This unit is designed to cover the year 4 Physical Sciences material for the Australian National Curriculum. This physics unit stands apart from many of the other units in the science curriculum (with the possible exception of Year 2 Physics). It includes many novel items like Newton’s laws of motion and magnetism. Students will learn this exciting new material through presentations, demonstrations and hands-on lab work. We also provide worksheets and an assessment task to help you make sure that your students understand these essential science concepts.
Identify how forces can be exerted by one object on another and investigate the effect of frictional, gravitational and magnetic forces on the motion of objects
Examine how people use data to develop scientific explanations
Consider how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem
Pose questions to explore observed patterns and relationships and make predictions based on observations
Use provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions or test predictions, including identifying the elements of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment
Follow procedures to make and record observations, including making formal measurements using familiar scaled instruments and using digital tools as appropriate
Construct and use representations, including tables, simple column graphs and visual or physical models, to organise data and information, show simple relationships and identify patterns
Compare findings with those of others, consider if investigations were fair, identify questions for further investigation and draw conclusions
Write and create texts to communicate findings and ideas for identified purposes and audiences, using scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate
Make and record observations, including informal measurements, using digital tools as appropriate
Forces can be exerted by one object on another through direct contact or from a distance
Science involves making predictions and describing patterns and relationships
Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions
With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on prior knowledge
With guidance, plan and conduct scientific investigations to find answers to questions, considering the safe use of appropriate materials and equipment
Consider the elements of fair tests and use formal measurements and digital technologies as appropriate, to make and record observations accurately
Use a range of methods including tables and simple column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends
Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings
Reflect on investigations, including whether a test was fair or not
Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations
Questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations
Selects and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity
Describes the characteristics and effects of common forms of energy, such as light and heat
Describes how contact and non-contact forces affect an object’s motion
Investigates regular changes caused by interactions between the Earth and the Sun, and changes to the Earth’s surface
Compares features and characteristics of living and non-living things
Describes how agricultural processes are used to grow plants and raise animals for food, clothing and shelter
Describes how adding or removing heat causes a change of state
Investigates the suitability of natural and processed materials for a range of purposes
Defines problems, describes and follows algorithms to develop solutions
Describes how digital systems represent and transmit data
Forces can be exerted by one object on another through direct contact or from a distance
Science knowledge helps people to understand the effects of their actions
With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge
Safely use appropriate materials, tools, equipment and technologies
Use formal measurements in the collection and recording of observations
Use a range of methods including tables and column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends
Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings
Reflect on an investigation, including whether a test was fair or not
Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings to show patterns and relationships using formal and informal scientific language
The key concepts in this unit include:
Lesson 1
What is a Force?
Understand the various aspects of the forces around us.
Lesson 2
Balanced Forces
Explain how objects go from resting to moving.
Lesson 3
Size of Forces
Understand that inertia can change from object to object.
Lesson 4
Resistive Forces
Figure out why objects return to rest.
Lesson 5
Contact and Non-Contact Forces
Understand that forces can be exerted on an object without those objects touching.
Lesson 6
Magic Magnets
Understand where magnetic forces come from.
Lesson 7
Fabulous Forces Assessment
Students will conduct an assessment on what they have learned throughout this unit.
Designed in a science theme, this set of WALT, WILF & TIB charts have been created specifically to support classroom science units of work....
Introduce the concept of force to students with this informative presentation. Through engaging visuals and explanations, students will lear...
This Physical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 2 of the Fabulous Forces unit written for Year 4. It allows the teach...
This Physical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 3 of the Fabulous Forces unit written for Year 4. It allows the teach...
This Physical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 4 of the Fabulous Forces unit written for Year 4. It allows the teach...
This Physical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 5 of the Fabulous Forces unit written for Year 4. It allows the teach...
This Physical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 6 of the Fabulous Forces unit written for Year 4. It allows the teach...
Enhance students' scientific literacy with this comprehensive science glossary. This resource provides a compilation of key scientific terms...
This title page is a great way to kick off a new unit, or as a fast finishers activity for students throughout the unit. It is a part of...
