Carolina Biological_Discover Carolina–August 2024
 
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4th Grade

Energy

 

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations
 

 

Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another. 4-PS3-4

Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

Clarification Statement: Examples of devices could include electric circuits that convert electrical energy into motion energy of a vehicle, light, or sound; and, a passive solar heater that converts light into heat. Examples of constraints could include the materials, cost, or time to design the device.

Assessment Boundary: Devices should be limited to those that convert motion energy to electric energy or use stored energy to cause motion or produce light or sound.

Science and Engineering Practices

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Constructing explanations and designing solutions in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to the use of evidence in constructing explanations that specify variables that describe and predict phenomena and in designing multiple solutions to design problems.

Apply scientific ideas to solve design problems. (4-PS3-4)

Disciplinary Core Ideas

PS3.B:  Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer

Energy can also be transferred from place to place by electric currents, which can then be used locally to produce motion, sound, heat, or light. The currents may have been produced to begin with by transforming the energy of motion into electrical energy. (4-PS3-4)

PS3.D:  Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life

The expression “produce energy” typically refers to the conversion of stored energy into a desired form for practical use. (4-PS3-4)

ETS1.A:  Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems

Possible solutions to a problem are limited by available materials and resources (constraints). The success of a designed solution is determined by considering the desired features of a solution (criteria). Different proposals for solutions can be compared on the basis of how well each one meets the specified criteria for success or how well each takes the constraints into account. (secondary to 4-PS3-4)

Crosscutting Concepts

Energy and Matter

Energy can be transferred in various ways and between objects. (4-PS3-4)

Connections to Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science

Influence of Science, Engineering, and Technology on Society and the Natural World

Engineers improve existing technologies or develop new ones. (4-PS3-4)

Connections to Nature of Science

Science Is a Human Endeavor

Science affects everyday life. (4-PS3-4)

Most scientists and engineers work in teams. (4-PS3-4)

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy
  • W.4.7 - Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic. (4-PS3-4)
  • W.4.8 - Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources. (4-PS3-4)
Mathematics
  • 4.OA.A.3 - Solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding. (4-PS3-4)