Grade 4 Notes: All CBC Subjects (Kenya, 2026)

Last reviewed: 31 October 2026

Updated October 2026. Grade 4 notes for all CBC learning areas in Kenya: short, original revision notes on the key topics in English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Studies, Agriculture and Nutrition, CRE, Creative Arts. Each section gives the core idea in plain words with an example, followed by free practice on the Grade 4 CBC Challenge and CBC quizzes. They follow the topics commonly taught in Grade 4 and build toward KPSEA at the end of Grade 6.

What to focus on in Grade 4

Grade 4 is the first year of upper primary, when learners move from learning to read to reading to learn. Read a short story together each evening and ask your child to retell it. Practise times tables to 10 with quick games, and let them measure things at home with a tape measure and a kitchen jug so units of measurement stick. Short, daily practice of 20 to 30 minutes works better than long weekend sessions.

How to use these Grade 4 notes

1. Read one learning area a day.
2. Close the page and say or write the key points from memory.
3. Try ten questions on the Grade 4 challenge and check which topics you missed.

Grade 4 English notes

Reading comprehension

Read the passage twice. Answers are found in the text; underline the line that gives the answer.

Nouns and pronouns

A noun names a person, place or thing (Wanjiku, Kisumu, book). A pronoun replaces a noun (she, it, they).

Composition

A good story has a title, a beginning, a middle with events in order, and an ending. Use full stops and capital letters.

Grade 4 Kiswahili notes

Ngeli ya A-WA

Nomino za viumbe hai: mtoto–watoto, mwalimu–walimu.

Kusoma kwa ufahamu

Soma kifungu, kisha jibu kwa sentensi kamili.

Insha

Anza na kichwa, andika aya tatu, malizia vizuri.

Grade 4 Mathematics notes

Whole numbers to 10,000

Place value: in 4,352 the 4 is thousands, 3 hundreds, 5 tens, 2 ones.

Fractions

A fraction is part of a whole: 1/2 of 8 is 4. Equivalent fractions: 1/2 = 2/4.

Measurement

1 metre = 100 cm; 1 litre = 1,000 ml; 1 kg = 1,000 g.

Grade 4 Science and Technology notes

Living things

Plants make their own food and need water, air and sunlight. Animals feed on plants or other animals.

Water

Sources include rain, rivers, wells and boreholes. Boil or treat water before drinking.

Force and energy

A push or pull is a force. Energy sources include the sun, wind and food.

Grade 4 Social Studies notes

Our county

Each county has a governor and a county government. Learn your county’s name, headquarters and main economic activities.

Physical features

Mountains, hills, plains, rivers and lakes. Mt Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya.

Children’s rights

Every child has a right to education, food, shelter and protection.

Grade 4 Agriculture and Nutrition notes

Soil

Types: sand, clay and loam. Loam is best for most crops because it holds water and air.

Kitchen garden

Grows vegetables near the home for a balanced diet.

Food groups

Energy-giving (ugali, rice), body-building (beans, eggs) and protective foods (fruits, vegetables).

Grade 4 CRE notes

Creation

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh (Genesis 1–2).

The family

Members love, respect and help each other; children obey parents.

Jesus’ miracles

Jesus fed 5,000 people and healed the sick, showing God’s power and love.

Grade 4 Creative Arts notes

Drawing and colour

Primary colours are red, yellow and blue; mixing them makes secondary colours.

Music

Kenyan folk songs teach values; rhythm is the pattern of beats.

Physical activities

Warm up before games to prevent injury.

Grade 4 quick self-test with answers

1. What is 3/4 of 12?

Answer: 9.

2. Name the three food groups.

Answer: Energy-giving, body-building and protective foods.

3. Which is the highest mountain in Kenya?

Answer: Mt Kenya.

4. Give the plural of ‘mtoto’.

Answer: Watoto.

5. What do plants need to make food?

Answer: Sunlight, water, air (carbon dioxide) and chlorophyll in the leaves.

6. How many centimetres make one metre?

Answer: 100 cm.

7. Name two sources of water.

Answer: Rivers and boreholes.

Grade 4 notes term by term

Schools order topics differently, so use these notes alongside your child’s exercise books. Term 1 usually revisits the previous grade and starts the main number and reading topics, Term 2 carries the heaviest content, and Term 3 is for revision and end-of-year assessment. Printed revision papers for this grade are on Grade 4 revision papers.

Get ahead for January

The Ready for Grade 5 in January, KSh 500 course turns these topics into a short daily plan before school opens. See also 2027 reporting dates.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get Grade 4 notes for all subjects?

This page summarises the key topics in every Grade 4 learning area, with links to practice.

Are these Grade 4 notes PDF downloads?

They are web notes you can read on any phone and print from the browser.

Do these notes follow the CBC curriculum?

They cover topics commonly taught in Grade 4 under CBC. They are independent study notes, not official curriculum documents.

How can my child test what they learnt?

Use the free Grade 4 CBC Challenge, then unlock full papers with a pass.

Want marked practice? Try any quiz free, then a Day Pass (KSh 20) or Weekly Pass unlocks full papers with answers. See all passes.

Keep revising with these: AI Starter Holiday Course for Kids (Grades 4–9); Grade 4 English Revision Guide: Grammar, Reading and Writing; Grade 4 Mathematics Revision Guide for Parents.