4th Grade Curriculum

Interactions Between Living Things and Their Environment - 4.2.1, 4.2.2

• Forest Ecology (mast production, and use by wildlife; process of decay; action of lichens)
• Stream Survey (cycle of nutrients between terrestrial and aquatic systems; examples of organisms that transport those nutrients; food pyramid)
• Amphibians and Reptiles (importance of amphibian life cycle as a vector for nutrient    transportation from water to land; importance of reptiles in nutrient cycles and pest control) 

Food Production and Energy for Life - 4.3.1, 4.3.2

• Forest Ecology (mast production, and use by wildlife; process of decay; action of lichens)
• Stream Survey (cycle of nutrients between terrestrial and aquatic systems; food pyramid; diet of aquatic insects; oxygen requirements and absorption methods of aquatic insects; photosynthesis compared to nutrient absorption by terrestrial and aquatic plants)
• Amphibians and Reptiles (oxygen absorption by amphibians)

Heredity and Reproduction - 4.4.1, 4.4.3

• Amphibians and Reptiles (yearly change in color of cricket frogs; amphibian life cycle vs. reptilian life cycle)

Diversity and Adaptation Among Living Things

• Amphibians and Reptiles (characteristics of different families of salamanders, frogs, lizards, snakes, etc.)

Biological Change - 4.6.1, 4.6.2

• Cave Trip (examples of fossils found in limestone; discussion of fragile cave ecosystems and threatened cave life)