Science Curriculum: Grade 4

Georgia Performance Standards: Alternative Curriculum Map

This document is part of a framework that was designed to support the major concepts addressed in the 4th grade Science Curriculum of the Georgia Performance Standards through the processes of inquiry and integration of science into reading and ELA. Reading selections support the science concepts and hands-on activities allow students to explore and relate concepts to real life. The focus of fourth grade revolves around the unifying concepts of interdependence and models. Each of the content units—ecosystems, weather, forces, stars and solar system, and sound and light—is designed to promote student understanding of content and to promote the development of process and inquiry skills. This a detailed curriculum map designed specifically the Bibb County School District for the purpose of aligning instructional practices and student expectations.

Unit:
Weather
Earth Science
S4E3 & S4E4 / Unit:
Sound and Light
Physical Science
S4P1 & S4P2 / Unit:
Forces and Motion
Physical Science
S4P3 (no math formulas) / Unit:
Stars and Solar System
Earth Science
S4E1 & S4E2 / Unit:
Ecology
Life Science
S4L1 & S4L2
6 Weeks / 6 Weeks / 7 Weeks / 6 Weeks / 6 Weeks
Focus:
  • Identify solid, liquid, gas
as states of water S4E3a
  • Recognize the
temperature at which
water changes state S4E3b
  • Explain the water cycle (evaporation, condensation & precipitation) S4E3d
  • Investigate forms of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog & clouds) S4E3e
  • Investigate how clouds
are formed S4E3c
  • Differentiate between weather and climate S4E4d
  • Collect and analyze
weather data to
determine patterns S4E4c
  • Use weather data to predict weather S4E4c.
  • Use weather instruments to collect data S4E4a.
  • Use weather maps and weather symbols to communicate dataS4E4b.
/ Focus:
  • Define, compare and identify materials as
transparent, opaque, or
translucent S4P1a
  • Use a mirror and light
source to show reflection
patterns S4P1a
  • Identify the attributes and
use of convex lens,
concave lens and prism S4P1a
  • Recognize that sound is
produced by vibrations S4P2a
  • Sound is carried by waves S4P2a
  • Recognize conditions that
cause sound to vary (state of matter temperature) S4P2b
  • Demonstrate changes of
pitch S4P2b / Focus:
  • Investigate how things
move, change direction
or speed S4P3b
  • Define speed and its components S4P3b
  • Identify simple
machines S4P3a
  • Determine how simple
machines use motion to
make work easier S4P3a
  • Define gravity S4P3d
  • Demonstrate the effect
of gravity on the motion
of an object S4P3d
  • Determine relationship
between force and size S4P3c
  • Determine relationship
between force and speed S4P3c
  • Determine relationship
between force and direction on
motion S4P3c / Focus:
  • Describe the formation and characteristics of a star S4E1a
  • Observe stars in night sky
and various resources S4E1a
  • Compare number, color, size and position of stars S4E1a
  • Identify constellations as
patterns of stars S4E1c
  • Compare planets and stars in number, appearance, position S4E1b
  • Develop models of planets
according to relative size and order from the sunS4E2b
  • Relate models to explanations of Earth/moon/sun in day/night cycle S4E2a
  • Relate models to explanations of Earth/moon/sun inphases of the moon S4E2b
  • Demonstrates the Earth’s revolution and tilt around the sun which attributes toseasonal changes S4E2c
/ Focus:
  • Identify roles of consumers,
producers, and decomposersS4L1a
  • Illustrate food chains and food webs and describe the flow of energy starting with the sun. S4L1b
  • Differentiate between food chains and food websS4L1b
  • Identify producer, consumers and decomposers S4L1b
  • Identify ways adaptation can
help organisms survive S4L1c
  • Predict how changes in an
environment will effect a
community S4L1c
  • Predict the effects on a
population if there are too many or a scarcity of some animals or plants S4L1d
  • Identify external features of organisms that allow them to survive or reproduce better than organisms that do not have these featuresS4L2a
  • Identify factors leading to
extinction S4L2b