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Grade 4 Kits

Grade 4 Units

Fourth graders embark on exciting investigations that bring science to life—from uncovering fossils to exploring energy at the fair. They model sensory processing, track Earth's changes and decode hidden messages using waves. Hands-on challenges encourage curiosity, critical thinking and real-world problem-solving.

A Walk in the Park

Students model how animals in a park process sensory information and react. Emphasis is placed on sight as students develop models to understand how animals, including humans, see when light reflected from objects enters their eyes. Students investigate how structures support the survival, growth and reproduction of plants in the park.

Kit Details

Suggested Length: 8 weeks

Number of Sessions: 16

NYSSLS Alignment: Structure, Function and Information Processing

Teacher Resources (password required)

Earth Processes in New York State

Students investigate a mysterious bone found in local soil, sparking curiosity about its origins. They learn how rock formations and fossils show Earth’s changing landscapes, analyze maps to uncover patterns and study weathering and erosion. Students are challenged to develop solutions that reduce the impact of Earth’s natural processes on humans.

Kit Details

Suggested Length: 13 weeks

Number of Sessions: 29

NYSSLS Alignment: Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth

Teacher Resources (password required)

Powering Thru the Fair

Students take a virtual field trip to the NYS Fair to investigate energy powering attractions. Following a map, they visit the

roller coaster, ball toss and bumper cars while exploring speed, collisions and energy conversions. In the end, students design

exhibits that propose eco-friendly improvements, with the fair offering entry tickets to winning exhibits.

Kit Details

Suggested Length: 8 weeks

Number of Sessions:16

NYSSLS Alignment: Energy

Teacher Resources (password required)
Student Resources

Riding the Waves of Information

Spring coils, spring toys and tubs of water are used to investigate wave properties of amplitude, wavelength and energy.

Communication methods including Morse code and binary code are used to understand how information is transmitted using

waves. As a final project, students solve puzzles that review this learning to unlock a lock box containing a surprise.

Kit Details

Suggested Length: 7 weeks

Number of Sessions: 15

NYSSLS Alignment: Waves and Information

Teacher Resources (password required)

Suggested Grade 4 Pathways

To assist district decisions surrounding curriculum planning, BOCES 4 Science teachers created suggested pathways based on unit length and the typical school calendar. You can choose to follow a suggested pathway, use it as a reference or create your own science curriculum journey.

Suggested Pathway A

Riding the Waves of Information → A Walk in the Park → Earth Processes in New York State → Powering Thru the Fair

The physical science unit, Riding the Waves of Information, builds on the first grade unit of Sending Messages with Light and Sound and challenges students to a new understanding of patterns – both visible and invisible.
A Walk in the Park allows students opportunities to go outside and explore the plant growth and animal behavior that will help them learn about structure, function and information processing.
In Earth Processes in New York State, students build on their understanding of Earth’s Features from second grade in order to construct explanations for changes in a landscape over time.
Powering Thru the Fair uses local data that allows students to figure out a real-life phenomenon involving NYS energy use. Significantly, this is the first time students really explore the Crosscutting Concept of “energy and matter” and Disciplinary Core Ideas related to “energy.”

Suggested Pathway B

Earth Processes in New York State → Powering Thru the Fair → Riding the Waves of Information → A Walk in the Park

The Earth Processes in New York State unit connects well to Grade 4 Social Studies map skills, so it makes perfect sense to teach them both at the same time! In addition, students are building on second grade experiences with Earth’s Features.
In the Powering Thru the Fair unit, students build on the idea of using data to answer a question when exploring New York State energy use. This unit provides the first time that elementary students explore deeply the concept of “energy.”
Riding the Waves of Information incorporates ideas from the two earlier units into a new understanding of “waves” and how they move energy. In addition, this unit builds on the observations that students make in the first grade unit Sending Messages with Light and Sound.
Fourth grade students finish off the school year with a study of the plants and animals found during A Walk in the Park. The timing of this unit allows for occasional trips outside to make observations.

Find Out More About BOCES 4 Science Kits

Check out the Overview page that highlights state alignment to performance expectations.
Look through the BOCES 4 Science Catalog for pricing and ordering details.
Take advantage of upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities offered by science experts.

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