Grade 4 Science: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 4 science in the Nunavut Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Iqqaqqaukkaringniq: ways to describe and improve our world through science and technology.
- Life science, physical science, and earth and space science, as in the Common Framework of Science Learning Outcomes.
- Skills of inquiry and design, and links between science, technology, society and the environment.
Easy ways to practise science at home
- Try a kitchen experiment, such as what dissolves in water and what floats or sinks.
- Keep a simple weather or moon log for a month.
- Ask “What do you think will happen?” and then test it.
- Visit a park, beach or creek and look for living things and their habitats.
What each unit covers
Light
Natural and artificial light, things that make light and things that reflect it, shadows, transparent, translucent and opaque materials, mirrors, refraction, and how light technology affects people and wildlife.
Sound
Vibrations and sound waves, pitch and volume, how sound travels through different materials but not through empty space, echoes and absorbing sound, how we hear, and how noise and sound devices affect people and animals.
Food Chains & Webs
Producers, consumers and decomposers, herbivores, carnivores and omnivores, how energy moves along a food chain, and why a food web is a more complete picture.
Adaptations & Habitats
Practises habitats, body and behaviour adaptations, camouflage, migration and hibernation, and how plants and animals rely on each other (pollination, seed dispersal, soil nutrients).
Energy on the Move
Practises energy sources, how energy moves from a source to an object or living thing to cause action, and how people use their senses to detect heat, light and sound.
Think Like a Scientist
Practises measuring tools and units, safe use of equipment, fair tests, hypotheses, collecting data and drawing conclusions from evidence.
Problems, Inventions & Careers
Practises how engineers solve problems, comparing solutions, the good and bad effects of technology, taking action on local issues, and careers and hobbies that use science.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Nunavut report card guide.
Common questions
Try a kitchen experiment, such as what dissolves in water and what floats or sinks. Keep a simple weather or moon log for a month. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Nunavut Curriculum Grade 4 science units include light, sound, food chains & webs, adaptations & habitats, energy on the move, think like a scientist.
Free printable Grade 4 science practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.