1. Subjects >
  2. Science >
  3. Key stage 2 >
  4. Year 4 >
  5. Animals including humans: Digestion and food >
  6. Lesson 3: Investigating dental hygiene

Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • To explain how to care for our teeth.

Working scientifically

  • To plan an enquiry by considering which variables should be changed, measured and controlled.

Success criteria

Knowledge

  • I can recall factors that damage teeth.
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National curriculum

Science

Working scientifically

Pupils should

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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

Display the Presentation: True or false? and ask the children to decide with a partner if each statement is true or false. Encourage them to discuss how to turn an identified false statement into a true one.

Learning objectives

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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

Mac

Windows

If you need further support with extending your display,
please contact [email protected].

Extended-mode explainer video: For Mac

Extended-mode explainer video: For Windows

Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support

Should use the Activity: Investigating toothbrushes: support version; could have the Pupil video: Investigating toothbrush effectiveness playing on a loop during the experiment to remind them of the method.

Pupils working at greater depth

Should explain how they intend to keep certain variables the same; could justify their prediction with scientific ideas; could be encouraged to suggest improvements when limitations to the method are addressed; could choose an extension activity relating to teeth from the Resource: Stretch and challenge: Digestion and food.

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Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: knowing that good dental care involves limiting

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Knowledge outcomes

  • I can recall that food and drink can damage teeth.
  • I can describe that teeth need to be cleaned using a toothbrush and toothpaste and that softer toothbrushes are less damaging.
  • I can describe some steps involved in real scientific testing (such as sharing results and peer-reviewing).
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Vocabulary definitions

  • cavity

    A decayed or permanently damaged part of the tooth.

  • conclusion

    A summary of what happened, using evidence and scientific knowledge.

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In this unit

Assessment - Science Y4: Digestion and food

Lesson 1: The human digestive system

Lesson 2: Human teeth

Lesson 3: Investigating dental hygiene

Lesson 4: Teeth of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores

Lesson 5: Producers, predators and prey in food chains

Lesson 6: Poo clues

Created by:

Kapow Primary team
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Our team comprises experienced classroom teachers who love the foundation subjects
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Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

Last update: 4th March, 2026

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Lesson 2: Human teeth Previous Lesson
Lesson 4: Teeth of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores Next Lesson

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