4.11(B): Explain the critical role of energy resources to modern life and how…
Explain the critical role of energy resources to modern life and how conservation, disposal, and recycling of natural resources impact the environment.
The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Science outcome 4.11(B) (Earth and space) for Grade 4 says: “Explain the critical role of energy resources to modern life and how conservation, disposal, and recycling of natural resources impact the environment.” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson. Official wording: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Science.
Earth Day Investigations: Make Your School Better Grades 4–6
Four hands-on investigations into the school's own garbage, shade, water and electricity. Each one ends with students taking a real, evidence-based recommendation to the principal or caretaker.
- What's in our garbage? 50–60 min
Teams wear gloves to sort one day of classroom waste into landfill, recycling and compost, weigh each pile and graph the results. They use the numbers to recommend one change to the principal or caretaker.
- Where would a new tree help most? 50–60 min
Teams measure air and ground temperature in sun and shade, on grass and on pavement, to see how much shade cools the schoolyard. They use their numbers to recommend where the school should plant a new tree.
- How much water does a dripping tap waste? 45–60 min
The class counts drips per minute from a slow-dripping tap, catches and measures the water, then scales it up to a day and a year. Students use the math to recommend how the school should report and fix drips.
- Is our classroom wasting electricity? 45–60 min
Students audit their classroom's lights and devices, check which are left on when nobody needs them, and read wattage labels to estimate the energy wasted in a school year. They finish with a poster or letter recommending one easy change.
Printable practice for 4.11(B)
These pages practise a closely related idea; the match to 4.11(B) is partial.
- Earth Day Investigations: Make Your School Better workbook included with the unit
2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
- Our Changing Planet: Resources and Human Impact workbook included with the unit
1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
- Power Up: Where Electricity Comes From workbook included with the unit
3 practice pages, 3 readings, 2 English-support pages, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
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Compared with NGSS: 4-ESS3-1 (partial).
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