Grade 4 Science

Fourth-graders use the Harcourt School Science Series. Science stimulates curiosity and student inquiry, integrates powerful support for reading and science literacy, reaches all learners through numerous components and strategies for differentiated instruction, reinforces learning through exciting visuals and electronic components, and makes teaching science easy with a variety of teacher resources.

The student text provides clear, logical, systematic instruction. Each lesson follows a consistent learning sequence for focused, inquiry-based learning — investigate, reading in science, reading review, and link. Special features enrich the learning with relevant real-world topics.

The following units are covered:

• A World of Living Things
• Looking at Ecosystems
• Earth’s Changing Surface
• Weather and Space
• Matter and Energy
• Forces and Motion

There are many ways you can help your child with science this year. Here are some ideas:

• Encourage your child to read science library books about topics related to the units and chapters he or she is studying.
• Work with your child to do science projects that are suggested in the science program.
• Discuss with your child science news stories that you hear in media reports. Use science vocabulary words from the textbook chapters when you discuss the stories.
• Visit www.hspscience.com for more activities.