Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Famous Scientists Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Famous Scientists Cards is a free printable card set for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). Children meet ten UK scientists in plain words and learn what each one is known for. It takes about 15 minutes, needs only paper, scissors and a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a set of ten cards. Each card names a British scientist and gives the main idea that person is known for. Children read the cards aloud, then cut them out. After that the cards can be kept for revision or used in the Who am I? game. The wording is short and plain, so children can read it by themselves.
- Isaac Newton: explained gravity and how things move
- Charles Darwin: wrote about how living things change over time
- Alexander Fleming: discovered penicillin
- Ada Lovelace: wrote early ideas for computer programs
- Stephen Hawking: studied black holes and the universe
- Michael Faraday: showed how magnets can make electricity
- Jane Goodall: studied chimpanzees in the wild
- Dorothy Hodgkin: used X-rays to find the shapes of important molecules
- Tim Berners-Lee: invented the World Wide Web
Why learn about scientists?
Science is not only facts in a book. It is the work of real people who asked questions, tested ideas and shared what they found. Meeting scientists by name helps children see that science has a human story. It also shows that ideas can be improved over time, as new people build on what came before.
Year 5 children are ready for this. They can read short factual texts, link a name to an idea and explain it in their own words. The cards give them one clear sentence about each scientist. That is a good starting point for talking, questioning and finding out more from books or a library.
Quick facts about scientists
- Scientists ask questions and then look for evidence to answer them.
- Scientists work in many fields, such as physics, biology, chemistry and computing.
- Many discoveries build on the work of people who came earlier.
- Scientists share what they find so that other people can check it.
- Some scientists spend years watching and recording before they feel sure of an idea.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading for meaning
- Science history
- Linking names to ideas
- Speaking and listening
- Revision and recall
Ideas that help children think about science
- Questions come firstScientists begin with a question about the world. Ask your child what question they would like a scientist to answer.
- Evidence mattersA scientific idea needs evidence behind it. Evidence can come from watching, measuring and testing.
- Ideas build on ideasNew discoveries often grow from earlier work. Scientists read, share and improve each other's ideas.
- Science covers many topicsSome scientists study living things, some study materials, and some study space or computers. Ask which topic your child finds most interesting.
Key words
- ScientistA person who studies the world by asking questions, watching closely and testing ideas.
- DiscoverySomething new that someone finds out.
- InventionSomething new that someone makes or designs for the first time.
- EvidenceInformation that helps show whether an idea is true.
- ExperimentA fair test that helps answer a question.
- RevisionLooking again at something you have learned so that you remember it.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the grown-up.
- Read the ten cards aloud together. Say each scientist's name slowly and talk about the main idea on the card.
- Cut the cards out. An adult can help with the scissors if needed.
- Check your reading against the notes on page 2. Ask, "Which scientist would you most like to meet, and why?"
- Come back another day and use the cards for revision or the Who am I? game. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with five cards only. Say each name aloud and match the name to the main idea before using the rest. Read each card twice. Ask your child to say the idea in their own words. Add more cards when they feel sure.
To stretch confident children
Pick one scientist and find one more fact to write on the back of the card. Note where you found it, such as a book title or a website. Then tell someone else what you learned and why you trust that source.
Make it a game
Play Who am I? One player reads a clue without the name and the others guess the scientist. First to three correct guesses wins. Use the main idea on each card to make clues, and keep the clues short.
Talk about it
- Which scientist's idea sounds the most interesting to you, and why?
- What question would you ask one of these scientists if you could meet them?
- How do you think scientists find out if an idea is right?
- Why might it help to share a discovery with other people?
- What is something you wonder about that a scientist could investigate?
- How could you explain one of the cards to a younger child?
Take it off the page
Scientist poster
Choose one scientist from the cards. Draw a poster with their name, a picture and one sentence about what they are known for. Display it on the fridge or the classroom wall.
Question jar
Write questions about the world on small slips of paper and put them in a jar. Pick one each day and talk about how a scientist might find the answer.
Library visit
Visit a library and look for books about science and scientists. Find one new fact and share it at tea time or in class.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first read and let them lead. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. Praise careful reading and good questions, not only correct answers. Keep the cut out cards in an envelope for another day.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups. The cards can be added to a science display or working wall.
Home educators
Pair the cards with library books, documentaries chosen by an adult, museum visits or everyday science talk. The sheet is free to print again, so younger and older children can use it, and it works well for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children in Key Stage 2 learn to ask simple questions and to talk about how they found things out. They also meet the idea that people make observations and record them. These habits help children see why scientists matter.
After this sheet, children can look more closely at one scientist and read a longer text about their work. They can link a name to a science topic they are studying in class, and practise writing short, clear explanations. Working scientifically skills such as asking questions, and using evidence, grow from here.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Famous Scientists Cards for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can use it with an adult reading the cards aloud, and older children can use it for revision or as a starting point for research.
- What will children practise?
Children learn who ten British scientists were and what each one is known for. They also practise reading short factual text, speaking about what they have read, and recalling names and ideas.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and read the ten cards aloud. Then cut them out to keep for revision or for the Who am I? game. Work through it together the first time, then let your child try alone.
- What if it feels too hard?
Start with five cards only. Say each name aloud and match the name to the main idea before using the rest. Read each card more than once, and add more cards when your child feels sure.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters or for revision, and it works well in black and white on plain A4 paper.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, scissors and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It gives eyes a rest and gets children talking, thinking and reading without a device.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea, so you can make the activity shorter or longer.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.