P1 Sciences (Early level): What to Teach (Scotland)
Your Teacher Information Pack for P1 Sciences (Early level) in Scotland: the curriculum structure, our short summaries with links to the official wording, and key dates.
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- Country
- Scotland
- Stage
- P1
- Level
- Early level
- Ages
- 4–5
- Source
- Curriculum for Excellence – experiences and outcomes (broad general education)
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
Usually Early learning and childcare (from age 3) and P1 (a guide, not a fixed year group). Roughly US Pre-K–Kindergarten (approximate).
Curriculum for Excellence levels are a guide, not year groups: learners move through levels at their own pace. Early level runs from age 3 (early learning and childcare) to P1; some children start first level in P1.
Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.
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What to teach
Below are the experiences and outcomes with their official codes, in our own short summaries. Each code links to the official document.
Planet Earth: Biodiversity and interdependence
Planet Earth: Energy sources and sustainability
- SCN 0-04a Using toys and appliances and describing what makes them work.
Planet Earth: Processes of the planet
- SCN 0-05a Water changing form and relating this to everyday experience.
Planet Earth: Space
- SCN 0-06a Experiencing the sky and linking sun, moon, and stars to daily life.
Forces, electricity and waves: Forces
- SCN 0-07a Recognising simple forces and describing their effects through play.
Forces, electricity and waves: Electricity
- SCN 0-09a Staying safe with electricity and showing its importance in daily life.
Forces, electricity and waves: Vibrations and waves
- SCN 0-11a Exploring different ways of making sounds through play.
Biological systems: Body systems and cells
- SCN 0-12a Identifying senses and using them to explore surroundings.
Materials: Properties and uses of substances
- SCN 0-15a Exploring materials through creative play and explaining material choices.
Topical science: Topical science
- SCN 0-20a Talking about science stories to understand the world around me.
Assessments and key dates
Qualifications Scotland exams 2027: Mon, 26 April 2027 to Thu, 3 June 2027 (timetable). There are no national tests of curriculum levels; teachers judge progress using the Benchmarks.
Official documents
Trusted free resources
- Education Scotland – the official curriculum site.
- BBC Bitesize – videos and quizzes by nation and stage.
Links only: we don't copy their content and we aren't connected to these organisations.
More packs
Sciences – Early level · Sciences – First level · Sciences – Second level · Sciences – Third level · Sciences – Fourth level · P2 Sciences · P3 Sciences · P4 Sciences · All Scotland packs · Find another TIP
Codes and structure from Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes and Benchmarks, Education Scotland (Crown copyright). Summaries are Classfern's own words – always read the official wording via the link.
No official wording is reproduced: codes and structure are facts, and the short descriptions are our own summaries. Always read the official wording via the links. Checked on 2026-10-20.
Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by Education Scotland, Qualifications Scotland (formerly SQA) or the Scottish Government.