Thinking

Personal & Social Development

  1. Naming basic emotionsEmotional Literacy
  2. Feelings Change and DifferEmotional Literacy
  3. Triggers and Causes of FeelingsEmotional Literacy
  4. Naming Your FeelingsSelf-Awareness
  5. Vocabulary: selfSelf-Awareness
  6. Vocabulary: understanding othersEmpathy & Social Awareness
  7. Other People's Feelings and ThoughtsEmpathy & Social Awareness
  8. Everyday Kindness and CareEmpathy & Social Awareness
  9. Similarities & DifferencesEmpathy & Social Awareness
  10. Words for Big FeelingsSelf-Regulation & Resilience
  11. Coping with Life ChangesSelf-Regulation & Resilience
  12. Learning from MistakesSelf-Regulation & Resilience
  13. Simple Calming StrategiesSelf-Regulation & Resilience
  14. Expressing Feelings with WordsEmotional Literacy
  15. Patience and Delayed GratificationSelf-Regulation & Resilience
  16. Vocabulary: working with othersFriendship & Cooperation
  17. Listening to OthersFriendship & Cooperation
  18. Asking for HelpFriendship & Cooperation
  19. Makes someone a good friendFriendship & Cooperation
  20. Taking turns and sharingFriendship & Cooperation
  21. Vocabulary: making decisions and keeping safeResponsible Decision-Making
  22. Actions and Their ConsequencesResponsible Decision-Making
  23. Everyday Safety AwarenessResponsible Decision-Making
  24. Right and Wrong ChoicesResponsible Decision-Making
  25. Roads, Pavements and Crossing SafelyResponsible Decision-Making
  26. Rules and agreements existResponsible Decision-Making
  27. Water SafetyResponsible Decision-Making

History

  1. Past Events and ChangeHistorical Thinking
  2. Significant Historical FiguresHistorical Thinking
  3. Egypt, the Nile, and the DesertAncient Egypt
  4. Everyday Life in Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt
  5. Vocabulary: ancient egyptAncient Egypt
  6. Egyptian Gods and the AfterlifeAncient Egypt
  7. Hieroglyphs and PapyrusAncient Egypt
  8. Pharaohs and TutankhamunAncient Egypt
  9. Ancient Greece and Rome on the MapAncient Greece & Rome
  10. Ancient life vs todayAncient Greece & Rome
  11. Greek gods & Mount OlympusAncient Greece & Rome
  12. Greek Myths and HeroesAncient Greece & Rome
  13. Romulus & RemusAncient Greece & Rome
  14. Roman soldiers & buildersAncient Greece & Rome
  15. The first OlympicsAncient Greece & Rome
  16. The VikingsMedieval Times
  17. What Is a Castle?Medieval Times
  18. Knights & ArmourMedieval Times
  19. Kings & QueensMedieval Times
  20. Robin Hood & King ArthurMedieval Times
  21. Village LifeMedieval Times
  22. Medieval ClothingMedieval Times
  23. Medieval Food & FeastsMedieval Times
  24. Pyramids and the Great SphinxAncient Egypt
  25. Discovering Tutankhamun's TombAncient Egypt

Life Skills

  1. What Money IsMoney & Finance
  2. Jobs People DoMoney & Finance
  3. Needs & WantsMoney & Finance
  4. Saving MoneyMoney & Finance
  5. Goods & ServicesEntrepreneurship
  6. Buyers & SellersEntrepreneurship
  7. Making Something to SellEntrepreneurship
  8. Who Is a Customer?Entrepreneurship
  9. Coins & NotesMoney & Finance
  10. Buying ThingsMoney & Finance
  11. Looking After MoneyMoney & Finance
  12. Get a grown-up firstpack: First aid for kids
  13. Small cuts and scrapespack: First aid for kids
  14. Bumps and bruisespack: First aid for kids
  15. Sun and heatpack: First aid for kids

Arts & Music

  1. Exploring and Making SoundsMusic
  2. Listening to MusicMusic
  3. Art Materials and TechniquesVisual Art
  4. Finding the steady beatpack: Music theory first steps
  5. Long and short soundspack: Music theory first steps
  6. Loud and quietpack: Music theory first steps
  7. Fast and slowpack: Music theory first steps
  8. High and low soundspack: Music theory first steps

Computing

  1. Computers in Everyday LifeArtificial Intelligence
  2. Smart Versus Not-Smart DevicesArtificial Intelligence
  3. Step-by-Step InstructionsArtificial Intelligence
  4. Real-World RobotsArtificial Intelligence
  5. Voice Assistants and How They WorkArtificial Intelligence
  6. AI in Daily LifeArtificial Intelligence
  7. Simple Programs: Sequences and InstructionsComputing Fundamentals

Civics & Economics

  1. Deciding TogetherCitizenship in Action
  2. Where Things Come FromEconomics
  3. What Is Government?Government
  4. Community Helpers and LeadersGovernment

French

  1. Counting eleven to twentypack: French for immersion kids
  2. Animalspack: French for immersion kids
  3. Days of the weekpack: French for immersion kids
  4. Saying who I ampack: French for immersion kids

Geography

  1. First Maps and GlobesMaps & Globes
  2. Places Near and FarPlaces & Regions
  3. Moving People, Goods and IdeasPeople & Environments
  4. Types of CommunitiesPeople & Environments

Persian

  1. Counting one to tenpack: Persian for kids
  2. Colorspack: Persian for kids
  3. Animalspack: Persian for kids
  4. Food and drinkpack: Persian for kids

Design & Technology

  1. Designing ProductsDesigning & Making
  2. Using Tools SafelyDesigning & Making
  3. Where Food Comes FromFood & Cooking

Languages

  1. Many languages, one worldLanguage Learning
  2. Hearing the sounds of another languageSounds & Conversation
  3. Copying sounds, rhythm and tuneSounds & Conversation

Learning to Learn

  1. Checking your own workLearning to Learn
  2. Persisting When It's HardLearning to Learn
  3. Asking for Help with LearningLearning to Learn
What a 5-year-old learns · LightMySky