Science Objectives—Grade 4

• S.4.2.1.4

• S.4.2.1.3

• S.4.2.1.2

• S.4.1.1.1

• S.4.4.1.1

• S.4.4.1.3

• S.4.4.2.3

• S.4.4.3.1

• S.4.1.1.2

• S.4.2.2.1

• S.4.2.3.3

• S.4.6.1.3

• S.4.1.1.3

• S.4.2.1.1

• S.4.3.1.2

• S.4.3.1.1

• S.4.3.2.1

• S.4.1.1.4

• S.4.2.4.1/2

• S.4.2.4.3

• S.4.4.3.2

• S.4.5.1.1

Recognize and describe the difference

between solids, liquids, and gases.

Science ReviewS.4.2.1.4

Describe the differences between solids, liquids,

and gases.(see pages E6-E9)

Solids have a definite shape and take up a definite amount of space.

Liquids take up a definite amount of space but take the shape of their container.

Gases have neither a definite shape nor do they take up a definite amount of space. Gases take up the space of the container they are in, but will

escape from a container when it is opened.

SOLIDS LIQUIDS GASES

Which states of matter take the shape of their

containers?Reminder: Write the answer in a complete sentence, restating the question in the answer.

EXAMPLE: __________ and __________ are the states of matter that take the shape of their containers.

Liquids and gases take the shape of their containers.

A solid has a shape of its own.

How can you change a solid chocolate bar to a

liquid?Reminder: Write the answer in a complete sentence, restating the question in the answer.

EXAMPLE: You can change a solid chocolate bar to a liquid by…

A chocolate bar becomes a liquid when it’s melted. To melt

a solid, heat must be added.

How can you change liquid water to ice?

Reminder: Write the answer in a complete sentence, restating the question in the answer.

EXAMPLE: You can change liquid water to ice by…

When water is frozen, it becomes ice. To freeze a

liquid, the temperature must be decreased.

What are the states of matter pictures in order

from left to right?

Observe and record how one object

interacts with another object.

Science ReviewS.4.2.1.3

Describe the interaction when baking soda is

added to vinegar.

When baking soda is added to vinegar, you should observe

bubbling as a chemical reaction takes place and carbon dioxide

is formed.

What happens when blue food

coloring is dropped and stirred in

water?

When blue food coloring is added and stirred in water, the water becomes blue.

How does salt, a solid, interact with water, a liquid?

When salt is mixed with water, it dissolves. It hasn’t disappeared;

it just looks differently.

What signs are evidence that an interaction has caused a material to

change to a new material?

(see page E28)

Light, energy release, color

change, bubbles, and smoke are all

signs of a chemical change.

Rusting causes the texture and color of a metal to

change. Does that indicate a change to a new material or a change to a different form of the same metal?

(see pages E26-E29)

The color change indicates that a new material has formed.

When oxygen reacts with metal over a period of time, a reaction occurs which

results in the forming of a new compound called oxide.

Describe and classify objects by more than

one property.

Science ReviewS.4.2.1.2

Which of the words below describe the properties of the

pencil you are using now?hard round shiny

soft angular opaque

rough white transparent

smooth black jagged

bumpy yellow spotted

** Think of two additional properties that describe your pencil. **

List as many objects as you can think of that can be described as

BOTH hard and round.

coin, ring, baseball, bowling ball, flagpole, marble, etc.

Which object is the most rough: carpeting, the sidewalk, or sand

paper?

Explain your choice.

Compare an artificial sponge with a natural

sponge. Tell the similarities and

differences.

Ask questions that can be answered by

investigating.

Science ReviewS.4.1.1.1

Which of the following are good examples of questions that can be investigated in science?

Will cold temperatures slow the growth of a plant?

What does a plant do with sunlight?

How does a plant make its food?

Does the amount of water affect the growth of a plant?

Which soil type is best for growing radishes?

Where are most kinds of plants found?

What is your mom’s favorite flower?

The following are good examples of questions that could be investigated in science:

Will cold temperatures slow the growth of a plant?

What does a plant do with sunlight?

How does a plant make its food?

Does the amount of water affect the growth of a plant?

Which soil type is best for growing radishes?

Where are most kinds of plants found?

What is your mom’s favorite flower?

Jill measures one liter of water into each of three containers. The containers have the same capacity, but different shapes. One is short with a wide opening, one is

narrow with a small opening, and the third is in the middle. She places each container in a sunny area and collects

data on how much water has evaporated for several days. What question is Jill

investigating?

Will the size of the opening of a container (the change or independent variable)

change the rate of evaporation of water (measured as a result of the experiment,

dependent variable)?

Does the size of the container affect the rate of evaporation?

Your teacher has provided you with two different brands of

washable markers. What question might you ask to compare the

markers using science?

Which brand lasts longer when coloring on regular copy paper?

Which brand lasts longer when the cap has been left off?

A fourth grader wonders which brand of paper towel

is best. What question might he write that could be

answered scientifically?

Which brand of paper towel will hold the most weight without tearing?

Which brand of paper towel will absorb the most water?

Collect, observe properties, and classify a variety of earth materials.

ANDDescribe properties of many

different kinds of rocks.

Science ReviewS.4.4.1.1 and S.4.4.1.3

A class of fourth graders collected leaves from the

playground. Which properties might be

used to compare and contrast the leaves?

POSSIBLE ANSWERS

color

size

texture

shape

In what ways might a collection of rocks be sorted? What might

some of the categories (properties) be?

POSSIBLE ANSWERS

hardness, color, texture, transparency, shininess,

effect of immersion in water, etc.

Look at the rock you have been given.

Describe its properties including its color,

texture, and shininess.

Which of the following earth materials might be used in

building: marble, oil, leaves, limestone, water, sand, rock?

Marble, limestone, and rock may be used for building, while the other materials

likely would not.

If you were assigned to collect a variety of earth materials to represent your backyard and what makes it unique, what might you bring to school?

Discuss that the sun provides light and heat to maintain the temperature

of the Earth.

Science ReviewS.4.4.2.3

The sun is the main source of energy for

Earth. What are two types of energy our planet

receives from the sun?

Earth receives energy in the form of light and heat

from the sun.

What might the consequences on Earth

be if energy received from the sun suddenly

decreased?

A sudden, dramatic change in the light or heat received

from the sun would affect life by changing weather, water

systems, plant life, etc.

Why does it seem cooler when the sun

goes behind a cloud?

Direct sunlight provides direct heat. When the

direct rays of the sun are blocked, it seems cooler.

Observe the playground during recess. What places receive the most sunlight and which are most shaded? How is the temperature

different in those areas?

Explain how sunburn provides evidence of

the sun’s energy.

A sunburn is a change on our skin that is

caused by the sun’s light and heat energy.

Describe changes in the surface of the earth as a result of erosion.

Science ReviewS.4.4.3.1

Erosion is the movement of earth materials from one place to another by natural forces. What are some

causes of erosion?

Moving water, including rainfall and rivers, and wind can cause

erosion.

Explain how the Grand Canyon was formed by erosion.

Over millions of years, the movement of the Colorado River has carved the land into what we now call the Grand Canyon. As the Rocky Mountains rose, the Colorado River flowed more and more rapidly downhill, cutting deep and beautiful layers.

There is a bare slope at the park. When it rains, the soil washes down

the slope creating a mess in the play area. What could be done to prevent the erosion of the slope?

Digging trenches that run opposite the direction of the slope will help, but in trying to keep a park beautiful, a better choice might be to plant thick grass or other plants in the soil on the slope.

How might the slope of the land and the vegetation

growing on it affect the rate of erosion?

The slope of the land directs significant amounts of water. Vegetation slows

the rate of erosion by holding the soil in place.

Describe ways that erosion can be an

environmental problem.

Changing direction of river flow resulting in floods,

creating unstable ground resulting in sinkholes, etc.

Plan and conduct a simple experiment.

Science ReviewS.4.1.1.2

Jamie wants to test whether or not the temperature of

water will affect the growth of a plant. What materials

will he need?

- at least two of the same type of plants about the same size/age- a graduated cylinder- a thermometer- water- means for heating/cooling water- common sunny place for plants to grow- a ruler

How will Jamie set up his experiment?

Decide on a watering schedule and water each plant with exactly the same amount of water on exactly the same days.

Each group of plants will receive a different temperature of water, and those temperatures will need to remain consistent throughout the experiment.

Periodically, Jamie will need to measure and record the plant’s growth (height, length or width of leaf, length of stem—using the same type of measurement each time)

Plants will need to be kept in a common place and cared

for similarly in every way except temperature of water.

Predict the outcome of

Jamie’s investigation.

What will need to stay the same (constants)

for Jamie’s experiment to be a “fair” test?

type of plant, frequency and amount of water,

placement in the room, etc.

What will Jamie be measuring as he

collects data to test his question?

Jamie will be measuring the plant’s growth, probably

using height, length or width of leaf, or length of stem.

Move objects by pushing, pulling, throwing, spinning, dropping, and rolling, and describe the motion.

ANDObserve that a forces is needed to make objects move or stop moving.

Science ReviewS.4.2.2.1

A recess ball is gently set at the top of the slide on the playground. Describe its

motion if no one touches it and there is no wind.

The ball will not move without any force pushing

on it.

How would you describe the motion of the same

ball if it were given a light push down the slide?

The ball will roll down the slide when pushed gently, likely

getting faster as it goes down. The ball will continue rolling as it

exits the slide.

How would the motion of the same ball be different if a

student were to kick it down the slide rather than

push it gently?

If the ball were kicked, it would also go down the slide, but it may

bounce as it rolls downward. The harder push will cause it to move

faster. The ball will continue rolling as it exits the slide.

What if a bowling ball were placed at the top of the slide instead of a

recess ball? How would it change the force needed to push the ball down? How would it change the

motion of the ball?

The bowling ball would need a greater force to get moving. Once it was

moving, the bowling ball would move down the slide speeding up as it

rolled, just as the recess ball did. It would likely stop rolling abruptly once

it exited the slide, however, as it would be harder for an object with

such mass to change direction without an additional force.

If you were to roll two pencils across your

desk, one with eight flat sides and one round,

how would the motion of the two pencils differ?

The octagonal pencil would likely roll slower and stop sooner. The round pencil

would roll more freely, perhaps faster, and may

roll right off the desk.

How would rolling a baseball across a carpeted floor differ

from rolling the same baseball across a wood floor?

The ball would roll more slowly and stop sooner on the carpeted floor. On the wood floor, the ball would roll more freely, perhaps faster and would not stop until it

hit another object.

Identify that the source of sound is vibrations.

Science ReviewS.4.2.3.3

What is sound?(see pages E70-E75)

Sound is vibrations you can hear.

How does sound travel from where it is made

to our ears?

Vibrations cause sound waves,

and these waves travel through the

air or other matter to our

ears.

A student observes a table with a full glass of water on it as it is being hit with a hammer. What

did she observe?

The student will feel the table vibrate as she hears the loud

bang. She will also likely see the water in the glass ripple or

possibly spill a little from the vibration of the table.

When you stretch and pluck a wide rubber band, it makes a

different sound than a skinny one. How do the vibrations differ? How

does the sound differ?(see pages E78-E81)

The thicker rubber band vibrates more slowly, has fewer vibrations,

and the sound created has a lower pitch. The thinner rubber band moves more quickly, has many

vibrations, and the sound created has a higher pitch.

How does a drummer change volume?

(see pages E78-E81)

When a drummer taps the drum lightly, the sound is

softer, and when the drummer bangs hard on the drum, the sound is louder.

Discuss the nutritional value of various foods

and their contribution to health.

Science ReviewS.4.6.1.3

What kinds of information might one be looking for

when reading food labels?

serving size, calories, amount of fat, amount of sugar or sodium, amount of important vitamins or minerals like calcium and iron,

ingredients, etc.

Describe a day’s worth of healthy food choices

including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack.(See pages R8-R9)

How can a person’s activity level affect the amount of calories needed to maintain health?

Everyone needs a basic amount of calories every day to maintain health. People who have more active lives may need to eat more to keep their

caloric intake at an appropriate level, and people who are generally inactive will need to eat less.

Why is it important to include foods high in calcium or iron

in our diets?

Calcium is important for strong, healthy bones, and

iron helps maintain our blood.

What are the immediate effects of skipping breakfast?

What effects can skipping breakfast regularly have over

a period of time?

When students skip breakfast, they will have a low energy level, will feel

hungry, and will probably have trouble concentrating. Skipping breakfast

frequently may cause one to be more susceptible to disease and will affect

work performance over time.

What is the best nutritional choice of foods?A) green beansB) licoriceC) hamburgerD) soda pop

Green beans are best as a vegetable.

Observe and measure properties using appropriate tools for size, mass, shape,

volume, color, and temperature.

Science ReviewS.4.1.1.3 and S.4.2.1.1

What tool would you use to measure …

length of an object?

pull of gravity on an object?

temperature?

time to accomplish a test?

volume of a liquid?

Why might a dropper be used in an investigation?

A dropper would be used to measure small amounts of

liquid.

What science tools could be used to see something more

closely?

a hand lens or a microscope

How can a student safely collect data about a possibly

poisonous liquid?

The student can wear safety goggles and protective gloves while collecting

data. The liquid can be observed through a beaker. Forceps can be used to add or remove objects from

the liquid.

What unit of measure will be used to track the change in volume of two liquids when comparing their

evaporation rates?

Millimeters would be the most appropriate unit of

measure.

What does a thermometer

measure?

A thermometer measures the

temperature of an object or liquid. Temperature is the amount of heat

energy it contains.

Compare and contrast different structural characteristics of organisms and the distinct functions of these structures.

ANDIdentify ways plants and animals interact

with and change their environments.

Science ReviewS.4.3.1.2 and S.4.3.1.1

What are the basic needs of animals?

air, water, food, habitat, space, climate, shelter

Explain how a fish meets its need for oxygen in a different

way than a bird.

A fish gets oxygen directly from the water it lives in as the water passes through its gills. Birds get oxygen

from the air, just like humans.

What are the basic needs of plants?

carbon dioxide, nutrients, water, light

How do leaves, stems, and roots help plants live?

•leaves make food

•roots take in water and nutrients and anchor the plant in place

•the stem or trunk provides support and transports water and nutrients through the plant

•flowers and seeds are for reproduction

Draw this chart on your paper and fill it in with animals you know

that fit into each category.

no legs two legs four legsmore than four legs

Plants and animals both need __________

to live.

Plants and animals both need air, water, and

habitat to live.

Identify ways plants and animals interact with and

change their environments.

Science ReviewS.4.3.1.1

How does a chameleon protect itself from its

predators?

A chameleon’s skin changes so it can blend in with its environment making it

difficult for predators to spot.

What are some other ways animals protect themselves from their

predators?

Plants an animals may use different structures to perform the same functions. For example: claws,

coloration, scales, spines, teeth, etc.

Explain how the differences in the shape and size of a bird’s beak might relate to the kind

of food it eats.

•seed eaters have thick, heavy beaks

•fruit eaters have short, stubby beaks

•insect eaters have sharp, pointed beaks

Compare the pictures. What special function does each foot probably have?

The animal with the webbed

foot probably swims in water.

The animal with the clawed foot

probably catches its prey from the air and

carries it.

Compare, contrast, and ask questions about the

life cycles of various organisms.

Science ReviewS.4.3.2.1

What is missing from the butterfly life cycle?

ADULT

PUPALARVA

What is missing from the butterfly life cycle?

ADULT

PUPALARVA

EGG

Describe the life cycle of butterflies.

• adult butterflies lay eggs

• the eggs hatch into larvae called caterpillars

• the caterpillar eats and grows, shedding its skin many times

• the caterpillar becomes a chrysalis, where it changes into a butterfly

• when ready, the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis and can go lay more eggs

How is the life cycle of a mammal different

than that of a butterfly?

Butterflies go through metamorphosis, which means their bodies undergo

changes as they progress from an egg to an adult. Mammals do not go through

metamorphosis. Their young are born with the same basic body form as the adults.

A tadpole begins to grow legs. What will

happen next in the life cycle of a frog?

The tadpole’s tail will become smaller until it

disappears.

What environmental factors might disrupt

the life cycle of a frog?

predators, change in climate, natural disasters, human

intervention affecting the survival of eggs or tadpoles

Describe the life cycle of a plant.

Seeds are the first part of the plant’s life cycle. Seeds germinate and sprout when

their needs are met. If the sprout continues to have its needs met, it will continue to grow into an adult plant.

Communicate, critique, and analyze your own

investigations, and interpret the work of other students.

Science ReviewS.4.1.1.4

You are doing an experiment to test which type of soil is best for growing radishes, soil A, B, or C. You have

decided to compare the height of each plant to determine which is growing best. What is the best way to show

your results?

The most logical way to show how the plant grows over time would be a

line graph. A bar graph would be effective to show the results of the

mean heights of the plants in soils A, B, and C.

Radish Growth in Different Soil

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

Weeks

Cen

tim

eter

s

Soil A

Soil B

Soil C

  Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

Soil A 1.2 cm 2.4 cm 3.6 cm

Soil B 0.5 cm 1.1 cm 2.4 cm

Soil C 2.1 cm 3.0 cm 4.8 cm

Radish Growth in Different Soil

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

Weeks

Cen

tim

eter

s

Soil A

Soil B

Soil C

  Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

Soil A 1.2 cm 2.4 cm 3.6 cm

Soil B 0.5 cm 1.1 cm 2.4 cm

Soil C 2.1 cm 3.0 cm 4.8 cm

After keeping data for three weeks, you find that soil A and C produce plants of nearly the

same size, while soil B produced a much smaller and

weaker plant. What conclusion can you draw from the results

of this investigation?

Soils A and C are best for growing radishes. The data did

not show that one soil was better than the other.

What additional investigations

might you try to better compare soils A and C?

Try soils A and C using different types of seeds

Do the same experiment with one other condition changed.

Kevin conducted an investigation to find out if the weight of a ball would

affect the number of times it would bounce when dropped

from two meters.

In his first trial, the heavier ball bounced 27 times and the lighter ball bounced 62

times.

In his second trial, the heavier ball bounced 34

times, and the lighter ball bounced 60 times.

In his final trial, the heavier ball bounced 72 times, and the lighter

ball bounced 59 times. What would be the best way to show his findings? What can Kevin

conclude given his data?

Kevin can draw a data table and a graph to show the data. He can

conclude that the greater the weight, the fewer times a ball will bounce.

The final trial must have been in error. Kevin might need more trials

before drawing a conclusion.

What information would you need to repeat

Kevin’s experiment?

We are unable to repeat the experiment without knowing

exactly what kind of balls Kevin used, what their weights were, the

manner in which the balls were dropped, and the surface one

which they were dropped.

Demonstrate that magnets attract and repel.

ANDDesign a simple experiment to

see whether various objects will be attracted to magnets.

Science ReviewS.4.2.4.1 and S.4.2.4.2

In what ways will two bar magnets interact?

Like poles will repel each other, and unlike poles will attract each other.

What happens when you place the north end of a magnet right next to the north end of another magnet? Why don’t you observe the same reaction when the north poles are

facing one another from a distance?

When the north poles are near each other, they push apart from

each other. When the north poles are farther apart, the force pushing them in opposite directions is not as strong.

A student wanted to know which objects were attracted to magnets. What might she do to test her question?

Gather the objects and a magnet. Test to see whether

or not each item will be attracted to the magnet.

You have the following objects:

• a pencil eraser

• glass

• a paper clip

• a steel washer

• aluminum foil

• a penny

• a thumbtack

• a button

• a metal spoon

• a rubber band

Which items do you think would most likely be attracted to a magnet?

Amy notices that two magnets are attracted even when a paper barrier

is placed between them. She wonders how thick the paper can be before the magnets will no longer be attracted. How could she set up an investigation to test her question?

Amy needs to have many sheets of paper available and test gradually increasing thicknesses of paper

between the magnets, keeping track of how many it takes before the

magnets are no longer attracted. She should complete several trials.

Construct a simple circuit.

Science ReviewS.4.2.4.3

List the fewest materials that can be used to

construct a working circuit.

A battery, a wire, and a light bulb

Explain why the pictures circuit won’t work. What

could be done to complete the circuit?

A wire is needed to connect the light source to the negative

end of the battery.

Observe, describe, and record daily and seasonal

weather changes.

Science ReviewS.4.4.3.2

What are the best tools to use when collecting data

about rainfall, temperature, and wind direction?

Rain is measured using a metric rain gauge. Temperature is measured

using a Celsius thermometer. Wind direction is measured using a wind

vane.

What is the best way to tell someone what the weather in Kansas is like in the winter?

Our winters are cold with some snowy or icy conditions. There is usually not snow on the ground for long periods of time.

What kind of information can you find on a weather map?

How can you tell the season is changing from summer to autumn in Kansas by observing the temperature and precipitation?

Summers in Kansas are very hot, and autumn has much more mild temperatures. Summers tend to be dry. Precipitation increases during autumn.

Why is it important that weather observations over time be done at the same time of day, same

location, and with the same type of equipment?

It is important to keep track of weather data under like

conditions so they can be compared and used to make

predictions.

Design a plan, implement the plan, evaluate the results, make changes to improve the product,

and communicate the results.

Science ReviewS.4.5.1.1

A student wanted to design an airplane that flies the farthest. She made the first one out of notebook paper. It did not fly very far. She made the second airplane

using heavy construction paper, paperclips for weight, and folded the plane differently. It flew a long way.

How can she test what made the second plane fly farther than the first plane?

Each variable must be tested independently.

What would be an appropriate design for a tree house

ladder? Describe your plan and evaluate what

makes it safe.

Why are doorknobs on the edge of a door instead of in

the center?

This is the most logical design given the construction and

function of a doorknob.

Ali observed that the bubble blower she made of wire created larger bubbles than the one she made

with a pipe cleaner. What can she conclude about her designs?

The smoothness of the wire vs. the pipe cleaner.

The strength of the wire compared to the more flimsy pipe cleaner.

How might Ali change the design of her bubble blowers?