Grade 5 Notes: All CBC Subjects (Kenya, 2026)

Last reviewed: 31 October 2026

Updated October 2026. Grade 5 notes for all CBC learning areas in Kenya: short, original revision notes on the key topics in English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Studies, Agriculture and Nutrition, CRE, Creative Arts. Each section gives the core idea in plain words with an example, followed by free practice on the Grade 5 CBC Challenge and CBC quizzes. They follow the topics commonly taught in Grade 5 and build toward KPSEA at the end of Grade 6.

What to focus on in Grade 5

In Grade 5 the content gets wider, especially in Mathematics and Science and Technology. Help your child keep one exercise book of key facts per learning area. Use shopping trips to practise money and change, and ask them to explain a science idea to a younger sibling, which shows quickly what they really understand. Keep sessions short and regular, with the weekly quiz as a check.

How to use these Grade 5 notes

1. Read one learning area a day.
2. Close the page and say or write the key points from memory.
3. Try ten questions on the Grade 5 challenge and check which topics you missed.

Grade 5 English notes

Comprehension and vocabulary

Use the context of the sentence to guess the meaning of new words.

Tenses

Simple present (I play), simple past (I played), future (I will play).

Composition

Plan the story in points before writing; use joining words like then, after, finally.

Grade 5 Kiswahili notes

Ngeli ya KI-VI

kiti–viti, kitabu–vitabu.

Barua ya kirafiki

Anwani, tarehe, salamu, mwili, hitimisho na jina.

Methali

‘Haraka haraka haina baraka’: kufanya mambo kwa haraka huleta makosa.

Grade 5 Mathematics notes

Numbers to 100,000

Read and write numbers in words and figures; round to the nearest 10, 100 and 1,000.

Fractions and decimals

1/10 = 0.1; 1/4 = 0.25. Add fractions with the same denominator by adding numerators.

Money

Calculate change and simple budgets in shillings.

Grade 5 Science and Technology notes

Human body

The heart pumps blood; the lungs take in oxygen; the stomach digests food.

Plants

Parts: roots absorb water, stem supports, leaves make food, flowers make seeds.

Burning fuels

Fuels such as charcoal, firewood and gas give heat; burning in a closed room can produce harmful smoke.

Grade 5 Social Studies notes

Kenya’s regions

Kenya has 47 counties. Neighbours: Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan.

Resources

Natural resources include land, water, forests, minerals and wildlife.

Citizenship

Good citizens obey laws, pay taxes when adults and care for the environment.

Grade 5 Agriculture and Nutrition notes

Crop growing

Steps: land preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting.

Small animals

Rabbits and poultry need clean housing, water and feed.

Balanced diet

A meal with all food groups in the right amounts.

Grade 5 CRE notes

Abraham

God called Abraham to leave his home; he obeyed in faith (Genesis 12).

Jesus’ teaching

The Good Samaritan teaches us to help anyone in need (Luke 10).

Christian values

Honesty, kindness and responsibility.

Grade 5 Creative Arts notes

Art and craft

Weaving, modelling and painting use local materials like clay and sisal.

Music

Kenyan instruments: drums, nyatiti, litungu.

Games

Ball games build teamwork and fitness.

Grade 5 quick self-test with answers

1. Round 46,738 to the nearest thousand.

Answer: 47,000.

2. What is the function of the lungs?

Answer: Taking in oxygen and removing carbon dioxide.

3. Name three countries that border Kenya.

Answer: Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

4. Write 0.25 as a fraction.

Answer: 1/4.

5. Give the plural of ‘kitabu’.

Answer: Vitabu.

6. Name one Kenyan traditional instrument.

Answer: Nyatiti.

7. What is the past tense of ‘go’?

Answer: Went.

Grade 5 notes term by term

Schools order topics differently, so use these notes alongside your child’s exercise books. Term 1 usually revisits the previous grade and starts the main number and reading topics, Term 2 carries the heaviest content, and Term 3 is for revision and end-of-year assessment. Printed revision papers for this grade are on Grade 5 revision papers.

Get ahead for January

The Ready for Grade 5 in January, KSh 500 course turns these topics into a short daily plan before school opens. See also 2027 reporting dates.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get Grade 5 notes for all subjects?

This page summarises the key topics in every Grade 5 learning area, with links to practice.

Are these Grade 5 notes PDF downloads?

They are web notes you can read on any phone and print from the browser.

Do these notes follow the CBC curriculum?

They cover topics commonly taught in Grade 5 under CBC. They are independent study notes, not official curriculum documents.

How can my child test what they learnt?

Use the free Grade 5 CBC Challenge, then unlock full papers with a pass.

Want marked practice? Try any quiz free, then a Day Pass (KSh 20) or Weekly Pass unlocks full papers with answers. See all passes.

Keep revising with these: AI Starter Holiday Course for Kids (Grades 4–9); Grade 5 Mathematics Revision Guide: Topics, Methods and a Daily Routine; Grade 5 Science and Technology Revision Guide for Parents; Grade 5 English Revision Guide: Grammar, Comprehension and Writing.