Fourth Grade Science Topics & Activities for the Year!

Fourth grade is an exciting time for science! Students begin to think critically, conduct more detailed experiments, and apply scientific reasoning to real-world problems. This year covers physical science, life science, earth science, and engineering concepts, encouraging hands-on exploration and discovery.

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of key fourth-grade science topics by season and a list of 20+ engaging activities to keep students learning all year long!

💡Check out the Libraries for printables or use the search bar.

Fall Science (Sept – Nov)

• Ecosystems & Food Webs – How organisms interact and depend on each other
• Forces, Motion & Gravity – Exploring Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Weather & Climate Patterns – Understanding how weather systems form
• Matter & Its Changes – Physical vs. chemical changes in materials

Fall Science Activities:

1. Ecosystem in a Jar – Create a small, self-sustaining ecosystem
2. Gravity Drop Test – Compare how different objects fall at the same speed
3. Weather Tracking Chart – Observe and record temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns
4. Baking Soda & Vinegar Reaction – Demonstrate a chemical change with fizzing CO₂ release
5. Balloon Rocket Experiment – Explore Newton’s Third Law with air-powered movement

Winter Science (Dec – Feb)

• The Water Cycle & Weathering – How water shapes the Earth’s surface
• Electricity & Circuits – Understanding simple and parallel circuits
• Heat Transfer & Insulation – Conduction, convection, and radiation
• Animal Adaptations – How animals survive in extreme conditions

Winter Science Activities:

6. DIY Water Cycle Model – Simulate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation in a plastic bag
7. Simple Circuit Challenge – Build a basic circuit using a battery, wires, and a lightbulb
8. Hot vs. Cold Insulation Test – Experiment with different materials to see which keeps heat in best
9. Camouflage Science Investigation – Test how animals blend into their environments
10. Erosion Experiment – Use sand, water, and wind to observe how landscapes change over time

Spring Science (Mar- May)

• Plant Growth & Photosynthesis – How plants use sunlight to create food
• Rock Cycle & Fossils – Exploring how rocks change over time
• Energy Transfer & Motion – How energy moves through systems
• Sound & Light Waves – Investigating how waves travel

Spring Science Activities:

11. Plant Growth Under Different Conditions – Test how light, soil, and water affect plant growth
12. Make Your Own Fossil – Use salt dough to create fossil imprints
13. Pendulum Motion Experiment – Explore how energy moves through a swinging pendulum
14. Prism Light Experiment – Use a prism to split light into a rainbow
15. Rubber Band Sound Test – Investigate how vibrations create different pitches

Summer Science (Jun- Aug)

• Renewable & Nonrenewable Energy – Understanding solar, wind, and fossil fuel energy
• Simple Machines & Engineering – Levers, pulleys, and inclined planes in action
• Buoyancy & Density – Why some things sink and others float
• STEM Challenges & Real-World Problem Solving – Applying science in creative ways

Summer Science Activities:

16. Solar Oven Cooking – Harness the sun’s energy to cook s’mores
17. Pulley System Build – Experiment with lifting objects using a pulley
18. Density Tower Experiment – Layer different liquids to observe density differences
19. Egg Drop Challenge – Design a structure to protect an egg from a fall
20. Build a Wind-Powered Car – Use wind energy to move a homemade vehicle

How to Use These Science Activities

• Encourage hands-on learning – Let students explore with materials and ask their own questions
• Make connections to real life – Show how science explains everyday phenomena
• Support critical thinking – Encourage students to predict, observe, and explain their findings
• Use science journals – Have students record hypotheses, observations, and conclusions