4th+Grade+Science

(2) How do scientists use clues to learn about Earth's history and structure? || (1) Explore the structure and composition of the Earth. (2) Determine how rocks provide clues about Earth's history and structure. (3) Identify Earth's plates and predict the effects of their movement. (4) Exlore convection currents, continental drift, subduction, and plate collision. (5) Examine volcanoes and earthquakes. || (1) Label a diagram of a cross-section of the Earth, and compare it to a hard-boiled egg. (2) Compare different types of rocks. (3) Observe fossils in rocks and make a model fossil. (4) Predict the consequences of plate movement by observing a model of Earth's crust moving. (5) Make a model of two continental plates and observe what happens when they collide. (6) Plot the locations of volcanoes and earthquakes on a world map, and identify the Ring of Fire. (7) Build a model volcano. || (1) PowerPoint presentation on Earth's crust (2) WebQuest and Wikispace links relating to natural disasters caused by Earth's movements (earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes) (3) Earth Movements student books (4) online texts and information (5) Bill Nye video: Earth's Crust || *Online activities (1) Make a 3d model of Earth (2) Rock analysis and fossil creation (3) Pangaea jigsaw (4) Continental drift flipbook (5) Building Mountains (6) Model Volcano || Cells || Date: October || Question All Life is made up of cells. How do cells function? How do cells grow and divide? What are the components of a cell? How are animal and plant cells different and alike?
 * ~ Unit ||~ Start Date (duration) ||~ Essential Questions ||~ Content / Concepts ||~ Skills ||~ Texts ||~ Supporting / Supplementary Materials ||
 * Earth Movements/Geology || 1st grading period || (1) How is Earth constantly being shaped by its movements?
 * Hands-on experiments/activities:
 * Unit

Key Vocabulary: Cell Wall, Cell Membrane, mitochondria, Rough E.R. Smooth E.R. Centriole, Cytoplasm, Nuclear membrane, nucleus, Nucleolus, Golgi Apparatus, Endoplasmic reticulum, Chromosome, Ribosomes, Vacuole. || Concepts:

All life is made up of cells.

Cells are like miniature factories. Within each cell are organelles that perform specific tasks like the workers in a factory. || Skills:

Creating a venn diagram to compare and contrast animal and plant cells.

Creating and labeling a model of an animal cell and a plant cell using modeling clay.

Students will choose one organelle and prepare a short presentation to talk about that cells function in the cell. || Text || Supplemental Materials

www.biologyforkids.com

Video and materials for from www.brainpop.com ||
 * Famous Scientists || November || Questions:

What are the branches of scientific study?

Who are some of the most well known scientists?

What do scientists learn from studying those who have come before?

Can we re-create the scientific process in our classroom? || Concepts:

Scientists seek, search, question, observe, test, and think about results. We can learn a lot about how scientists think by looking at their biographies.

We can also learn a great deal about the many branches of scientific study.

The Scientific Method || Skills:

Learning the steps of the scientific method.

Creating and presenting a multimedia presentation about the scientist the student has chosen. || Texts || Supplemental Materials:

www.brainpop.com || Food Chains and Webs || January/ February || Questions: How do all life forms depend upon other life forms in their environment?
 * Interdependence

What do owls eat?

How many rodents/birds does the average owl eat in a day, week, month?

What are the animals in our West Tennessee Food Web? || Concepts: || Skills:

Dissecting and cleaning the bones in an owl pellet.

Identifying the bones and reassembling the skeleton as completely as possible.

Mounting the skeleton onto a board and labeling some of the major bones.

Diagramming a Food Chain and Food Web. || Texts || Supplemental Materials: || What is the scientific process?
 * Science Expo || March || Questions:

What is the engineering design process? || Concepts: || Skills:

Working together to complete a science project that will be demonstrated and explained at Expo Night.

Public Speaking Skills.

Scientific Process. || Texts || Supplemental Materials www. sciencebuddies.org ||