Grade 4 Science Curriculum (U.S.) – Detailed Overview
In Grade 4, science instruction begins to emphasize deeper analytical thinking, use of evidence to support ideas, and interconnected systems. Students are encouraged to develop their scientific reasoning, conduct multi-step investigations, and understand how energy, structure, and Earth processes function in the real world.
Key Focus: Energy, Motion, and Information Transfer
Students explore how energy is transferred, transformed, and used in systems—from simple machines to waves of light and sound.
Forms of Energy:
Light, sound, heat, electrical, and motion.
Introduction to potential and kinetic energy.
Sources of energy: batteries, the sun, food, fuel.
Energy Transfer:
Energy can move from place to place through sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
Experiments: touching metal and plastic objects heated by sunlight to compare heat absorption.
Motion and Forces:
Speed and direction can be changed by force.
Examples: pushing, pulling, friction.
Students measure distance and time to analyze movement.
Sound and Vibrations:
Sound is created by vibrating materials.
Pitch and volume depend on vibration speed and strength.
Experiment: rubber band instruments, tuning forks.
Light and Vision:
Light reflects, refracts, and is absorbed.
Shadows are created when light is blocked.
Explore how the eye perceives light.
Simple Electrical Circuits:
Components: wires, bulbs, switches, batteries.
Open vs. closed circuits.
Conductors vs. insulators.
Key Focus: Structures and Functions in Living Organisms
Students investigate the internal and external structures of living things and how these parts help with growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction.
Plant Structures and Functions:
Roots, stems, leaves, flowers: what each part does.
How plants make food (intro to photosynthesis).
Pollination and seed dispersal mechanisms.
Animal Structures and Adaptations:
How body parts (e.g., beaks, claws, fur) help with survival.
Defense mechanisms (camouflage, poison, mimicry).
Behavioral adaptations (nocturnal behavior, migration, hibernation).
Human Body Systems (in some states):
Introduction to circulatory, respiratory, digestive systems.
How organs work together.
Sensory Systems:
Explore how animals (including humans) receive and respond to information.
How senses guide behaviors and survival.
Key Focus: Processes That Shape Earth Over Time
Students learn how natural forces shape the Earth’s surface and observe patterns in the sky and landscapes.
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition:
Physical weathering by wind, water, and ice.
How rocks break down and soil forms.
Erosion experiments (e.g., sand and water flow).
Earth’s Changing Surface:
Volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides.
Plate movement as a cause of landform changes (introduced simply).
Maps and Models of Earth:
Use of globes, topographic maps, and models to represent elevation and features.
Students may create their own landform models.
Natural Resources:
Renewable vs. non-renewable (solar, coal, water, oil).
Human impact on Earth’s resources.
Recycling and conservation.
Patterns in Earth and Sky:
Movement of the sun, moon, and stars.
Day/night, sunrise/sunset patterns.
Introduction to the rotation and revolution of Earth.
Key Focus: Designing Solutions to Real-World Problems
Students apply engineering design principles to plan, build, and improve devices or models that solve scientific challenges.
Engineering Process:
Define a problem → brainstorm → plan → build → test → improve → share results.
Sample Projects:
Design a device to protect an egg during a fall.
Build a model water filter.
Create a light-based communication system.
Build a circuit-powered object (e.g., flashlight or burglar alarm).
Testing and Redesigning:
Use failure as feedback.
Understand the importance of trial and error.
Crosscutting Concepts Introduced
Grade 4 highlights these concepts throughout science instruction:
Energy and Matter – how energy flows and changes in systems.
Structure and Function – how parts of organisms or devices relate to their jobs.
Cause and Effect – relationships in physical and natural systems.
Systems and System Models – using diagrams and tools to study complex systems.
Stability and Change – natural landscapes, environments, and structures evolving over time.
Scientific Practices
Students are expected to:
Ask testable questions and make hypotheses.
Design and carry out fair tests with controlled variables.
Use scientific tools (thermometers, rulers, balances, electrical kits).
Record and graph data.
Use evidence to support conclusions.
Develop and use models (e.g., for circuits, erosion).
Communicate findings through writing, diagrams, or presentations.
Instructional Methods
Hands-on experiments and group investigations.
Use of digital tools and simulations.
Science journals for tracking ideas, hypotheses, and results.
Outdoor learning (weather observations, soil sampling).
Project-based learning combining science, math, and engineering.
Sample Classroom Activities
Build a working electrical circuit with a switch.
Design an erosion prevention model.
Create a life-size human body poster with labeled organs.
Compare the sound produced by instruments with different string lengths.
Grow plants in different conditions and observe growth.
Track sunrise and sunset times for a month and graph changes.
Assessment Methods
Performance-based tasks: design and test devices.
Model-building: life systems, circuits, or Earth models.
Written assessments: using scientific vocabulary and explanations.
Class presentations and experiments.
Science portfolios or journals.
Rubrics for evaluating engineering design thinking.
Skills Developed by the End of Grade 4
By the end of fourth grade, students should be able to:
Explain how energy moves and changes in systems.
Describe how forces affect motion.
Analyze how internal and external structures help plants and animals survive.
Understand how weathering and erosion change the Earth’s surface.
Build and test simple electrical circuits.
Apply engineering principles to solve scientific challenges.
Make predictions, test ideas, and revise conclusions using evidence.
Real-World Applications
Understanding how energy is used in homes, schools, and nature.
Identifying adaptations in local wildlife and their habitats.
Using weathering and erosion knowledge in landscaping and farming.
Learning to conserve Earth’s resources and minimize pollution.
Building a scientific foundation for future innovation in engineering and technology.
