Grade 04 Science - EC: S4.A.2.1.3
Grade 04 Science - EC: S4.A.2.1.3
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
Activities
- Define an observation.
- What are five tools you can use to make an observation?
- What is data?
- Look at the chart below. At what time do you think the sun will set on Saturday evening?
Day of the Week |
Time of Sunset |
Sunday |
8:32pm |
Monday |
8:31pm |
Tuesday |
8:30pm |
Wednesday |
8:29pm |
Thursday |
|
Friday |
|
Saturday |
|
- Look at the chart below. Which plant do you think will grow the most? Why?
|
Hours of Sunlight Each Day |
Amount of Water Each Day |
Plant 1 |
8 hours |
20mL |
Plant 2 |
4 hours |
10mL |
Plant 3 |
2 hours |
5mL |
- Each night for two weeks, go outside at the same time. Look for the moon. Create a data table and draw a picture to show the shape of the moon. Then, based on your observations, predict what the moon will look like for the next three days. Explain your reasoning.
- On a sunny day, find an object outside such as a tree, a basketball post, or a swing set. Go outside each hour or every other hour during the school day to observe the movement of the shadow. Predict where the shadow of the object would be before 9:00am and after 3:00pm. Explain your reasoning.
Answer Key/Rubric
- An observation is information gathered using your senses.
- Answers include, but are not limited to: hand lens, ruler, beaker, balance scale, microscope, senses
- Data is information gathered from observations or an experiment.
- 8:26pm (Sunset decreases by 1 minute each night)
- Student is able to make an accurate prediction and explain and support their reasoning using prior knowledge of plant growth.
- Student should have correctly documented the shape of the moon each night for the week, and should follow the same pattern as the lunar calendar. Student is able to make an accurate prediction based on the collected data and support their reasoning using prior knowledge of the moon’s phases.
- Use the following rubric to grade the student's understanding:
Needs Improvement or Reinforcement |
Basic Understanding |
Mastery |
Student is unable to create a data table and cannot make a prediction based on the data collected. |
Student is able to make an accurate prediction based on the collected data and explain their reasoning. |
Student is able to make an accurate prediction based on the collected data and support their reasoning using prior knowledge of the movement of the sun. |