Thinking and working like scientists
Students start the year learning how to ask testable questions, run safe experiments, and record what they find. They practice using rulers, scales, and thermometers to measure and share results.
What does a student learn in
This is the year science gets measured. Students stop just observing and start running real investigations with rulers, scales, and thermometers, then write up what the numbers actually show. They track how forces move objects, how weather and the solar system follow patterns, and how plants and animals fit into their habitats. By spring, students can run a simple experiment, record the data, and explain what it means.
- Running experiments
- Measuring and data
- Forces and motion
- Weather and climate
- Solar system
- Ecosystems
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
- 1
- 2
Properties of matter and energy
Students sort and describe materials by traits they can measure, like mass, volume, and whether something sinks or floats. They explore how heat, light, sound, and electricity move from one object to another.
- 3
Forces and motion
Students push, pull, and roll objects to see how force changes the way things move. They look for patterns in motion and make predictions about what will happen next.
- 4
Earth, weather, and space
Students look at how land, water, air, and living things work together on Earth. They track weather, study climate and human impact, and learn how the Sun, Moon, and planets move.
- 5
Living things and ecosystems
Students study how plants and animals survive in their habitats, how food and energy pass between them, and how parents pass traits to their young.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 4.
Scientific and Engineering Practices
Scientific and Engineering Practices
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Scientific Investigation
Students plan and run hands-on science investigations in the classroom and outside, using the right tools and safe procedures to answer questions they can actually test.
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Scientific and Engineering Practices
Students ask questions about the world, build simple models to explain what they observe, test design ideas, and figure out what their data means.
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Tools and Measurement
Students measure objects and record data using science tools like rulers, thermometers, and graduated cylinders, reporting results in metric units like centimeters or grams.
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Communicate Findings
Students explain what they found in an investigation and back it up with data. They share conclusions in writing, in conversation, or through charts and diagrams.
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Recurring Themes and Concepts
Students spot patterns and cause-and-effect relationships that show up across science topics, from weather to living things to matter. Recognizing these big ideas helps students connect what they learn in one area to what they see in another.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Investigation | Students plan and run hands-on science investigations in the classroom and outside, using the right tools and safe procedures to answer questions they can actually test. | TX-SCI.PRAC.4.1 |
| Scientific and Engineering Practices | Students ask questions about the world, build simple models to explain what they observe, test design ideas, and figure out what their data means. | TX-SCI.PRAC.4.2 |
| Tools and Measurement | Students measure objects and record data using science tools like rulers, thermometers, and graduated cylinders, reporting results in metric units like centimeters or grams. | TX-SCI.PRAC.4.3 |
| Communicate Findings | Students explain what they found in an investigation and back it up with data. They share conclusions in writing, in conversation, or through charts and diagrams. | TX-SCI.PRAC.4.4 |
| Recurring Themes and Concepts | Students spot patterns and cause-and-effect relationships that show up across science topics, from weather to living things to matter. Recognizing these big ideas helps students connect what they learn in one area to what they see in another. | TX-SCI.PRAC.4.5 |
Matter and Energy
Matter and Energy
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Properties of Matter
Students learn that every material around them has physical properties (like hardness, flexibility, and how well it conducts heat) that scientists use to sort, describe, and decide how to use those materials.
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Energy Forms and Transfers
Energy can move from one object to another when they touch, collide, or interact. Students explore how heat, light, sound, and motion are different forms of energy and how each one can pass from place to place.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Properties of Matter | Students learn that every material around them has physical properties (like hardness, flexibility, and how well it conducts heat) that scientists use to sort, describe, and decide how to use those materials. | TX-SCI.ME.4.1 |
| Energy Forms and Transfers | Energy can move from one object to another when they touch, collide, or interact. Students explore how heat, light, sound, and motion are different forms of energy and how each one can pass from place to place. | TX-SCI.ME.4.2 |
Force, Motion, and Energy
Force, Motion, and Energy
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Forces and Motion
Students learn that a bigger push or pull moves an object faster, and that a heavier object needs more force to get it moving. They test these ideas by changing how hard they push and how heavy the object is.
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Patterns of Motion
Students watch how objects move, measure that movement, and use what they find to predict what the object will do next.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Forces and Motion | Students learn that a bigger push or pull moves an object faster, and that a heavier object needs more force to get it moving. They test these ideas by changing how hard they push and how heavy the object is. | TX-SCI.FME.4.1 |
| Patterns of Motion | Students watch how objects move, measure that movement, and use what they find to predict what the object will do next. | TX-SCI.FME.4.2 |
Earth and Space Sciences
Earth and Space Sciences
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Earth's Systems
Students study how Earth's land, water, air, and living things connect and affect each other, such as how rain shapes the ground or how soil supports plant life.
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Weather and Climate
Students learn why some places are hot and dry while others are cold and rainy, and how weather patterns repeat across seasons. They also look at how human activity can change the climate over time.
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Space and the Solar System
Students learn why the sun appears to rise and set, why the moon changes shape in the sky each month, and how Earth's path around the sun causes the seasons.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Earth's Systems | Students study how Earth's land, water, air, and living things connect and affect each other, such as how rain shapes the ground or how soil supports plant life. | TX-SCI.ESS.4.1 |
| Weather and Climate | Students learn why some places are hot and dry while others are cold and rainy, and how weather patterns repeat across seasons. They also look at how human activity can change the climate over time. | TX-SCI.ESS.4.2 |
| Space and the Solar System | Students learn why the sun appears to rise and set, why the moon changes shape in the sky each month, and how Earth's path around the sun causes the seasons. | TX-SCI.ESS.4.3 |
Organisms and Environments
Organisms and Environments
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Organisms and Environments
Students learn how living things are built and behave in ways that help them survive where they live. A cactus stores water, a duck has webbed feet: structures and habits match the place.
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Ecosystems
Students trace how energy moves through a food chain and how matter, like water and nutrients, cycles back into the soil and air. They also look at how animals and plants in the same area depend on, compete with, or affect each other.
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Heredity and Reproduction
Students learn how living things pass traits to their offspring, how offspring grow and change over time, and why young animals and plants tend to look like their parents.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Organisms and Environments | Students learn how living things are built and behave in ways that help them survive where they live. A cactus stores water, a duck has webbed feet: structures and habits match the place. | TX-SCI.ORG.4.1 |
| Ecosystems | Students trace how energy moves through a food chain and how matter, like water and nutrients, cycles back into the soil and air. They also look at how animals and plants in the same area depend on, compete with, or affect each other. | TX-SCI.ORG.4.2 |
| Heredity and Reproduction | Students learn how living things pass traits to their offspring, how offspring grow and change over time, and why young animals and plants tend to look like their parents. | TX-SCI.ORG.4.3 |
Assessments
The state tests students at this grade and subject take.
NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
Federally administered sample-based assessment in reading, mathematics, science, writing, and other subjects. NAEP results inform state-by-state comparisons rather than individual student or school accountability.
- When given:
- biennial in winter
- Frequency:
- every two years
Common Questions
What does fourth grade science cover this year?
Students study matter and energy, forces and motion, weather and the solar system, and living things in their habitats. They also learn how to plan a fair test, measure carefully, and explain what their results mean.
How can families support science learning at home?
Ask students to notice and explain everyday things: why ice melts faster in the sun, why a ball rolls farther on tile than carpet, or what the moon looked like last night. Five minutes of curious questions builds the habit of thinking like a scientist.
Do students need to memorize a lot of facts?
Some vocabulary matters, like the names of the planets or the parts of a plant. But most of the work is about explaining patterns and giving reasons backed by what was observed or measured.
What should planning look like across the year?
Most teachers anchor each unit in an investigation and weave the practices through every topic. Matter and forces fit well in the fall, Earth and space in the winter, and ecosystems in the spring when outdoor observations are easier.
Which topics usually need the most reteaching?
Energy transfer and the difference between weather and climate often need a second pass. Students also mix up force and motion, so plan extra time for hands-on work with ramps, carts, and simple measurements.
What science tools should students be comfortable using?
By the end of the year students should use rulers, thermometers, balances, graduated cylinders, and stopwatches without much help. They should record measurements in metric units and organize data in a simple table or chart.
How do I know students are ready for fifth grade science?
Ready students can plan a simple test, collect data, and write a conclusion that points back to what they measured. They can also describe a basic system, such as a food chain or the water cycle, and explain how its parts affect each other.
What can students do outside that counts as science?
Watching clouds, tracking the moon for a week, sorting rocks by hardness, or timing how long different objects take to fall all build real science skills. Talking through what was noticed matters more than getting a right answer.