Year 4 - Science
The functions of teeth
Introduction to the human digestive system
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers the basic functions of the human digestive system and identifies different types of teeth and their functions. It focuses on asking questions, gathering and presenting data, recording findings with diagrams and charts, and reporting results through written and oral presentations.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the simple functions of the different types of human teeth.
Key Notes
- Teeth are part of the human digestive system.
- Different types of teeth have different functions, but work together to break down food to travel through the body.
- Incisors are sharp and flat, and are used to cut and bite food.
- Canines are sharp and more pointed, and are used to rip and tear food.
- Molars are wide and bumpy, and are used to chew and grind food.
Vocabulary To Learn
- digestive system: The digestive system breaks down food into small particles, which are absorbed into the blood.
- functions: The tasks or jobs that a thing has are its functions.
- incisors: Incisors are teeth that are used to bite and cut food.
- canines: Canines are teeth that are used for tearing and ripping food.
- molars: Molars are teeth found at the back of the jaw with a rounded or flattened surface. They are used for grinding and chewing food.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children may think that all teeth are the same and that they perform the same job to break down food in exactly the same way.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Teeth are part of the human digestive system. Different types of teeth have different functions, but work together to break down food to travel through the body.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'digestive system'
The digestive system breaks down food into small particles, which are absorbed into the blood. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Children may think that all teeth are the same and that they perform the same job to break down food in exactly the same way. Correction: Eating a few different types of food (Task A) will help children to see for themselves which teeth they are using and what they are actually doing to break down food in different ways.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Carnivore, herbivore and omnivore teeth (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Comparing toothpaste (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Different teeth for different food Study Guide
- Looking after our teeth: plan and do (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Looking after our teeth: review (non-statutory) Study Guide
- More about the journey of food Study Guide
- Presenting the human digestive system Study Guide
- The human digestive system Study Guide
- Types of teeth Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 4 Science guide library.