Grade 4 Science Units
Unit 1: Weathering and Erosion
In this unit, students develop understandings of cause and effect, patterns, and the relationships that exist between the Earth’s systems. Students develop an understanding that the Earth is constantly changing in appearance due to the natural forces that exist. The processes of Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition are discussed along with the types of Rocks and the different layers of the Earth.
Standards: 4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-2
Unit 2: Earth Processes
In this unit, students continue their study of the Earth’s processes and how they alter the Earth. Students develop skills in engineering, cause and effect, as well as how to interpret data and use graphs to showcase information. Students learn about the Earth’s different major weather processes such as tornados and earthquakes, they also learn how to read basic graphs (bar graph, pictograph, line graph) and how to make them.
Standards: 4-ESS3-1, 4-ESS2-2, 4-ESS3-2
Unit 3: Transfer of Energy
In this unit, students learn about energy in all of its forms. Students develop an understanding that everything is/has energy, and that it exists in two overarching forms (potential and kinetic). Learning first about the energy of moving or the lack of, students are then introduced to the multiple types (light, sound, thermal, chemical, mechanical, and electrical). Topics such as energy and matter are covered, as well as technology and how energy can change form.
Standards: 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-4, 4-PS4-2
Unit 4: Waves and Information
In this unit, students are introduced to the concept of waves and how energy and information can be transferred with such. Students develop an understanding that light and sound move in waves and how different electronic data can also be sent between devices as waves. Concepts such as engineering, energy, and science in the natural world are discussed.
Standards: 4-PS3-2, 4-PS4-1, 4-PS4-2
Unit 5: Structures and Functions
In this unit, students learn about the different internal and external functions of both the human body and of plants. Learning about systems, students are able to determine how groups of things can work together to perform a certain task. Students are able to comprehend that there are many non-seen, internal devices and processes that perform actions for different everyday things. Students learn about the different body systems, what makes them up, the parts of a plant, photosynthesis, and how to use a graph to showcase information.
Standards: 4-PS4-2, 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2
Unit 6: How Organisms Process Information
In this unit, students learn about the structures that organisms have to help process information. Students develop an understanding of how the basic senses help process information between organisms. The eyes, ears, and throat/mouth are discusses as students learn what makes them up and how we use them.
Standards: 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2
Unit 7: Force and Motion
In this unit, students develop an intellectual link between the speed of an object and it’s energy. Drawing similarities between larger objects needing more force to move them, students then build on energy transfer concepts in the form of energy transfer through collision. Cause and effect is discussed and the engineering design process is built upon.
Standards: 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-3
Unit 8: Using the Engineering Design Process with Force and Motion Systems
In this unit, students are introduced to the Engineering Design Process and how it is utilized to create devices that solve problems. Using their comprehension of energy, internal structures/processes, and their own intuition, students will construct different devices to attempt to solve a problem. Students will build then redesign their device numerous times while developing skills in engineering, cause and effect, energy transfer, and graphing.
Standards: 4-PS3-4, 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3