4th Grade Science Newsletter

Mrs. Opauski

1s1st quarter, 2022t 1st

 Welcome to Science
Welcome to 4th grade Science. This quarter is going to be exciting. I
look forward to interacting with your children in this quarter. This
newsletter provides an overview of the activities that we will be
participating in during the first quarter of this academic year,
particularly for your students. I also include important details about
how your child will learn this quarter and what you can do at home to
encourage and facilitate science in and out of the classroom. I strongly
advise parents to participate actively in the classroom. We will engage
in numerous hands-on activities, and we value your participation and
assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any
inquiries or concerns.
What We are Going to Learn the 1st quarter…
Weather and Climate
We are following the VA SOL standards for 4th
grade. Students will have the opportunity to
investigate and understand the weather
conditions.
Lesson 3 Tracking the Weather
In lesson 3, the students will explain how
air masses form and identify the types of
weather they cause. They will also
forecast the weather by interpreting
data on a weather map.

Lesson 1 Air and Weather

In lesson 1 the student will define the Lesson 4 Climate
atmosphere as a mixture of different In lesson 4 , the
gases and describe four properties of student will define
Lesson 2 The Water Cycle and give examples
weather that can be measured and the
In lesson 2, the student will draw of the climate. The
tools used to measure them.
and label the water cycle. The student will
student will sequence the steps of explain the main
the water cycle. factors that
determine climate.
 What is Inquiry Based Learning?
Inquiry Based Learning

Inquiry Based Learning is a central question that serves as the foundation for a
curriculum unit or module. Over the course of several class periods, students
discover and acquire answers to this central question through a series of guided
discussions, experiments, and hands-on activities. Instead of just listening to a
lecture or memorizing facts, teachers find that students are more engaged in the
material they are learning and have a broader context in which to comprehend it.
 The 5E Science Model
Engage Explore
The student will access prior The student will explore through experiments or
knowledge of what they know and inquiry based activity about the lessons being
participate in an exciting activity to taught.
get their Science Brains working.

Evaluate Explain
Students will complete project based
The student will explain what they have
assessments to evaluate their
learned while they were exploring. The
knowledge of the information and
student will use critical thinking skills.
assessments will be giving individually.

Extend
The student will extend their
knowledge through writing about the
information they have learned.
Science can be stretched across the
curriculum, such as Math, Health And
Visual Arts.
At home Science (“Parent’s Corner”)
I encourage parents to stay involved with their children’s
education. There are many websites that have activities that can
be done at home to help with learning the lesson. These activities
can be a fun way to learn the lessons or just to have fun. Below are
some links with some fun activities to do at home. If you have any
questions please contact me.

● https://www.sciencebuddies.org/
● https://www.wildcenter.org/our-work/education/naturelab/?gclid=Cj0
KCQiA-JacBhC0ARIsAIxybyP7unBA7vrJSC_nRtsxh2bB7sY8kZTYht5
CTp45JaCjfirj1aGo2CcaAvXSEALw_wcB
● https://www.sciencefun.org/
● https://www.pbs.org/
● https://www.edutopia.org/practice/inquiry-based-learning-science-clas
sroom
Resources
● https://doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standard
s_docs/science/index.shtml
● https://www.edutopia.org/practice/inquiry-based-learni
ng-science-classroom
● https://www.weareteachers.com/
● DeRosa, D. A., & Abruscato, J. (2019). Teaching children science: A discovery
approach. Pearson.
● https://www.nsta.org/
● https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-experiments?
gclid=Cj0KCQiA-JacBhC0ARIsAIxybyP2aeJk6vFIaIu6
CXTxGpwaBHLhzc12im3TmKVIeboEOUXIFTPNmDUaA
p4WEALw_wcB