Human Life Cycle KS2
Teach your KS2 class about the human life cycle with clear, age-appropriate explanations and ready-to-use Year 5 Science resources.
This topic helps children understand how humans grow and change from gestation and birth through to infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age.
If you are teaching the human life cycle KS2 objective as part of the Year 5 Animals including Humans strand, PlanBee’s Changes and Reproduction scheme of work includes everything you need to cover the human life cycle, gestation, puberty and changes into old age.
What is the human life cycle?
The human life cycle describes the stages humans go through as they grow, develop and age. In KS2, children learn that humans begin life during gestation, are born as babies, grow through infancy and childhood, experience changes during adolescence, and continue to change during adulthood and old age.
Learning about the human life cycle helps children understand that growth and development are natural processes. It also supports later learning about reproduction, puberty, health, ageing and how human needs change at different points in life.
What are the stages of the human life cycle?
1. Gestation
Gestation is the stage before birth when a baby develops inside the womb. During this time, the fertilised egg develops into an embryo and then a foetus. In humans, gestation usually lasts around nine months.
2. Infancy
Infancy begins when a baby is born. Babies grow and develop quickly during this stage. They learn to feed, respond to people around them, sit, crawl, stand and eventually walk. They depend on adults for food, warmth, care and protection.
3. Childhood
During childhood, children continue to grow taller and stronger. They develop new skills, learn to communicate more confidently, make friends, become more independent and continue to develop physically, socially and emotionally.
4. Adolescence
Adolescence is the stage between childhood and adulthood. During this stage, puberty begins. Children learn that bodies change at different rates and that puberty is part of the natural process of growing into an adult.
5. Adulthood
Adults are fully grown. Many adults are able to reproduce, although not all adults choose to have children. During adulthood, people may work, care for others, develop relationships and continue to change throughout their lives.
6. Old age
In old age, the body continues to change. Some people may become less physically strong, their eyesight or hearing may change, and they may need more support. Children can also learn that older adults have valuable knowledge, skills and experiences.
Teaching the human life cycle in KS2
The human life cycle is usually taught in Year 5 as part of the KS2 Science topic Animals including Humans. Children are expected to describe the changes humans experience as they develop to old age.
This can include ordering the stages of the human life cycle, creating timelines, comparing human development with the life cycles of other animals, learning about gestation periods, and exploring the physical and emotional changes that happen during puberty.
Because this topic includes sensitive content, it is useful to teach it with clear scientific vocabulary, supportive discussion opportunities and carefully structured activities. PlanBee’s ready-to-teach Human Life Cycle KS2 lesson is designed to help children understand the topic confidently and sensitively.
Human Life Cycle KS2 lesson pack
PlanBee’s Human Life Cycle KS2 lesson introduces children to the key stages of human growth and development. Children think about how they have changed since they were babies before exploring the six main stages of the human life cycle: gestation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age.
The lesson includes:
- a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities;
- a slideshow for the teaching input;
- printable worksheets and activity resources;
- clear explanations of each stage of the human life cycle;
- activities to help children compare and describe changes over time.
You can download the individual Human Life Cycle lesson, or teach the full Changes and Reproduction Year 5 Science scheme for complete coverage of this topic.
Human life cycle vocabulary for KS2
Useful vocabulary for teaching the human life cycle in KS2 includes:
- Life cycle: the stages a living thing goes through during its life.
- Gestation: the time when a baby develops before birth.
- Infancy: the baby and toddler stage of life.
- Childhood: the stage when children grow, learn and become more independent.
- Adolescence: the stage between childhood and adulthood.
- Puberty: the physical and emotional changes that happen as children mature.
- Adulthood: the stage when humans are fully grown.
- Old age: the later stage of human life.
Human life cycle KS2 activities
When teaching the human life cycle, children could:
- order the stages of the human life cycle on a timeline;
- match descriptions to each stage of human development;
- compare human development with the life cycle of another animal;
- research gestation periods of different mammals;
- discuss how human needs change from infancy to old age;
- use scientific vocabulary to describe changes over time.
These activities help children move beyond simply naming the stages and begin explaining how humans grow, develop and change throughout life.
Complete Year 5 Science planning for Changes and Reproduction
The Changes and Reproduction scheme of work contains six ready-to-teach Year 5 Science lessons covering:
- the human life cycle;
- gestation;
- childhood;
- puberty part one;
- puberty part two;
- adulthood and old age.
Each lesson includes a slideshow, detailed planning, differentiated activities and printable resources, helping you teach this sensitive Science topic clearly and confidently.
Human Life Cycle KS2 FAQs
What is the human life cycle in KS2?
The human life cycle is the sequence of stages humans go through as they grow and develop. In KS2, children usually learn about gestation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age.
What year group learns about the human life cycle?
The human life cycle is usually taught in Year 5 as part of the KS2 Science Animals including Humans strand.
What are the six stages of the human life cycle?
The six main stages are gestation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age.
How do you teach the human life cycle in KS2?
You can teach the human life cycle using timelines, sorting activities, vocabulary tasks, discussion prompts and comparisons with other animal life cycles. A ready-to-teach lesson pack can help structure the topic clearly.
Does the human life cycle topic include puberty?
Yes. In Year 5 Science, children learn about changes as humans develop to old age, which includes learning about puberty as part of adolescence.
