Subject: Science Unit 2
Grade Level: 4
Unit Title: Forces and Motion/Matter, Properties and Change
Big Idea/Theme: Magnets, Electricity, Matter, and Fossils
Timeframe Needed for Completion: 12 Weeks
Grading Period:2rd Nine Weeks
Understand how various forces affect the motion of an object.
Understand the composition and properties of matter before and after they undergo a change or interaction.
Understand the use of fossils and changes in the surface of the earth as evidence of the history of Earth and its changing life forms.
Essential Questions:
How does matter behave?
How does the study of rocks give us clues about the composition of
the Earth?
What is matter?
Why is it essential to all things?
What is a fossil?
How does erosion and weathering affect the surface of the Earth?
Are all rocks the same?
How do rocks tell the story of the earth?
Weekly Written Responses:
What is a metamorphic rock? (Igneous, Sedimentary)
Compare and contrast a mineral versus a rock.
Pretend you are a rock take us through your cycle as a rock.
Are rocks and minerals useful in your everyday life?
4.P.2 Understand the composition and properties of
matter before and after they undergo a change or
interaction.
4.P.2.1 Compare the physical properties of samples of matter (strength,
hardness, flexibility, ability to conduct heat, ability to conduct
electricity, ability to be attracted by magnets, reactions to water and
fire).
4.P.2.2 Explain how minerals are identified using tests for the physical
properties of hardness, color, luster, cleavage, and streak.
4.P.2.3 Classify rocks as metamorphic, sedimentary, or igneous based
on their composition, how they are formed and the processes that create
them.
4.E.2 Understand the use of fossils and changes in the
surface of the earth as evidence of the history of the
Earth and its changing life forms.
4.E.2.1 Compare fossils (including molds, casts, and preserved parts of
plants and animals) to one another and to living organisms.
4.E.2.2 Infer ideas about Earth’s early environments from fossils of
plants and animals that lived long ago.
4.E.2.3 Give examples of how the surface of the earth changes due to
slow processes such as erosion and weathering, and rapid processes
such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes.
Essential Skills/Vocabulary:
Soil
Metaphoric
Igneous
Sedimentary
Conglomerate
Core
Sediment Weathering
Pressure
Heat
chemicals
Cementing
Fossil
Imprint
Granite
Industry
Archeologist
Assessment Tasks:
Landslide
Volcanic eruption
Earthquake
Organisms
Magma
Lava
Decayers: dead plants
animals
erosion
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Daily 5: Informational Books, text features, read to self/read with
someone, research, work on word work, and work on writing
Identify rock samples by testing properties
Pet Rock Activity
Traveling Rock Buddies/Rock Journal (Write about the adventures
of the pet over the course of an evening with you and your family.
Be prepared to share upon returning to school.)
Missing Poster for personal Pet Rock (use properties to describe)
Geo-cashing to find missing Pet Rocks
Summarize the rock cycle
Illustrate the rock cycle
Pretend you are a rock going through the rock cycle. Describe
your journey and changes that you experienced along the way.
Write a business letter requesting space at the Albemarle Museum
to display a recent fossil discovery.
Create fossil imprints of shells etc. using casting materials
Create fossil imprints using a rubber fish and paint on t-shirts
Identify types of rocks from photographs
Teacher-made quizzes and tests
Formative assessments
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Skills:
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 Describe the properties of minerals
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 Recognize the structures of physical properties unique to individual
rocks/minerals
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 Inventory minerals used in everyday living (i.e. talc- paper making,
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plastic, paint and coatings, rubber, food, electric cable, pharmaceuticals,
cosmetics, ceramics etc.)
 Demonstrate knowledge of rock cycle
 Identify rock classifications
 How fossils are preserved/extracted
Materials Suggestions:
Share resources by posting to the shared RW drive 4th grade science
Community Workers-Power Company, Phone Company, Fire Dept. etc.)
Magic School Bus “The Magic School Bus Gets Charged”
http://cpet.ufl.edu/sift/SIFT/Contact.html
http://smithsonianeducation.org/
http://www.rocksforkids.com/
http://www.mcrocks.com/
http://aurorafossilmuseum.com/
http://www.ncgranite.com/largestquarry.aspx
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=1256
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=170152&title=Igneous_Rocks
http://www.wviz.org/psi
http://www.dickblick.com/products/gyotaku-fish-printing-replicas/#photos (rubber fish activity)
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/index.htm
www.superteacherworksheets.com
www.readingatoz.com
www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/materialproperties.html