IXL uses cookies to ensure that you get the best experience on our website. See our privacy policy to learn more.
IXL Learning
Sign in now
Join now
IXL Learning
  • Learning
    • Maths
      • Skills
      • Games
    • English
      • Skills
      • Games
    • Science
    • Recommendations
      • Recommendations wall
    • Skill plans
      • National curriculum
      • Additional curricula
      • Test prep
    • Awards
      • Student awards
  • Diagnostic
  • Analytics
  • Learning

    • Maths
    • English
    • Science
    • Recommendations
    • Skill plans

      • National curriculum
      • Additional curricula
      • Test prep
    • Awards
  • Diagnostic
  • Analytics
Membership
Sign in
  • Maths Maths
  • English English
  • Science Science
  • Recommendations Recommendations
  • Skill plans Skill plans
    • National curriculum
    • Additional curricula
    • Test prep
  • Awards Awards
Programme of Study: Lower Key Stage 2, Year 4
Skills available for England Lower Key Stage 2, Year 4 science objectives
Dimension
  • Working scientifically
  • Living things and their habitats
  • Animals, including humans
  • States of matter
  • Sound
  • Electricity
Print skill plan
Working scientifically
Asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them
  • 1.
    Solve problems using magnets
Asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them
  • 1.
    Solve problems using magnets
Setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests
Setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests
Making systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, taking accurate measurements using standard units, using a range of equipment, including thermometers and data loggers
Temperature
  • 1.
    Read a thermometer
  • 2.
    Compare temperatures on thermometers
Measurement and units
  • 3.
    Choose units of time
  • 4.
    Choose units of distance
  • 5.
    Abbreviate time and length units
  • 6.
    Abbreviate mass and volume units
Making systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, taking accurate measurements using standard units, using a range of equipment, including thermometers and data loggers
Temperature
  • 1.
    Read a thermometer
  • 2.
    Compare temperatures on thermometers
Measurement and units
  • 3.
    Choose units of time
  • 4.
    Choose units of distance
  • 5.
    Abbreviate time and length units
  • 6.
    Abbreviate mass and volume units
Gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions
Gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions
Recording findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables
Recording findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables
Reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions
Reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions
Using results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions
  • 1.
    Solve problems using magnets
  • 2.
    Evaluate multiple design solutions to prevent flooding
Using results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions
  • 1.
    Solve problems using magnets
  • 2.
    Evaluate multiple design solutions to prevent flooding
Identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes
Identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes
Using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings
  • 1.
    Find evidence of changes to Earth's surface
  • 2.
    What affects traits? Use observations to support a hypothesis
Using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings
  • 1.
    Find evidence of changes to Earth's surface
  • 2.
    What affects traits? Use observations to support a hypothesis
Living things and their habitats
Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways
  • 1.
    Identify plants and animals
  • 2.
    Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians
  • 3.
    Identify vertebrates and invertebrates
  • 4.
    Use evidence to classify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians
  • 5.
    Use evidence to classify animals
Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways
  • 1.
    Identify plants and animals
  • 2.
    Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians
  • 3.
    Identify vertebrates and invertebrates
  • 4.
    Use evidence to classify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians
  • 5.
    Use evidence to classify animals
Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment
Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment
Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things
  • 1.
    Benefits of group behaviour: North American caribou
Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things
  • 1.
    Benefits of group behaviour: North American caribou
Animals, including humans
Describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans
  • 1.
    Body systems: digestion
Describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans
  • 1.
    Body systems: digestion
Identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions
Identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions
Construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey
  • 1.
    Identify roles in food chains
  • 2.
    How does matter move in food chains?
Construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey
  • 1.
    Identify roles in food chains
  • 2.
    How does matter move in food chains?
States of matter
Compare and group materials together, according to whether they are solids, liquids or gases
  • 1.
    Classify matter as solid, liquid or gas
  • 2.
    Identify solids, liquids and gases
  • 3.
    Sort solids, liquids and gases
Compare and group materials together, according to whether they are solids, liquids or gases
  • 1.
    Classify matter as solid, liquid or gas
  • 2.
    Identify solids, liquids and gases
  • 3.
    Sort solids, liquids and gases
Observe that some materials change state when they are heated or cooled, and measure or research the temperature at which this happens in degrees Celsius (°C)
  • 1.
    Change of state diagrams: solid, liquid and gas
  • 2.
    Heating, cooling and changes of state
Observe that some materials change state when they are heated or cooled, and measure or research the temperature at which this happens in degrees Celsius (°C)
  • 1.
    Change of state diagrams: solid, liquid and gas
  • 2.
    Heating, cooling and changes of state
Identify the part played by evaporation and condensation in the water cycle and associate the rate of evaporation with temperature
  • 1.
    Label parts of water cycle diagrams
  • 2.
    Select parts of water cycle diagrams
Identify the part played by evaporation and condensation in the water cycle and associate the rate of evaporation with temperature
  • 1.
    Label parts of water cycle diagrams
  • 2.
    Select parts of water cycle diagrams
Sound
Identify how sounds are made, associating some of them with something vibrating
Identify how sounds are made, associating some of them with something vibrating
Recognise that vibrations from sounds travel through a medium to the ear
Recognise that vibrations from sounds travel through a medium to the ear
Find patterns between the pitch of a sound and features of the object that produced it
Find patterns between the pitch of a sound and features of the object that produced it
Find patterns between the volume of a sound and the strength of the vibrations that produced it
Find patterns between the volume of a sound and the strength of the vibrations that produced it
Recognise that sounds get fainter as the distance from the sound source increases
Recognise that sounds get fainter as the distance from the sound source increases
Electricity
Identify common appliances that run on electricity
  • 1.
    Electric circuits
Identify common appliances that run on electricity
  • 1.
    Electric circuits
Construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers
  • 1.
    Electric circuits
Construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers
  • 1.
    Electric circuits
Identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery
  • 1.
    Electric circuits
Identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery
  • 1.
    Electric circuits
Recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights in a simple series circuit
  • 1.
    Electric circuits
Recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights in a simple series circuit
  • 1.
    Electric circuits
Recognise some common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good conductors
  • 1.
    Conductors and insulators
Recognise some common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good conductors
  • 1.
    Conductors and insulators
Company | Membership | Blog | Help centre | User guides | Tell us what you think | Testimonials | Careers | Contact us | Terms of service | Privacy policy
IXL Learning © 2025 IXL Learning. All rights reserved. Follow us Facebook X Pinterest Instagram Youtube LinkedIn