George W. Simonds Elementary School > K Mrs. Baker > Science Zone

4th Grade Science Zone

Discover Science!

Life Sciences

What is a food chain? Test your knowledge, then click on the reference library link to learn more.

Did you know that plants produce their own food using energy from the sun? That is why they're called "producers." All other living things are "consumers." Learn more about producers and consumers in the Wildlife Web I and Wildlife Web II links from Natureworks, a public television series about science.
What do mushrooms, bacteria, and earthworms have in common? You'll find the answer on this Natureworks page.

An ecosystem is composed of living things and the environment they live in. Explore three very different ecosystems: the Sonoran Desert, the Everglades, and the Arctic Coastal Plain.

Earth Sciences

Watch this interactive animation of the rock cycle to see exactly how rocks undergo change.Did you know that minerals can be found throughout your house? Which mineral is in your toothpaste? Find the answers at Mineralogy 4 Kids. Don't forget to check out the mineral games!

Learn more about the physical processes that shape the land at Face of the Earth. Try the "Name that Rock" game.

Earth Science Enterprise is NASA's mission to understand and protect our planet. NASA collects data with satellites and high altitude airplanes to learn about our land, air, water, and natural hazards-- such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods.

Physical Sciences

To understand electricity, you need to learn a little about matter, atoms, and electrons. Click on the electron above to get started! You can actually power a small light bulb using energy from a lemon!

Click the lemon, or go to Frankenstein's Lightning Laboratory and choose Fruity Electricity to learn how it works.

Electricity often gets converted into heat energy, light energy, and motion energy. Check out the Tech Museum's online resources to find out more.Magnets and electromagnets are used in many household appliances. Can you guess which ones? Try the magnetism and electricity activities at this Lawrence Hall of Science site. Try some of the other modules if you have time-- they're really interesting too!

Understanding the Scientific Method

How do scientists find the answers to questions? The scientific method is the process, or basic steps, that scientists use when they are investigating a scientific problem.Learn more about the scientific method at Science Fair Central .
See how the scientific method is used in this simulation of Galileo's Leaning Tower of Pisa experiment.

What happens when two objects are dropped from the top of a tower? Does a heavier object fall faster than a lighter object? Try it and see!

Plug into More Fun with Science

Try Science is the gateway to over 400 science and technology centers. Take a virtual field trip and see what's going on by watching a live webcam. There are also lots of fun experiments you can do at home! The Exploratorium in San Francisco has some great exhibits. Learn more about earthquakes, view some cool optical illusions, and discover the role science plays in sports.

At Kid Space, you can play science games, view other kids' projects, and look through the library of questions and answers in the Ask a Scientist section.
Be sure to read the question of the week-- you'll learn something interesting!

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