Basic 4 Basic Science & Technology – First Term: Complete Lesson Notes & Scheme of Work

Week-by-week lesson notes for Nigerian Primary 4 pupils | BST First Term | All Topics Fully Covered

📋 Table of Contents — First Term Scheme of Work

Week 1

Changes in Nature

Subject: Basic Science & Technology  |  Duration: 40 Minutes  |  Related: Week 2 – Developmental Changes in Plants →

Instructional Materials

The teacher will need a chart showing the day and night cycle, pictures of the different seasons, a weather calendar, a thermometer, and pictures illustrating sunny, rainy, cloudy, and windy weather conditions.

Definition of Changes in Nature

Changes in nature are the different things that happen in our environment over time. These changes occur naturally and follow a pattern that repeats every year. Day and night, for instance, happen every 24 hours, while seasons and weather conditions shift on a longer cycle throughout the year.

Importance of Observing Changes in Nature

Observing changes in nature is important because it directly affects the way we live every day. Here are some key reasons:

1. It helps us plan our daily activities properly.
2. Farmers depend on it to know when to plant and harvest crops.
3. When it comes to clothing, knowing the weather helps us dress appropriately for different conditions.
4. Beyond personal life, understanding nature also helps us protect our environment.
5. It keeps us safe during harsh or extreme weather.

Day and Night

Day and night are natural changes that occur every 24 hours without stopping. During the day, the sun shines and gives us light, allowing us to see clearly and carry out most of our activities. At night, it becomes dark because the sun is no longer visible — we see the moon and stars instead. The rotation of the earth around the sun is what causes day and night.

Seasons in Nigeria

Nigeria has two main seasons:

• Rainy Season (April – October): This season brings plenty of rainfall. The weather is cool, plants grow well, and rivers and streams fill up with water. Most farmers plant their crops during this period.
• Dry Season (November – March): Rainfall is little or absent during the dry season. The weather becomes hot and dusty, and the Harmattan wind blows dust in from the Sahara Desert. Plants may dry up without regular watering.

Weather Patterns

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place. It can change from one day to the next — a sunny morning can be followed by a rainy afternoon. Common weather patterns include:

• Sunny: The sun shines brightly, the sky is clear with few or no clouds, and the weather is hot and dry.
• Rainy: Water falls from clouds, the sky turns dark, and thick clouds cover the sky.
• Cloudy: The sky is covered with clouds, though rain may not necessarily fall. It tends to be cool.
• Windy: Strong air movements cause trees and leaves to shake. During the dry season, dust is blown around.

Recording Daily Weather Conditions

Weather is recorded using a chart or calendar with simple symbols. Each day, you observe the weather and note it down using drawings. Over time, this routine helps you spot patterns and, as a result, predict what the weather might be like in future.

• Draw a sun ☀️ for sunny days
• Draw clouds ☁️ for cloudy days
• Draw raindrops 🌧️ for rainy days
• Draw wind lines 💨 for windy days
• Note the temperature if a thermometer is available

Lesson Presentation

• Step 1 – Introduction: The teacher asks pupils about the weather that day, then uses their responses to introduce the topic.
• Step 2 – Explanation: Using charts and pictures, the teacher explains day and night, the two seasons, and the different weather patterns. The class is also shown how to record weather using symbols.
• Step 3 – Pupil Participation: Pupils identify weather conditions from pictures, practise drawing weather symbols, and record the current day’s weather on a chart.
• Step 4 – Evaluation and Conclusion: The teacher asks questions, corrects errors, summarises the lesson, and gives the assignment.

Week 2

Developmental Changes in Plants

Related: ← Week 1 – Changes in Nature  |  Week 3 – Developmental Changes in Animals →

Instructional Materials

The teacher will need bean and maize seeds for hands-on examples, a chart showing the life cycle of a plant, a chart showing the parts of a flowering plant, and a transparent container with wet cotton wool to demonstrate germination.

Definition

Developmental changes in plants are the stages that a plant passes through as it grows. Every plant starts as a small seed, then changes step by step — going through germination, growth, and flowering — before producing new seeds. In that way, the process is similar to how human beings grow from babies into adults.

The Life Cycle of Plants

Every plant goes through a set of stages during its lifetime. These stages happen in order and together they make up the plant’s life cycle:

1. Seed Stage: The plant begins as a small seed, which contains a baby plant called an embryo along with stored food.
2. Germination Stage: The seed absorbs water and starts to grow. A tiny root and shoot emerge from it.
3. Seedling Stage: The young plant breaks through the soil with a few leaves. It is still small and delicate at this point.
4. Growth Stage: The plant grows bigger and taller, producing more leaves as the stem strengthens.
5. Mature Plant Stage: The plant is now fully grown with many leaves and a strong stem, ready to produce flowers.
6. Flowering Stage: The mature plant produces flowers, which contain the reproductive parts needed to make seeds.
7. Seed Production Stage: After pollination, the flowers develop into fruits containing new seeds. These seeds can grow into new plants, and the cycle continues.

The Germination Process

Germination is the process by which a seed begins to grow into a new plant. It is the first and most important stage in a plant’s life. However, four conditions must all be present before germination can happen:

• Water: Softens the seed coat and triggers growth.
• Air (Oxygen): Seeds need oxygen to breathe and release energy for growth.
• Warmth: The right temperature is needed before a seed will germinate.
• Good soil: Provides support and nutrients for the growing plant.

Steps in the Germination Process

1. The seed absorbs water and swells up.
2. The seed coat breaks open.
3. A small root called the radicle pushes downward into the soil.
4. A small shoot called the plumule grows upward toward the light.
5. The first leaves appear above the soil.
6. The young plant (seedling) continues to grow.

Parts of a Flowering Plant and Their Functions

Growth Stages from Seed to Mature Plant

Week 3

Growth and Developmental Changes in Animals

Related: ← Week 2 – Developmental Changes in Plants  |  Week 4 – Exploring Water →

Instructional Materials

The teacher will need pictures showing the life cycles of a butterfly and a frog, a chart of human growth stages, and pictures of a baby, child, teenager, adult, and elderly person. Pictures of a caterpillar, chrysalis, tadpole, and adult frog are also helpful for teaching metamorphosis.

Definition of Developmental Changes in Animals

Developmental changes in animals are the stages that animals pass through as they grow. As they develop, they grow in size, change in body shape, and eventually gain the ability to reproduce. Some animals undergo such a dramatic change in body shape that the process has its own name — metamorphosis.

Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis is the process by which some animals completely change their body form as they develop. There are two types:

• Complete Metamorphosis: The animal goes through four completely different stages — egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larva looks nothing like the adult. Examples include the butterfly, housefly, and mosquito.
• Incomplete Metamorphosis: This type has only three stages — egg, nymph, and adult. Unlike complete metamorphosis, the nymph resembles a smaller version of the adult. Examples include the grasshopper, cockroach, and locust.

Life Cycle of a Butterfly (Complete Metamorphosis — 4 Stages)

The butterfly is the most well-known example of complete metamorphosis. Each of its four stages looks completely different from the others:

Life Cycle of a Frog

1. Egg: The frog lays many eggs in water. A jelly-like coating surrounds each egg for protection.
2. Tadpole: Once the eggs hatch, the young tadpoles live entirely in water. They breathe through gills like fish and use their long tails for swimming.
3. Froglet: Over time, legs begin to develop and the tail starts to shrink. At this stage, the froglet moves gradually onto land.
4. Adult Frog: Eventually, the tail disappears completely. Now fully grown, the frog can live on both land and in water, breathing through lungs and skin. It will lay eggs to continue the cycle.

Stages of Human Growth

Humans grow and change throughout their lives. There are six main stages, each with its own features:

Physical Changes from Birth to Adulthood

As humans grow, the body changes in many ways — slowly and over time. Although some changes are obvious, others happen so gradually that we barely notice them. Key physical changes include:

1. The body grows taller and heavier.
2. Milk teeth fall out and permanent teeth grow in their place.
3. Hair grows in new places on the body during adolescence.
4. Muscles become stronger with age.
5. The brain develops and thinking becomes sharper.
6. The voice changes — this is especially noticeable in boys during adolescence.

Week 4

Exploring Water in Our Environment

Related: ← Week 3 – Developmental Changes in Animals  |  Week 5 – Midterm Examination →

Instructional Materials

The teacher will need pictures of different water sources (well, river, tap, rain, borehole), a chart showing the uses of water in daily life, samples of clean and dirty water in transparent containers, and a map showing water bodies in Nigeria.

Definition of Water

Water is a clear liquid with no colour, taste, or smell when it is pure. Because all living things need water to survive, it is one of the most essential substances on earth. It covers about 71% of the earth’s surface — which explains why it is found almost everywhere around us.

Sources of Water

• Rain: Water that falls from the sky when clouds become heavy
• Rivers: Large bodies of flowing water (e.g. River Niger, River Benue)
• Wells: Deep holes dug in the ground to reach underground water
• Boreholes: Very deep holes made by machines to reach underground water
• Streams: Small channels of naturally flowing water
• Lakes and Ponds: Water that collects and stays in one place
• Tap water: Brings treated, clean water to our homes and schools
• Ocean/Sea: Very large salty water bodies (e.g. Atlantic Ocean near Lagos)

Uses of Water

Water has many uses in daily life, and without it, we simply cannot survive. Some of the main uses include:

• Drinking — to stay alive and healthy
• Cooking food
• Bathing and keeping the body clean
• Washing clothes, plates, and the home
• Watering crops and feeding animals on the farm
• Fishing — people catch fish from water bodies for food
• Transportation — boats and ships move goods and people on water
• Swimming and exercise

Water Bodies Around Us

Water exists in many forms in our environment — some water bodies are vast, like oceans, while others are quite small, like ponds. The table below shows the main water bodies and, where relevant, Nigerian examples of each:

Importance of Clean Water

Clean water is safe water — free from dirt and germs. Drinking dirty water is dangerous because it contains germs that cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea. Clean water is therefore essential for good health. Beyond drinking, it matters in other ways too:

• It makes our food safe to eat when used in cooking.
• Bathing with clean water keeps the skin healthy.
• Children who have access to clean water grow well and learn better in school.

Simple Water Conservation Methods

Water conservation means using water carefully and avoiding waste. Since water is limited, we must protect it every day. Some practical ways to do this at home and in school include:

• Turn off the tap immediately after use.
• Fix leaking taps as quickly as possible.
• Use a bucket to bath rather than letting water run freely.
• Collect rainwater and use it for watering plants or cleaning.
• Reuse water from washing vegetables to water your garden.
• Avoid playing with water unnecessarily.
• Use only the amount of water you truly need.

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