USGS - science for a changing world

USGS Education


Grade Four
Science Content Standards
USGS Education Home / California Education Standards / California Resources
 
Physical Science
1b. Students know how to build a simple compass and use it to detect magnetic effects, including Earth's magnetic field.

A Brief Introduction to Geomagnetism

http://geomag.usgs.gov/intro.php
This is a technical resource for geomagnetism research, but has excellent graphics and an extensive links page to educational resources that deal with Earth's magnetic field.
Earth Sciences
4a. Students know how to differentiate among igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks by referring to their properties and methods of formation (rock cycle).

Rocks and Geology of the San Francisco Bay Region

http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/bulletin/b2195/
This guide provides an overview of California geology, the rock cycle, and description and illustrations of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks found in the Coast Ranges of California.

Collecting Rocks

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/collect1/collectgip.html
This basic guide provides information about starting and maintaining a rock collection.
 
Rocks and Images
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/explorer/topic_rocks.htm
This website has basic information about sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, and has a links page that provides useful links to many sources of information about rock, minerals, and fossils.
 
Rocks and Minerals
http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/parks/rxmin/index.html
This website provides introductory information about rocks and minerals with a glossary of commonly-used geology terms.

Fossils, Rocks, and Time

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/fossils/contents.html
This general guide provides an overview of geologic time and the use of fossils to determine the age of layers in the earth.
5a. Students know some changes in the earth are due to slow processes, such as erosion, and some changes are due to rapid processes, such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes.

Surviving a Tsunami-Lessons from Chile, Hawaii, and Japan
http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1187/
This on-line publication describes the causes and impacts of large tsunamis, with examples from around the Pacific Rim.

Earthquakes - For Kids
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/4kids/
This website is rich with facts, information, and activities related to earthquakes, and has links to teacher resources, and much more...

Volcano Resources for Educators
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/educators.html

Landslide Types and Processes (Fact Sheet)
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3072/fs-2004-3072.html

Landslide Hazards
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-0071-00/fs-0071-00.pdf
5b. Students know natural processes, including freezing and thawing and the growth of roots, cause rocks to break down into smaller pieces

What's the Difference between Weathering and Erosion?
http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/parks/misc/gweaero.html
This short discussion answers this commonly asked question...
5c. Students know moving water erodes landforms, reshaping the land by taking it away from some places and depositing it as pebbles, sand, silt and mud in other places (weathering, transport, and deposition).

Sediment and Erosion, Transport and Deposition

http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/Sediment/description_sediment.html
 
Shifting Shoals and Shattered Rocks-How Man Has Transformed the Floor of West-Central San Francisco Bay
http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/c1259/
This website shows the examples of erosional and depositional features on the bottom of San Francisco Bay.

Picture of 3D Glasses Geology of National Parks: 3-D Tours Featuring Park Geology
Suggestions for Teachers and Students
http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov
This website provides many images with short descriptions of landscape features. Examples of features associated with erosion processes can be found on the Subject Index page at: http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/subject.htm.

Life Sciences

2. All organisms need energy and matter to live and grow. As a basis for understanding this concept:

a. Students know plants are the primary source of matter and energy entering most food chains.

b. Students know producers and consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers) are related in food chains and food webs and may compete with each other for resources in an ecosystem.

c. Students know decomposers, including many fungi, insects, and microorganisms, recycle matter from dead plants and animals.

3. Living organisms depend on one another and on their environment for survival. As a basis for understanding this concept:

a. Students know ecosystems can be characterized by their living and nonliving components.

b. Students know that in any particular environment, some kinds of plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

c. Students know many plants depend on animals for pollination and seed dispersal, and animals depend on plants for food and shelter.

d. Students know that most microorganisms do not cause disease and that many are beneficial.


Biodiversity & Environment (National Biological Information Infrastructure - educational links website)
http://www.nbii.gov/education/biodiversity.html#grade46
This website has many links to information resources related to wildlife ecology, ecosystems, and animal behavior.

Bat Research in California
http://www.werc.usgs.gov/bats/
Scientists at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center are studying bats in the San Francisco Bay area and in southern California to provide land managers information they need regarding the occurrence and status of bat species. Survey techniques include detecting bats by their vocalizations, observing foraging bats, and capturing bats at foraging or roosting sites. For younger students, there are some bat calls that are fun to listen to.

Q&A about Salmon
http://wfrc.usgs.gov/outreach/salmonq&a.htm

USGS Frog Quizzes
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/frogquiz/

BRD Kids' Corner (USGS Biological Resources Division)
http://biology.usgs.gov/features/kidscorner/kidscrnr.html

PIERC Education Pages (Pacific Island Ecosystem Research Center)
http://biology.usgs.gov/pierc/pierced.htm
This website has some activities for young students, including suggestions scavenger hunts and ideas for a "mystery guessing bag".

California Wildlife
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/html/
cawildlife.html

The California Wildlife and Habitat Analysis Branch provides extensive resource information about wildlife in California (both plants and animals). The website has extensive links to organizations and map resources related to wildlife resources (including USGS research).

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://education.usgs.gov/california/grade_4_science.htm
Page Contact Information: USGS Education Web Team
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Jul-2008 17:04:52 EDT