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Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology
Grades 4-6 Teaching Plans
About the Natural Sciences & Technology Annual teaching plans
The following annual teaching plan provides a suggested plan to cover content in this Natural Sciences and
Technology course. This can be used as a starting point for your own individual planning. This Natural
Sciences and Technology Grade course includes a variety of Skills focus pages. Include these in your
planning whenever you need to support your class in the development of a specific skill.
How formal assessment fits into the Annual teaching plan
In Natural Sciences and Technology, assessment forms part of the teaching and learning process. Informal
assessment should be done throughout the term to break the content into manageable chunks that
learners can deal with. Feedback on informal assessment will also show learners areas in which they need
to have more practice and where they need to consolidate their knowledge. This will help to prepare
learners for Formal Assessment Tasks. Learners must also receive feedback on Formal Assessment
tasks. Teachers are strongly advised against only performing the minimum number of formal
assessments of which the marks must be recorded. This does not give learners the opportunity to learn
from their mistakes and improve their performance.
We have suggested a number of formal assessment tasks as required by the CAPS document. However,
many other activities provided in the Learner’s Book could be used for formal assessment. It is up to each
teacher to select a suitable task most appropriate for their class.
Grade 4 Teaching Plan
Annual teaching plan: Grade 4, Term 1
Week
1
2
3
4
Topics & Units
Content, concepts and skills
Topic 1:
Living and non-living things
Unit 1: Living things
Unit 2: Non-living things
Topic 1 Revision
Structures of plants and animals
Unit 1: Structure of plants
Unit 1: Structure of plants
Unit 2: Structure of animals
Unit 2: Structure of animals
Topic 2 Revision
What plants need to grow
Unit 1: Conditions for growth
Unit 1: Conditions for growth
Practical task: Investigate the growth of plants from seeds and cuttings
Topic 3 Revision
Habitats of animals
Unit 1: Different habitats
Unit 1: Different habitats
Unit 2: Need for a habitat
Unit 2: Need for a habitat
Topic 4 Revision
Structures for animal shelters
Unit 1: Animal shelters can be natural or human-made
Unit 1: Animal shelters can be natural or human-made
Unit 2: Animal shelters are structures
Unit 2: Animal shelters are structures
Topic 5 Revision
Term 1 Test
Topic 1:
Topic 2
Topic 2
Topic 2
5
Topic 3
Topic 3
6
7
Topic 4
Topic 4
Topic 4
8
9
10
Topic 5
Topic 5
Topic 5
Time allocation
(hours)
3.5
3
0.5
3.5
0.5
3
1.25
0.5
1.75
0.25
1
0.5
1.75
1.75
1.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
1.25
2.25
2
0.5
1
Annual teaching plan: Grade 4, Term 2
Week
11
12
13
Topics & Units
Content, concepts and skills
Topic 6:
Materials around us
Unit 1: Solids, liquids and gases
Unit 1: Solids, liquids and gases
Unit 2: Change of state
Unit 2: Change of state
Investigate melting and solidifying
Unit 3: The water cycle
Unit 3: The water cycle
Topic 6 Revision
Solid materials
Unit 1: Raw and manufactured materials
Unit 1: Raw and manufactured materials
Unit 2: Properties of materials
Unit 2: Properties of materials
Topic 7 Revision
Strengthening materials
Unit 1: Ways to strengthen materials
Unit 1: Ways to strengthen materials
Unit 1: Ways to strengthen materials
Topic 8 Revision
Strong frame structures
Unit 1: Struts and frame structures
Unit 1: Struts and frame structures
Unit 2: Indigenous structures
Unit 2: Indigenous structures
Topic 9 Revision
TERM 2 Exam
Topic 6:
Topic 6
Topic 6
14
15
Topic 7
Topic 7
Topic 7
16
17
18
19
20
2
Topic 8
Topic 8
Topic 8
Topic 9
Topic 9
Topic 9
Time allocation
(hours)
3.5
0.75
2.75
1.75
1
0.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
1.75
1.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
3.5
1.25
0.5
1.75
1.25
2.25
1.25
0.5
1
Annual teaching plan: Grade 4, Term 3
Week
21
22
Topics & Units
Content, concepts and skills
Topic 10:
Energy and energy transfer
Unit 1: Energy for life
Unit 1: Energy for life
Unit 2: Energy from the Sun
Unit 2: energy from the Sun
Topic 10 Revision
Energy around us
Unit 1: Energy can be stored and transferred
Unit 1: Energy can be stored and transferred
Unit 2: Input and output of energy
Unit 2: Input and output of energy
Topic 11 Revision
Movement and energy in a system
Unit 1: Movement and musical instruments
Unit 1: Movement and musical instruments
Practical task: Research, design, make and evaluate a musical instrument
Practical task: Research, design, make and evaluate a musical instrument
Topic 12 Revision
Energy and sound
Unit 1: Vibrations and sound
Unit 1: Vibrations and sound
Unit 2: Making sounds
Unit 3: Noise pollution
Topic 13 Revision
Term 3 Test
Topic 10:
Topic 10
23
24
25
26
27
Topic 11:
Topic 11
Topic 11
Topic 12
Topic 12
Topic 12
28
29
30
Topic 13
Topic 13
Topic 13
Time allocation
(hours)
3.5
1
2.5
1.25
0.5
1.75
2.75
0.75
3
0.5
3.5
2.5
1
1.25
0.5
1.75
1.25
2.25
2
0.5
1
Annual teaching plan: Grade 4, Term 4
Week
31
32
33
34
35
Topics & Units
Content, concepts and skills
Topic 14
Planet Earth
Unit 1: Features of Earth
Unit 1: Features of Earth
Unit 2: Earth and space
Topic 14 Revision
The Sun and its effect on Earth
Unit 1: The Sun is our closest star
Unit 2: Moving around the Sun
Unit 3: The Sun and life
Topic 15 Revision
The Moon
Unit 1: Features of the Moon
Unit 2: Phases of the Moon
Unit 2: Phases of the Moon
Practical task: Investigate the changing shape of light on the Moon
Unit 3: Moon stories
Topic 16 Revision
Rocket systems
Unit 1: Modelling a rocket
Unit 1: Modelling a rocket
Topic 17 Revision
Revision and
Term 4 EXAM
Topic 14
Topic 15
Topic 15
Topic 16
Topic 16
36
37
38
39 - 40
3
Topic 17
Topic 17
Time allocation
(hours)
3.5
0.5
2.5
0.5
3.5
1.5
1.5
0.5
2.5
1
1.5
0.5
1
0.5
3.5
3
0.5
7
Grade 5 Teaching Plan
Annual teaching plan: Grade 5, Term 1
Week
1
2
Topics & Units
Content, concepts and skills
Topic 1
Plants and Animals on Earth
Unit 1: Many different plants and animals
Unit 2: Interdependence
Unit 3: Animal Types
Unit 3: Animal types
Topic 1 Revision
Animal skeletons
Unit 1: Skeletons of vertebrates
Unit 1: Skeletons of vertebrates
Unit 2: Movement
Topic 2 Revision
Skeletons as structures
Unit 1: Frame and shell structures
Unit 1: Frame and shell structures
Practical task: Make a model of a vertebrate skeleton
Practical task: Make a model of a vertebrate skeleton
Topic 3 Revision
Food Chains
Unit 1: Food and feeding
Unit 2: How a food chain works
Topic 4 Revision
Life cycles
Unit 1: Growth and development
Unit 1: Growth and development
Topic 5 Revision
Term 1 TEST
Topic 1
Topic 1
3
4
5
6
Topic 2
Topic 2
Topic 3
Topic 3
Topic 3
7
8
9
10
Topic 4
Topic 4
Topic 5
Topic 5
Time allocation
(hours)
3.5
3
0.5
1.25
0.5
1.75
0.75
2.25
0.5
3.5
3
0.5
1.25
0.5
1.75
3
0.5
3.5
2
0.5
1
Annual teaching plan: Grade 5, Term 2
Week
11
Topics & Units
Content. concepts and skills
Topic 6
Metals and non-metals
Unit 1: Properties of metals
Unit 2: Properties of non-metals
Practical task: Investigate, compare, record properties metals and nonmetals
Topic 6 Revision
Uses of metals
Unit 1: Other properties of metals
Unit 1: Uses of Metals
Topic 6
12
13
14
Topic 7
Topic 7
Topic 7
15
16
17
18
19
Topic 8
Topic 8
Topic 8
Topic 8
Topic 9
Topic 9
20
4
Time allocation
(hours)
3.5
2
1
0.5
3.5
3.5
Unit 2: Uses of metals
Topic 7 Revision
Processing materials
Unit 1: Combining materials
Unit 1: Combining materials
Unit 1: Combining materials
1.25
0.5
Unit 1: Combining materials
Revision Topic 8
Processed materials
Unit 1: Properties and uses of materials
Unit 2: Traditional processing
Revision Topic 9
3
0.5
Term 2 Exam
1
1.75
3.5
3.5
3.5
2
0.5
Annual teaching plan: Grade 5, Term 3
Week
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Topics & Units
Content. concepts and skills
Topic 10
Stored energy in fuels
Unit 1: Fuels
Unit 2: Burning fuels
Unit 2: Burning fuels
Practical task: Investigate how long a candle will burn
Unit 3: Safety with fire
Topic 10 Revision
Energy and electricity
Unit 1: Cells and batteries
Unit 2: Mains electricity
Topic 10
Topic 10
Topic 11
Topic 11
Topic 11
Topic 12
Topic 13
Topic 13
Topic 13
30
Time allocation
(hours)
3
0.5
2.5
1
3
0.5
3.5
3.5
Unit 3: Safety with electricity
Topic 11 Revision
Energy and movement
Unit 1: Stored energy
Topic 12 Revision
Systems for moving things
Unit 1: Wheels and axles
Unit 1: Wheels and axles
Unit 1: Wheels and axles
Topic 13 Revision
3
0.5
Term 3 TEST
1
3
0.5
3.5
3.5
2
0.5
Annual teaching plan: Grade 5, Term 4
Week
31
32
33
Topics & Units
Content. concepts and skills
Topic 14
Planet Earth
Unit 1: The Earth moves
Topic 14 Revision
The Surface of Earth
Unit 1: Rocks
Unit 2: Soil comes from rocks
Unit 2: Soil comes from rocks
Unit 3: Soil types
Unit 3: Soil types
Practical task: Investigate different soil types and growing seedlings in
them
Topic 15 Revision
Sedimentary rocks
Unit 1: Formation of sedimentary rock
Unit 1: Formation of sedimentary rock
Unit 2: Uses of sedimentary rock
Unit 2: Uses of sedimentary rock
Topic 16 Revision
Fossils
Unit 1: Fossils in rock
Unit 1: Fossils in rock
Unit 2: Body and trace fossils
Unit 2: Body and trace fossils
Unit 3: Importance of South African fossils
Topic 17 Revision
Revision and
Term 4 EXAM
Topic 15
Topic 15
Topic 15
34
Topic 16
35
Topic 16
Topic 16
36
37
38
39 - 40
5
Topic 17
Topic 17
Topic 17
Time allocation
(hours)
3
0.5
3
0.5
2.5
1
0.25
1
0.5
1.75
1.75
1.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
1.5
2
0.5
2.5
0.5
7
Grade 6 Teaching Plan
Annual teaching plan: Grade 6, Term 1
Week
1
2
Topics & Units
Content, concepts and skills
Topic 1
Photosynthesis
Unit 1: Plants and food
Unit 1: Plants and food
Unit 2: Plants and air
Unit 2: Plants and air
Topic 1 Revision
Nutrients in food and nutrition
Unit 1:Food groups
Unit 1:Food groups
Topic 1
Topic 1
3
Topic 2
4
Topic 2
5
Topic 2
Topic 2
6
7
8
9
Topic 3
Topic 3
Topic 3
Topic 4
Topic 4
10
Unit 2: Balanced diets
Unit 2: Balanced diets
Topic 2 Revision
Food processing
Unit 1: Need for processing food
Unit 1: Need for processing food
Unit 2: Methods for processing food
Unit 2: Methods for processing food
Topic 3 Revision
Ecosystems and food webs
Unit 1: Different ecosystems
Unit 2: Living and non-living things in ecosystems
Unit 3: Food webs
Practical task: Study an ecosystem
Topic 4: Revision
Term 1 TEST
Time allocation
(hours)
3.5
0.75
2.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
3.5
3.5
1.25
0.5
1.75
3
0.5
3
0.5
3
0.5
1
1
0.5
1
Annual teaching plan: Grade 6, Term 2
Week
11
Topics & Units
Content, concepts and skills
Topic 5
Solids, liquids and gases
Unit 1: Arrangement of particles
Topic 5 Revision
Mixtures
Unit 1: Mixtures of materials
Unit 1: Mixtures of materials
Topic 6 Revision
Solutions as special mixtures and dissolving
Unit 1:Solutions
Unit 2: Soluble and insoluble substances
Unit 3: Saturated solutions
Topic 6
Topic 6
12
13
14
Topic 7
Topic 7
Topic 7
Topic 7
15
16
17
Topic 8
Topic 8
Topic 8
18
19
Topic 9
Topic 9
Topic 9
20
6
Time allocation
(hours)
1.25
0.5
1.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
3.5
3.5
Unit 4: Rate of dissolving
Practical task: Investigate, measure and draw graphs of rate of
dissolving
Topic 7 Revision
Mixtures and water resources
Unit 1: Water pollution
Unit 1: Water pollution
Unit 2: Importance of wetlands
Unit 2: Importance of wetlands
Topic 8 Revision
Processes to purify water
Unit 1: Clean water
Unit 1: Clean water
1.75
1.25
0.5
Unit 1: Clean water
Topic 9: Revision
2
0.5
Term 2 EXAM
1
3.5
0.75
2.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
3.5
Annual teaching plan: Grade 6, Term 3
Week
21
22
Topics & Units
Content, concepts and skills
Topic 10
Electric circuits
Unit 1: Electric circuits
Unit 1: Electric circuits
Unit 2: Circuit diagrams
Unit 2: Circuit diagrams
Topic 10 Revision
Electrical conductors and insulators
Unit 1: Conductors
Unit 1: Conductors
Unit 2: Insulators
Unit 2: Insulators
Topic 11 Revision
Systems to solve problems
Unit 1: Using electric circuits
Unit 1: Using electric circuits
Practical task: Design, make, evaluate and present an electrical system
Topic 12 Revision
Mains electricity
Unit 1: Fossil fuels and energy
Unit 1: Fossil fuels and electricity
Unit 2: Cost of electricity
Unit 2: Cost of electricity
Unit 3: Illegal connections
Unit 3: Illegal connections
Unit 4: Renewable ways to generate electricity
Topic 13 Revision
Topic 10
Topic 10
23
24
Topic 11
Topic 11
Topic 11
25
26
27
28
29
Topic 12
Topic 12
Topic 12
Topic 13
Topic 13
Topic 13
Topic 13
30
Term 3 TEST
Time allocation
(hours)
3.5
0.75
2.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
1.75
1.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
3.5
2.5
0.5
0.5
3
0.5
2.5
1
0.5
1.5
0.5
1
Annual teaching plan: Grade 6, Term 4
Week
31
32
33
34
Topics & Units
Content, concepts and skills
Topic 14
The solar system
Unit 1: The Sun, planets and asteroids
Unit 2: Moons
Practical task: Research and make a model of the solar system
Topic 14 Revision
Movements of Earth, the planets and the Moon
Unit 1: Rotation of Earth
Unit 2: Revolution of Earth
Unit 3: Rotation of the Moon
Unit 4: Revolution of the Moon
Topic 15 Revision
Systems for looking into space
Unit 1: Telescopes
Unit 1: Telescopes
Topic 16 Revision
Systems to explore the Moon and Mars
Unit 1: Rovers on the Moon and Mars
Unit 2: Rovers on the Moon and Mars
Unit 2: Rovers on the Moon and Mars
Topic 17 Revision
Revision and
Term 4 EXAM
Topic 14
Topic 14
Topic 15
Topic 15
Topic 15
35
Topic 16
Topic 16
36
37
38
39 - 40
7
Topic 17
Topic 17
Topic 17
Time allocation
(hours)
3.5
3.5
1.25
0.5
1.75
1.75
1.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
1.25
0.5
1.75
3.5
3
0.5
7
Programme of Formal Assessment Grade 4 – 6
Formal Programme of Assessment in Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4
Formal Assessments
School-based
assessments
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
1 Test
[15 marks]
See pg 53 of
Learner’s Book
1 Exam or test
on work from
terms 1 and 2
[40 marks]
See pg 107 of
Learner’s Book
Test
[15 marks]
See pg 151 of
Learner’s Book
1 selected
practical task
[10 marks]
See pg 28 of
Learner’s Book
1 selected
practical task
[10 marks]
See pg 62 of
Learner’s Book
1 selected
practical task
[15 marks]
See pg 134 of
Learner’s Book
Exams (60 minutes)
Number of formal
assessments
2
2
2
Term 4
Total marks
for the year
Total
1 selected practical
task
[15 marks]
See pg 182 of
Learner’s Book
120 marks
Together
makes up 75%
of total marks
for the year
Exam on work from
terms 3 & 4
[40 marks]
See pg 195 of
Learner’s Book
2
40 marks
Makes up 25%
of total marks
for the year
Total 8
assessments
[160 marks]
Formal Programme of Assessment in Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5
Formal Assessments
School-based
assessments
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
1 Test
[15 marks]
See pg 59 of
Learner’s Book
1 Exam or test
on work from
terms 1 and 2
[45 marks]
See pg 109 of
Learner’s Book
Test
[15 marks]
See pg 159 of
Learner’s Book
1 selected
practical task
[15 marks]
See pg 34 of
Learner’s Book
1 selected
practical task
[15 marks]
See pg 70 of
Learner’s Book
1 selected
practical task
[15 marks]
See pg 120 of
Learner’s Book
Exams (60 minutes)
Number of formal
assessments
2
2
2
Term 4
Total marks
for the year
Total
1 selected practical
task
[15 marks]
See pg 184 of
Learner’s Book
135 marks
Together
makes up 75%
of total marks
for the year
Exam on work from
terms 3 & 4
[45 marks]
See pg 211 of
Learner’s Book
2
45 marks
Makes up 25%
of total marks
for the year
Total 8
assessments
[180 marks]
Formal Programme of Assessment in Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6
Formal Assessments
School-based
assessments
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
1 Test
[20 marks]
See pg 53 of
Learner’s Book
1 Exam or test
on work from
terms 1 and 2
[50 marks]
See pg 111 of
Learner’s Book
Test
[20 marks]
See pg 165 of
Learner’s Book
1 selected
practical task
[15 marks]
See pg 50 of
Learner’s Book
1 selected
practical task
[15 marks]
See pg 86 of
Learner’s Book
1 selected
practical task
[15 marks]
See pg 142 of
Learner’s Book
Exams (60 minutes)
Number of formal
assessments
8
2
2
2
Term 4
Total marks
for the year
Total
1 selected practical
task
[15 marks]
See pg 179 of
Learner’s Book
150 marks
Together
makes up 75%
of total marks
for the year
Exam on work from
terms 3 & 4
[50 marks]
See pg 218 of
Learner’s Book
2
50 marks
Makes up 25%
of total marks
for the year
Total 8
assessments
[200 marks]
Total: 100%