Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
5th Class Scientific Inquiry and the Natural World
A comprehensive exploration of biological systems, physical forces, and environmental stewardship. Students engage in hands-on investigation to understand the mechanics of the world around them through the lens of the Irish Primary Science Curriculum.
The Living World: Systems and Survival
Investigating the complex structures of plants and animals and how they adapt to their environments.
Exploring the respiratory and circulatory systems to understand how oxygen and nutrients move through the body.
Examining the internal structures of plants and the chemical process of creating food from sunlight.
Analyzing how specific traits allow organisms to survive in diverse Irish and global habitats.
Energy, Forces, and Motion
Discovering the invisible laws of physics that govern movement, friction, and electricity.
Investigating how gravity, magnetism, and friction influence the movement of objects.
Building and testing circuits to understand the flow of electrical energy and the role of conductors.
Exploring reflection, refraction, and the visible spectrum through optical investigations.
Materials and Their Properties
Analyzing the characteristics of raw and synthetic materials and how they change state.
Observing how solids, liquids, and gases change when heat energy is added or removed.
Distinguishing between reversible physical changes and irreversible chemical reactions.
Evaluating the environmental impact of different materials and the science of recycling.
Earth and Space Systems
Examining Earth's place in the solar system and the atmospheric processes that create weather.
Modeling the rotation and revolution of Earth and its relationship to the Sun and Moon.
Investigating the movement of water through the atmosphere and the tools used to predict weather.
Classifying rock types and understanding the biological and geological components of soil.
Engineering and Environmental Design
Applying scientific principles to solve real world problems and protect biodiversity.
Designing and testing prototypes that harness wind, solar, or water energy.
Developing strategies to protect local ecosystems and support pollinator populations.
Using the iterative process of planning, building, testing, and improving a scientific invention.