Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
NM Statute 22-13-1.6.A. Each school district shall align its curricula to meet the state standards for each grade level and subject area so that students who
transfer between public schools within the school district receive the same educational opportunity within the same grade or subject area.
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: SCIENTIFIC THINKING
AND PRACTICE
Standard I: Understand the processes of scientific
investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of
observing, experimenting, predicting and validating
to think critically.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Use instruments to perform
investigations (e.g., timers,
balances) and communicate
findings.
2. Differentiate observation from
interpretation and understand that a
scientific explanation comes in part
from what is observed and in part
from how observation is interpreted.
3. Conduct multiple trials to test a
prediction, draw logical conclusions,
and construct and interpret graphs
from measurements.
4. Collect data in an investigation
using multiple techniques, including
control groups, and analyze those
data to determine what other
investigations could be conducted
to validate findings.
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
xxviii-xxxi, 3, 4, 23, 69, 162–163, 164–165, 176,
200–201, 250–251, 260, 274–275, 284, 298–299,
308–311, 312, 322–327, 338–339, 348, 352–353,
360–361, 362–363, 384–385, 386, 394–395, 426–
427, 436, 447, 450–451, 484–487, 488, 516, 560–
561, 572–575, 576, EM1
xxii-xxv, xxvi, xxvii, 4, 34–35, 44, 66–67, 76, 96–97,
108, 109, 130–131, 140, 162–163, 172–175, 236,
250–251, 260, 274–275, 284, 298–299, 308–311,
316, 317, 338–339, 348, 372, 394–395, 404, 426–
427, 450–451, 474–475, 492, 506–507, 538–539,
548, 560–561, EMix-EMxi
200–201, 360–361, 436, 450–451, 474–475, 484–
487, 572–575
K-4 Benchmark I: Use scientific methods to observe,
collect, record, analyze, predict, interpret, and determine
reasonableness of data.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
xxii-xxv, 96–97, 130–131, 162–163, 172–175, 200–
201, 250–251, 274–275, 298–299, 308–311, 338–
339, 394–395, 426–427, 474–475, 560–561
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 1
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: SCIENTIFIC THINKING
AND PRACTICE
Standard I: Understand the processes of scientific
investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of
observing, experimenting, predicting and validating
to think critically.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Communicate ideas and present
findings about scientific
investigations that are open to
critique from others.
2. Describe how scientific
investigations may differ from one
another (e.g., observations of
nature, measurements of things
changing over time).
3. Understand how data are used to
explain how simple system
functions (e.g., a thermometer to
measure heat loss as water cools).
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
xxii–xxv, xxvi, xxvii, 4, 34–35, 44, 66–67, 76, 96–
97, 108, 130–131, 140, 162–163, 172–175, 176,
180, 236, 250–251, 260, 274–275, 284, 298–299,
308–311, 312, 316, 338–339, 348, 372, 394–395,
404, 426–427, 450–451, 460, 474–475, 484–487,
488, 492, 506–507, 538–539, 548, 560–561, 572–
575, 576
xxii-xxv, 4, 34–35, 44, 66–67, 76, 96–97, 108, 130–
131, 140, 162–163, 172–175, 180, 200–201, 212,
226–227, 236, 250–251, 260, 274–275, 284, 298–
299, 308–311, 316, 338–339, 348, 360–361, 372,
394–395, 404, 426–427, 436, 450–451, 460, 474–
475, 484–487, 492, 506–507, 516, 538–539, 548,
560–561, 572–575
76, 79, 130–131, 147, 151, 152, 200–201, 212,
217, 232, 360–361, 379, 388–389, 394–395, 460,
474–475, 476–477, 497, 508–509, 548, 560–561,
572–575
K-4 Benchmark II: Use scientific thinking and knowledge
and communicate findings.
Supplemental Materials
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Month(s) when Addressed
Page 2
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: SCIENTIFIC THINKING
AND PRACTICE
Standard I: Understand the processes of scientific
investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of
observing, experimenting, predicting and validating
to think critically.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Conduct multiple trials using
simple mathematical techniques to
make and test predications.
2. Use mathematical equations to
formulate and justify predictions
based on cause-and-effect
relationships.
3. Identify simple mathematical
relationships in a scientific
investigation (e.g., the relationship
of the density of materials that will
or will not float in water to the
density of water).
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
130–131, 200–201, 308–311, 432, 436, 450–451,
484–487, 572–575
K-4 Benchmark III: Use mathematical skills and
vocabulary to analyze data, understand patterns and
relationships, and communicate findings.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
197, 226–227, 360–361, 436, 450–451, 452–453,
484–487, 517
68–69, 98–99, 130–131, 132–133, 172–175, 191,
200–201, 202–203, 260, 298–299, 300–301, 308–
311, 316, 326–327, 340–341, 360–361, 394–395,
404, 428–429, 436, 450–451, 484–487, 492, 516,
572–575
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 3
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: CONTENT OF SCIENCE
Standard I (Physical Science): Understand the
structure and properties of matter, the
characteristics of energy, and the interactions
between matter and energy.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Know that changes to matter may
be chemical or physical and when
two or more substances are
combined, a new substance may be
formed with properties that are
different from those of the original
substances (e.g., white glue and
borax, cornstarch and water,
vinegar and baking soda).
2. Know that materials are made up
of small particles (atoms and
molecules) that are too small to see
with the naked eye.
3. Know that the mass of the same
amount of material remains
constant whether it is together, in
parts, or in a different state.
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
180, 186–187, 242–245, 246–249, 260, 261, 263–
265, 298–299, 313E, 314–315, 318–321, 328–331,
332–337, 338–339, 350
K-4 Benchmark I: Recognize that matter has different
forms and properties.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
188–189, 318–321, 332–335, 337, 350–353, 375,
378, 383, 408, 410
322–323, 336
This objective can also be developed from:
200–201, 320–321, 334–335, 360–361, 484–487
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 4
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: CONTENT OF SCIENCE
Standard I (Physical Science): Understand the
structure and properties of matter, the
characteristics of energy, and the interactions
between matter and energy.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Identify the characteristics of
several different forms of energy
and describe how energy can be
converted from one form to another
(e.g., light to heat, motion to heat,
electricity to heat, light, or motion).
2. Recognize that energy can be
stored in many ways (e.g., potential
energy in gravity or springs,
chemical energy in batteries).
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
48–49, 292–293, 346–347, 348, 349, 350, 351,
354–359, 366–367, 370–371, 374–377, 378–381,
386–389, 390–393, 394–395, 402–403, 406–411,
412–415, 416–419, 420–425, 426–427
3. Describe how some waves move
through materials (e.g., water,
sound) and how others can move
through a vacuum (e.g., x-ray,
television, radio).
358–359, 402–403, 404, 405, 406–411, 406, 412–
415, 416–419, 420–425, 426–427, 555
4. Demonstrate how electricity flows
through a simple circuit (e.g., by
constructing one).
370–371, 378–381, 386, 390, 394–395
K-4 Benchmark II: Know that energy is needed to get
things done and that energy has different forms.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
48–49, 282–283, 292–294, 298–299, 379, 393,
394–395, 434–435, 448–449, 450–451, 482–483,
488
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 5
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: CONTENT OF SCIENCE
Standard I (Physical Science): Understand the
structure and properties of matter, the
characteristics of energy, and the interactions
between matter and energy.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Know that energy can be carried
from one place to another by waves
(e.g., water waves, sound waves),
by electric currents, and by moving
objects.
2. Describe the motion of an object
by measuring its change of position
over a period of time.
3. Describe that gravity exerts more
force on objects with greater mass
(e.g., it takes more force to hold up
a heavy object than a lighter one).
4. Describe how some forces act on
contact and other forces act at a
distance (e.g., a person pushing a
rock versus gravity acting on a
rock).
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
293, 308–311, 348, 350–353, 354–359, 366–367,
370–371, 372, 378–381, 386–389, 390–393, 394–
395, 406–411, 412–415, 416–419, 426–427, 448–
449, 460, 488
K-4 Benchmark III: Identify forces and describe the
motion of objects.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
434–435, 436, 437, 438–441, 452–453, 484–487,
497, 506–507
322–323, 434–435, 446–447, 454–455, 576
188–189, 268–269, 274–275, 308–311, UC3, 372,
374–377, 382–385, 394–395, 434–435, 438, 442–
445, 446–447, 450–451, 460, 462–467, 468–469,
484–487, 520–521, 524
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 6
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: CONTENT OF SCIENCE
Standard II (Life Science): Understand the
properties, structures, and processes of living
things and the interdependence of living things and
their environments.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Explain that different living
organisms have distinctive
structures and body systems that
serve specific functions (e.g.,
walking, flying, swimming).
2. Know that humans and other
living things have senses to help
them detect stimuli, and that
sensations (e.g., hunger) and stimuli
(e.g., changes in the environment)
influence the behavior of organisms.
3. Describe how roots are
associated with the intake of water
and soil nutrients and green leaves
are associated with making food
from sunlight (photosynthesis).
4. Describe the components of and
relationships among organisms in a
food chain (e.g., plants are the
primary source of energy for living
systems).
5. Describe how all living things are
made up of smaller units that are
called cells.
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
2–3, 4, 5, 6–9, 11, 14–17, 18–25, 26–33, 42–43,
46–49, 50–53, 54–57, 58–65, 66–67, 138–139,
140, 141, 142–147, 148–151, 152–155, 156–161,
172–175, 405
K-4 Benchmark I: Know that living things have diverse
forms, structures, functions, and habitats.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
20–21, 29–33, 114–115, 154, 172–175, 405, 415,
423, 432
UA1, 9, 11, 14–15, 42–43, 44, 46–49, 50–53, 58–
59, 84, 291
60–61, 74–75, 77, 84–89, 90–95, 96–97, 104, 112–
113
2–3, 4, 5, 6–9, 10–11, 46–49, 50, 138–139, 142–
147, 148–151, 152–155, 156–161
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 7
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Strand: CONTENT OF SCIENCE
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Standard II (Life Science): Understand the
properties, structures, and processes of living
things and the interdependence of living things and
their environments.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Know that in any particular
environment some kinds of plants
and animals survive well, some
survive less well, and others cannot
survive at all.
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
UA3, 20–21, 63, 68–69, 74–75, 76, 77, 78–83, 84–
85, 102–103, 106–107, 108, 110–113, 114–117,
118–123, 130–131, 172–175
2. Know that a change in physical
structure or behavior can improve
an organism’s chance of survival
(e.g., a chameleon changes color, a
turtle pulls its head into its shell, a
plant grows toward the light).
3. Describe how some living
organisms have developed
characteristics from generation to
generation to improve chances of
survival (e.g., spines on cacti, long
beaks on hummingbirds, good
eyesight on hawks).
UA2, UA4, 26–33, 48, 50–53, 60–61, 80–83, 84–
85, 114–117, 120–121, 172–175
K-4 Benchmark II: Know that living things have
similarities and differences and that living things change
over time.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
26–33, 80–83, 84–85, 106–107, 114–115, 120–121
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 8
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Strand: CONTENT OF SCIENCE
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Know that the human body has
many parts that interact to function
as systems (e.g., skeletal,
muscular) and describe the parts
and their specific functions in
selected systems (e.g., the nose,
lungs, and diaphragm in the
respiratory system).
2. Recognize that the human body
is organized from cells, to tissues, to
organs, to systems, to the organism.
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Standard II (Life Science): Understand the
properties, structures, and processes of living
things and the interdependence of living things and
their environments.
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
6–9, 138–139, 140, 141, 142–147, 148–151, 152–
155, 156–161
K-4 Benchmark III: Know the parts of the human body
and their functions.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
6–9, 138–139, 142–147, 148–151, 152–155, 156–
161
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 9
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: CONTENT OF SCIENCE
Standard III (Earth and Space Science):
Understand the structure of Earth, the solar system,
and the universe, the interconnections among
them, and the processes and interactions of Earth’s
systems.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Understand that the number of
stars visible through a telescope is
much greater than the number
visible to the naked eye.
2. Know that there are various types
of telescopes that use different
forms of light to observe distant
objects in the sky.
3. Know that the pattern of stars
(e.g., constellations) stays the same
although they appear to move
across the sky nightly due to Earth’s
rotation.
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
xxviii–xxix, UD1, 495, 504–505, 518–519, 544
K-4 Benchmark I: Know the structure of the solar system
and the objects in the universe.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
xxviii-xxix, 424–425, 521, 529–530, 536, 544
490–491, 494, 500–501, 504–505, 506–507
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 10
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: CONTENT OF SCIENCE
Standard III (Earth and Space Science):
Understand the structure of Earth, the solar system,
and the universe, the interconnections among
them, and the processes and interactions of Earth’s
systems.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Know that the properties of rocks
and minerals reflect the processes
that shaped them (i.e., igneous,
metamorphic, and sedimentary
rocks).
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
UB1, UB3, 234–235, 236, 238–241, 242–245, 246–
249, 250–251, 258–259, 260, 260, 261, 262–265,
266–269, 270–273, 288–289
2. Describe how weather patterns
generally move from west to east in
the United States.
178–179, 190–192, 196–197, UD2
3. Know that local weather
information describes patterns of
change over a period of time (e.g.,
temperature, precipitation symbols,
cloud conditions, wind
speed/direction).
UB2, 178–179, 182–185, 186–189, 190–193, 194–
197, 202–203, 206–207, 210–211, 222–225, 498–
499
K-4 Benchmark II: Know the structure and formation of
Earth and its atmosphere and the processes that shape
them.
Supplemental Materials
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Month(s) when Addressed
Page 11
Grade 4 Science Curriculum Alignment with State Standards
District:
Textbook: Scott Foresman Science
Strand: SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Standard I: Understand how scientific discoveries,
inventions, practices, and knowledge influence, and
are influenced by, individuals and societies.
Grade 4 Performance Standards
1. Know that science has identified
substances called pollutants that
get into the environment and can be
harmful to living things.
2. Know that, through science and
technology, a wide variety of
materials not appearing in nature
have become available (e.g., steel,
plastic, nylon, fiber optics).
3. Know that science has created
ways to store and retrieve
information (e.g., paper and ink,
printing press, computers, CD
ROMs) but that these are not
perfect (e.g., faulty programming,
defective hardware).
4. Know that both men and women
of all races and social backgrounds
choose science as a career.
Grade 4 Textbook Pages
104, 106–107, 124–127, 128–129, 130–131, 198–
199, 294–295, 296–297, 312, UD3, 551–553
K-4 Benchmark I: Describe how science influences
decisions made by individuals and societies.
Supplemental Materials
Month(s) when Addressed
297, 330, 350, 355, 425, 546–547, 550–555
xxxi, 220–221, 546–547, 556–557, 559, 566–567,
568, 571
40, 72, 104, 136, 160, 168, 208, 256, 280, 304,
344, 368, 400, 432, 456, 480, UD4, 512, 566–567,
568
Page references are to the Teacher’s Edition, which contains facsimile Student Edition and ancillary pages.
Page 12