Learning objectives
Knowledge
- To describe the function of the human digestive system.
Working scientifically
- To evaluate a model.
Success criteria
Knowledge
- I can list
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National curriculum
Science
Humans, including animals
Pupils
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Cross-curricular links
English
Spoken language
Pupils should
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Before the lesson
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Lesson plan
Recap and recall
Before starting this unit, check the children can recall the following key facts from units Science, Year 1/2 (A), Animals: Life cycles and health and Science, Year 3/4 (A), Animals: Movement and nutrition: Humans need air/oxygen, food/nutrients and water to survive. The life processes include movement, reproduction, sensitivity, growth, excretion and nutrition. The seven nutrient…
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Extended-mode explainer videos
How to extend your display to view the lesson page and presentation mode simultaneously. Choose your operating system below to watch the video
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Adaptive teaching
Pupils needing extra support
Should use the Activity: Digestive system diagram: support version; could have the Pupil video: The human digestive system playing in the background; could use the Knowledge organiser while they work to refer to the parts of the digestive system and their functions.
Pupils working at greater depth
Should add notes surrounding the diagram about the model’s strengths and weaknesses; should suggest improvements to overcome the weaknesses described; could choose an extension activity relating to the digestive system from the Resource: Stretch and challenge: Digestion and food.
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Assessing progress and understanding
Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: labelling key organs found in the digestive
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Knowledge outcomes
- I can list the main organs of the human digestive system, including the mouth, tongue, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.
- I can describe the function of the oesophagus as carrying food to the stomach.
- I can describe the function of the stomach is to break up food.
- I can describe the functions of the small intestines as breaking up food and absorbing nutrients into the blood.
- I can describe the function of the large intestine as absorbing water from food into the blood.
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Vocabulary definitions
-
absorb
To take in or soak up.
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diagram
A simple 2D drawing with labels.
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In this unit
Assessment - Science Y3/4 (A): Digestion and food
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 1: The human digestive system
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 2: Human teeth
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 3: Investigating dental hygiene
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 4: Teeth of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 5: Producers, predators and prey in food chains
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 6: Poo clues
Maintained by: Kapow Primary team
Last update: 13th November, 2025
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 4: Teeth of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores
Using knowledge of teeth to group animals as carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. This lesson is...
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 3: Investigating dental hygiene
Investigating the effectiveness of toothbrushes and the role of evaluation in scientific progress. This lesson...
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 5: Producers, predators and prey in food chains
Understanding feeding relationships between animals and the effect this has on population size. This lesson...
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 2: Human teeth
Identifying different human teeth and describing their role. This lesson is part of the mixed-age...
