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PRIMARY 4: BASIC SCIENCE – FIRST TERM | WEEK 1

Updated January 5, 2026Basic Science, First Term, Primary 4

TOPIC: CHANGES IN NATURE – TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT CHANGES

A: TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS

  1. Ice cubes.
  2. Candle wax.
  3. Rubber band.
  4. Pieces of paper.
  5. Burnt paper or wood sample.
  6. Pictures showing different changes.
  7. Chalkboard and chalk.

B: REFERENCE MATERIALS

  1. Scheme of work.
  2. Recommended Basic Science textbook for Primary 4.
  3. Online educational resources.

C: PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE

The pupils have observed many changes around them, such as melting ice, growing plants, cooking food and breaking objects.

D: PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

  1. Explain the meaning of change.
  2. Identify changes that occur around them.
  3. Explain temporary change.
  4. Explain permanent change.
  5. Give examples of temporary and permanent changes.
  6. Differentiate between temporary and permanent changes.

E: CONTENT

Meaning of Change

A change occurs when something becomes different from the way it was before. Changes occur in living and non-living things. Examples:

  • A seed grows into a plant.
  • Ice melts into water.
  • Wood burns into ash.
  • A child grows taller.

Temporary Change

A temporary change is a change that can be reversed. This means that the object can return to its former condition. Examples:

  • Ice melting into water.
  • Water freezing into ice.
  • Stretching a rubber band.
  • Folding a piece of paper.
  • Melting candle wax.

🧊 Ice → 💧 Water → 🧊 Ice

Permanent Change

A permanent change is a change that cannot easily be reversed. The substance cannot return to exactly what it was before. Examples:

  • Burning paper.
  • Cooking an egg.
  • Rusting of iron.
  • Breaking a glass bottle.
  • Burning wood into ash.

🪵 Wood + Fire 🔥 → Ash

Differences Between Temporary and Permanent Changes

Temporary Change Permanent Change
Can be reversed Cannot easily be reversed
No completely new material may be formed A new material may be formed
Example: melting ice Example: burning wood

F: LESSON PRESENTATION

F1: Teachers’ Activities

  1. Introduces the meaning of change.
  2. Shows pupils ice, paper and rubber band.
  3. Demonstrates simple temporary changes.
  4. Shows pictures of permanent changes.
  5. Explains the differences between temporary and permanent changes.
  6. Asks pupils to classify examples of changes.
  7. Corrects pupils where necessary.

F2: Pupils’ Activities

  1. Observe the materials shown by the teacher.
  2. Explain changes they have seen around them.
  3. Stretch and release a rubber band.
  4. Identify temporary changes.
  5. Identify permanent changes.
  6. Classify examples given by the teacher.

G: CONCLUSION

The teacher revises the meaning of change and the differences between temporary and permanent changes. The teacher reminds pupils that some changes can be reversed while others cannot.

H: EVALUATION GUIDE

Pupils should be able to answer the following questions:

  1. What is change?
  2. What is a temporary change?
  3. What is a permanent change?
  4. Give two examples of temporary changes.
  5. Give two examples of permanent changes.
  6. Is melting ice a temporary or permanent change?
  7. Is burning paper a temporary or permanent change?