Science · Year 4

Active learning ideas

All About Teeth

Take a bite out of this fascinating science topic all about teeth! These activities will guide your pupils on an exploration of their own mouths and the wider animal kingdom.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• National Curriculum for England: Science Year 4: Animals, including humans

• 20–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Experiential Learning
• 45 min · Pairs

Mouth Modelling

Pupils use plasticine or marshmallows to create a model of a human jaw. They must correctly shape and position the different types of teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, and molars) in the upper or lower jaw.

Identify the four different types of teeth in a human mouth.

Facilitation Tip

Provide clear diagrams of human dentition for pupils to reference as they build their models.

What to look for

Pupils complete a 'label the teeth' worksheet, identifying the four types of teeth on a diagram of a human jaw and writing a short sentence about the function of each.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Activity 02

• Experiential Learning
• 30 min · Small Groups

Animal Skull Investigation

In small groups, pupils examine pictures or models of different animal skulls (e.g., a lion and a sheep). They identify the prominent teeth and deduce the animal's diet (carnivore or herbivore), justifying their conclusions.

Explain the specific function of incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.

Facilitation Tip

Encourage pupils to use precise vocabulary like 'sharp canines' for tearing and 'flat molars' for grinding.

What to look for

Pupils create a fact file about two animals, one herbivore and one carnivore. They must include drawings of each animal's teeth and explain how they are suited to its diet.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Activity 03

• Experiential Learning
• 20 min · Individual

The Biscuit Bite Test

Pupils are given a plain biscuit and, using a mirror, they observe which of their own teeth they use to bite a piece off and which they use to chew it. They then draw and label the teeth they used for each job.

Compare the teeth of a herbivore with the teeth of a carnivore.

Facilitation Tip

Please ensure you check for any food allergies or dietary restrictions before starting this activity.

What to look for

Pupils use a 'traffic light' system to indicate their confidence in naming the four tooth types and explaining their jobs.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Begin by making the topic relatable, encouraging pupils to use mirrors to observe their own teeth. Use clear diagrams and 3D models to help them learn the names and positions of each tooth type. When comparing animal teeth, use high-quality images of skulls and provide sentence starters to help pupils structure their comparative statements.

By the end of this topic, your pupils will be able to confidently identify the different types of teeth, explain their functions, and link an animal's teeth to its diet.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• All teeth are the same shape and do the same job.

  There are four different types of teeth in a human mouth. Each type, like the sharp incisors for biting or the flat molars for grinding, has a special shape for a specific job.

• We only get one set of teeth for our whole life.

  Humans have two sets of teeth. The first set are called primary or 'milk' teeth, which fall out and are replaced by larger, stronger permanent or 'adult' teeth as we grow.

• Sugar directly rots your teeth.

  It is not the sugar itself, but the acid produced by bacteria in your mouth when they feed on the sugar. This acid is what damages the tooth's hard outer layer, called enamel, leading to cavities.

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Methods used in this brief

• Experiential Learning