May · Forces
New Zealand Curriculum · Physical WorldYear 4 Physics — May Lesson Plan
| Week | 1 Day/Week | 2 Day/Week | 3 Day/Week | 4 Day/Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3rd week (Physics) | — | — | — | — |
| May 4th week (Physics) | — | — | — | — |
NZ Curriculum · Year 4 Physics · Primary
Year 4 Physics Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map
The Physical World (physics) unit from our Year 4 New Zealand Curriculum science lesson plan: forces. Week-by-week lessons for 1, 2, 3 or 4 lessons a week, showing when each pace covers this unit; a dash means that pace is on a different science unit that week. For the full year, see the Year 4 Science lesson plan.
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Year 4 Physics 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
June · Forces
New Zealand Curriculum · Physical WorldYear 4 Physics — June Lesson Plan
| Week | 1 Day/Week | 2 Day/Week | 3 Day/Week | 4 Day/Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1st week (Physics) | — | — | — | — |
| June 2nd week (Physics) | — | — | — | What Is a Force? 1. Forces as pushes and pulls exerted by one object on another 2. Contact forces vs non-contact forces 3. Practice: identifying forces in a real everyday scenario Friction 1. What friction is (a force that resists motion between surfaces) |
| June 3rd week (Physics) | — | — | — | Friction 1. Practice: an experiment investigating the force needed to pull an object across different surfaces Gravity 1. What gravitational force is (pulls objects toward Earth) 2. How an object's mass relates to the force needed to move it 3. Practice: an experiment exploring gravity's effect on falling or rolling objects |
| June 4th week (Physics) | — | — | — | Magnetism 1. What magnetic force is 2. Practice: an experiment measuring magnetic strength (e.g. how far apart a magnet and magnetic material can be before the force is too weak) Buoyancy 1. What buoyancy is (an upward force from a liquid) 2. Practice: an experiment testing how different raft/boat shapes affect buoyancy (how much weight they can hold before sinking) |
July · Forces
New Zealand Curriculum · Physical WorldYear 4 Physics — July Lesson Plan
| Week | 1 Day/Week | 2 Day/Week | 3 Day/Week | 4 Day/Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1st week (Physics) | — | — | — | Comparing Forces 1. Comparing friction, gravity, magnetism and buoyancy directly 2. Practice: identifying which force is most relevant in a given real scenario 3. Practice: predicting which force(s) would be most relevant in 3 different real scenarios Designing an Accessibility Vehicle — Planning 1. Understanding the engineering challenge: designing/improving a vehicle that can traverse diverse terrains and weather conditions |
| July 2nd week (Physics) | — | — | — | Designing an Accessibility Vehicle — Planning 1. Planning how the vehicle will need to work with (or against) friction, gravity, magnetism and/or buoyancy Designing an Accessibility Vehicle — Building & Testing 1. Building the vehicle design 2. Testing the vehicle and evaluating how well it performed against the forces it needed to overcome Investigating Forces 1. Developing an investigable question about a force's effect on motion |
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
Wonder and question
Start with an everyday question about the week’s topic that links to what your child already knows.
25 minutes
Explore and investigate
Explain the idea with pictures and simple models, then observe, test or record a small investigation together.
10 minutes
Check for mastery
Finish with a short quiz or explain-it-back task that shows what is secure and what to revisit.
Student learning toolkit
Resources for Year 4 Physics
Concept lessons
Clear, visual lessons on each New Zealand Curriculum physics topic.
Practice activities
Short questions and checks matched to each week’s focus.
Science inquiry
Investigation, observation and recording skills built into each unit.
Progress notes
A clear record of what your child has mastered and what comes next.
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