What does a student learn in StateVirginia,GradeGrade 4,SubjectScience?

The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by

asking questions and defining problems

identify scientific and non-scientific questions

develop hypotheses as cause-and-effect relations

define a simple design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process, or system

planning and carrying out investigations

identify variables when planning an investigation

collaboratively plan and conduct investigations

use tools and/or materials to design and/or build a device that solves a specific problem

take metric measurements using appropriate tools

measure elapsed time

interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating data

organize and represent data in bar graphs and line graphs

interpret and analyze data represented in bar graphs and line graphs

compare two different representations of the same data (e.g., a set of data displayed on a chart and a graph)

analyze data from tests of an object or tool to determine whether it works as intended

constructing and critiquing conclusions and explanations

use evidence (i.e., measurements, observations, patterns) to construct or support explanations and to make inferences

developing and using models

develop and/or use models to explain natural phenomena

identify limitations of models

obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

read and comprehend reading-level-appropriate texts and/or other reliable media

communicate scientific information, design ideas, and/or solutions with others

The student will investigate and understand that plants and animals have structures that distinguish them from one another and play vital roles in their ability to survive. Key ideas include

the survival of plants and animals depends on photosynthesis;

plants and animals have different structures and processes for obtaining energy; and

plants and animals have different structures and processes for creating offspring.

The student will investigate and understand that organisms, including humans, interact with one another and with the nonliving components in the ecosystem. Key ideas include

interrelationships exist in populations, communities, and ecosystems;

food webs show the flow of energy within an ecosystem;

changes in an organism's niche and habitat may occur at various stages in its life cycle; and

classification can be used to identify organisms.

The student will investigate and understand that weather conditions and phenomena affect ecosystems and can be predicted. Key ideas include

weather measurements create a record that can be used to make weather predictions;

common and extreme weather events affect ecosystems; and

long term seasonal weather trends determine the climate of a region.

The student will investigate and understand that the planets have characteristics and a specific place in the solar system. Key ideas include

planets rotate on their axes and revolve around the sun;

planets have characteristics and a specific order in the solar system; and

the sizes of the sun and planets can be compared to one another.

The student will investigate and understand that there are relationships among Earth, the moon, and the sun. Key relationships include

the motions of Earth, the moon, and the sun;

the causes for Earth's seasons;

the causes for the four major phases of the moon and the relationship to the tide cycles; and

the relative size, position, age and makeup of Earth, the moon, and the sun.

The student will investigate and understand that the ocean environment has characteristics. Key characteristics include

geology of the ocean floor;

physical properties and movement of ocean water; and

interaction of organisms in the ocean.

The student will investigate and understand that Virginia has important natural resources. Key resources include

watersheds and water;

plants and animals;

minerals, rocks, and ores; and

forests, soil, and land.