4th Grade
Science
Unit A: Physical Sciences
Chapter 1: Electricity
Lesson 1: How do charged objects behave?
electric charge
An electric charge is a property of
some part of matter, described as
positive or negative.
Atoms are made of
even small particles.
Some of these
particles have
electric charge.
Oral Response Task
What is an electric charge?
neutral
Neutral means neither positive or
negative.
The matter has no
charge. It is
neutral.
Oral Response Task
Restate the definition of neutral.
attract
To attract means to be pulled toward
each other.
Objects wit unlike
charges are pulled
toward, or attract,
each other.
Oral Response Task
Explain what it means to attract.
repel
To repel means to be pulled away from
each other.
Objects with like
charges are
pushed away from,
or repel, each
other.
Oral Response Task
Explain what it means to repel.
electron
An electron is the part of an atom with
a negative charge.
When objects are
near each other,
electrons can move
from one object to
another.
Oral Response Task
Describe an electron.
static electricity
Static electricity is the build-up of
positive or negative charges.
Ice and water droplets
inside clouds rub against
each other. Positive
charges build up near the
top clouds, and negative
charges build up near the
bottom clouds. In time, the
static electrical energy is
released.
Oral Response Task
Explain static electricity.
4th Grade
Science
Unit A: Physical Sciences
Chapter 1: Electricity
Lesson 2: How do electric charges move?
electric current
Electric current is electric charges in
motion.
Batteries can cause
electricity to flow.
Other devices change
electric current into
other forms of energy.
Oral Response Task
Discuss the definition of an electric
current.
circuits
Electric circuits are the paths of
currents that have controlled direction
and flow.
If the direction and flow
of current are
controlled, the path that
the current flows is
called an electrical
circuit.
Oral Response Task
Describe electric circuits.
conductors
Conductors are materials that have
low resistance and allow electricity to
flow easily.
The switches, wires, and
clips are conductors.
Many conductors are
made of metal.
Oral Response Task
Explain the definition of a conductor.
resistance
Resistance is a property of material
that does not allow electric current to
flow easily through it.
The thin coiled wire
inside the bulb is a
resistor.
Oral Response Task
Differentiate between resistor and a
conductor.
series circuit
A series circuit is a circuit in which
electric charge can flow only in one
path.
A series circuit can
have more than one
resistor.
Oral Response Task
Restate the definition of a series circuit.
4th Grade
Science
Unit A: Physical Sciences
Chapter 1: Electricity
Lesson 3: What are parallel circuits?
parallel circuits
Parallel circuits are circuits with two or
more path through which electric current
can flow.
Parallel circuits are
circuits that have more
than one branch. The
current can be switched in
one branch and still flow
through the other
branches.
Oral Response Task
Describe parallel circuits.
short circuit
A short circuit occurs when electric
current that follows a path other than
the path meant for it to flow.
Short circuits often
happen when a frayed or
damaged wire touches a
good conductor, such as
metal or water.
Oral Response Task
Hypothesize what could happen if there
were a short circuit.
4th Grade
Science
Unit A: Physical Sciences
Chapter 2: Magnetism
Lesson 1: What are magnetic fields?
magnetism
Magnetism is a force that acts on either
a moving electric charge or a material
that is near a magnet.
Magnetism is a pulling
or pushing force
caused by the motion
of electric charges.
Oral Response Task
Describe magnetism.
magnetic field
A magnetic field is the space around a
magnet in which magnetic forces
operate.
Magnetic fields are
invisible, but you can
detect their shapes
by using iron filings.
Oral Response Task
Analyze the characteristics of a
magnetic field.
magnetic poles
Magnetic poles are the two ends of a
magnet, called the north magnetic pole
and the south magnetic pole.
The magnetic field is
stronger in the magnetic
poles. The north and
south magnetic poles
are pulled to the north
and south by the Earth’s
magnetic field.
Oral Response Task
Differentiate between the magnetic poles.
force
Force is strength or power exerted upon
an object.
A magnetic field is the
space around a
magnet in which
magnetic forces
operate.
Oral Response Task
Describe a force.
iron filings
Iron filings are small particles of iron.
Iron filings
show the
magnetic field
around each
magnet.
Oral Response Task
Define iron filings.
magnet
A magnet is something that attracts iron
and certain other metals.
A U –shaped magnet
has two poles. If it is
broken, the pieces are
not longer U-shaped.
But each piece still has
a north and south pole.
Oral Response Task
Describe a magnet.
4th Grade
Science
Unit A: Physical Sciences
Chapter 2: Magnetism
Lesson 2: What are magnetic effects?
compass
A compass is an instrument that has a
magnetic needle that point to the north.
Wherever you are on
Earth, one end of a
compass needle will
point toward Earth’s
magnetic north pole.
Oral Response Task
Restate the definition of a compass.
magnetite
Magnetite is a black magnetic mineral,
found in igneous and metamorphic rocks
that is strongly attracted by magnets.
Magnetite is a rock
that pulls the
compass needle
away from the
north.
Oral Response Task
Describe the properties of a magnetite
rock.
4th Grade
Science
Unit A: Physical Sciences
Chapter 2: Magnetism
Lesson 3: How are electric currents and magnetic
fields related?
electromagnet
An electromagnet is a coil of wire
through which electric current passes,
creating a magnetic field.
The strength of a
electromagnet can be
changed by putting an
iron or steel bar inside
the coil or wire.
Oral Response Task
Discuss how an electromagnet works.
4th Grade
Science
Unit A: Physical Sciences
Chapter 2: Magnetism
Lesson 4: How are electromagnets used?
transformer
A transformer is an electric device that
uses an electric magnet to transform
electric energy.
A transformer
controls the amount
of current that is sent
to the electromagnet.
Oral Response Task
Describe a transformer.
motion
Motion is the change in the position of
an object over time.
Mechanical energy
is the energy
involved in motion.
Oral Response Task
Describe motion.
generator
A generator is a machine that uses
moving magnets to produce electrical
energy.
Huge generators
provide the electric
power for most homes,
buildings, and
factories.
Oral Response Task
Restate the purpose of a generator.