Science — Grade 4

Shells and more

This activity involves identifying objects from the beach using a guide book and then placing the information into a prepared table.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

By Shelli Luna.

Polar bears and their adaptations

In this introductory activity, students will be introduced to the concept of adaptation by exploring how a polar bear's body adapts to survive in the harsh environment in which it lives.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

By Heather Spradling.

The Pit

The Pit is a game that can be played to review any topic. It matches picture game cards to target vocabulary on a game board. This particular lesson focuses on classification of animals.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Development and Science)

By Eileen Carter and Tracey Casto.

Incredible insect mouths

This lesson shows children that insects have different kinds of mouths. It also notes the kinds of foods that different insects eat. It is a hands-on experiment type of lesson in which the children act as insects and use different tools for their “mouths.”

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

By Kelly Stewart.

Animal report

After studying the various animal groups, students write a report about an animal of their choosing using well-formed paragraphs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Science)

By Kay Sims.

Animal environments: Day one

Students will group animals using common characteristics. Students will develop an understanding of animal adaptations. This lesson was designed to be used with the lesson "Diamante Poetry Using Environments: Day two."

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

By Cheri Cole.

Animal adaptation

This lesson focuses on the adaptations, body structures, and behavior of animals. The students will explore animal growth and adaptations of animals. This lesson is designed to be taught during the reading of Stone Fox.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Development and Science)

By Jennifer Fessler and Karen Wright.

American black bear

The students will examine the structural characteristics, behavior, and habitat of the American Black Bear necessary for survival.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

By Shanda Myers.

Resources on the web

Why study nurse shark mating?

In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore basic information about nurse sharks and read articles describing recent studies in the Florida Keys. They also read about shark conservation programs and discuss how nurse shark mating studies might assist shark... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Which turtle for the tiger shark?

In this Xpeditions lesson, students consider the reasons for the significant difference in vulnerability between the turtle species in Western Australia's Shark Bay. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

What's happening to the emperor penguins?

In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students learn about emperor penguins' habitat and behaviors through Web sites such as National Geographic's "Creature Feature." (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

What do we know about nurse shark mating?

In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students use National Geographic articles to learn some basic information about nurse sharks and see photographs of scientists conducting nurse shark studies. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Webcams in the classroom: Animal inquiry and observation

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students observe animal habits and habitats using one of the many webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world. Based on the observation of webcams, this lesson plan engages students... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Science)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

A touch of class

This Science NetLinks lesson, the second of a two-part series on classification, extends the investigation of living organisms carried out in the first lesson by exposing students to the idea that a variety of plants and animals can be classified into one... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Social trade-offs

The purpose of this lesson, from Science NetLinks, is to make and evaluate decisions by weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each alternative. In the lesson, students practice the skill of decision-making through role-playing. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Sable Island's seals, sharks, and sand lances

In this Xpeditions lesson, students discuss the concept of competition in nature and learn about competition between two seal species on Sable Island. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Responsible whale watching

This lesson, from Xpeditions, asks students to think critically about the positive and potentially negative aspects of whale-watching tours. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Punching shrimp

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about the mantis shrimp, a small crustacean that preys on snails. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Pilot whales' place in the ocean

In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore pilot whales' sociability and bonding and consider how the National Geographic Crittercam might help scientists learn more about their social behaviors. Activities in this lesson... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Little Red Riding Hood Meets--A Golden Retriever?

In this lesson students will learn about how dogs evolved from wolves, and the similarities and differences between dogs and wolves. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic