Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Grade 4

Other Virginia Science sets

Scientific and Engineering Practices

  • 1.

    The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by4.1

    1. a.

      asking questions and defining problems4.1.a

      1. i.

        identify scientific and non-scientific questions4.1.a.i

      2. ii.

        develop hypotheses as cause-and-effect relations4.1.a.ii

      3. iii.

        define a simple design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process, or system4.1.a.iii

    2. b.

      planning and carrying out investigations4.1.b

      1. i.

        identify variables when planning an investigation4.1.b.i

      2. ii.

        collaboratively plan and conduct investigations4.1.b.ii

      3. iii.

        use tools and/or materials to design and/or build a device that solves a specific problem4.1.b.iii

      4. iv.

        take metric measurements using appropriate tools4.1.b.iv

      5. v.

        measure elapsed time4.1.b.v

    3. c.

      interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating data4.1.c

      1. i.

        organize and represent data in bar graphs and line graphs4.1.c.i

      2. ii.

        interpret and analyze data represented in bar graphs and line graphs4.1.c.ii

      3. iii.

        compare two different representations of the same data (e.g., a set of data displayed on a chart and a graph)4.1.c.iii

      4. iv.

        analyze data from tests of an object or tool to determine whether it works as intended4.1.c.iv

    4. d.

      constructing and critiquing conclusions and explanations4.1.d

      1. i.

        use evidence (i.e., measurements, observations, patterns) to construct or support explanations and to make inferences4.1.d.i

    5. e.

      developing and using models4.1.e

      1. i.

        develop and/or use models to explain natural phenomena4.1.e.i

      2. ii.

        identify limitations of models4.1.e.ii

    6. f.

      obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information4.1.f

      1. i.

        read and comprehend reading-level-appropriate texts and/or other reliable media4.1.f.i

      2. ii.

        communicate scientific information, design ideas, and/or solutions with others4.1.f.ii

Living Systems and Processes

  • 2.

    The student will investigate and understand that plants and animals have structures that distinguish them from one another and play vital roles in their ability to survive. Key ideas include4.2

  • a.

    the survival of plants and animals depends on photosynthesis;4.2.a

  • b.

    plants and animals have different structures and processes for obtaining energy; and4.2.b

  • c.

    plants and animals have different structures and processes for creating offspring.4.2.c

  • 3.

    The student will investigate and understand that organisms, including humans, interact with one another and with the nonliving components in the ecosystem. Key ideas include4.3

  • a.

    interrelationships exist in populations, communities, and ecosystems;4.3.a

  • b.

    food webs show the flow of energy within an ecosystem;4.3.b

  • c.

    changes in an organism's niche and habitat may occur at various stages in its life cycle; and4.3.c

  • d.

    classification can be used to identify organisms.4.3.d

Earth and Space Systems

  • 4.

    The student will investigate and understand that weather conditions and phenomena affect ecosystems and can be predicted. Key ideas include4.4

  • a.

    weather measurements create a record that can be used to make weather predictions;4.4.a

  • b.

    common and extreme weather events affect ecosystems; and4.4.b

  • c.

    long term seasonal weather trends determine the climate of a region.4.4.c

  • 5.

    The student will investigate and understand that the planets have characteristics and a specific place in the solar system. Key ideas include4.5

  • a.

    planets rotate on their axes and revolve around the sun;4.5.a

  • b.

    planets have characteristics and a specific order in the solar system; and4.5.b

  • c.

    the sizes of the sun and planets can be compared to one another.4.5.c

  • 6.

    The student will investigate and understand that there are relationships among Earth, the moon, and the sun. Key relationships include4.6

  • a.

    the motions of Earth, the moon, and the sun;4.6.a

  • b.

    the causes for Earth's seasons;4.6.b

  • c.

    the causes for the four major phases of the moon and the relationship to the tide cycles; and4.6.c

  • d.

    the relative size, position, age and makeup of Earth, the moon, and the sun.4.6.d

  • 7.

    The student will investigate and understand that the ocean environment has characteristics. Key characteristics include4.7

  • a.

    geology of the ocean floor;4.7.a

  • b.

    physical properties and movement of ocean water; and4.7.b

  • c.

    interaction of organisms in the ocean.4.7.c

Earth Resources

  • 8.

    The student will investigate and understand that Virginia has important natural resources. Key resources include4.8

  • a.

    watersheds and water;4.8.a

  • b.

    plants and animals;4.8.b

  • c.

    minerals, rocks, and ores; and4.8.c

  • d.

    forests, soil, and land.4.8.d

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 4
When were these standards adopted?
2018
Where can I read the official document?
Virginia Science Standards of Learning

Keep exploring

Keep exploring Science standards

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