4th Grade

With Mrs. Sheston

This year the students will work their way through several FOSS science kits including Energy, Environments, and Soil, Rocks and Landforms.  These kits provide the students with opportunities to investigate and learn about various science topics through hands-on learning.  During the week, we do experiments, discuss our findings, take notes, read science stories, and review key words and content.  Students keep a science notebook to record these notes, their observations from experiments, and written responses.  They are young scientists!


Energy
This unit will investigate energy, build electric circuits powered by D-cells, and explore electromagnetism.


FOSS Energy Module Glossary
NGSS Edition © 2016
absorb to take in or soak up  
accelerate to change an object’s speed
amplitude the height of the peaks in a wave form
attract to pull toward each other  
battery a source of stored chemical energy 
bulb base the area on a lightbulb where one of the filament support wires extends down to the metal bead 
bulb casing the inside of the metal screw case on a lightbulb where the second filament support wire connects
circuit a pathway for the flow of electricity 
closed circuit a complete circuit through which electricity flows 
code a set of signals that represents letters or words for sending messages 
coil a series of loops
collide to come into contact with another object 
collision when one object hits another object 
compass an instrument that uses a free-rotating magnetic needle to show direction
complete circuit a circuit with all the necessary connections 
component one item in a circuit 
compression sound waves that move back and forth through vibrations  
conductor a substance, commonly a metal such as copper or aluminum, through which electricity will flow
constraint a restriction or limitation 
contact point the place in a circuit where connections are made to allow electricity to flow  
core in an electromagnet the material around which a coil of insulated wire is wound (SRB, IG) crest the high point of a wave 
criteria a standard for evaluating or testing something 
cycle a set of events or actions that repeats 
D-cell a source of electricity; also known as a battery 
electric current the flow of electricity through a conductor 
electricity energy that flows through circuits and can produce heat, light, motion, and sound  
electromagnet a piece of iron that becomes a temporary magnet when electricity flows through an insulated wire wrapped around it 
electromagnetism a property of electric and magnetic fields that causes interactions with electric charges and currents
electron a tiny particle that has a negative charge and goes around the nucleus of an atom
energy the ability to do work
energy source a place where energy comes from, such as batteries, food, fuels, and the Sun 
engineer a scientist who designs ways to accomplish a goal or solve a problem 
filament the material in a lightbulb (usually a thin wire) that makes light when heated by an electric current
force a push or a pull 
fossil fuel the preserved remains of organisms that lived long ago and changed into oil, coal, and natural gas
frequency the speed at which something oscillates. High-frequency vibrations are rapid vibrations.
friction a force acting between surfaces passing each other; friction acts to resist motion
fuel a source of energy when burned  
generator a device that produces electricity from motion  
gravity a force that pulls objects toward each other 
heat observable evidence of energy  
incomplete circuit a circuit that has a break in it 
induced magnetism the influence of a magnetic field on a piece of iron, which makes the iron a temporary
magnet 
insulator a material that prevents the flow of electricity, commonly plastic, rubber, glass, or air 
interact to act on and be acted upon by one or more objects iron a metal that sticks to a magnet 
key a switch that completes the circuit in a telegraph system
kinetic energy energy that matter has because of its motion light observable evidence of energy 
lightbulb a filament held by two stiff wires and surrounded by a clear glass globe
light source anything that makes light, such as the Sun, a lightbulb, or a flame  
load a weight or resistance that is moved or overcome when work is done  
magnet an object that sticks to iron or steel  
magnetic field an invisible field around a magnet  
magnetism a property of certain kinds of materials that causes them to attract iron or steel
metal a conductor for electricity  
mirror a shiny surface that reflects light  
motion observable evidence of energy  
motor a device that produces motion from electricity  
newton (N) the standard unit for measuring force in the metric system  
north pole the end of a magnet that orients toward Earth’s magnetic north pole
open circuit an incomplete circuit through which electricity will not flow  
opposite different as in the two poles of magnets 
orient to position an object in a certain way 
oscillation a back-and-forth motion
oscilloscope an instrument that displays electric pulses as a wave form on a screen 
parallel circuit a circuit that has two or more pathways for current to flow  
peak the high point on a wave form  
permanent magnet an object that sticks to iron )
pitch how high or low a sound is (SRB) pole the end of a magnet )
potential energy energy that matter has because of its position   
predict to make an educated guess based on data or previous experience (IG) prism a piece of transparent material that separates light into a spectrum  
property something you can observe about an object, material, or system prototype the first attempt to build a product 
ray an electromagnetic wave of light
reflect to bounce back  
reflection the bouncing of light rays off an object
refract to change the speed and direction of travel
refraction the bending of light rays  
repel to push away from each other  
rivet a piece of iron or steel around which a coil is wound  
series circuit a circuit that has only one pathway for current to flow
shadow the dark area behind an object that blocks light 
shaft the part of a motor that rotates when energy is present 
short circuit an unintended pathway that allows current to flow from one terminal of an energy source directly
to the other terminal without passing through any other component 
sine wave a repeating s-shaped wave form
solar cell a silicon cell that converts sunlight into electric energy and is used as a power source
solution the “answer” to a problem. Engineers solve problems. 
sound observable evidence of energy 
sound source an object or material that vibrates in a way that sends oscillations through a medium
south pole the end of a magnet that orients toward Earth’s magnetic south pole
speed the rate at which an object changes position 
static electricity positive and negative electric charges that don’t move and are separated from each other
stationary not moving  
steel a material made mostly of iron 
stored energy energy available for use 
switch a device used to open and close circuits  
system a set of objects that are related in some way and can be isolated for study 
technology a modification of natural materials or processes done to satisfy human needs or desires
telegraph a device that uses an electromagnet to send coded messages by closing and opening an electric circuit
temporary magnet a piece of iron that behaves like a magnet only when it is surrounded by a magnetic field 
terminal the term used to refer to the ends of a battery 
tool any device used to perform a specific function 
transfer to move from one source to another  
transfer of energy what happens when objects collide and energy is transferred from the object with more energy to the object with less energy 
transmit to pass through  
trough the low point on a wave form 
vibration a quick back-and-forth movement 
wave a repeating pattern of motion (up and down or back and forth) 
wavelength the distance from the center of one peak to the center of the next peak on a wave form white light a mixture of all colors (wavelengths) of visible light 
wire a metal or other solid substance through which electric current moves 
work to use force to move an object or achieve another outcome (SRB)


Environments

Vocabulary words by Investigations

Investigations Guide Vocabulary
Investigation 1: Environmental Factors
adult
antennae
behavior
condition
darkling beetle environment environmental factor function
inference
isopod
larva
life cycle
living
mealworm
molting
nonliving
observation
organism
pill bug
preferred environment pupa
pupate sow bug stage structure
Investigation 2: Ecosystems
algae
aquarium
aquatic environment carnivore
carrying capacity competition
consumer
decomposer
ecosystem
elodea
energy
food chain
food web
freshwater environment herbivore
home range
interaction
microorganism omnivore phytoplankton population predator
prey producer zooplankton
Investigation 3: Brine Shrimp Hatching
brine
brine shrimp concentration controlled experiment inherited trait
migrate
optimum
range of tolerance reproduce
salinity
salt lake
survive
thrive
tolerance
variation
viable
Investigation 4: Range of Tolerance
adaptation dominant plant drought irrigate
plant distribution salt-sensitive salt-tolerant
FOSS Environments Module Vocabulary/Glossary Terms, NGSS Edition © 2019 

Vocabulary definitions

Glossary
NGSS Edition © 2019
adaptation any structure or behavior of an organism that allows it to survive in its environment (IG) adult a fully grown organism (IG)
algae a large plantlike group of water organisms (SRB, IG)
amphibian an animal, such as a frog or spadefoot toad, that reproduces in water (SRB)
antennae a sensitive organ on the head of an insect that is used mainly to feel and touch things (IG)
aquarium a tank for keeping live water plants and animals (IG)
aquatic referring to water (SRB)
aquatic environment referring to the two kinds of freshwater environments: standing-water (lakes, ponds, and vernal pools) and flowing-water (rivers, streams, and creeks) (IG)
bacteria microorganisms that act as decomposers (SRB)
behavior the actions of an animal in response to its environment (SRB, IG)
brine salty water (IG)
brine shrimp tiny animals related to crabs and lobsters. Brine shrimp are found in salt ponds and salt lakes (IG)
burrow a hole or tunnel dug by a small animal (SRB)
canopy the highest layer in a forest, where there is a lot of sunlight (SRB)
carnivore an animal that eats only animals (SRB, IG)
carrying capacity the greatest number of organisms that can be supported (carried) by an area without damaging it (IG)
climate the average or typical weather conditions in a region of the world (SRB)
community the plants and animals in an ecosystem (SRB)
compete to rely on or need the same resource as another organism (SRB)
competition a demand for resources, such as food, water, or space, by two or more organisms (IG)
complete metamorphosis the cycle of growth changes for an insect. The stages include egg, larva, pupa, and adult. (SRB)
FOSS Environments Module Vocabulary/Glossary Terms, NGSS Edition © 2019 1 of 6
concentration the amount of a substance, such as salt, in an amount of another substance, such as water (SRB, IG)
condition the factors of an environment, such as water, light, air, chemicals, and temperature (IG) consumer an organism that cannot make its own food. Consumers eat other organisms. (SRB, IG)
controlled experiment a set of compared investigations in which one variable is manipulated by steps while all other variables are controlled or kept the same (IG)
crustacean a class of mostly aquatic animals with hard, flexible shells (SRB)
darkling beetle an adult mealworm (IG)
decomposer an organism that breaks down plant and animal material into simple chemicals (SRB, IG)
dominant plant a plant that covers more space or is larger than others and usually has a significant influence on other organisms in the area (IG)
dormant inactive or resting (SRB)
drought a long period of dry weather (IG)
ecologist a scientist who studies ecosystems (SRB)
ecosystem a community of organisms interacting with each other and with the nonliving environment IG)
elodea a vascular plant often found in freshwater aquariums (IG)
endangered at risk of becoming extinct (SRB)
energy what allows organisms to grow and move (SRB, IG)
entomologist a biologist who studies insects (SRB)
environment everything that surrounds and influences an organism. Deserts, forests, and the ocean are environments. (SRB, IG)
(SRB,
environmental factor one part of the environment. An environmental factor can be nonliving, such as water, light, and temperature. It can be living, such as plants and animals. (SRB, IG)
evaporate to dry up and go into the air (SRB)
extinction a species that no longer exists (SRB)
fertile able to support growth and development (SRB)
fertilizer any natural or synthetic material used in soil to help plants grow (SRB)
FOSS Environments Module Vocabulary/Glossary Terms, NGSS Edition © 2019
2 of 6
food a form of chemical energy that organisms need to survive (SRB)
food chain a description of the feeding relationships between organisms in an environment (SRB, IG)
food web all of the connected and interacting food chains in an ecosystem. Arrows show the flow of matter and energy from one organism to another. (SRB, IG)
fossil any remains, trace, or imprint of animal or plant life preserved in Earth’s crust (SRB)
freshwater environment a lake, pond, river, or stream (IG)
function an action that helps a plant or an animal survive (SRB, IG)
fungus (plural fungi) an organism that lacks chlorophyll and gets nutrients from dead or living organisms (SRB)
generation a group of organisms born and living at the same time (SRB) habitat the natural environment of a plant or an animal (SRB)
herbicide a chemical used to kill plants (SRB)
herbivore an animal that eats only plants or algae (SRB, IG)
home range a well-established territory that animals forage for food in year after year (IG) hypersound a very high frequency sound that is too high for humans ears to detect (SRB) inference the meaning that you make from your observations (IG)
inherited trait a characteristic that is passed down from generation to generation (SRB, IG) insect an animal that has six legs, a head, a thorax, and an abdomen (SRB)
interact to act upon one another (SRB)
interaction how living and nonliving components act together in an ecosystem (IG)
irrigate to water crops by artificial means (IG)
isopod a small crustacean with 14 legs that all function the same (SRB, IG)
kelp forest ecosystem that is home to thousands of different kinds of organisms where kelp seaweed is a main producer (IG)
larva (plural larvae) the wormlike early stage in the life cycle of an insect (SRB, IG) life cycle the stages in the life of a plant or animal (IG)
living the condition of being alive (SRB, IG)
FOSS Environments Module Vocabulary/Glossary Terms, NGSS Edition © 2019
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marine a type of ocean ecosystem, like a kelp forest (IG)
matter anything that has mass and takes up space (SRB)
mealworm a darkling beetle larva (IG)
microorganism a microscopic organism, such as bacteria and some algae (SRB, IG) migrate when animals move from place to place with a change in the weather (SRB, IG) molting the process of shedding skin to make room for growing (IG)
nocturnal active at night (SRB)
nonliving referring to something that has never been alive or to things that were once alive and are no longer
alive (SRB, IG)
nutrient a material needed by a living organism to help it grow and develop (SRB)
observation information obtained through your senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste) (IG)
omnivore an animal that eats both plants and animals (SRB, IG)
optimum most favorable to growth, development, and reproduction of an organism (SRB, IG)
organism any living thing (SRB, IG)
parasite an organism that lives on and gets nutrients from another living organism (SRB)
pesticide a chemical developed to kill animals that are in some way harmful to humans (SRB)
petroleum an oil that comes from the earth (SRB)
photosynthesis a process used by plants and algae to make sugar (food) out of light, carbon dioxide, and water (SRB)
phytoplankton microscopic plantlike organisms in aquatic environments that produce their own food (SRB, IG)
pill bug isopod that has a highly domed shape, short legs, and inconspicuous antennae (IG)
plant distribution how plants are spread out or arranged in an area related to environmental factors (IG)
pollination the moving of pollen to the female part of a flower (SRB)
pollute to make an environment unsuitable for organisms because of substances introduced into air, water, or soil (SRB)
population all organisms of one kind that are living together (IG)
FOSS Environments Module Vocabulary/Glossary Terms, NGSS Edition © 2019 4 of 6
predator an animal that hunts and catches other animals for food (SRB, IG)
preferred environment the set of environmental conditions that an organism appears to choose over other
conditions (IG)
prey an animal eaten by another animal (SRB, IG)
producer an organism, such as a plant or algae, that makes its own food (SRB, IG)
pupa (plural pupae) the stage of an animal’s life cycle between the larva and the adult stages
pupate to change into a pupa (IG)
range an amount of variation or difference (SRB)
(SRB, IG)
range of tolerance the varying conditions of one environmental factor in which an organism can survive
(SRB, IG)
recycle to use again (SRB)
reproduce to have offspring (SRB, IG)
salinity the concentration of salt in water (IG)
salt lake a body of water that contains a high concentration of salt (IG)
salt-sensitive unable to survive in salty environments (IG)
salt-tolerant able to survive in salty environments (IG)
scavenger an animal that eats dead organisms (SRB)
seed dispersal the movement of seeds away from the parent plant (SRB)
senses information received from the environment using hearing, touch or feel, sight, smell, and taste
(SRB)
sensory receptor a specialized cell that gets information from the environment and sends it to the brain (SRB)
source the beginning of something, such as where a river starts (SRB)
sow bug isopod that is relatively flat with legs that extend a little beyond the edge of the shell and powerful
antennae to sense its environment (IG)
species a group of organisms that are all the same kind (SRB) stage the name for different points of insect development (IG) stridulation the chirping sound that crickets make (SRB)
FOSS Environments Module Vocabulary/Glossary Terms, NGSS Edition © 2019 5 of 6
structure any identifiable part of an organism (SRB, IG) survive to remain living (IG)
temperature a measure of how hot or cold matter is (SRB) terrarium a container with plants growing inside (SRB, IG) terrestrial referring to land (SRB)
thrive to grow fast and stay healthy (SRB, IG)
tolerance the ability of an organism to survive under a given set of conditions (IG)
ultrasound a very low frequency sound that is too low for human ears to detect understory the layer above the rain forest floor and below the rain forest canopy variation difference (SRB, IG)
vernal pool a shallow, temporary pond (SRB)
viable alive and able to grow (IG)
zooplankton microscopic animals in aquatic environments (SRB, IG)
(SRB) (SRB)