Irish Curriculum · 4th Year Science

4th Year Science Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A full-year 4th Year Science lesson plan for Transition Year in Irish post-primary schools. Week-by-week lessons for 1, 2 or 3 days a week from September to August, covering forensic science, environmental and marine biology, applied chemistry and materials, applied engineering and physics, astrophysics and modern physics, and medical biology and bioethics.

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4Terms

48Weekly checkpoints

1-on-1Tutor support

Interactive curriculum browser

4th Year Science learning map

Choose a term, then compare a lighter weekly plan with a more intensive schedule.

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice

September · Forensic Science

4th Year Science — September Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · Science

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
September 1st week (Science)	Introduce: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology	Introduce: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practice / retrieval task	Introduce: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
September 2nd week (Science)	Develop: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology	Develop: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practice / retrieval task	Develop: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
September 3rd week (Science)	Apply / investigate: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology	Apply / investigate: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practice / retrieval task	Apply / investigate: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
September 4th week (Science)	Review, consolidate & assess: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology	Review, consolidate & assess: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practice / retrieval task	Review, consolidate & assess: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding

October · Forensic Science + Environmental & Marine Biology

4th Year Science — October Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · Science

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
October 1st week (Science)	Introduce: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology	Introduce: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practice / retrieval task	Introduce: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
October 2nd week (Science)	Develop: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr…	Develop: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practice / retrieval task	Develop: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
October 3rd week (Science)	Apply / investigate: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr…	Apply / investigate: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practice / retrieval task	Apply / investigate: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
October 4th week (Science)	Review, consolidate & assess: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology	Review, consolidate & assess: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practice / retrieval task	Review, consolidate & assess: Forensic Science: crime-scene analysis, chromatography, DNA profiling, fingerprinting and toxicology Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding

November · Environmental & Marine Biology

4th Year Science — November Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · Science

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
November 1st week (Science)	Introduce: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr…	Introduce: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practice / retrieval task	Introduce: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
November 2nd week (Science)	Develop: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr…	Develop: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practice / retrieval task	Develop: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
November 3rd week (Science)	Apply / investigate: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr…	Apply / investigate: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practice / retrieval task	Apply / investigate: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
November 4th week (Science)	Review, consolidate & assess: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr…	Review, consolidate & assess: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practice / retrieval task	Review, consolidate & assess: Environmental & Marine Biology: local biodiversity, marine ecosystems, environmental monitoring and micr… Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding

December · Applied Chemistry & Materials

4th Year Science — December Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · Science

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
December 1st week (Science)	Introduce: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry	Introduce: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry Practice / retrieval task	Introduce: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
December 2nd week (Science)	Develop: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry	Develop: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry Practice / retrieval task	Develop: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
December 3rd week (Science)	Apply / investigate: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry	Apply / investigate: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry Practice / retrieval task	Apply / investigate: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding
December 4th week (Science)	Review, consolidate & assess: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry	Review, consolidate & assess: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry Practice / retrieval task	Review, consolidate & assess: Applied Chemistry & Materials: cosmetics, polymers, food science and pharmaceutical chemistry Practical / data / discussion activity Check for understanding

The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Retrieve and diagnose

Open with short questions that check the prior knowledge needed for the week’s 4th Year Science topic.

25 minutes

Explore and explain

Work through the concept with diagrams and worked examples, then apply it to data, practicals and Leaving Cert-style questions.

10 minutes

Check for understanding

Finish with a short question or data task that shows progress towards the Leaving Cert exam.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for 4th Year Science

Concept lessons

Clear explanations of each 4th Year science topic in the order it comes up in school.

Practicals & investigations

Guided practicals, investigations and data analysis matched to each week of the plan.

Exam-style practice

Leaving Cert science questions with worked solutions and marking guidance.

Progress notes

Regular feedback for parents on strengths, gaps and next steps.

Free first lesson

Build a plan for 4th Year Science

Tell us your child’s year, subjects and level, and where they are with Leaving Cert science, and we will shape the first grind around the 4th Year Science topics that matter most.

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A one-to-one session with a certified Science tutor
A recommended next-step study plan