Animals Including Humans

Science Year 4 Are These Your Teeth?

Excuse me, are these your teeth? Who did this poo? Am I a predator?....Find the answers to these and other peculiar questions about digestion and food chains.

Session 1 Excuse me, are these your teeth?

Objectives

Learn about the first stage of the digestive system.

Science Objectives
i) Learn about the first stage of the digestive system.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask relevant questions and use different types of scientific enquiries to answer them.
  2. Use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support findings.

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Use straightforward evidence to answer questions about the functions of human teeth.

Activities

  1. Listen to an expert talk about teeth and how/why to look after them.
  2. Discuss what they know about how to keep our teeth healthy.
  3. Consider why our teeth are different shapes and understand that they have different functions.
  4. Use evidence from their knowledge of an animal’s diet to identify which teeth belong to which animal.
  5. Compare the teeth of a herbivore and a carnivore and consider why they are different.

Investigation - exploring, researching, analysing secondary sources
Learn about the first stage of the digestive system, consider why our teeth are different shapes and have different functions.

Vocabulary
Teeth, incisors, molars, canines, jaw, evidence, digestion, chew, saliva

Session 2 What happens to my food?

Objectives

Begin to understand the human digestive system.

Science Objectives
i) Describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask relevant questions and use different types of scientific enquiries to answer them.
  2. Set up simple practical enquiries and comparative and fair tests.

Extended Writing Opportunities
Information text: Write informative zigzag books about the different parts of the digestive system for your local health centre.

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Use a simple practical enquiry to answer questions about the basic parts of the digestive system.

Activities

  1. Think about what they know about our digestive systems and will consider what they want to know.
  2. Know the basic parts of the digestive system.
  3. Begin to understand the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system.
  4. Use everyday objects to demonstrate the human digestive system.

Investigation - exploring
Use everyday objects to demonstrate the human digestive system.

Vocabulary
Question, digestive system, nutrition, mouth, teeth, saliva, oesophagus (gullet), stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus, faeces (poo)

Session 3 What does the small intestine do?

Objectives

Show off all that you have learnt by becoming a small intestine.

Science Objectives
i) Describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans.

ii) Identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions.

Working Scientifically

  1. Use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support findings.

Other Curriculum Areas
PE

  • To be physically active for sustained periods of time.

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Answer questions about what different parts of the digestive system do.

Activities

  1. Know the basic parts of the digestive system.
  2. Begin to know what our digestive system might or might not do when we are unwell.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the functions of each part of the digestive system.
  4. Use their bodies to represent different parts of the digestive system.

Investigation - exploring
Use physical activity to demonstrate an understanding of the functions of each part of the digestive system.

Vocabulary
Digestive system, nutrition, mouth, teeth, incisor, canine, molar, oesophagus (gullet), stomach, small intestine, large intestine

Session 4 What did this poo?

Objectives

Find out what we can learn from a poo!

Science Objectives
i) Describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans.

ii) Identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions.

iii) Construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask relevant questions and use different types of scientific enquiries to answer them.
  2. Identify differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes.
  3. Use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support findings.

Other Curriculum Areas
Computing

  • Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked and be discerning in evaluating digital content.
  • Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly.

You Will Need

Provided Resources

  • Recording worksheets

Additional Resources

  • Internet access for all
  • A copy of ‘The Mole who knew it was none of his business’ by Werner Holzwarth and Wolf Erlbruch.


Weblinks
Animal facts from https://www.nationalgeographic.com

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Compare the diets of different animals, and to use the evidence of the food they eat to answer questions.

Activities

  1. Look at the diets of other animals and compare them to that of a human.
  2. Begin to understand why scientists can use poo to tell them more about an animal.
  3. Explain the different diets of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores.
  4. Research information using the Internet (and/or information books).

Investigation - exploring, researching, analysing secondary sources
Find out what we can learn from a poo.

Vocabulary
Herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, digestion, diet, faeces

Session 5 Who's the predator?

Objectives

Interpret food chains and discuss the impact of changes to a chain.

Science Objectives
i) Construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.

Working Scientifically

  1. Use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support findings.

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Use understanding of producers, predators and prey to answer questions about the impact of changes to a food chain.

Activities

  1. Define ‘predator’, ‘prey’ and ‘producer’.
  2. Make links between plants and animals in the form of food chains.
  3. Discuss with others the impact a break in the food chain may have.
  4. Begin to understand that humans have a responsibility to care about their impact on food chains.

Investigation - exploring, researching, analysing secondary sources
Interpret food chains and discuss the impact of changes to a chain.

Vocabulary
Food chain, producer, predator, prey, consumer, herbivore, omnivore, carnivore, impact

Session 6 Did you know....?

Objectives

Dental Experts explain the importance of our teeth in the digestive system.

Science Objectives
i) Describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans.

ii) Identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions.

iii) Construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.

Working Scientifically

  1. Report on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions.

Other Curriculum Areas
English

  • Discuss what they are learning and develop wider skills in spoken language.
  • Use language in a greater variety of situations, for a variety of audiences and purposes, including through drama, formal presentations and debate.

Computing

  • Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that can accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.

Extended Writing Opportunities
Create a poster and leaflets for the visitors to your ‘Healthy Teeth’ assembly, about the importance of looking after your teeth.

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Explain to others what they know about human teeth and the digestive system.

Activities

  1. Plan and perform a ‘Healthy Teeth and our Digestive System’ assembly for the school.
  2. Include scientific language when taking on the role of a dental expert.
  3. Explain why teeth are an important part of our digestive system and demonstrate an understanding of the rest of the digestive system.
  4. Explore PowerPoint and try to identify how to change the slide transitions, background design and include images, text boxes and hyperlinks.

Investigation - problem solving
Plan and perform a ‘Healthy Teeth’ assembly for an invited audience.

Vocabulary
Teeth, molars, canine, incisors, digestion, stomach, oesophagus, large intestine, small intestine, faeces, present, display, explain, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, predator, prey