uNATURAL SCIENCE GRADE 4 2020

TOPICS COVERED
SCIENTIFIC PROCESSES

LIVING ORGANISMS

MATTER AND ENVIRONMENT

 SCIENTIFIC PROCESSES
This topic is an introduction to some of the basic scientific skills. The skills in this topic should not be taught in isolation as
they form an integral part of the other topics
LABORATORY RULES

Recognize basic laboratory rules.

The Dos:(What you should do)
1. Always follow all the instructions you have given by your teacher.
2. Ask your teacher if you do not know what to do.
3. Always ask your teacher if you need a help.
4. Always keep your work area clean and tidy.
5. Wear eye protection or goggles when handling chemicals.
6. Always wash your hands with soap and water after doing all experiments.
7. Tie back long hair.
8. Always tell your teacher if you have an accident, spill or break something.

The Don’ts: (What you should not do in a laboratory)

1. Do not enter the laboratory without a teacher.
2. Do not run and play in the laboratory.
3. Do not taste, eat or drink anything in the laboratory.
4. Do not touch any chemicals equipment or other materials until the teacher tells you to do so.
5. Do not point a test tube at your face or anyone else’s face when you are heating it.
Activity

From the diagram below, identify the dos and don’ts in the the laboratory

Do’s
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Don’ts
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LIVING ORGANISMS

Living and Non-living thing

Realize the different between living and non-living things

 Living things- are things that are alive e.g. Plants and animals
 Non-living things are things that are not alive e.g. soil, plastics
Activity
Colour blue all the living organisms and green all the non-living organisms

List characteristics of living organism

Feeding
Movement

Growth
State the three characteristics and the need of living organisms.

1. Movement
2. Feeding
3. Growth

PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION
Investigate some of the characteristics of life (growth, movement
and feeding)

State the needs of living Organisms

*Water *Food *Clothes

*Air *Space *Shelter

*Light

Activity

What do living things need?

Describe how animals are adapted for different environment.

-Move to cooler regions when is hot.

-Stay in shade.

-Some disappear into burrows, cracks and nests when is hot.

- Some use their tails to shield themselves from the sun.

- Some cool their blood before it goes into its brain.

Squirrel

-Uses its tail to shield itself from the sun.

Weaver bird The side winder adder

-Build communal nests to shade them. -Can move winder to avoid burning.
A sand – diving lizard-lifts its feet off the sand to cool them

The fog basking beetle

-Collect fog on its body

The gemsbok

-Have a special blood vessel that cools its blood before it goes into its brain.

Activity
PLANTS {LOCAL}

Flowering Plants

Identify and compare the physical structures of flowering plants.

Describe the major parts of flowering plant.

*Flower- Many plants produce brightly colored flowers. the colors and nectar of the flowers
attract insects and birds. This helps with the process of pollination

*Leaf- Leaves have tiny openings on their surface which are visible with the magnifying glass.
Plants take in and give out gases through these tiny openings. Plants also lose water in the
form of water vapor through these tiny openings.

*Fruit- the fruit of the plant contains the seeds. Some fruits have only one seed for example
the avocado. Other fruits have lots of seeds example pawpaw

*Seed – seeds are found in fruits. Every year the seeds might germinate and grow into new
plants.

*Stem- the stem carries water and minerals salt through little tubes to the leaves of the
plant. Some stem store food for the plant. Stems have buds on them and these grow into
new stems leaves of flowers.

*Roots- They takes in water and minerals from the soil to make food for the plant.
State the functions of each part

Roots

-hold the plant firmly in the soil.

- Absorb water and minerals

Leaves

-Take in and give out gases

- Make food for the plants

Stems

-Carry water and mineral salts

-Store food

-Keep the plant upright

Flowers

-Help to make new seeds

Seeds

-To grow into new plants

Fruits

-Contain seeds

Activity
PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION

Collect different flowers and compare the differences

Describe how flowering plants are adapted to their environment in order to

survive.

 Small leaves
 Waxy layer on the leaves
 Store water in their leaves
 Hairy leaves
 Lose leaves

Activity

How do you think the features on the plant help it to adapt to the environment?
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LIFE CYCLE OF FLOWERING PLANT

State the different stages in the life cycle of a bean / pea plant.

1. Seeds
2. Seedling {germination}
3. Mature plant
4. Flowers

PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION ( Let us the picture on Lets do textbook page 96)

Observe and draw different stages in the life cycle of bean/pea plant

ANIMALS

Variations among invertebrates

 Invertebrates are animals that have no backbone

Identify examples of invertebrates in the environment.

 * Mosquitoes * Flies *sticks * Beetle * Crickets *Termite *Cockroach

*Ants *Snails *Grasshoppers

*Butter flies *Spiders *Bees etc.

Activity

Color all the invertebrates’ animals

Compare the similarities and differences of some externally visible features of

the following invertebrates: ANTS, FLIES and BUTTERFLIES.

Similarities Differences
Three pairs of jointed legs Some have wings (life flies & butter flies)
Body divided into three parts
Have feelers (Antennae)
Explain how to avoid harmful invertebrates in the environment e.g spiders and
bees.

-Wear long – sleeved clothes

-Inspect and shade out things that have not worn for a while.

-Use insects repellents

-Do not store firewood against the house

-Wear shoes every time

Identify some stages in the life cycles of a butterflies and bees

*Eggs

*Larva

*Pupa

*Adult

The life cycle of a bee

The life cycle of a butterfly

Compare the differences in the life cycles of butter flies and bees

Butterflies Bees
Do not live in colonies Live in colonies
Females lay eggs The queen lays eggs.
Protect eggs
Activity

Use the following words in the box to complete the sentences

Caterpillar butterfly fourth eggs pupa four larva bee

1. Butterflies and bees go through ______________ stages of life but they only look like
a butterfly or bee in the __________________ stage.
2. An adult butterfly or a queen bee lays many ______________.
3. The egg hatches into a _______________ or a ______________.
4. The caterpillar forms itself into a ____________ .
5. The pupa matures into a ________________ or a _____________.

NUTRITION

List the main sources of food

1. Plant
2. Animals
Identify food types from the main sources (Check in Lets’ do page 106)

*Meat * Fruits

*Milk * Vegetables

*Oil

*Cereals

Foods rich in carbohydrates Foods rich in protein

Food rich in fats Food rich in vitamins &minerals

Discuss the importance of the main food types for human health.

Activity
HUMAN BODY

Identify the different systems of the human body.

*Nervous system - support system -circulatory system -respiratory system

*Digestive system -excretory system -reproductive system

Describe the basic functions of the respiratory and excretory systems

Respiratory system

-to breath (taking in oxygen and release carbon dioxide)

Excretory system

- To eliminate {remove} waste products from the body

Activity

Label the human body system below

a. ___________________ b. __________________________
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Identify the stages of human development

1. Baby/ Infant
2. Toddlers
3. Child
4. Adolescent
5. Adult
6. Old age
Matter and Environment
Ecosystems

Ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that work together in a specific
area.

Different types of ecosystems in Namibia

Identify the different ecosystems from diagrams

1. Marine ecosystem
2. Desert ecosystem
3. Savannah ecosystem

Savanna ecosystem marine ecosystem desert ecosystem

Describe characteristics of marine, desert and savanna ecosystems

Characteristics of Marine/Sea ecosystem

 Low rainfall
 It has sandy soil
 Plants are adapted to life in water e.g., seaweed.
  Animals are adapted to life in water e.g. dolphin, whale tuna, seal, crayfish, pilchard
etc.
 It has benguela currents

Characteristics of desert ecosystem

 Very low rainfall.

 Very hot during the day and very cold at night.
 It has sand soil
 Plants have thick leaves and stems to store water. E.g. !Nara, quiver tree, Welwitschia
mirabilis.
 Animals survive in very hot temperatures e.g. Oryx, Jackal,fog bettle, Namaqua, sand
grouse, spiders and snakes

Welwitschia mirabilis

Characteristics of Savannah ecosystem

 It gets more rainfall.

 It is hot during summer.
 It is cold during winter
 It consists of grasses and trees e.g. Camelthorn tree and Mopane.
  Animals survive during rainy and dry seasons e.g. Zebra, Kudu, goats, Giraffe,
elephants, lion, cheetah, hyena etc.

Activity
Answer the following questions
1. Name the at least three animals found in the following ecosystem:
a) Savanna ………………………………………………………………………..
b) Desert …………………………………………………………………………
c) Marine ………………………………………………………………………….
2. What is the name of the well-known desert plant that can live up to 2000 years?
…………………………………………………………..
3. Describe the temperature of the desert during the day and at night.
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………

Identify examples of human activity that has beneficial or harmful effects

on the environment

Beneficial effects of human activities on the environment

 The law protects our animals, plants, soil, water and marine resources.
 Many conservation areas have been established to keep the ecosystems undamaged.
 Planting trees.
 People can control soil erosion.
 People can control veld fire.
 Reduce the number of animals

Harmful effects of human activities on the environment

 Cutting down trees (deforestation).

 Overpopulation
 Littering
 Overgrazing
 Overfishing
 Farming
 Driving on fragile desert soil damage its structure.
 Water Pollution
 Air Pollution
 Deforestation Overpopulation

Activity

Suggest ways how human activities can be beneficial to the environment

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Types of soil found in Namibia

1. Sand soil
2. Clay soil
3. Loam soil

Sand Soil Loam Soil Clay Soil

Compare the similarities and differences of these soils (loam, clay & sand)
in terms of colour

Similarities and differences of sand, loam and clay soil

Characteristics Sand soil Clay soil Loam soil

Particle size Large particles Small particles Mixture of small and

large particles
Water holding Does not hold water Hold more water Keep enough water
capacity
Fertility It is not fertile It is fertile It is more fertile

Colour Light brown Grey Dark brown

PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION

Investigate and report on different types of soil in their local environment.

PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION:

Investigate and report how plant grow in loam, sand and clay

How plants grow in these soils

 Plants grow well in loam soil, because loam soil has humus and hold water well.
 Plants grow poor in sand soil because it is not fertile and does not hold enough water.
 Many plants do not grow well in clay soil because it does not enough air and it holds a
lot of water that can kill plants.

Activity

Answer the following questions

1. Read through the following statements and write whether they are true or false
a) Clay soil holds the most air. …………………………..
b) Sand soil has enough water ……………………………
c) Loam soil has enough water and air …………………
d) Sand soil has the smallest particles ……………………
2. Find all the words about soil and circle them.
Matter

Define the term Matter:

Matter is anything that has mass and take up space.

Outline the difference between matter and non-matter (for non-matter

only restricted to heat, light and sound).

The difference between matter and non-matter

Matter includes everything we can hold, taste, smell and see e.g. ball, coffee and air.

Non-matter includes things we cannot hold, taste or smell e.g. light energy, heat energy,
movement energy and sound energy.

Recognise non-matter as a form of energy.

 Non-matter are form of energy

An easy way to tell the difference between matter and non-matter is to ask yourself if what
you have observed has mass and it take up space, if you put it in a container.

 Anything that does not have mass and take up space such as light, sound and heat are
forms of energy.

Classify matter into living and non-living group.

LIVING NON-LIVING
Plant Water
Animals Temperature
People Sunlight
Time sound
Heat

Differentiate living and non-living matter

Living matters- are things that can move, grow and reproduce e.g. all plants, animals and
people.

Non-living matters- are things that cannot grow, reproduce and move on its own e.g. soil,
fire wood, water etc.

Fire wood Water Rock

Identification of states of matter

Three states of matter

1. Solids
2. Liquids
3. Gases

Example of the three states of matter

Solid Liquid Gas

Stone Water Oxygen
Ice Milk Carbon dioxide
Water vapor/Steam
Activity
Properties/ characteristics of solid, liquid and gases

Observe and describe the three state of matter

Properties of Solids

 Have a fixed shape.

 Particles are closely packed together.
 Solids cannot be compressed
 Cannot flow.

Properties of Liquids

o Take the shape of the container.

o Particles are close together.
o Liquids cannot be compressed.
o Can flow easily.

Properties of Gases

 Has no shape.
 Particles are far apart from each other.
 Gases can be compressed.
 Can flow easily.

Activity

Using the across and down, write the correct words in the numbered grid below

Across Down

3.Takes on the shape of the container it is in. 1. This type of matter is often invisible.

5. A book is an example of this type of matter. 2. This is an example of gas.

7. this matter can be solid,liquid or gas. 4. Taks the shape and volume of the
container it is in.

9. Boiling water creates this. 6. This is an example of the solid state of

water.

10. These are the droplets that form on a very 8. How many states of matter are there?

Cold glass of water with ice.

Different forms of water

Discuss the different forms in which water exist.

 Ice
 Steam/ water vapour
 Liquid water

Water around us

Uses of water at home and at school

Observe and report how water is used at home and at school

Bathing
Washing clothes
Brushing teeth
 Drinking
Watering plants
Cooking
Giving animals to drink
Cleaning
Conducting experiments in the laboratory.
Swimming

Importance of water to animals and plants

State the importance of water for animals and plants

Animals need water

 To drink.
 Some animals live in water e.g. fish and frogs
 Animals need water to cool their bodies.
 To stay alive.

Plants need water

 To grow.
 To transport nutrients.
 For seeds to germinate.
Activity

Ways how to use water sustainably

Outline ways how to use water sustainably

 Do not leave the water running while brushing your teeth and washing hands.
 Always make sure that you close the tap after using it.
 Repair leaking taps.
 Use a bucket of water to water plants or to wash cars instead of using garden
hose pipe.
 Do not overfill the bath sink.
 Re-use water.

Activity

1. Look at the picture below. Where can you see water being wasted.
2. How could you change the picture to save water.
 1. _______________________________________________________
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2.
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Water cycle

State the components of the water cycle.

 Evaporation
 Condensation
 Freezing
 Rainfall / melting
 Precipitation (rain,snow, hail)
 Collection (river, dams
Activity

Complete the puzzle

The importance of water cycle

Describe the importance of water cycle.

 Water recycles itself.

 Dirty water gets clean again.
 It keeps clean water moving.

The effects of surface area on surface area

Report on the effect of evaporation on surface area.

Evaporation is the process in which a liquid turn into a gas.

Fast Evaporation Slow evaporation
Large surface area Small surface area

Evaporation is faster on a large surface area because more water gets heat from the sun.

Importance of clean water

State the difference between clean water and contaminated water:

 Clean water is the water which is safe for drinking by people and animals
 Contaminated water is the water that is not safe for drinking because it has bacteria
& germs.

The table shows the differences between clean and contaminated water

CLEAN WATER CONTAMINATED WATER

Clear (transparent) Dull, brown, cloudy

Free of harmful chemicals, bacteria and Contains toxic chemicals

viruses.

Safe for drinking and cooking Not safe for human use

Safe for plants and animals It kills plants and animals

Common ways that water is contaminated in local environment

Identify and record common ways that water is

contaminated in the local environment

 Factories dump site

 Ships spill oil
 Sewage
 Fuel storage tanks leaks into the soil
 Fertilisers
  Washing clothes in water
 Playing in water or swimming
 Animal wastes
 Dumping litter/rubbish in water.
 Cleaning detergents

Activity
Study the picture on ways how can become contaminated.

a) Write down all the ways how water is contaminated in the diagram.
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b) How does contaminated water affect the lives of human?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
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c) What do you think can happen if you use dirty water to cook food and brush your
teeth?
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Air around us

Air is a mixture of gases around the earth.

Composition of air around us

State the composition of air around us

 Nitrogen 78%
  Oxygen21%
 Carbon dioxide 0.17%
 Other gases e.g. Argon 0,03%

Importance of Oxygen in the atmosphere for animals and humans

Outline the importance of oxygen in the atmosphere for animals and human.

 Animals and humans need Oxygen to stay alive.

 People/human and animals breathe in Oxygen and breathe out Carbon dioxide.

Air is a matter

Recognise air as matter and wind as air with energy

 Air is a matter because it takes up space and has mass.

Example

Wind is air with energy

  Wind is a moving air
 Wind have natural force
 When air moves, it has energy.

E.g. Windmill use wind energy to pump water from borehole and to make electricity.

Activity

Answer the following questions.

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