Last reviewed: 28 October 2026
This Grade 4 Science and Technology revision guide explains all nine sub-strands in plain language, with quick home experiments that make each idea stick. Grade 4 is the first year of upper primary, and science is organised in three strands: Living Things and Their Environment, Matter, and Force and Energy. Use the topic notes and the three-week plan below, then check progress with free quizzes.
Updated October 2026.
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What Grade 4 Science and Technology Revision Covers
The KICD Grade 4 curriculum designs (revised 2024) set out nine sub-strands across 120 suggested lessons:
| Strand | Sub-strands (lessons) |
|---|---|
| Living Things and Their Environment | Plants (12), Animals (12), Human digestive system (16) |
| Matter | Properties of matter (14), Management of solid waste (16), Water conservation (12) |
| Force and Energy | Force and its effect (12), Light (14), Heat (12) |
Grade 4 is assessed at school. Pulse Kenya reported that KNEC’s 2026 school-based assessment schedule listed Science and Technology among the areas for Grades 4 and 5.
Strand 1: Living Things and Their Environment
Plants
Plants are living things: they grow, need water, air and light, respond to their surroundings and reproduce. Learn the external parts and their jobs: roots hold the plant and take in water, the stem carries water and holds the plant up, leaves make food, and flowers help the plant reproduce. Home activity: uproot a weed and label its parts.
Animals
Animals are living things too. The big skill here is sorting vertebrates (with a backbone, such as cows, fish, chickens and frogs) from invertebrates (without one, such as snails, spiders, earthworms and butterflies). Home activity: list ten animals seen in a day and sort them.
Human digestive system
Know the order of parts: mouth, gullet (oesophagus), stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus. Revise healthy habits: chewing well, eating a balanced diet, drinking clean water, washing hands and brushing teeth.
Strand 2: Matter
Matter is the most hands-on part of Grade 4 Science and Technology revision, so use real objects.
Properties of matter
Matter has three states. Solids keep their shape, liquids take the shape of the container, and gases spread to fill any space. Home activity: pour water into a cup, a bottle and a plate and watch the shape change.
Management of solid waste
Sort waste into decomposable (peels, leaves, paper) and non-decomposable (plastic, glass, metal). Learn the dangers of poor waste disposal and the safe methods: reduce, reuse, recycle, composting and proper disposal.
Water conservation
Explain ways to save water at home and school: closing taps, harvesting rainwater, reusing water for plants and repairing leaks, and why it matters.
Strand 3: Force and Energy
Force and its effect
A force is a push or a pull. Forces can start or stop movement, change speed or direction, and change shape. Know friction (a ball slows on grass) and gravity (things fall). Home activity: roll a ball on a smooth floor and then on a mat, and compare.
Light
Identify natural sources (the sun) and artificial ones (torch, bulb, candle). Revise ways of lighting a house and the uses of light, such as seeing, drying clothes and growing plants.
Heat
Sources of heat include the sun, fire and electricity. Uses include cooking, drying and warming. Learn safety rules: handle hot pans with cloths, keep children away from open fires and never touch naked wires.
A 3-Week Grade 4 Science and Technology Revision Plan
- Week 1: plants, animals and the digestive system.
- Week 2: properties of matter, solid waste and water conservation.
- Week 3: force, light and heat, then a mixed quiz.
Keep Grade 4 Science and Technology revision sessions to 20 or 25 minutes. Ten-year-olds learn science best by doing, so pair each topic with one small home activity and let your child explain it back to you.
Practise With Free Quizzes and Papers
Start with the free Grade 4 CBC Challenge, which gives instant scores and shows weak topics. Then try the Grade 4 Science and Technology revision papers; the first questions are free.
A Day Pass for KSh 20 or a Monthly Pass for KSh 500 opens every full paper with worked answers and the Grade 4 holiday homework pack, and every question is checked by a teacher.
For the other subjects, see the Grade 4 Mathematics revision guide, the Grade 4 English revision guide and the Grade 4 hub. Next year’s topics are in the Grade 5 Science and Technology revision guide. Children who enjoy technology can also join the AI Starter course for Grades 4 to 9.
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics are in Grade 4 Science and Technology?
Nine sub-strands: plants, animals, the human digestive system, properties of matter, management of solid waste, water conservation, force and its effect, light and heat.
Is Grade 4 Science and Technology examined?
It is assessed through school-based assessment. Pulse Kenya reported that KNEC’s 2026 schedule included Science and Technology for Grades 4 and 5.
How can I help my child revise Grade 4 science at home?
Use short sessions with a simple activity for each topic, such as sorting animals or testing friction, then a quick quiz.
What comes after Grade 4 Science and Technology?
Grade 5 builds on the same strands. Our Grade 5 Science and Technology revision guide covers the next year.
Where can my child find quizzes for Grade 4 Science and Technology revision?
The Grade 4 CBC Challenge on CBC Guides is free and gives an instant score with topics to revise.
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