Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Teeth and Digestion Journey: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Teeth and Digestion Journey is a free printable science worksheet for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children put the food journey in order, from the first bite through the parts of the digestive system. Each stop has a short job description, so children read, think and number. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet the parts of the digestive system as short job descriptions, such as the part that mixes food and breaks it down, and the part where teeth chew the food. Their task is to put the stops of the food journey in order and number them. They have to read each job carefully and think about what the body does first, next and last. The sheet also introduces the three types of teeth and the jobs they do.
- Large intestine: takes water from what is left
- Stomach: mixes food and breaks it down
- Mouth: teeth chew the food
- Small intestine: nutrients go into the body
- Oesophagus: a tube that takes food down
Why learn about teeth and digestion?
In Key Stage 2 science, children learn how the human body works as part of the strand Animals, including humans. Year 4 is the point where they look closely at the digestive system and at teeth. They describe the simple jobs of the main parts and name the different types of teeth. It is a topic with an obvious link to everyday life, because every child eats several times a day.
Putting a journey in order is a good way to learn this topic. Children cannot just recall a list. They have to think about what each part does and why it comes where it does. The sheet also links to healthy habits, such as chewing food well, brushing teeth and looking after them, which gives the science a practical purpose.
Did you know?
- Children usually have 20 baby teeth, and adults usually have 32 teeth.
- The outer layer of a tooth is called enamel. It is the hardest material in the human body.
- Saliva is the liquid in your mouth. It makes food easier to swallow and starts to break it down.
- Dentists and the NHS advise brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- The small intestine is much longer than the large intestine. It is called small because it is narrower.
Skills and curriculum link
- Ordering
- Science vocabulary
- Healthy habits
- Describing functions
- Explaining ideas
Ideas to help you talk about it
- Tell it as a storyFood is a traveller on a long trip through the body. Each stop has a job to do. Ask your child what the traveller needs at each stop.
- Link to your own bodyAsk your child to put a hand on their tummy and say where they think food goes after it is swallowed. Check their guess against the sheet.
- Use the job wordsEach stop has a short job description. Ask your child to say the job in their own words before they number it.
- Look at teethUse a mirror to look at different shapes of teeth in your mouths. Talk about why not all teeth look the same.
Key words
- DigestionBreaking food down so the body can use it.
- Digestive systemThe parts of the body that work together to digest food.
- NutrientsThe useful parts of food that the body needs to grow and stay healthy.
- FunctionThe job that something does.
- EnamelThe hard outer layer of a tooth.
- OesophagusA tube that takes food down.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read each part aloud. Ask your child to guess the order, then number it.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice and ask why they chose it.
- Check against the notes and answers on page 2. Ask your child to explain any part they moved.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Trace the journey on a drawing of the body. Draw a simple outline, then follow the food with a finger or a pencil line. Read one job description at a time and ask, "Where in the body might this happen?" Number the easy ones first.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to explain why chewing matters. They can draw or write a short explanation for a younger child, using at least three science words from the sheet. Then ask what might happen if food were swallowed in big pieces.
Make it a game
Play act the journey. One person is the food and each part is a stop. Stops can be chairs or cushions, each with a job card. Move the food along in order and say what each stop does. Swap roles.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child numbers the parts in the order they appear on the page.
Try thisCover the list and read each job aloud one at a time. Ask, "Where would this happen in the body?" before numbering.
Watch forA child mixes up what the stomach and the small intestine do.
Try thisCompare the two job descriptions side by side. Underline the key word in each, then say the job again in your own words.
Watch forA child thinks food simply disappears inside the body.
Try thisTrace the journey on a body outline. Ask what happens to the food and what the body takes from it at each stop.
Talk about it
- Which part of the journey do you think is the most important? Why?
- Why do you think we have teeth of different shapes?
- What do you think would happen if we did not chew our food?
- How do you think our body uses the food we eat?
- What can we do each day to look after our teeth?
- Which new science word will you remember, and what does it mean?
Take it off the page
Body outline
Draw round a child on a big sheet of paper. Add the parts of the digestive system in the right places and label each with its job.
Mirror check
Use a mirror to look at your teeth. Draw what you see, and talk about how the teeth are not all the same shape.
Tooth care chart
Make a chart for the week with a tick box for brushing in the morning and at night. Talk about why this habit matters.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Ask them to explain their thinking out loud. Praise effort and careful reading, not only the right answer. Keep page 2 until they have finished.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It fits the Year 4 Animals, including humans strand, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider science plan. It pairs well with books about the body, a drawing of the digestive system and everyday talk about food. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this, children learn that animals, including humans, need the right types and amounts of nutrition, and that they get it from what they eat. They also learn about healthy eating. This sheet builds on that by asking where food goes and what each part of the body does with it.
After this, children can study food chains in Year 4 and move on to more detail about the human body in later years. Being able to describe simple jobs of body parts, and to explain a sequence, is a skill they use across science.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Teeth and Digestion Journey for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Children who are a little younger or older can also use it with support, or with the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system and learn the jobs of the three types of teeth. They practise ordering, science vocabulary and thinking about healthy habits.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages. Read each part aloud and ask your child to guess the order, then number it. Work through it together the first time, then check against the answers on page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Trace the journey on a drawing of the body. Follow the food with a finger and read one job description at a time. Number the easy parts first and come back to the harder ones.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a screen free printable that needs only paper and a pencil. It works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Colour is not needed for any part of the activity, though children can add their own colours to drawings if they like.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.