TCH 257 - Science Methods

Below explore lesson plans, phenomena, and library materials that are related to the NGSS topics and standards for fourth grade. Select one of the topics below to be taken to materials on that topic. 

1. Energy
2. Waves and Information
3. Life: Structures and Senses
4. Earth: Features and Processes
5. 3-5 Engineering Design

Performance Expectations:

4-PS3-1.    Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object. 

4-PS3-2.    Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents. 

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

4-PS3-4.    Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.

4-ESS3-1.    Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment. 

Detailed Energy Standard Information

Example Lesson Plans

Example Phenomena

• Candle-Powered Car
• The Drinking Bird

Example Books

Performance Expectations:

4-PS4-1.    Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and that waves can cause objects to move. 

4-PS4-3.    Generate and compare multiple solutions that use patterns to transfer information.

Detailed Waves and Information Standard Information

Example Lesson Plans

Example Phenomena

• There is No Sound in Space
• Analog vs. Digital Television

Example Books

Performance Expectations:

4-PS4-2.    Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen. 

4-LS1-1.    Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction. 

4-LS1-2.    Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways. 

Detailed Life: Structures and Senses Standard Information

Example Lesson Plans

Example Phenomena

• Synesthesia
• Why Do Sunflowers Follow the Sun?

Example Books

Performance Expectations:

4-ESS1-1.    Identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to support an explanation for changes in a landscape over time. 

4-ESS2-1.    Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation. 

4-ESS2-2.    Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features.  

4-ESS3-2.    Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.

Detailed Earth: Features and Processes Standard Information

Example Lesson Plans

Example Phenomena

• Yellowstone Supervolcano
• Elephants Warn Tourists of Tsunami

Example Books

Performance Expectations:

3-5-ETS1-1.    Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.

3-5-ETS1-2.    Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

3-5-ETS1-3.    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.

Detailed Engineering Design Standard Information

Example Lesson Plans

Example Phenomena

• Airpod Case Design
• Programmable Droplets from MIT

Example Books