🌱 GRADE 4 SCIENCE NOTES

🔹 TOPIC 1: LIVING AND NON-LIVING THINGS

Living things are things that have life.

Characteristics of living things:

a) They grow
b) They breathe (respire)
c) They reproduce
d) They move
e) They respond to stimuli
f) They feed
g) They excrete waste

Examples:

Human beings, animals, plants

Non-living things do not have life.

Stones, water, air, soil, books

Differences:

Living Things. Non-living Things

1)Grow. . Do not grow

2)Move. .Do not move

3)Reproduce. .Do not reproduce

Topical Questions

1. What are living things?

2. Give two examples of living things.

3. What are non-living things?

5. Name two characteristics of living things.

6. Do plants move? Explain.

7. Which one grows: stone or plant?

8. Why is water non-living?

9. Name one living thing in your home.

10. State one difference between living and non-living things.

🔹 TOPIC 2: PLANTS

Plants are living things that make their own food.

Parts of a plant:

Roots – absorb water and hold the plant

Stem – supports plant and transports food/water

Leaves – make food (photosynthesis)

Flowers – reproduction

Fruits – protect seeds

Types of roots:

Taproot (e.g. carrot, mango)

Fibrous root (e.g. grass, maize)

Topical Questions

What are plants?

Name three parts of a plant.

What is the function of roots?

What do leaves do?

Give an example of a taproot plant.

Give an example of a fibrous root plant.

Which part makes food?

What is the function of flowers?

Name one use of plants.

What part carries water in plants?

🔹 TOPIC 3: HUMAN BODY

 Head
 Trunk
 Limbs

Digestive system:

Breaks down food.

Parts:

a) Mouth
b) Esophagus
c) Stomach
d) Intestines

Importance:

 Helps in digestion of food

Topical Questions

a) Name three main parts of the body.

b) What is the function of the stomach?

c) Where does digestion start?

d) Name two parts of the digestive system.

e) What is digestion?

f) What does the mouth do?

h) Why do we eat food?

i) What connects mouth to stomach?

j) Name one importance of digestion.

🔹 TOPIC 4: MATTER

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.

States of matter:

Solid (e.g. stone)

Liquid (e.g. water)

Gas (e.g. air)

Properties:

Solids: fixed shape

Liquids: take shape of container

Gases: spread everywhere

Topical Questions

a) What is matter?

b) Name three states of matter.

d) Give an example of a liquid.

e) Give an example of a gas.

f) Which state has a fixed shape?

g) Which state flows?

h) Which state cannot be seen?

i) Does air occupy space?

j) What state is milk?

🔹 TOPIC 5: SOIL

Soil is the top layer of the earth where plants grow.

Types of soil:

 Sandy soil
 Clay soil
 Loam soil


Importance:

1) Growing crops
2) Building
3) Habitat for organisms
4)
Topical Questions

1) What is soil?

2) Name three types of soil.

3) Which soil holds water most?

4) Which soil drains water fast?

5) What is loam soil?

6) Name one use of soil.

7) Which soil is best for farming?

8) What lives in soil?

9) Can plants grow without soil?

10) Name one importance of soil.

🔹 TOPIC 6: AIR

Air is a mixture of gases.

Importance of air:

 Breathing
 Burning
 Flying

Properties:

 Has no color
 Has no smell
 Occupies space


Topical Questions

a) What is air?

b) Name one use of air.

c) Can we see air?

d) Does air have smell?

e) Why do we need air?

f) Does air occupy space?

g) Name one activity that needs air.

h) What happens without air?

i) Is air living or non-living?

j) Name one property of air.

🔹 TOPIC 7: WATER

Water is a liquid essential for life.

 Drinking
 Cooking
 Cleaning
 Farming

Sources:

 Rivers
 Lakes
 Rain

Topical Questions

a) What is water?

b) Name two uses of water.

c) Give one source of water.

d) Can we live without water?

e) What state is water?

f) Name one importance of water.

g) Is water living or non-living?

h) Where do we get rain from?

i) Name one use of water at home.

🔹 TOPIC 8: ENERGY

Energy is the ability to do work.

Forms:

Heat energy

Light energy

Electrical energy

Sources:

Sun

Electricity

Food

Topical Questions

1) What is energy?

2) Name one form of energy.

3) What is the main source of energy?

4) Give one use of energy.

5) What energy comes from the sun?

6) What energy cooks food?

7) Do humans need energy?

9) Name one type of energy at home.

10) Why is energy important?

🔹 TOPIC 9: FORCE

Force is a push or pull.

Examples:

 Pushing a door
 Pulling a rope

Effects:

 Moves objects
 Changes shape
 Stops motion


Topical Questions

What is force?

Give one example of force.

What is pushing?

What is pulling?

What does force do?

Give an example of pulling.

Is force a push or pull?

What happens when you push a ball?

Name one effect of force.

🔹 TOPIC 10: SIMPLE MACHINES

Simple machines make work easier.

Examples:

 Lever
 Wheel and axle
 Pulley

Uses:

 Reduce effort
 Save time

Topical Questions

1) What is a simple machine?

2) Give one example of a simple machine.

3) What does a lever do?

5) What is a pulley used for?

6) Which machine is used to lift water?

7) Do machines make work easier?

8) Give an example of a wheel and axle.

9) Name one machine at home.

10) Why do we use machines?