Fourth Grade Science Curriculum at Kipapa Elementary School

NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards

Wonders Topic Resources Activities Benchmarks

Week

Unit 1 Earth’s Systems: Rapid Changes Rapid Changes to Earth Worksheet 4-ESS2-2:
Week 3 Rapid Changes to the Slides on the Grade 4 Powerpoint Analyze and
Earth (Natural - Volcanoes Geology & Geography Packet interpret data
Disasters) - Earthquakes - Ring of Fire from map and
- Landslides - Pacific Plate describe
I CAN’s: - Floods - Island Formation Diagram features of
I can generate and - Tsunamis Earth’s surface.
compare and compare Landslide Investigation
multiple solutions to Sciencesaurus P. 178-183 - Put model house on a dirt hill 4-ESS3-2:
reduce the impacts of - Pour water down the dirt hill Generate and
natural Earth processes - When the house falls, figure out compare
on humans how to reinforce it so it won’t fall multiple
again. solutions to
reduce the
impacts of
natural process
on humans.

Unit 1 Energy and Collisions: Energy and Collisions Spool Racers 4-PS3-1 Use
Week 4 evidence (e.g.,
I CAN’s: STEM Material: Marble Collision Investigation measurements,
I can use evidence to - Spools
observations,
explain how the energy - Pencils
of an object affects the - Rubberbands patterns) to
speed of the object. - Metal Washers construct an
 - Toothpicks explanation.
I can ask questions and - Tape relating the
predict outcomes about speed of an
the changes in energy
object to the
that occur when objects
collide. energy of that

4-PS3-3 Ask
questions and
predict
outcomes about
the changes in
energy that
occur when
objects collide. 

Unit 2
Week 3
 Hyrbid of HCPS III and NGSS
Wonders Topic Resources Activities Benchmarks
Week

Aquaponics System: Aquaponics Plant Vegetable Seeds HCPS:

Nitrogen Cycle Lecture Track Vegetable Growth SC.4.3.1
SC.4.3.2
SC.4.5.2
SC.4.5.3

Unit 1 Earth’s Systems: Slow Changes- Erosion Geology & Geography Packet HCPS:
Week 1 Slow Changes to the Slides on the Grade 4 Powerpoint - Layers of the Earth (4 Pages) SC.4.8.1
Earth - Water, Wind, Waves, and Ice - Layers of the Earth Diagram (Slow Changes
- Pangaea Worksheet to Earth’s
I CAN’s: Bill Nye Erosion Video Surface)
I can make Sciencesaurus P. 170-175 Slow Changes to Earth Worksheet
observations/measurem NGSS:
ents to provide evidence STEM Materials: Ring of Fire Activity EES2.A
of the effects of - Dirt - Identify earthquake locations on a (Earth
weathering and erosion. - Foil Tray (large and medium) world map based on their Materials and
(water, ice, wind, - Plastic cups (hold tray/to pour coordinates. Systems-
plants) water) - Infer why the earthquake locations Erosion)
- Legos (for house) on a world map form lines and
I can generate and - Rocks (wedge shaped if puzzle pieces.
compare and compare possible)
multiple solutions to
reduce the impacts of
natural Earth processes
on humans

Unit 1 Earth’s Place In the Fossils Create a fossil out of clay and fossils HCPS:
Week 2 Universe: Slides on the Grade 4 Powerpoint molds. SC.4.5.1
 What fossils tell us - How fossils are made - Bring in shells from the beach (Compare
about the past - Deeper fossils are older - Push the shell into clay to make an Fossils and
- Fossils give clues about the past impression. Living Things)
I CAN’s: environment - Pour Plaster of Paris into the
I can identify evidence Sciencesaurus P. 184-186 impression. NGSS:
from patterns in rock - When the Plaster of Paris dries, EES1.C
formations and fossils STEM Materials: peel off the clay and you’ll have a (The History of
to explain the changes - Plaster of Paris fossil. Planet Earth)
in a landscape over - Dixie Cups
time. - Clay (not air dry) Fossils Worksheet
- Shells

Unit 1 Earth’s Systems: Rapid Changes Rapid Changes to Earth Worksheet HCPS:
Week 3 Rapid Changes to the Slides on the Grade 4 Powerpoint SC.4.8.2
Earth (Natural - Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Geology & Geography Packet (Rapid Changes
Disasters) Landslides, Floods, Tsunamis - Ring of Fire to Earth’s
- Pacific Plate Surface)
I CAN’s: Sciencesaurus P. 178-183 - Island Formation Diagram
I can generate and NGSS:
compare and compare Island Formation Presentation Activity 4-EES2-2
multiple solutions to 4-EES-3-2
reduce the impacts of Landslide Activity
natural Earth processes - Put model house on a dirt hill EES2.B (Plate
on humans - Pour water down the dirt hill Tectonics and
- When the house falls, figure out Large
how to reinforce it so it won’t fall Scale-System
again. Interactions)
 Build Volcano Models
- Create volcano model based off a
type of volcano.
- Mixing baking soda and vinegar to
make the volcano erupt. Also test
Coke and Mentos and compare the
two eruptions.

Changes to Earth’s Surface Test

Unit 1 Gravity and Mass Gravity and Mass Revolutional Effects HCPS:
Week 4 (Ideas in Motion) Read Sciencesaurus P. 270 & 279 SC.4.7.1
- Earth’s Gravity (P. 270-271) Revolutional Effects Assessment (The mass of
I CAN’s: - Moon Creates Tides (P. 195) the Earth exerts
I can distinguish the - Sun holds Earth (P. 218-221) Gravity Worksheet a gravitational
difference of weight force on all
versus mass Earth’s Rotation Interactive Game Gravity Assessment objects)

I can understand that Gravity Lab NGSS:

 two different items fall Earth’s and Moon’s Rotation - Drop different items off the PS3.A(Energy)
at the same rate because Interactive Game balcony PS3.B
gravity is a constant - Time how long it takes to hit the (Conversion of
force. floor Energy)
- Record the results PS3.D
(Chemical
Energy)

EES3.A
(Natural
Resources)
ETS1.A
(Defining
Engineering
Problems)

Unit 1 Energy and Collisions: Energy and Collisions Spool Racers NGSS:
Week 5 4-PS3-1
I CAN’s: STEM Material: Marble Collision 4-PS3-3
I can use evidence to - Spools
explain how the energy - Pencils
of an object affects the - Rubberbands
speed of the object. - Metal Washers
- Toothpicks
I can ask questions and - Tape
predict outcomes about
the changes in energy
that occur when objects
collide.

Unit 2 Earthquakes (STEM) Rapid Changes- Earthquake STEM: Earthquake Resistant HCPS:
Week 1 Structures SC.4.8.2
 I CAN’s: Materials: - Build six cells with index cards, (Rapid Changes
I can understand the - Pipe Cleaners pipe cleaners, and coffee straws to Earth’s
way natural disasters - Coffee Straws - Put the six cells together to create Surface)
change the Earth’s - Index Cards a building that will not slide, sheer,
surface. - Masking Tape or tumble in an earthquake. NGSS:
- Toothpicks 4-EES2-2
I can build a structure - Brass Fasteners 4-EES-3-2
that will withstand an - Paper Clips
earthquake without - PVC Pipes (reusable) EES2.B (Plate
sliding, sheering, or - Foam Boards Tectonics and
tipping. - Binder Rubber Bands Large
Scale-System
Interactions)

Unit 2 Earthquakes (STEM) Rapid Changes- Earthquake STEM: Earthquake Resistant HCPS:
Week 2 Structures SC.4.8.2
I CAN’s: Materials: - Build six cells with index cards, (Rapid Changes
I can understand the - Pipe Cleaners pipe cleaners, and coffee straws to Earth’s
way natural disasters - Coffee Straws - Put the six cells together to create Surface)
change the Earth’s - Index Cards a building that will not slide, sheer,
surface. - Masking Tape or tumble in an earthquake. NGSS:
- Toothpicks 4-EES2-2
I can build a structure - Brass Fasteners 4-EES-3-2
that will withstand an - Paper Clips
earthquake without - PVC Pipes (reusable) EES2.B (Plate
sliding, sheering, or - Foam Boards Tectonics and
tipping. - Binder Rubber Bands Large
Scale-System
Interactions)

Unit 2 Ecosystem (Natural Ecosystem Air Cycle Worksheet HCPS:

Week 3 Connections) SC.4.3.1
 Read Sciencesaurus P. 126-135. Water Cycle WKST SC.4.3.2
Water Cycle Video (3 minutes). SC.4.5.2
Water Cycle Interactive Reader​. Producer, Consumer, & Decomposer SC.4.5.3
WKST
Food Chain and Food Web
Read Sciencesaurus P. 136-138. Food Chain WKST
How the Wolves Changed the River
(5 minutes). Food Web WKST
Lecture on Producers, Consumers,
and Decomposers. Food Chain Interactive Game
(​http://bit.ly/MjDU96​).

Ecosystem Assessment

Unit 2 Adaptations Animal Adaptation Video Plant and Animal Adaptation Reading NGSS:
Week 4 Organisms 4-LS1-1
Camouflage Camouflage Activity 4-LS1-2
I CAN’s: - Cut out an equal number of ovals 4-PS4-2
● I can construct an Camouflage, Countershading, and from red, orange, yellow, and
argument that Adaptations green paper.
plants and animals Materials: - Put the ovals on a big sheet of
have internal and - Red, Orange, Yellow, and green construction paper.
external structures Green Paper - Poke a hole in a note card and look
that function to - Green Construction Paper through it to pick up as many
support survival, caterpillars as possible in 30
growth, behavior, Animal Adaptation Activity seconds.
and reproduction. Materials: - Record on how many ovals of each
- Ice color were picked up and make
- Crisco inferences on why certain colors
● I can use a model to - Gloves were picked up more than others.
describe that - Thermometers
animals receive Animal Adaptation Activity
 different types of Catch It (Timed Ruler Drop) - Get a bucket of iced water and
information Materials: have the students stick their gloved
through their - Yard Stick hands into it. Then stick a
senses, process the thermometer into it and record the
information in their temperature.
brain, and respond - Cover the gloved hand with lard
to the information and stick it back into the iced
in different ways. water. Then stick a thermometer
into it and record the temperature.
- Have the students compare the
feeling of the iced water with and
without the lard. Then compare the
temperature of the iced water with
and without the lard.
- Make inferences about how
blubber on animals help animals to
survive in cold water.

Unit 2 Cells Animal and Plant Cell
Week 5
Read Sciencesaurus P. 98-101.
- Animal Cell P. 98-99
- Plant Cell P. 100-101
Animal and Plant Cell HCPS:
SC.4.4.1
Draw Animal Cell.
Draw Plant Cell.

Animal & Plant Cell WKST

Cell Model:
-Mold the cell structures
-Label cell structures

Cell Interactive Games

Unit 3
Week 1

Unit 3
Week 2

Unit 3
Week 3

Unit 3
Week 4

Unit 3 Scientific Advances Ten Inventions That Changed the

Week 5 (Feeding the World) World Video

Simple Machines Reading

Tools and Technology Reading

Unit 4
Week 1

Unit 4
Week 2

Unit 4 Wave Lengths Wavelengths and Amplitudes 4-PS4-1

Week 3 (Inventions) Investigation 4-PS4-3

I CAN’s:
● I can develop a
model of waves to
describe patterns in
terms of amplitude
 and wavelength and
that waves can
cause objects to
move.
● I can generate and
compare multiple
solutions that use
patterns to transfer
information.

Unit 4
Week 4

Unit 4
Week 5

Unit 5
Week 1

Unit 5 Electricity Electricity Vocabulary Terms

Week 2 Worksheet
Read Sciencesaurus P. 300-303
-Open and Closed Circuits Circuits Virtual Lab
-Series and Parallel Circuits
Battery Acids Lab Report
Battery Acids Lab
-Create a battery with different Electrical Conduction Lab Report
types of acids, zinc, and copper,
and complete the circuit with an Series and Parallel Lab Report
LED bulb.
 Electrical Conduction Lab STEM - EDP Flashlight
-Test different objects to see if
they conduct electricity

Electrical Circuit Lab

-Test out different circuit ideas to
see if they work

Materials
- Copper Wires
- Lightbulb and holders
- Batteries and holders
- Cardboard
- Brass Fasteners
- Vinegar
- Zinc Plated Screws
- Various conduction testing
items (See the Conduction Lab
Report.)

Unit 5 Sounds, Light, and Heat STEM Electricity Simple Circuit Lesson Plan
Week 3 (Inventions)
Simple Circuit Configuration NGSS:
I CAN’s: 4-PS3-4
● I can make How the eye works
observations to
provide evidence How the eye works video
that energy can be
transferred from
place to place by
 sound, light, heat,
and electric
currents.

● I can apply
scientific ideas to
design, test, and
refine a device that
converts energy
from one form to
another.

● I can develop a
model to describe
that light reflecting
from objects and
entering the eye
allows objects to be
seen.

Unit 5 Observations and Scientific Process Notes

Week 4 Inferences
Scientific Process Worksheet
I CAN’s:
● I can define a Scientific Process Test
simple design
problem reflecting Science Terms
 a need or a want
that includes Science Terms Worksheet 1
specified criteria or
success and Science Terms Worksheet 2
constraints on
materials, time, or Science Terms Worksheet 3
cost.
● I can generate and Science Terms Word Find
compare multiple
possible solutions
to a problem based
on how well each is
likely to meet the
criteria and
constraints of the
problem.
● I can plan and carry
out fair tests in
which variables are
controlled and
failure points are
considered to
identify aspects of a
model or prototype
that can be
improved.

Unit 5
Week 5

Skip to: I can obtain and Natural Resources NGSS:

Unit 6 combine information to 4-ESS3-1
Week 3 describe that energy and Green Power Worksheets
fuels are derived from
natural resources and
their uses affect the
environment.
 Hawaii Content State Standards III
Qtr Units Activities Benchmarks

1 Astronomy and Gravity Gravity SC.4.7.1

Big Bang Theory Video (3 mins). SC.4.8.2
Read Sciencesaurus:
-Earth’s gravity (P. 270-271)
-Moon’s phases (P. 222-225)
-Moon affects tides (P. 195)
-Sun holds Earth (P. 218-221)
Rotational Effects WKST.
Gravity WKST.
Bill Nye Outer Space Video (2 mins).
Earth’s Rotation Interactive Game (​http://bit.ly/1btp9MO​).
Earth’s and Moon’s Rotation Interactive Game (​http://bit.ly/1J6U2lO​).
1 Geology Plate Tectonics SC.4.6.1
Bill Nye Earth’s Crust Video (23 mins). SC.4.8.1
Layers of Earth (Geology & Geography Packet). SC.4.8.2
Converge, Diverge, & Slide Lecture:
-Draw models of plate tectonic activity.
Pangaea WKST (Geology & Geography Packet).
Pangaea Interactive Game
(​http://www.geo.cornell.edu/hawaii/220/PRI/continental_puzzle.html​).
Layers of Earth Interactive Game (​http://bit.ly/1wzU4xG​).
Plate Tectonics Interactive Game (​http://bit.ly/1zaw48V​).

Volcanoes
Build Virtual Volcano (​http://bit.ly/1Iky3cR​).
Ring of Fire WKST (Geology & Geography Packet).
Island Formation Diagram (Geology & Geography Packet).
Create Google Slides Presentation on the steps of a volcanic island.
Volcano Types Lecture:
 -Shield
-Cinder
-Composite
Build Volcano Models:
-Create volcano model based off a type of volcano.
-Mixing baking soda and vinegar to make volcano erupt.

Earthquakes (STEM)
Find earthquakes and their magnitudes on the world map.
Build a six room building that will withstand an earthquake.
Test the building with the “shake tables.”
Fix, rebuild, and retest the buildings.
1 Changes to Earth Changes to Earth SC.4.8.2
Read Sciencesaurus
-Slow Changes (P. 170-175)
-Rapid Changes (P. 178-183)
Changes to Earth WKST.
Create Google Slides Presentation on the slow and rapid changes to Earth.
2 Ecology Life Cycles SC.4.3.1
Read Sciencesaurus P. 126-135. SC.4.3.2
Water Cycle Video (3 minutes). SC.4.5.2
Water Cycle Interactive Reader (​http://bit.ly/1JPqIR5​). SC.4.5.3
Air Cycle WKST.
Water Cycle WKST.

Food Chain and Food Web

Read Sciencesaurus P. 136-138.
How the Wolves Changed the River​ (5 minutes).
Lecture on Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers.
Food Chain WKST.
Food Chain Interactive Game (​http://bit.ly/MjDU96​).
Food Web WKST.
 Native Hawaiian Food Web​ Card Game.

Aquaponics System
Plant Vegetable Seeds.
Track Vegetable Growth.
3 Cells Animal and Plant Cell SC.4.4.1
Read Sciencesaurus P. 98-99.
Draw Animal Cell.
Read Sciencesaurus P. 100-101.
Draw Plant Cell.
Animal and Plant Cell WKST.
Cell Bridge Map WKST.
Cell Model:
-Mold the cell structures
-Label cell structures
Cell Interactive Games (​http://bit.ly/1njP2kv​).
4 Electricity Electricity Basics SC.4.6.2
Read Sciencesaurus P. 296-299
Electrical Conduction Lab
-Test different objects to see if they conduct electricity

Electric Circuit

Read Sciencesaurus P. 300-303

-Open and Closed Circuits
-Series and Parallel Circuits

Electrical Circuit Lab

-Test out different circuit ideas to see if they work

Vinegar Battery Lab

 -Create a battery with vinegar, zinc, and copper, and complete the circuit
with an LED bulb.
Electricity (STEM)
4 Fossils Fossils SC.4.5.1
Read Sciencesaurus P. 184-186
-Study definitions and take notes
Fossil Lab
-Make a faux fossil out of clay
4 Physics of Gravity Gravity SC.4.7.1
Read Sciencesaurus P. 270 & 279
Dropping Lab
-Drop different items off the balcony
-Time how long it takes to hit the floor
-Record the results