5th Grade Science Curriculum That’s Engaging and Easy to Use

Usually, planning for a full year of 5th grade science isn’t something we dive into until the first days of school or right before.

And if your school doesn’t have a 5th grade science curriculum for you to use, you might be feeling a bit stressed about your science block.

If we want to cover everything in the 5th-grade science standards, it’s best to start planning early —ideally with a full-year plan that makes teaching science both engaging and manageable.

So, if you’re coming across this post in late summer, early fall, or even winter, you’ve got time to prepare your science lessons strategically, which is fantastic!

And if you’re reading this mid-year, don’t worry; you’re still in the perfect spot to make a smooth plan that covers all the essentials.

I’m here to help!

Luckily, I’ve created a yearlong science curriculum bundle designed for just that: covering each 5th grade science standard with hands-on, low-prep activities, reading passages, and review tools that fit seamlessly into your schedule.

➡️ Click here for more info on my Yearlong 5th Grade Science Curriculum Bundle.

This bundle is packed with all the units, experiments, and activities your students need to master the science standards—from the scientific method to solar systems, life cycles, and beyond.

(Psst—if you’re looking for something to help with 5th grade science test prep, – I have something for that too!)

Learn more about my teaching philosophy and resources by clicking here.

What a Year-Long Science Curriculum Can Do for Your Classroom

Having a year-long science curriculum at your fingertips can make a huge difference.

With 5th graders, we’re covering a lot of ground: everything from the scientific method and energy types to weather, natural disasters, and the human body. Each unit needs to be engaging enough to keep their curiosity alive while also hitting the standards, and it’s so helpful to have lessons already mapped out for each topic.

This bundle lays out a full year of science for you, with hands-on activities, reading passages, and plenty of opportunities for discussion.

The goal?

To help students really connect what they’re learning to the world around them.

And let’s face it—we have so much on our plates that having consistent, ready-to-go units keeps things on track and makes it easier to weave in those big-picture science skills over time.

Having this bundle means you’re not scrambling to find materials that fit.

Instead, you’re set up to keep students engaged with activities that deepen understanding and build curiosity, all while covering what they need to know for 5th grade science.

➡️ Click here to learn more about the yearlong science bundle!

Key 5th Grade Science Concepts and Units Covered in the Bundle

Committing to a yearlong bundle, or any 5th grade science curriculum – it’s a big deal!

So I want to ensure you know about everything that’s included.

Here are the key concepts covered in the bundle – all based on national 5th grade science standards:

• Nature of Science & Scientific Method – Introduces the basics of scientific inquiry and experimentation.
  
• Forms of Energy: Covers mechanical, thermal, electrical, and light energy with hands-on investigations.
  
• States of Matter: Explores solids, liquids, and gases with interactive demonstrations.
  
• Weather and the Water Cycle: Students learn about climate, weather patterns, and the water cycle’s stages.
  
• Solar System & Planets: Encourages exploration of the planets, moons, and celestial bodies in our solar system.
  
• Natural Disasters: Examines the science behind earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and more.
  
• Life Cycles and Adaptations: Reviews the cycles of different organisms and how plants and animals adapt to survive.
  
• Force & Motion: Introduces Newton’s laws, motion principles, and practical applications through activities.
  
• Human Body Systems: Teaches the basics of body systems, such as circulatory and respiratory functions.
  
• Plant & Animal Adaptations: Covers survival adaptations and traits in plants and animals.

➡️ Click here to learn more about the 5th grade science curriculum.

Creative Ways to Use This 5th Grade Science Curriculum

Having all of your lesson plans and activities is a great start.

But the success with any activity or learning materials, comes from how you use them!

So here are a few ideas and tips to help you make the most of this bundle:

Theme-Based Months

Choose one science unit to focus on each month. For instance, dedicate a “Weather Month” where you dive into the Water Cycle and Weather units.

Bring in mini projects, like making simple weather tools or tracking daily weather changes, to keep students excited about the topic.

It’s an easy way to build curiosity and connect their learning to the world around them.

Interactive Lab Days

Set up dedicated “Lab Days” for hands-on experiments, like building circuits in the energy unit or mixing materials in the states of matter unit.

Each unit in this bundle includes activities that are simple to prep but impactful, helping students see science in action.

Plus, regular lab days are something they’ll look forward to, and they give you time to assess understanding in a fun way.

End-of-Unit Projects

Wrap up each unit with a small project that lets students apply what they’ve learned.

For example, after the Life Cycles unit, have students create a diagram showing the life cycle of a chosen animal or plant.

These projects help students reinforce what they’ve learned and allow you to evaluate their grasp of the concepts without extra tests or quizzes.

Weekly “Science Review” Days

Set aside one day each week as a mini-review day.

Go over key points from the current or previous units to keep information fresh.

You can use exit slips or quick multiple-choice questions from the bundle to gauge where students are at without adding much to your workload.

Science in Everyday Contexts

Encourage students to connect each science concept to the world around them.

For example, after the Natural Disasters unit, have them watch the weather forecast to note the types of warnings and alerts given.

These real-world connections make the material more relevant and help students see that science is everywhere, not just in the classroom.

➡️ Click here to learn more about the 5th grade science curriculum.

Teacher Testimonials and Success Stories

Teachers love this curriculum!

They especially love how little advance prep is required.

Here’s what other teachers have to say about this growing science bundle: 

⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “My heart always skips a beat when something is actually aligned to the NGSSS like it claims to be. My heart definitely skipped a few beats for this one!”

⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “Lots of great ideas and hands on. Notebook ideas too! Fun, interactive and engaging! Great support to science curriculum.”

⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “This product was great for my 5th grade students! The product is engaging and rigorous so my students felt strong in the standard after completion.”

More 5th Grade Resources for You

If you need more resources related to help you teach everything covered by the 5th grade standards, I have a shop full of things you’ll love!

Easy Science Experiments Bundle

These engaging science experiments use simple household items, making them easy to set up and prepare. Perfect for introducing science lab rules, reinforcing lab procedures, modeling the scientific method, or simply adding an element of hands-on fun to any day!

Each experiment includes step-by-step instructions and a recording sheet where students can document their observations.

➡️ Check out the preview to see exactly what’s inside!

This bundle includes 10 themed sets of activities for a total of 63 unique, hands-on science experiments that will keep students engaged all year long. Purchasing this bundle at the listed price gives you 15 extra experiments at no additional cost!

5th Grade Science Test Prep Flip Book

If you don’t have any 5th grade science curriculum, or if you’ve been piecemealing resources from a ton of diferent places – then you need this!

I designed this with you in mind – and everything covers the 5th grade science standards.

➡️ Click here to learn more about this awesome resource for review!