Science 4

The disciplinary core ideas in Science 4 include 1) using a model of waves to describe patterns of waves in terms of amplitude and wavelength, and that waves can cause objects to move; understanding the effects of weathering on the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation; generating and comparing multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of such processes on humans; analyzing and interpret data from maps, 2) understanding that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction, and 3) describing that an object can be seen when light reflected from its surface enters the eye; constructing an explanation of the relationship between the speed of an object and the energy of that object; understanding that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents or from object to object through collisions; designing, testing, and refining a device that converts energy from one form to another. The crosscutting concepts of patterns; cause and effect; energy and matter; systems and system models; interdependence of science, engineering, and technology; and influence of engineering, technology, and science on society and the natural world are organizing concepts for these disciplinary core ideas. In the fourth grade performance expectations, students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing explanations and designing solutions, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. Students are expected to use these practices to demonstrate understanding of the core ideas.