4th grade science explores how energy moves, how waves carry light and sound, and how Earth's surface changes. Students investigate, collect evidence and design solutions to real problems.

Key Topics Covered:

Energy and circuits, waves, light and sound, plant and animal structures, rock layers and fossils, erosion, natural resources and engineering design.

Parent Tip:

Talk through everyday examples, like how a flashlight works or why a canyon forms, to reinforce ideas naturally.

Explain how energy moves and changes form

Build a simple circuit and explain how it works

Describe how light and sound travel as waves

Explain how plant and animal structures help them survive

Use rock layers and fossils as evidence of how Earth has changed

Design and test a solution using the engineering process

Student learning 4th grade science online with a live tutor at home in the USA

No.	Topic	What We Cover
01	What Is Energy?	Learn that energy makes things move, heat up, light up and make sound, with everyday examples.
02	Speed and Energy of Motion	Show that faster objects have more energy, using ramps, toy cars and rolling balls.
03	Energy Transfer: Sound, Light and Heat	Follow energy as it moves from one object or place to another through sound, light and heat.
04	Collisions and Energy Transfer	Investigate what happens to energy when objects bump into each other.
05	Electric Circuits	Build simple circuits with a battery, wire and bulb and explain how current flows.
06	Conductors and Insulators	Test which materials let electricity pass and which block it, and why that matters for safety.
07	Converting Energy	Explain how devices change energy from one form to another, such as a flashlight or a toaster.
08	Energy in Daily Life	Spot energy at work at home and school, and how to use it wisely.
09	Design Challenge: Build an Energy Device	Design, build and test a simple device that changes energy, such as a solar oven.
10	Quarter 1 Review	Review energy and circuits. A mock test and parent report follow.

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Student in a tutoring session with their tutor

Warm-up (5 min)

Quick review of the previous session and a what do you notice question

Core Teaching (25 min)

New idea from the lesson eBook, with demonstrations and examples

Guided Practice (15 min)

Student explores a simple investigation with tutor support

Independent Practice (10 min)

Student completes the in-class quiz independently

Wrap-up (5 min)

Summary, 2 take-home quizzes and a preview of the next session

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No.	Topic	What We Cover
11	Waves and Their Patterns	Describe waves with amplitude and wavelength and see patterns in rope, water and sound waves.
12	Sound and Vibrations	Connect sound to vibrating objects and compare high and low pitch and loud and soft sounds.
13	Light and How We See	Explain that we see objects when light reflects off them and into our eyes.
14	Reflection and Mirrors	Investigate how light bounces off mirrors and other surfaces.
15	Moving Waves and Objects	Compare how waves move energy while the material mostly stays in place, such as a floating cork.
16	Sending Information With Codes	Learn how patterns of light and sound carry messages, such as Morse code and barcodes.
17	Plant Structures and Survival	Explain how roots, stems, leaves and flowers help plants survive, grow and reproduce.
18	Animal Structures and Survival	Explain how features such as claws, feathers and fins help animals survive.
19	Senses and the Brain	Describe how eyes, ears and skin send signals to the brain and how the brain responds.
20	Quarter 2 Review	Review waves, light and structures. A mock test and parent report follow.

No.	Topic	What We Cover
21	Rock Layers and Fossils	Use rock layers and fossils as evidence of how landscapes have changed over time.
22	Earth Changes Over Time	Explain how the same place can change from sea floor to mountain across millions of years.
23	Weathering	Investigate how water, ice, wind and plant roots break rock into smaller pieces.
24	Erosion and Deposition	Model how moving water and wind carry sediment and where it settles.
25	Rates of Change	Compare fast and slow changes to land and test what makes erosion speed up or slow down.
26	Maps of Earth's Features	Read maps to find mountains, valleys, oceans and rivers.
27	Volcanoes and Earthquakes	Look for patterns in where volcanoes and earthquakes occur, such as along the Ring of Fire.
28	Landforms Across the United States	Explore the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachians and the Great Plains.
29	Using Maps and Data	Use map data to describe patterns in Earth's features.
30	Quarter 3 Review	Review Earth's changing surface. A mock test and parent report follow.

No.	Topic	What We Cover
31	Natural Resources and Energy	Identify where our energy comes from, including fuels, wind, water and sunlight.
32	Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy	Compare coal, oil and natural gas with solar, wind and hydropower.
33	Environmental Effects of Energy	Explain how getting and using energy can affect land, air and water.
34	Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tsunamis	Describe natural hazards and where they are most likely to happen.
35	Reducing Hazard Damage	Evaluate designs that protect people, such as earthquake-resistant buildings.
36	The Engineering Design Process	Define a problem with criteria and constraints, brainstorm and plan a solution.
37	Testing and Improving Designs	Test solutions, compare results and redesign to make them stronger.
38	Fair Tests, Tables and Graphs	Plan fair tests and record data in tables and graphs to find patterns.
39	Mini Science Project	Choose a question, test it fairly and share the results in a short presentation.
40	Grade 4 Review and Grade 5 Readiness	Review the year's science and preview 5th grade topics. A mock test and parent report follow.

4th Grade Science Tutoring in the USA

By Quarter 4 of 4th Grade Science, Your Child Will...

4th Grade Science Curriculum, Quarter by Quarter

Try a Free Lesson to See the Full Program

Try a Free Lesson to See the Full Program

Try a Free Lesson to See the Full Program

Try a Free Lesson to See the Full Program