These are the buttons for going to teacher resources.
Above right is the search button. You can get to this 'toolkit' screen from the search, too. Most useful when students have a specific word in mind.
This is the main textbook. It opens in a new tab or window. To close the book, close the tab or window. On a mobile you can swipe to turn pages and also pull corners. On the top right there is a button for searching within the book. You can also zoom in on a page and drag the page to where you want it. Some books have videos embedded.

If there is an 'explorer' book opposite with a similar title it is also a textbook, but with a 2 year reading level lower than the main book.
These creative topics books cover specific topics and reinforce the main book. Use them as further reading, or when more detail is needed for project work.

The books are colour banded using a system of reading ability levels as is standard across British schools. If there are coloured dots, they tell of reading level and also guide you as to how hard the subject matter is: the more dots the harder it is.
This is the interactive topic. It covers the same ground as the book, but with less text and it focuses on read-outs. Suited to whiteboards as well as individual use. Each text passage can be read out and stopped by mouseover or tap. There is a question with interactive answer. Especially helps those with reading challenges.
This is the video gallery. It contains all of the videos in the i-topic and more. You can use this if you wish to manage videos rather than have them as part of the i-topic.
This is an interactive audio-visual experience. It contains a wide variety of topics to help students approach a topic in a less formal way. They select items and hear them read out. Copyright restrictions apply: the material cannot be used in other websites.
These are additional resources, such as topic books.
  • Statutory programme of study.

• The books below cover the ground needed for each statutory requirement.

• If you need guidance on how to teach the topic, take the academy course by clicking the 'Lessons' icon. (Also suited to parent use.)

• Remember you can enhance this by using our safe search. For example, search bear, lion, beaver.
• Also remember each book has its own search, top right immediately above the page.
• For teacher guides and more visit the academy links (teachers only).

Year 4 has the following 5 themes. Please select the one you want:

1. Groups of living things

2. Teeth, digestion and food chains (scroll down)

3. States of matter

4. Sound

5. Electricity

2. Animals including humans

• (a) describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans


Notes and guidance (non-statutory)

Pupils should be introduced to the main body parts associated with the digestive system, for example, mouth, tongue, teeth, oesophagus, stomach and small and large intestine and explore questions that help them to understand their special functions.
Pupils might work scientifically by: comparing the teeth of carnivores and herbivores, and suggesting reasons for differences; finding out what damages teeth and how to look after them. They might draw and discuss their ideas about the digestive system and compare them with models or images.

The importance of nutrition. Movement of animals with or without skeletons. Diets of different animals and grouping by what they eat. Food groups to keep humans healthy.

Text books and academy to use:


Specially written book for this topic (simple)

Specially written book for this topic (advanced).

Simple, entire book.

More comprehensive



Additional reading books to use (there are many more nutrition books; use search):



• (b) identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions



Text books and academy to use:


Specially written book for this topic.

Simple, entire book.

More comprehensive


Additional reading books to use (starting with the idea that t-rex had teeth the size of a banana)

• (c) construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.


Specially written book for this topic


Go to section 3: Matter