Science
4th Grade Science Standard 1.1 4.Physical Science.1.1 Energy comes in many forms such as light, heat, sound, magnetic,
chemical, and electrical.
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills
and Readiness Competencies:
How do we know that energy exists
within a system such as in an electrical
circuit?
How can heat be transferred from one
object to another?
How is an electrical circuit formed?
What are some renewable and non-
renewable energy sources and how can
they be researched?
Which energy is the most useable and
most effective?
Evidence Outcomes:
Identify and describe the variety of
energy sources.
Show that electricity in circuits
requires a complete loop through
which current can pass.
Describe the energy transformation
that takes place in electrical circuits
where light, heat, sound, and magnetic
effects are produced.
Use multiple resources including print,
electronic, and human to locate
information about different sources of
renewable and non-renewable energy.
Academic Vocabulary:
chemical
electrical circuit
electricity
energy
form
heat
light
magnetic
non-renewable
renewable
resistance
sound
source
system
transformation
Assessment:
1. Grade questions the solar and wind
energy activities.
2. Use the assessment ideas included in
the lesson plan.
3. Ideas for assessment are included in
the lesson plan.
4. Instruct students to write a paragraph
describing what happened in this
activity. If the activity was completed
correctly, a tingling sensation should
have been felt.
5. Use the assessment embedded in the
lesson to create pie chart.
6. Use one of the suggested discussion
questions as the assessment for this
lesson.
7. Use the assessment embedded in the
lesson plan.
8. Examine the completed energy usage
surveys.
9. Assess the at-home activity for
completeness.
10. Grade the quiz embedded in the video.
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 64
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 1.1 11. Assess that the students have correctly
drawn and labeled the parts of a simple
circuit.
12. Give this quiz over renewable and
nonrenewable resources. It can be
taken online or printed.
13. Determine that students have
demonstrated a successful circuit.
14. Review paragraphs about what
students feel they have learned from
the experiment.
15. Print the worksheet for students to
complete while moving through this
site. Grade the completed worksheets.
5. Discovering Sources of Electricity
7. The Sun's Energy Lesson Plan
8. How Much Energy Lesson
9. Wasting Energy Lesson
Suggested Activities/Strategies:
1. Follow this lesson plan to teach solar
and wind energy and have students
complete the activities.
2. Conduct the Solar Bag activity.
3. Follow this lesson plan to make a
radiometer.
4. Use these instructions to teach students
how to make a battery. This activity
simulates a simple circuit.
5. Use this activity for discovering
sources of electricity.
6. Watch this video about energy sources.
7. Use The Sun’s Energy activity to learn
about the importance of the sun’s
energy.
8. Complete the How Much Energy Do
You Use? activity. Students complete
energy calculations and discuss ways
to conserve energy.
9. Complete the Wasting Energy at Home
activity.
Resources/Technology:
Solar Oven Instructions
PowerPoints and Lesson Activities
Electricity Games
Science Activities
Fossil Fuels Quiz
StudyJams Science Videos
Pete's PowerPoints
Energy Lesson Plans and Activities
Physical Science Vocabulary
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 65
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 1.1 10. Watch this interactive video clip about
electrical circuits.
11. Use this interactive site to allow
students to create a virtual electrical
circuit. Click on Circuit Construction
Kit (AC+DC).
12. Play this matching game about
renewable and nonrenewable
resources. The game can be played
online or printed.
13. Conduct this experiment in which
students make a battery using a lemon
or potato.
14. Watch this video of an experiment in
which water in a balloon keeps the
balloon from popping over a flame,
demonstrating that water is a good
conductor of heat. The teacher can
show the video or demonstrate the
experiment in person.
15. Use this interactive site in which
students learn about circuits. It can be
completed individually, in small
groups, or a whole group.
1. Solar and Wind Energy
2. Solar Bag Experiment
3. Radiometer Lesson Plan
5. Discovering Sources of Electricity
7. Sun's Energy Lesson
8. How Much Energy Lesson
9. Wasting Energy Activity
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 66
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 2.1 4.Life Science.2.1 All living things share similar characteristics, but they also have
differences that can be described and classified.
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills
and Readiness Competencies:
How have classification systems
changed over time?
How are individuals in a related
species similar and different?
What do animals and plants need to
survive?
How do you analyze variations in a
trait?
Evidence Outcomes:
Use evidence to develop a scientific
explanation of what plants and animals
need to survive.
Use evidence to develop a scientific
explanation for similarities and/or
differences among different organisms
(species.)
Analyze and interpret data representing
variation in a trait.
Examine, evaluate, question, and
ethically use information from a
variety of sources and media to
investigate questions about
characteristics of living things.
Academic Vocabulary:
adaptation
classification
ethics
evaluate
evidence
examine
organism
question
trait
variation
Assessment:
1. Assess completed projects.
2. Students should identify (verbally or in
writing) the parts of the flower on their
hammered flower prints.
3. Have the students write a paragraph
explaining what happened in the celery
experiment.
4. Assess correctness of insect body
drawings and labels.
5. Read and evaluate summaries of what
was learned from watching the video.
6. Create a customized rubric for
assessing reports.
7. Grade quiz at the conclusion of the
video.
8. Have students answer a "ticket out the
door" such as, "What are the four basic
survival needs of all animals?"
9. Grade the quiz following the video.
10. Use the assessment plan included with
the lesson.
11. Use the assessment plan included in
the lesson.
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 67
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 2.1 Suggested Activities/Strategies:
1. Complete the 4th grade Life Science
Activities on the Delicious
Classification: Vertebrates and
Invertebrates link.
2. Complete the 4th grade Hammered
Flower Prints activity which
incorporates art and classification.
3. Conduct this celery experiment to
show how plants transport water from
the roots to the leaves.
4. Watch these videos to teach the parts
of an insect and how insects use
camouflage to survive.
5. View this step-by-step video
demonstration to teach how vascular
plants obtain nutrients to survive.
6. Research and write a report about an
endangered animal. This site can be
used as a resource.
7. Watch and discuss this video about
classifying animals.
8. Watch this video and follow the lesson
plan on what animals need to survive.
9. Watch and discuss this video about
plant adaptations.
10. Use this lesson to teach how trait
variations help animals to survive.
Differentiation ideas are included.
11. Follow this lesson to teach about
specialized structures and variation.
The plan includes ideas for
differentiation.
Resources/Technology:
Hands-on Science Activities
Animal Classification Game
Endangered Animals PowerPoints and
Activities
Endangered Animals
Endangered Animals Games and Activities
Lessons about Variations in Traits
StudyJams Science Videos
Pete's PowerPoints
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 68
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 2.2 4.Life Science.2.2 Comparing fossils to each other or to living organisms reveals features of
prehistoric environments and provides information about organisms today.
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills
and Readiness Competencies:
What are some things fossils cannot
tell?
What conditions would most likely
lead to something becoming a fossil?
How is evidence about the prehistoric
environment gained?
How can conclusions about fossils be
proven or supported?
Evidence Outcomes:
Seek evidence to develop a scientific
explanation for what fossils reveal
about a prehistoric environment.
Seek evidence to develop a scientific
explanation for what conclusions can
be drawn from similarities between
fossil evidence and living organisms.
Analyze and interpret data to generate
evidence about the prehistoric
environment.
Evaluate whether reasoning and
conclusions about given fossils are
supported by evidence.
Use computer simulations that model
and recreate past environments for
study and entertainment.
Academic Vocabulary:
analyze
characteristic
environment
evaluate
extinct
fossil
interpret
investigate
living
living organism
non-living
prehistoric
study
Assessment:
1. Grade the fossil quiz.
2. Review student summaries of the steps
they followed while conducting the
virtual dinosaur dig.
3. For assessment, have students write
either an informational paragraph
describing the steps to make a fossil or
a descriptive paragraph about their
fossil.
4. Students complete and turn in the
attached worksheet. There is also a
rubric to assess the group's work.
5. Grade the discussion questions
included on this site.
4. Webquest Rubric
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 69
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 2.2 Suggested Activities/Strategies:
1. Use these interactive videos and games
on prehistoric eras and fossils to create
a virtual experience for students.
2. Complete a virtual dinosaur dig.
3. Complete the Make Your Own Fossils
activity.
4. Complete this Webquest activity to
discover what fossils can tell us. This
is a group activity in which each group
member is assigned a different job/task
to complete. Use the attached answer
sheets for each group member.
5. Watch this short video about
dinosaurs, theories about how they
lived, and why they died.
4. Webquest - Geologist
4. Webquest - Archeologist
4. Webquest - Paleontologist
Resources/Technology:
Examples of Fossils
Differentiated Literature
Identifying Fossils Game
Digging up Dinosaurs
Prehistoric Animals
Pictures of Fossils
StudyJams Science Videos
Pete's PowerPoints
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 70
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 2.3 4.Life Science.2.3 There is interaction and interdependence between and among living and
nonliving components of ecosystems.
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills
and Readiness Competencies:
How are resources shared among
organisms in a specific ecosystem or
habitat?
How do non-living components of an
ecosystem influence living
components?
What would happen if the sun’s energy
no longer reached Earth?
What would happen if water were
removed from an ecosystem?
Evidence Outcomes:
Use evidence to develop a scientific
explanation for how organisms adapt
to their habitat.
Identify the components that make a
habitat type unique.
Compare and contrast different habitat
types.
Create and evaluate models of the flow
of non-living components or resources
through an ecosystem.
Make a plan to positively impact a
local ecosystem.
Examine, evaluate, question, and
ethically use information from a
variety of sources and media to
investigate endangered habitats.
Academic Vocabulary:
adaptation
ecosystem
erosion
interaction
interdependence
reproduce
survival
Assessment:
1. Have students write a paragraph of at
least five sentences summarizing what
was learned in this activity.
2. Use the evaluation included in the
lesson plans for Water Off a Duck’s
Back.
3. Use the evaluation suggestions
included in the lesson plans.
4. Use a "ticket out the door" where
students write two non-living factors
and how they affect the environment.
5. Have students draw and label one of
the food webs. Assess for correctness
and completeness.
6. For assessment, have students make a
mural of one of the ecosystems where
they label the different living and non-
living parts of the ecosystem.
7. Grade the completed activity sheets.
8. Grade answers to the questions on this
site on paper or with student response
systems.
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 71
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 2.3 9. Grade the quiz at the conclusion of the
activity.
10. Record performance on the embedded
quiz in this activity.
11. For assessment, have students compare
and contrast two of the biomes
presented, using a Venn Diagram to
plan, then write a compare/contrast
paragraph.
12. Evaluate completed projects using a
customized from this site.
13. Students will write a descriptive piece
on each of the biomes (habitats) of the
world and how one animal and one
plant adapt to that specific place.
Review for correctness and
completeness.
14. Combined with assessment in #13.
15. Grade answers to questions from each
station.
16. Use the "test yourself" questions as
assessment at the end of the
StudyJams videos.
17. Collect cards and grade according
to the rubric.
18. Assess with a "ticket out the door"
such as, "Describe how the plant
adapts to the light source."
19. Assess by checking answers to this
think/pair/share: Name one fruit seed
and one adaptation it has made to its
environment in order to survive.
15. Adaptation Activities
17. Rubric for Animal Adaptation Cards
Suggested Activities/Strategies:
1. Use this activity for students to build
their own food webs and/or
caterpillars.
2. Complete the Water Off a Duck’s
Back activity to demonstrate the
negative effects of oil on birds and
eggs.
Resources/Technology:
PowerPoint Presentations about Habitats
Interactive Game on Food Chains
Animal Adaptation Games
Reintroduction of the Panda
Adaptations Articles
Article on Emperor Penguin Habitat
Adaptation
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 72
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 2.3 3. Use the many lesson plans, games and
PowerPoints on this website to teach
about the environment and pollution.
4. Use this interactive site to teach how
non-living factors affect an ecosystem.
5. Use this interactive site to show how
organisms affect different food webs.
6. Research the three ecosystems
presented on this site to see how
organisms survive in different
environments. Students could work
individually or in small groups.
7. Complete this activity about food
chains and food webs.
8. Use this site to teach and/or review
food chains.
9. Use this interactive site to teach about
pond habitats.
10. Watch Interdependence and
Adaptation, an interactive video which
includes classification by attributes and
differences, as well as a food web
exercise.
11. Use this site to teach different biomes.
12. Create a model of an ecosystem using
the ideas in this unit.
13. Use this site to teach how plants adapt
in different environments.
14. Use this site to teach about various
animals and how they have adapted to
their habitat in the desert, grasslands,
and Arctic. The link also includes more
habitats.
15. Use these short interactive activities to
show students different animal
adaptations. These activities would be
effective to use in centers or stations.
16. Watch this video rap song about a
camel's adaptations and use it to teach
about the adaptations of coconut trees.
Also view and discuss these videos
about animal adaptations and plant
adaptations.
17. Complete the plant and animal
research activity. See attachment for
specific directions.
How Sharks Adapt
Interactive Adaptations Quiz
Galapagos Islands Animals and Adaptations
Encyclopedia Britannica Adaptation Article
Free Educational Videos on Adaptations
StudyJams Science Videos
Pete's PowerPoints
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 73
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 2.3 18. Observe Phototropism and/or
Heliotropism. Use this video/website
to teach these processes.
19. Use this site to compare and contrast
different fruit seeds to see how
different plants have adapted to their
environments. On BrainPOP Jr.: Plant
Adaptations Background Information
and Activities, scroll down to find the
Needs for Seeds activity.
1. Behavioral Biology PowerPoint
2. Water Off a Duck's Back
12. Ecosystems Unit
15. Adaptation Activities
17. Directions for Research Activity
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 74
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 3.1 4.Earth Systems.3.1 Earth is part of the solar system, which includes the Sun, Moon, and
other bodies that orbit the Sun in predictable patterns that lead to observable paths of objects
in the sky as seen from Earth.
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills
and Readiness Competencies:
How does Earth compare to other
objects orbiting the sun?
How do we study the solar system?
What are the patterns of movement for
the sun and moon across the sky?
Evidence Outcomes:
Gather, analyze, and interpret data
about components of the solar system.
Utilize direct and indirect evidence to
investigate the components of the solar
system.
Gather, analyze, and interpret data
about the sunrise, sunset, and moon
movements and phases.
Develop a scientific explanation
regarding relationships of the
components of the solar system.
Academic Vocabulary:
axis
comet
earth
force pull/push
full moon
gravity
moon
new moon
orbit
phase
planet
quarter
revolution
season
solar system
space
sunrise
sunset
waning
waxing
Assessment:
1. Students answer a "ticket out the door"
such as, "What causes the phases of the
moon?"
2. Students turn in a list of 5-10 facts they
learned while watching the
presentations.
3. Students answer the "test yourself"
questions at the end of the slideshow.
4. Same as #3 assessment.
5. Students answer the "test yourself"
questions at the end of the video.
Complete and turn in this "Planet
Riddles" worksheet as additional
assessment.
6. Use the evaluations suggested within
the lesson plans.
7. Use the evaluation checklist included
in the Webquest.
8. Assess answers to a think/pair/share
such as, "Why does the moon change
phases?"
9. Have each student write one fact about
each part of the solar system for
assessment.
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 75
Science
4th Grade Science Standard 3.1 10. Assess students with the quiz at the
conclusion of the video.
5. Planet Riddles
Suggested Activities/Strategies:
1. Watch one or more of these
PowerPoint presentations about phases
of the moon.
2. Watch and discuss the PowerPoint
presentations about the solar system.
3. Watch this slideshow on our solar
system's outer planets.
4. Watch the slideshow: Our Solar
System: Inner Planets.
5. View and discuss this gravity and
inertia video.
6. Follow these lesson plans about the
solar system.
7. Complete this Webquest about the
solar system.
8. Watch this step-by-step instructional
video on the phases of the moon.
9. Use this interactive site on the solar
system.
10. Use this interactive video to teach
about the sun and moon.
6. Solar System Lesson Plans
Resources/Technology:
PowerPoints, Games, and Lesson Plans about
the Moon
PowerPoints, Activities, and Lessons about the
Inner Planets
Lunar Calendar
Lunar Landforms
NASA
StudyJams Science Videos
Pete's PowerPoints
Copyright © 2013 South Central Board of Cooperative Educational Services and Education Designs. 76