Rockingham County Public Schools

Fourth Grade Science Benchmarks

A Guide for Parent Involvement

 

1st Nine Weeks

Scientific investigation, reasoning, & logic; 4.1

á       Observations, conclusions, and predictions

á       Data displayed using bar and line graphs

á       Metric measure

á       Instruments for measurement

á       Predictions from graphs

á       Hypotheses based on cause and effect

á       Variables in experimental design

á       Contradictory results in numerical data

 

Plant life processes; 4.4

á       Plant anatomy (leaves, stems, roots, flowers)

á       Reproduction processes & structures (pollination, stamen, pistil, sepal, embryo, spore, seed)

á       Photosynthesis (sunlight, chlorophyll, water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, sugar)

á       Dormancy

 

Ecosystems; 4.5

á       Behavioral and structural adaptations

á       Organization of communities

á       Flows of energy - food        webs

á       Habitats and niches

á       Life cycles

á       Impact of human activity on ecosystems

 

Earth/space systems; 4.7

á       Motions of Earth, moon, and sun (rotation and revolution)

á       Causes for EarthÕs seasons

á       Phases of the moon

á       Earth, moon, and sun (relative size, position, age, and makeup)

á       Historical contributions in understanding Earth-moon-sun system

 

 

2nd Nine Weeks

Scientific investigation, reasoning, & logic; 4.1

á       Observations, conclusions, and predictions

á       Data displayed using bar and line graphs

á       Metric measure

á       Instruments for measurement

á       Predictions from graphs

á       Hypotheses based on cause and effect

á       Variables in experimental design

á       Contradictory results in numerical data

 

Earth/atmospheric systems; 4.6

á       Weather measurements and meteorological tools

á       Air pressure-barometer

á       Wind speed-anemometer

á       Rainfall-rain gauge

á       Temperature-thermometer

á       Weather phenomena-fronts, clouds, and storms

 

Earth/space systems; 4.7

á       Motions of Earth, moon, and sun (rotation and revolution)

á       Causes for EarthÕs seasons

á       Phases of the moon

á       Earth, moon, and sun (relative size, position, age, and makeup)

á       Historical contributions in understanding Earth-moon-sun system

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3rd Nine Weeks

Scientific investigation, reasoning, & logic; 4.1

á       Observations, conclusions, and predictions

á       Data displayed using bar and line graphs

á       Metric measure

á       Instruments for measurement

á       Predictions from graphs

á       Hypotheses based on cause and effect

á       Variables in experimental design

á       Contradictory results in numerical data

 

Force, motion, and energy; 4.2

á       Motion described by objectÕs direction and speed

á       Forces cause changes in motion

á       Friction is a force that opposes motion

á       Moving objects have kinetic energy

 

Electricity; 4.3

á       Static electricity

á       Historical contributions

á       Electrical energy transformed into heat, light, and mechanical energy

á       Conductors and Insulators

á       Basic Circuits (open/close, parallel/series)

á       Simple electromagnets and magnetism

 

Virginia Natural Resources; 4.8

á       Water resources and watersheds

á       Animals and plants

á       Minerals, rocks, ores, energy sources

á       Forests, soil, land

 

4th Nine Weeks

Scientific investigation, reasoning, & logic; 4.1

á       Observations, conclusions, and predictions

á       Data displayed using bar and line graphs

á       Metric measure

á       Instruments for measurement

á       Predictions from graphs

á       Hypotheses based on cause and effect

á       Variables in experimental design

á       Contradictory results in numerical data

 

Electricity; 4.3

á       Conductors and Insulators

á       Basic Circuits (open/close, parallel/series)

á       Simple electromagnets and magnetism

 

Virginia Natural Resources; 4.8

á       Water resources and watersheds

á       Animals and plants

á       Minerals, rocks, ores, energy sources

á       Forests, soil, land

 

 

 

Review concepts for SOLs

 

 

**  The numbers throughout the Benchmarks refer to the Virginia Science Standards of Learning objectives.  For example, Ò4.3Ó refers to Fourth Grade SOL objective number Ò3Ó.