Dr. Michael Kester-Haynes

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 30 (Grade 4 Science): Mapping Earth Features

Interpret maps of landforms, faults, volcanoes, and water to identify patterns of Earth features and explain how they reveal changes to our planet’s surface.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 29 (Grade 4 Science): Weathering & Erosion

Observe and measure how water, ice, wind, and plants cause weathering and erosion, shaping landforms over time in this hands-on Grade 4 science unit.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 28 (Grade 4 Science): Rock Layers & Fossils

Use rock and fossil patterns to identify older and younger layers, reveal past environments, and explain how Earth’s landscapes change over long periods.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 27 (Grade 4 Science): Life Science — Quarter Synthesis

Explain how structures and information processing help plants and animals survive and respond using models, data, and simple engineering designs in Grade 4 science.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 26 (Grade 4 Science): Engineering Biological Models

Design and test models that mimic plant and animal sensing and response, collect data through fair tests, and improve designs to better match real organisms.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 25 (Grade 4 Science): Structures Data Analysis

Use charts, tables, and graphs to compare plant and animal structures, identify patterns, and explain how traits support survival, growth, and reproduction.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 24 (Grade 4 Science): Comparing Organisms

Compare plant and animal structures, explain how internal and external parts support survival and growth, and show how senses and responses help organisms adapt.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 23 (Grade 4 Science): Plant Responses

Investigate how plants respond to light, gravity, and touch, collecting evidence to explain how these behaviors support survival, growth, and environmental adaptation.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 22 (Grade 4 Science): Brain Processing & Response

Describe how sensory information travels to the brain, is processed, and triggers behaviors that help animals—including humans—respond and stay safe.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 21 (Grade 4 Science): Sense Receptors

Model how animals detect information through sensory receptors, send signals to the brain, and respond with behaviors supporting safety and survival.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 20 (Grade 4 Science): Adaptations & Behaviors

Explain how structural and behavioral adaptations help plants and animals survive, grow, and reproduce in specific habitats using evidence and real-world examples.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 19 (Grade 4 Science): Plant & Animal Structures

Identify internal and external plant and animal structures and explain how each supports survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction using evidence and models.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 18 (Grade 4 Science): Waves — Quarter Synthesis

Explain wave patterns, how waves cause motion, and how light and sound signals transfer information through a hands-on engineering design challenge.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 17 (Grade 4 Science): Waves & Energy Review

Interpret wave diagrams and connect waves to energy transfer, motion, and information signals through hands-on investigations and concept mapping in Grade 4 science.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 16 (Grade 4 Science): Designing Signal Devices

Build and improve simple devices that send coded messages with light, sound, or motion—test reliability, reduce errors, and choose the best design.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 15 (Grade 4 Science): Signal Reliability

Compare analog vs. digital information transfer as students test light and sound signals, collect data on noise and errors, and choose the most reliable system.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 14 (Grade 4 Science): Information Transfer Basics

Grade 4 unit where students design, test, and compare light and sound signal codes that use clear patterns to transfer information quickly and reliably.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 13 (Grade 4 Science): Light, Reflection & Refraction

Grade 4 unit where students model how light travels, reflects, and refracts through materials, and explore how light energy can cause changes or motion.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 12 (Grade 4 Science): Sound & Vibrations

Grade 4 unit where students explore how vibrations create sound, model waves with amplitude and wavelength, and show how sound waves cause objects to move.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 11 (Grade 4 Science): Waves Cause Motion

Grade 4 science unit where students model water, rope, and sound waves to observe energy transfer and show how waves cause objects to move through motion and vibration.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 10 (Grade 4 Science): Wave Patterns

Grade 4 unit modeling waves using amplitude and wavelength—students compare wave patterns with hands-on models, measurements, and labeled diagrams.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 9 (Grade 4 Science): Energy — Quarter Synthesis

Grade 4 synthesis unit where students connect speed, collisions, and energy transfer across systems—designing and improving devices that use and convert energy effectively.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 8 (Grade 4 Science): Energy Conversions

Grade 4 engineering unit where students design and test devices that convert energy forms—like electrical to light or motion to sound—using fair tests and improvements.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 7 (Grade 4 Science): Designing Collision Devices

Grade 4 engineering design unit where students build and test collision-reduction devices—using criteria, constraints, and evidence to protect objects during impact.

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Grade 4 Science Units

Unit Plan 6 (Grade 4 Science): Collisions & Energy Changes

Grade 4 collisions unit where students ask questions, predict outcomes, and observe how changing speed or mass transfers and changes energy when objects collide.