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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Natural and Processed Materials PowerPoint
A teaching presentation comparing natural and processed materials and how humans make scientific comparisons.
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Initiating a Scientific Investigation Worksheet
A worksheet to help the students begin the process of a scientific investigation.
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Life Cycle of a Numbat Poster
A poster showing the life cycle of a numbat.
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Weathering and Erosion Poster
Learn how weathering and erosion can cause slow changes to Earth’s surface with this printable poster.
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Food Webs - Research Project
Explore the food webs that exist in various biomes around the world with this student-centred inquiry task.
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Lab Safety Interactive and Printable Cloze Reading Activity
Assess students' understanding of lab safety rules and expectations with this cloze reading activity.
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Bushland Habitat: Predator or Prey? - Worksheet
Sort animals according to whether they are classified as predators, prey, or both with this worksheet.
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Force and Motion – Poster Pack
Display information about force and motion with this set of 12 vocabulary posters.
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Five Wonders Theme Park: Slither House Sketch – Project
An inquiry project that encourages students to research animals and their habitats and design a reptile house in a theme park.
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Producer, Consumer, Decomposer - Poster
A poster explaining the roles of the Sun, producers, consumers, and decomposers in the food chain.
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Which Force Is That? Worksheet
Use this forces worksheet to teach your Year 4 students about the common forces of friction, buoyancy and gravity.
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Natural Materials Poster
A poster displaying different natural materials and explaining what natural materials are.
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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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Fantastic Forces Comprehension Worksheet
Download this forces reading comprehension worksheet to teach your Year 4 students about push and pull forces.
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The Force of Friction Teaching Slides
Teach your students facts about friction with this comprehensive and age-appropriate teaching presentation for primary school science lessons.
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My Ecological Footprint - Reference Sheet
Teach your students about the things we do that affect the Earth with an ecological footprint reference sheet.
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Processed Materials Poster
A poster displaying different processed materials and explaining what processed materials are.
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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Mini-Book
Introduce your students to the different slow changes to Earth’s surface with a printable mini-book designed for year 4 and 5 students.
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Weathering vs. Erosion Worksheet Pack
Support student understanding of weathering and erosion with this reading comprehension passage, worksheet and accompanying vocabulary activities.
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Wetlands Food Chain - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Create a wetlands food chain to show how energy flows between organisms with this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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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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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Flipbook
Learn about the causes and effects of weathering, erosion and deposition with a printable flipbook.
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Magnets and Magnetism Teaching Slides
Teach your students how magnets and magnetism work with this comprehensive and age-appropriate teaching presentation for primary school science lessons.
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What is a Fair Test? - Middle Years PowerPoint
A 17 slide PowerPoint to use when teaching your students about how to make a fair test in Science.
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The Force of Friction Comprehension Worksheets
Download this friction worksheet to teach your Year 4 students about the force of friction and its impact on our daily lives.
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Weathering vs. Erosion vs. Deposition Vocabulary Game
Guide your students to review weathering, erosion and deposition vocabulary words with this free dice game.
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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Doodle Notes
Engage your students with a set of science doodle notes when learning about erosion, weathering and deposition.
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Rainforest Food Chain - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Create a rainforest food chain to show how energy flows between organisms with this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Forest Biome Food Web – Worksheet
Challenge students to create a food web and explain how energy flows between organisms with this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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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.
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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition – Word Search
Strengthen your students' understanding of weathering, erosion and deposition terms with a vocabulary word search.
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Comparing Energy Sources Worksheet & Graphic Organiser
Compare and contrast different types of renewable energy sources with a printable graphic organiser.