Grade-4 Science Course Outline

This class is aligned with Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for 4th grade science. It covers a variety of scientific topics, some of which have been covered in previous classes and some of which is new material. The students will review matter and its states, atoms and elements, and properties of matter. Students will learn about the special properties of metals, acids, and bases. They will also learn the differences between molecules, compounds, and mixtures. The students will review the solar system, the movement of the Earth, and the contributions of Galileo Galilei to our knowledge of astronomy. The students will learn about minerals and the different types of rocks, as well as investigate the rock cycle. They will learn the differences between renewable and nonrenewable resources. The students will review the life cycles and characteristics of both plants and animals. The students will learn about energy and the energy that we can harvest from the world around us like solar, heat, wind, and water. The students will explore how you hear, talk, and see, including a study of colors and why we see them. The students will learn about electricity and magnetism, including how they are used and the relationship between the two. They will explore the differences between speed, velocity, and acceleration. They will also learn about the laws of motion and how they apply to the world around us. The purpose of, and types of, machines will be studied so that students can understand that compound machines they see in lives. The students will also explore the application of scientific knowledge, technology. Finally, the students will review the scientific method and design and conduct their own scientific investigation.