Grade 04 Science - EC: S4.A.2.2.1

Continuum of Activities

The list below represents a continuum of activities: resources categorized by Standard/Eligible Content that teachers may use to move students toward proficiency. Using LEA curriculum and available materials and resources, teachers can customize the activity statements/questions for classroom use.

This continuum of activities offers:

Instructional activities designed to be integrated into planned lessons
Questions/activities that grow in complexity
Opportunities for differentiation for each student’s level of performance

Related Academic Standards / Eligible Content

S4.A.2.2.1 S4.A.2.2.1

Identify appropriate tools or instruments for specific tasks and describe the information they can provide (e.g., measuring: length - ruler, mass - balance scale, volume - beaker, temperature - thermometer; making observations: hand lens, binoculars, telescope).

Activities

A student wants to measure how much water is in a cup. What is the best tool to use to measure the amount of water?
Why would you use a balance scale?
What is a thermometer used to measure?
Name a tool you could use to get a closer look at a small object.
What tool would you use to measure the length of an object?

How are a microscope and a hand lens alike? How are they different?
Students want to compare the temperature of a sunny spot and a spot in the shade. Which tool should they use to measure the temperatures? Why is it the best tool to use?

One of your classmates wants to use a metric ruler to find the mass of a rock. Either explain why this is the correct tool or tell your classmates the best tool to use and why.

Answer Key/Rubric

A beaker
To measure the mass of an object.
Temperature
A hand lens, magnifying glass, microscope
A ruler
Acceptable responses might include, but are not limited to:

Both are used to magnify images and objects
Both available with different levels of magnifying power, depending on what lens is being used
A hand lens can be used and held using only one hand
Microscope can take both hands to focus and change the objects
Microscopes are good for seeing very small objects
Hand lens does not have the ability to see super tiny objects

Student is able to identify that a thermometer is the best tool to use in order to measure temperature and can describe why it is the best tool to use.
Student recognizes that a ruler is the incorrect tool to use and suggests using a balance. Student can clearly explain why to use a balance and why the student should not use a ruler.

Example reasons include, but are not limited to:

A ruler is used to measure the length of an object
A balance would be able to measure the mass of the object because as you place the rock on the balance plate, you can adjust the sliders to measure the exact mass