GRADE FOUR SCIENCE RESOURCES

Cells & Systems I Forms of Energy I Fossils & Rocks I Predicting Weather I Electricity & Magnetism I Light I Nutrition & Digestion I Plant Diversity I Senses I Vertebrates & Invertebrates

Cells & Systems

  • Biosurf
    Like a biology textbook, this site is organized into units and then into chapters. However, the content in each chapter is a series of links to external web sites which provide the explanatory content. In some cases, these links are to traditional web sites; however, others are to high tech sites where students’ options range from watching multimedia presentations to manipulating the content
  • Cells Alive
    A collection of animated gifs and Quick Time Videos of cells of the immune system, bacteria, and parasites. Note: Graphical browser and QT readers required.
  • I Can Do That: Cells
    Created specifically to encourage upper elementary and middle-school students to delve into science, I Can Do That explains plant and animal cells with a cartoon-like approach. “I’m Chloe the chloroplast. I’m part of a plant cell. My job is to turn sunlight into sugar! Isn’t that a grand job? Plant cells, and animal cells for the matter, are pretty sophisticated.” Additional topics include DNA, synthesis and cloning. Some students might find the comic book approach annoying, while others will love it.
  • The Skin as an Organ of Defence
    An in-depth summary of the function of the skin.
  • Who Dunnit? - Fingerprinting
    Explore the history, technique and classifying of fingerprinting.

Forms of Energy

Fossils & Rocks

  • Fossils
    Here you are directed to sites on how fossils form, types of fossils, finding fossils, fossil species, fossils from Mars?, paleontology and fossil galleries. From Gander Academy’s Theme-Related Resources.
  • What are Fossils?
    The only direct way we have of learning about dinosaurs is by studying fossils. Fossils are the remains of ancient animals and plants, the traces or impressions of living things from past geologic ages, or the traces of their activities. Fossils have been found on every continent on Earth.
  • 2000 Fossils Under the Ground
    A website with fossil games.
  • Royal Ontario Museum - Discovery Centre
    How and why fossils are created, formed, found and classified.
  • ABC Science - Fossil Fun
    A website created by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about fossil formation.
  • What is Amber?
    Information on amber, which is fossilized tree resin.
  • Rocks, Minerals and Mining
    From Gander Academy’s Theme-Related Resources. Here you are directed to sites on rock collecting, types of rocks, minerals and mining.
  • Gem Gallery
    Properties and data about gemstones.
  • Rocks and Minerals Page
    Keith Kostek, a teacher from Edmonton Alberta, created this page for other elementary teachers as a source of background information and lesson plans. He also provides links to rocks and minerals web sites for kids. (You can access it from this site.)
  • Thematic Unit – Rocks and Minerals
    A series of suggested activities for primary students so that they can “expand their knowledge of rocks by exploring the characteristics of local rocks.”
  • Gallery of Mineral photographs
    These awesome mineral photos literally jump off the screen with clarity and color. The rocks are placed on black glass, lit with two fifty-watt flood halogen bulbs, photographed with a Sony digital camera and then edited to given them a colorful halo. "All specimens in this gallery are sold and no longer available. Many customers request to see what they have missed, so the best are presented here for your review."
  • Managing Your Rock Collection
    "Photographers and artists have a secret. Don't show your less-than-best pieces. And even then, you don't have to show them all at once. Sure, we have a zillion rocks and minerals at our house, but most of them are in drawers or packed in boxes and labeled on the outside of the box. Only the most special and showy pieces are in the glass display cabinets." Great advice for anyone who wants to be a "collector and not just an accumulator".
  • Igneous Rocks
    A list of web site on igneous rocks.
  • Sedimentary Rocks
    A list of web site on sedimentary rocks.
  • Metamorphic Rocks
    A list of web site on metamorphic rocks.
  • Fossils Theme Page

Predicting Weather

Electricity & Magnetism

  • Electricity Online
    "Materials may be classified into one of three categories depending on their electrical conductivity (their ability to conduct a current). Conductors conduct electric charge better than semi-conductors, which in turn conduct better than insulators." This extensive site was created for the ThinkQuest Internet competition by teens from three different countries: India, Netherlands and United States. It is divided into Lessons (several dozen on topics such as circuitry and electrostatics), applications (including solar power and telecommunications) History and Activities.
  • Energy Story
    An outstanding article for middle and high-school students on energy sources from fossil fuels and hydro-power to solar and nuclear power. Chapter Two (What is Electricity?) and Chapter Eleven (Electricity Transmission System) explain electricity from atoms to volts. Be sure the visit the comprehensive Energy Quest Site. You'll find its link at the bottom of any Energy Story page. Built just for kids by the California Energy Commission, EnergyQuest includes games, quizzes and experiments.
  • Science Made Simple: Static Electricity
    "Static Electricity is the imbalance of positive and negative charges" expl;ain the Curious Kids' Scientific Newsletter." A wonderfully in-depth analysis of static electricity for middle and high-school students, along with an "I Can Read" section for early elementary students. Terrific illustrations and at-home experiments make this a great site!
  • Wind Power
    "Uneven heating of the Earth's surface causes the wind to blow. Many societies have long taken advantage of this energy to travel great distances and perform diverse tasks such as grinding, sawing and pumping water. Modern wind turbines using advanced technologies are able to produce electricity for homes, businesses, and even utilities. "For middle- and high-school students, this overview of wind power presents the history, theory and application of wind power today.
  • Magnets---Polarity
    Magnetism lesson plans.

Light

Nutrition & Digestion

Plant Diversity

Senses

Vertebrates & Invertebrates

  • Invertebrate Printouts - EnchantedLearning.com
    Printouts on many kinds of invertebrates.
  • Biosurf
    Like a biology textbook, this site is organized into units and then into chapters. However, the content in each chapter is a series of links to external web sites which provide the explanatory content. In some cases, these links are to traditional web sites; however, others are to high tech sites where students’ options range from watching multimedia presentations to manipulating the content


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