Massachusetts State Standards for Science: Grade 4

MA.1. Earth and Space Science

1.1. Rocks and Their Properties: Give a simple explanation of what a mineral is and some examples, e.g., quartz, mica. 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.1.

1.2. Rocks and Their Properties: Identify the physical properties of minerals (hardness, color, luster, cleavage, and streak), and explain how minerals can be tested for these different physical properties. 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.2.

1.3. Rocks and Their Properties: Identify the three categories of rocks (metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary) based on how they are formed, and explain the natural and physical processes that create these rocks. 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.3.

1.4. Soil: Explain and give examples of the ways in which soil is formed (the weathering of rock by water and wind and from the decomposition of plant and animal remains). 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.4.

1.5. Soil: Recognize and discuss the different properties of soil, including color, texture (size of particles), the ability to retain water, and the ability to support the growth of plants. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.5.

1.6. Weather: Explain how air temperature, moisture, wind speed and direction, and precipitation make up the weather in a particular place and time. 17
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.6.

1.7. Weather: Distinguish among the various forms of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, and hail), making connections to the weather in a particular place and time. 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.7.

1.8. Weather: Describe how global patterns such as the jet stream and water currents influence local weather in measurable terms such as temperature, wind direction and speed, and precipitation. 17
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.8.

1.9. Weather: Differentiate between weather and climate. 9
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.9.

1.10. The Water Cycle: Describe how water on earth cycles in different forms and in different locations, including underground and in the atmosphere. 11
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.10.

1.11. The Water Cycle: Give examples of how the cycling of water, both in and out of the atmosphere, has an effect on climate. 11
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.11.

1.12. Earth's History: Give examples of how the surface of the earth changes due to slow processes such as erosion and weathering, and rapid processes such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. 11
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.12.

1.13. The Earth in the Solar System: Recognize that the earth is part of a system called the 'solar system' that includes the sun (a star), planets, and many moons. The earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system. 18
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.13.

1.14. The Earth in the Solar System: Recognize that the earth revolves around (orbits) the sun in a year's time and that the earth rotates on its axis once approximately every 24 hours. Make connections between the rotation of the earth and day/night, and the apparent movement of the sun, moon, and stars across the sky. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.14.

1.15. The Earth in the Solar System: Describe the changes that occur in the observable shape of the moon over the course of a month. 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.15.

MA.2. Life Science

2.1. Characteristics of Plants and Animals: Classify plants and animals according to the physical characteristics that they share.

2.2. Plant Structures and Functions: Identify the structures in plants (leaves, roots, flowers, stem, bark, wood) that are responsible for food production, support, water transport, reproduction, growth, and protection. 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.2.

2.3. Plant Structures and Functions: Recognize that plants and animals go through predictable life cycles that include birth, growth, development, reproduction, and death. 97
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.3.

2.4. Plant Structures and Functions: Describe the major stages that characterize the life cycle of the frog and butterfly as they go through metamorphosis. 8
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.4.

2.5. Plant Structures and Functions: Differentiate between observed characteristics of plants and animals that are fully inherited (e.g., color of flower, shape of leaves, color of eyes, number of appendages) and characteristics that are affected by the climate or environment (e.g., browning of leaves due to too much sun, language spoken). 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.5.

2.6. Adaptations of Living Things: Give examples of how inherited characteristics may change over time as adaptations to changes in the environment that enable organisms to survive, e.g., shape of beak or feet, placement of eyes on head, length of neck, shape of teeth, color. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.6.

2.7. Adaptations of Living Things: Give examples of how changes in the environment (drought, cold) have caused some plants and animals to die or move to new locations (migration). 15
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.7.

2.8. Adaptations of Living Things: Describe how organisms meet some of their needs in an environment by using behaviors (patterns of activities) in response to information (stimuli) received from the environment. Recognize that some animal behaviors are instinctive (e.g., turtles burying their eggs), and others are learned (e.g., humans building fires for warmth, chimpanzees learning how to use tools). 11
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.8.

2.9. Adaptations of Living Things: Recognize plant behaviors, such as the way seedlings' stems grow toward light and their roots grow downward in response to gravity. Recognize that many plants and animals can survive harsh environments because of seasonal behaviors, e.g., in winter, some trees shed leaves, some animals hibernate, and other animals migrate. 14
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.9.

2.10. Adaptations of Living Things: Give examples of how organisms can cause changes in their environment to ensure survival. Explain how some of these changes may affect the ecosystem.

2.11. Energy and Living Things: Describe how energy derived from the sun is used by plants to produce sugars (photosynthesis) and is transferred within a food chain from producers (plants) to consumers to decomposers. 15
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.11.

MA.3. Physical Sciences

3.1. Properties of Objects and Materials: Differentiate between properties of objects (e.g., size, shape, weight) and properties of materials (e.g., color, texture, hardness). 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.1.

3.2. States of Matter: Compare and contrast solids, liquids, and gases based on the basic properties of each of these states of matter. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.2.

3.3. States of Matter: Describe how water can be changed from one state to another by adding or taking away heat. 9
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.3.

3.4. Forms of Energy: Identify the basic forms of energy (light, sound, heat, electrical, and magnetic). Recognize that energy is the ability to cause motion or create change. 17
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.4.

3.5. Forms of Energy: Give examples of how energy can be transferred from one form to another. 1
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.5.

3.6. Electrical Energy: Recognize that electricity in circuits requires a complete loop through which an electrical current can pass, and that electricity can produce light, heat, and sound. 1
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.6.

3.7. Electrical Energy: Identify and classify objects and materials that conduct electricity and objects and materials that are insulators of electricity. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.7.

3.8. Electrical Energy: Explain how electromagnets can be made, and give examples of how they can be used. 1
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.8.

3.9. Magnetic Energy: Recognize that magnets have poles that repel and attract each other. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.9.

3.10. Magnetic Energy: Identify and classify objects and materials that a magnet will attract and objects and materials that a magnet will not attract. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.10.

3.11. Sound Energy: Recognize that sound is produced by vibrating objects and requires a medium through which to travel. Relate the rate of vibration to the pitch of the sound. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.11.

3.12. Light Energy: Recognize that light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object or travels from one medium to another, and that light can be reflected, refracted, and absorbed. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.12.

MA.4. Technology/Engineering

4.1. Materials and Tools: Identify materials used to accomplish a design task based on a specific property, i.e., weight, strength, hardness, and flexibility.

4.2. Materials and Tools: Identify and explain the appropriate materials and tools (e.g., hammer, screwdriver, pliers, tape measure, screws, nails, and other mechanical fasteners) to construct a given prototype safely. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.2.

4.3. Materials and Tools: Identify and explain the difference between simple and complex machines, e.g., hand can opener that includes multiple gears, wheel, wedge gear, and lever. 19
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.3.

4.4. Engineering Design: Identify a problem that reflects the need for shelter, storage, or convenience. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.4.

4.5. Engineering Design: Describe different ways in which a problem can be represented, e.g., sketches, diagrams, graphic organizers, and lists. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.5.

4.6. Engineering Design: Identify relevant design features (e.g., size, shape, weight) for building a prototype of a solution to a given problem. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.6.

4.7. Engineering Design: Compare natural systems with mechanical systems that are designed to serve similar purposes, e.g., a bird's wings as compared to an airplane's wings. 9
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.7.