Year 4
The science inquiry skills and science as a human endeavour strands are described across a two-year band. In their planning, schools and teachers refer to the expectations outlined in the achievement standard and also to the content of the science understanding strand for the relevant year level to ensure that these two strands are addressed over the two-year period. The three strands of the curriculum are interrelated and their content is taught in an integrated way. The order and detail in which the content descriptions are organised into teaching and learning programs are decisions to be made by the teacher.
Incorporating the key ideas of science
Over Years 3 to 6, students develop their understanding of a range of systems operating at different time and geographic scales.
In Year 4, students broaden their understanding of classification and form and function through an exploration of the properties of natural and processed materials. They learn that forces include non-contact forces and begin to appreciate that some interactions result from phenomena that can't be seen with the naked eye. They begin to appreciate that current systems, such as Earth's surface, have characteristics that have resulted from past changes and that living things form part of systems. They understand that some systems change in predictable ways, such as through cycles. They apply their knowledge to make predictions based on interactions within systems, including those involving the actions of humans.
(source: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au)
Achievement Standard
By the end of Year 4, students apply the observable properties of materials to explain how objects and materials can be used. They describe how contact and non-contact forces affect interactions between objects. They discuss how natural processes and human activity cause changes to Earth’s surface. They describe relationships that assist the survival of living things and sequence key stages in the life cycle of a plant or animal. They identify when science is used to understand the effect of their actions.
Students follow instructions to identify investigable questions about familiar contexts and make predictions based on prior knowledge. They describe ways to conduct investigations and safely use equipment to make and record observations with accuracy. They use provided tables and column graphs to organise data and identify patterns. Students suggest explanations for observations and compare their findings with their predictions. They suggest reasons why a test was fair or not. They use formal and informal ways to communicate their observations and findings.
(source: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au)
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Life Cycle of a Bean Activity Pack
Organise, record, and display information about the life cycle of a bean with these activity templates.
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Forms of Energy – Year 4 Science Experiments for Kids
Investigate mechanical, electrical, light, thermal and sound energy with this set of science activities for kids.
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What is Pollution? Instructional Slide Deck
Show your students the types of pollution and their effects with an instructional slide deck.
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Layers of the Earth
An educational poster showing the structure of the Earth.
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Freedom of Choice PowerPoint - Developing Scientific Lines of Questioning
A teaching presentation discussing the development of scientific lines of questioning.
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Silkworm Life Cycle - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Help your students concrete their understanding of silkworm life cycles with this interactive game.
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Flood Vocabulary Task
A vocabulary task for students to use when demonstrating their understanding of the impact of floods in Australia.
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Air Resistance Force Investigation
Use this engaging air resistance force experiment when teaching your students about air friction and the effect it has on the effectiveness of a parachute.
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Earthly Word Search with Answers
The Earthly Word Search uses scientific vocabulary in a fun way!
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All About Friction Mini-Book
Teach your students about the force of friction with this printable mini-book perfect for Year 4 science lessons.
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Slow Changes to Earth's Surface Task Cards
Guide your students to answer vocabulary and situational questions about weathering, erosion and deposition with this set of 24 task cards.
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Build a Food Chain - Sorting Activity
Create food chains for a variety of ecosystems with this hands-on, student-centred activity.
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Living and Non-Living Things - Word Wall Vocabulary
Discover the world of living and nonliving things, starting with a printable vocabulary word wall.
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Biome Food Web - Posters
Learn how energy flows through food webs in different biomes with this set of classroom posters.
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Food Chains – Worksheet
Use this worksheet to identify and describe the flow of energy in a food chain.
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Man-Made vs Natural Materials Worksheet
Identify man-made and natural materials in the classroom with a gallery walk organiser.
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Life Cycle of a Tree – Worksheet
Piece together the life cycle of a tree with this cut and paste worksheet.
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Food Webs vs. Food Chains – Teaching Presentation
Learn about the difference between a food chain and a food web with this 18-slide teaching presentation.
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Force and Motion Experiment – Throwing, Dropping, Bouncing, Rolling
Use this hands-on force and motion experiment when teaching your students about how forces influence the movement of objects.
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Magnet Experiment – Magnetic Flux Lines
Use this engaging magnet experiment when teaching your students about magnetic fields and their effect on magnetic objects.
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Balloon Car Experiment – Speed Racer
Use this hands-on balloon car experiment when teaching your Year 4 students about thrust force and its effect on the speed of objects.
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The Force of Gravity Teaching Slides
Teach your students facts about gravity with this comprehensive and age-appropriate teaching presentation for primary school science lessons.
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Science Experiment - Suck It Up!
A science experiment which investigates the absorptive properties of various materials.
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Natural Disaster Posters
Posters with pictures for eight different types of natural disasters.
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Life Cycle of a Frog
A poster showing the life cycle of a frog.
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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Vocabulary Posters
Display this set of science vocabulary posters in your classroom when teaching about weathering, erosion and deposition.
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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Matching Game
Challenge your students to identify different slow changes to Earth’s surface with this matching game designed for year 4 and 5 students.
- Free Plan
Forest Food Chain – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Create a forest food chain to show how energy flows between organisms with this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Arctic Food Chain - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Create an Arctic food chain to show how energy flows between organisms with this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Food Chains - Interactive Activity
Review producers, consumers and decomposers in food chains with this interactive digital quiz.
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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition – Sorting Activity
Categorise examples of deposition, weathering and erosion with this 24-card sorting activity.
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Types of Weathering – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Use this cut-and-paste worksheet when classifying examples that show mechanical, chemical or biological weathering.