Year 4 Science Block 1

Year 4 Topic – States of Matter

This unit introduces pupils to the three states of matter through practical exploration of water, chocolate and other everyday materials. With the help of Professor Particle, children investigate how heating and cooling affects solids, liquids and gases, linking to real-life processes like the water cycle and cooking.

Lessons are approximately 75 minutes long and should be taught in sequence. This is an ideal unit to begin Year 4, as it revisits and builds on Year 3 investigation skills while supporting progression into more structured scientific enquiry.

Disciplinary knowledge is developed through enquiry and experimentation, while substantive knowledge is explored through engaging tasks with a clear scientific purpose.

View small steps and unit outcomes

Small steps

  • Are they solids, liquids or gases?
  • What is water vapour?
  • How does water change shape?
  • Which type of chocolate melts the fastest?
  • Can we make the perfect recipe?
  • How does water change state during the water cycle?

Unit Outcomes (secure)

States of matter

  • Compare and group materials together, according to whether they are solids, liquids or gases
  • Observe that some materials change state when they are heated or cooled, and measure or research the temperature at which this happens

Water cycle

  • Identify the part played by evaporation and condensation in the water cycle and associate the rate of evaporation with temperature

Working scientifically

  • Ask relevant questions and use different types of scientific enquiries to answer them
  • Set up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests
  • Make systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, take accurate measurements using standard units
  • Record findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables
  • Use results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions, suggest improvements and raise further questions

Year 4 Science Scheme | States of Matter | KS2 Science

Our Year 4 States of Matter unit introduces pupils to solids, liquids and gases through hands-on investigations, real-life contexts and enquiry-based science. Children explore how materials behave when heated or cooled, how chocolate melts, and how water changes state during the water cycle.

As part of the Scintillating Science scheme, this topic supports the KS2 National Curriculum and builds both substantive and disciplinary knowledge. Pupils make predictions, carry out fair tests, and learn to record results using scientific diagrams, tables and vocabulary.

What’s included in the Year 4 States of Matter unit?

  • 🧪 Interactive teaching slides to introduce key concepts
  • 🧪 Lesson plans with prior knowledge guidance and vocabulary
  • 🧪 Differentiated science worksheets and recording templates
  • 🧪 Assessment tools and marking suggestions
  • 🧪 Knowledge organiser for revision and key facts

Science skills and knowledge developed

  • Classify materials as solids, liquids or gases
  • Investigate the effect of temperature on materials like water and chocolate
  • Understand evaporation and condensation in the water cycle
  • Measure and record changes in state over time

Why choose this Year 4 science topic?

  • Fully aligned with the Year 4 science National Curriculum
  • Designed to support high-quality teaching and progression
  • Low-prep, engaging resources for practical science
  • Great links to DT, geography and maths
  • No year group labels – suitable for mixed-age settings

Explore solids, liquids and gases in a meaningful way with this complete Year 4 States of Matter unit. Start your free trial and access everything you need.