Virginia

Living Systems and Processes

• 4.2 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 include:

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

    • How do plants make food? (4-M.3)

  • 4.2.b plants and animals have different structures and processes for obtaining energy

    • Body systems: circulation and respiration (4-L.4)
    • Body systems: digestion (4-L.5)
    • Body systems: removing waste (4-L.6)
    • Body systems: perception and motion (4-L.7)
    • Identify plant parts and their functions (4-M.2)
    • How do plants make food? (4-M.3)

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

    • Compare animal life cycles (4-L.2)
    • Identify flower parts and their functions (4-M.4)

• 4.3 The student will investigate and understand that organisms, including humans, interact with one another and with the nonliving components in the ecosystem. Key ideas include:

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

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

    • Interpret food webs (4-Q.5)

  • 4.3.c changes in an organism's niche and habitat may occur at various stages in its life cycle

  • 4.3.d classification can be used to identify organisms

    • Identify vertebrates and invertebrates (4-J.3)
    • Use evidence to classify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians (4-J.4)
    • Use evidence to classify animals (4-J.5)
    • Describe, classify, and compare kingdoms (4-J.6)

Earth and Space Systems

• 4.4 The student will investigate and understand that weather conditions and phenomena affect ecosystems and can be predicted. Key ideas include:

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

    • Use climate data to make predictions (4-U.7)
    • Use data to describe climates (4-U.8)

  • 4.4.b common and extreme weather events affect ecosystems

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

    • Use climate data to make predictions (4-U.7)
    • Use data to describe climates (4-U.8)

• 4.5 The student will investigate and understand that the planets have characteristics and a specific place in the solar system. Key ideas include:

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

    • Earth’s rotation and orbit (4-W.2)

  • 4.5.b planets have characteristics and a specific order in the solar system

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

• 4.6 The student will investigate and understand that there are relationships among Earth, the moon, and the sun. Key relationships include:

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

    • Earth’s rotation and orbit (4-W.2)

  • 4.6.b the causes for Earth's seasons

  • 4.6.c the causes for the four major phases of the moon and the relationship to the tide cycles

    • Identify phases of the Moon (4-W.3)

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

• 4.7 The student will investigate and understand that the ocean environment has characteristics. Key characteristics include:

  • 4.7.a geology of the ocean floor

  • 4.7.b physical properties and movement of ocean water

  • 4.7.c interaction of organisms in the ocean

    • Identify ecosystems (4-Q.1)
    • Describe ecosystems (4-Q.2)

Earth Resources

• 4.8 The student will investigate and understand that Virginia has important natural resources. Key resources include:

  • 4.8.a watersheds and water

  • 4.8.b plants and animals

  • 4.8.c minerals, rocks, and ores

  • 4.8.d forests, soil, and land