CENTERVILLE ISD

4th Grade Science

I would encourage all 4th grade parents to read the grade 4 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science located at the following web page: TEKS

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter112/ch112a.html

Basics of what we study:

• Physical Science - Students learn that matter has physical properties that can be observed and measured. By learning these properties of matter we can see how they help us to classify matter, change matter, and also uses for different types of matter. Here we study properties of matter such as size, mass, volume, states (solid, liquid, gas), temperature, magnetism, and the ability to sink and float. We study the changes caused by heating and cooling of matter. We also study a variety of mixtures and solutions. We also study force, motion and energy when studying physical science. Students learn that energy exists in many forms. We learn about mechanical, sound, electrical, light, and heat/thermal ennergy. We study conductors and insulators, electrical circuits, electromagnetic field, forces of push and pull, gravity, friction, and magnetism.
• Earth Science - Students learn that the Earth has many resources and that its surface is constantly changing. Here we examine rthe properties of soils, including color and texture, capacity to retain water, and the ability to support the growth of plants. We observe and identify slow changes to Earth's surface caused by weathering, erosion, and deposition from water, wind, and ice. We look at Earth's renewable resources, including air, plants, water, and animals; and nonrenewable resources, including coal, oil, and natural gas. In a second area of study in Earth Science students look at recognizable patterns in the natural world and among the Sun, Earth, and Moon system. Here we will study weather and weather maps. We will study the water cycle and how the Sun is the engine of the water cycle. And we will study the patterns of change in shadows, tides, seasons, and the observable appearance of the Moon over time. 
• Life Science - During this section of study we will look at how living organisms within an ecosystem interact with one another and with their environment. Here we find out about the needs of producers and consumers and we study the flow of energy through food chains and food webs. Life science also includes the study of adaptations, behaviors and structures of organisms that help them survive in their environments. We look at inherited traits and explore life cycles of living organisms.

So if you read all of the above, you can see that your student has much to cover this year. I put a large emphasis on learning the vocabulary of science, and vocabulary learned in one six weeks will continue to show up on testing material through out the year.