This unit of work enables children to gain an understanding of sound, including how sound is made and what pitch and volume are. There are many opportunities for children to explore relationships between variables. The inclusion of an array of fun and engaging activities provides a stimulating hook throughout.
Lessons are approximately 75 minutes long and should be taught in order. It is recommended that this is the second unit taught in Year 4 because it builds on disciplinary knowledge learnt in Unit 1 – States of Matter.
Disciplinary knowledge is embedded throughout the unit alongside the most appropriate substantive knowledge.
Substantive knowledge of sound is taught through a variety of practical activities and written tasks.
In this block of learning, you will cover the following lessons:
Explore how sound works in the world around us with this fully resourced Year 4 Sound unit, part of our primary science scheme of work. This six-lesson unit is designed to help pupils develop a secure understanding of key sound concepts, including how sounds are made, how they travel, and how pitch and volume can be changed. Aligned with the National Curriculum for science, each lesson is carefully sequenced to build knowledge and enquiry skills over time.
This Year 4 science unit supports children as they move from simple observation to more structured investigation, giving them opportunities to ask questions, explore relationships, and draw conclusions. It builds on prior learning from the States of Matter unit and prepares children for more advanced topics later in Key Stage 2. Throughout the block, pupils are introduced to essential scientific vocabulary, which they revisit and apply across a range of practical tasks and written activities.
Each lesson in this block introduces a new question to explore, encouraging curiosity and scientific thinking. Pupils begin by learning how sounds are made through vibrations, before exploring how to change pitch and volume. Investigative activities such as making a simple string telephone and observing how sound travels over distance help pupils make real-world connections and understand how sound behaves in everyday life.
The unit includes everything you need to deliver high-quality science teaching with confidence. Lessons are supported by engaging teaching slides, detailed lesson plans, and differentiated tasks to meet a range of learning needs. There are also optional cross-curricular links and practical investigation ideas to enrich learning and extend pupil understanding. A knowledge organiser and end-of-unit assessment are also provided to support vocabulary recall, track progress, and inform future planning.
This unit reflects the recommendations of the Ofsted science subject report, promoting secure progression in both disciplinary and substantive knowledge. Enquiry skills are embedded throughout the block, with a strong focus on vocabulary development and meaningful application of scientific ideas. The content has been developed by experienced teachers and subject specialists, ensuring age-appropriate progression and coverage.
Whether you’re teaching sound for the first time or looking to refresh your current science planning, this comprehensive Year 4 unit provides a reliable and engaging foundation. Pupils are supported to build scientific confidence as they investigate sound sources, test how pitch and volume can be altered, and learn how sound travels through different materials and spaces. These concepts are made accessible through practical tasks, discussion prompts, and clear explanations that help children connect scientific knowledge to their everyday experiences.
By the end of the unit, pupils will have a solid understanding of how sound is produced, how it moves, and how we can hear it. They will also be able to use scientific vocabulary with increasing accuracy and confidence. This unit offers a strong base for revisiting sound in later years and contributes to a broad and balanced primary science curriculum.
Start your free trial to explore the full Year 4 Sound unit, or browse the complete science scheme of work to see how our resources can support your school’s curriculum planning.
This unit covers how sounds are made through vibrations, how sound travels, and how pitch and volume can be changed. Pupils investigate real-life sound sources and use scientific vocabulary to describe what they observe.
Yes, the Year 4 Sound unit is fully aligned with the National Curriculum for science and supports the aims outlined in the Ofsted science subject report.
The unit includes detailed lesson plans, teaching slides, differentiated pupil tasks, a knowledge organiser, and an end-of-unit assessment. Optional practical activities and cross-curricular links are also provided.
Yes! You can start a free trial to access this unit and see how it supports effective science teaching in your classroom.
The practical activities involve simple experiments that use easy-to-source materials. Most items can be found in a typical classroom or are inexpensive to obtain. Full guidance is provided in each lesson plan.
