grade 4 science · a correlation with the ontario science curriculum, grade 4 activity expectations...

CANADA’S WONDERLAND – Science Grade 4 1

GRADE 4 SCIENCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS In–School Preparation page 2 Amusement Ride Activities page 22 Answer Key page 41


GRADE 4 SCIENCE

IN-SCHOOL PREPARATION

TEACHER’S NOTE

MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS

ASSESSMENT RUBRICS

BEFORE THE PARK


TEACHER’S NOTE

Welcome Grade 4 Teachers to

Canada’s Wonderland’s Science Program!

We have provided you with activities that will take you from your classroom to an action

filled day at the Park. The BEFORE THE PARK activities are set up for your students

to practice some new skills and review some old ones before they go to the Park. The

AT THE PARK activities are a continuation and extension of the classroom activities.

The tasks set up for your students at the Park are designed to let them enjoy all that

Canada’s Wonderland has to offer, while gathering some data to be used back at the

school. The students will use this information to complete a SUMMATIVE

ASSESSMENT that allows them to extend the experiences that they began in the

classroom before the trip. Every activity is completely linked to the new revised Science

Curriculum.

Every activity is designed as a real-world experience. As in the real world, there are

many possible solutions to a variety of questions. We encourage you to challenge your

students to think deeply and reflect on the tasks that are set out before them. We hope

that this experience will be a celebration and extension of your teaching and learning this

year. In addition, some of the key skills and processes, such as Brainstorming and

Predicting are highlighted to remind students the skills they can use to help complete the

task. The Design Options are highly recommended as this is where science becomes

“alive”. Please invest some time and resources and allow your students the opportunity

to design, test and experiment with these challenges.

Thank you for your on-going support for young people and our programs at Canada’s

Wonderland.



CW Physics, Science & Math Day Activities A correlation with the Ontario Science Curriculum, Grade 4

Activity Expectations It’s Alive - analyse the effects of human activities on habitats and communities

- investigate the interdependence of plants and animals within specific

habitats and communities

- demonstrate an understanding of habitats and communities and the

relationships among the plants and animals that live in them

- analyse the positive and negative impacts of human interactions with

natural habitats and communities (e.g. human dependence on natural

materials), taking different perspectives into account (e.g. the

perspectives of a housing developer, a family in need of housing, an

ecologist), and evaluate ways of minimizing the negative impacts

- identify reasons for the depletion or extinction of a plant or animal

species (e.g. hunting, disease, invasive species, changes in or

destruction of its habitat), evaluate the impacts on the rest of the

natural community, and propose possible actions for preventing such

depletions or extinctions from happening

- use scientific inquiry/research skills to investigate ways in which

plants and animals in a community depend on features of their habitat

to meet important needs

- use appropriate science and technology vocabulary, including

habitat, population, community, adaptation, and food chain, in oral

and written communication

- use a variety of forms (e.g. oral, written, graphic, multimedia) to

communicate with different audiences and for a variety of purposes

(e.g. use presentation software to show the steps one might follow to

set up and maintain a terrarium)

- demonstrate an understanding of habitats as areas that provide plants

and animals with the necessities of life (e.g. food, water, air, space,

and light)

- identify factors (e.g. availability of water or food, amount of light,

type of weather) that affect the ability of plants and animals to survive

in a specific habitat

- demonstrate an understanding of a community as a group of

interacting species sharing a common habitat (e.g. the life in a

meadow or in a patch of forest)



It’s Alive (cont’d) - describe structural adaptations that allow plants and animals to

survive in specific habitats (e.g. the thick stem of a cactus stores

water for the plant; a duck’s webbed feet allow it to move quickly

and efficiently in water)

- describe ways in which humans are dependent on natural habitats

and communities (e.g. for water, medicine, flood control in

wetlands, leisure activities)

Rocks & Roll - assess the social and environmental impacts of human uses of

rocks and minerals

- investigate, test, and compare the physical properties of rocks and

minerals

- demonstrate an understanding of the physical properties of rocks

and minerals

- assess the social and environmental costs and benefits of using

objects in the built environment that are made from rocks and

minerals from it are persistent in the environment

- analyse the impact on society and the environment of extracting

and refining rocks and minerals for human use, taking different

perspectives into account

- use a variety of tests to identify the physical properties of minerals

(e.g. hardness [scratch test], colour [streak test], magnetism)

- use a variety of criteria (e.g. colour, texture, lustre) to classify

common rocks and minerals according to their characteristics

- use scientific inquiry/research skills to investigate how rocks and

minerals are used and disposed of in everyday life


hardness, colour, lustre, and texture, in oral and written

communication



(e.g. use a graphic organizer to show how rocks and minerals are

used in daily life)

- describe the properties (e.g. colour, lustre, streak, transparency,

hardness) that are used to identify minerals

- describe how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are

formed (e.g. igneous rocks form when hot, liquid rock from deep

below the earth’s surface rises towards the surface, cools, and

solidifies; sedimentary rocks form when small pieces of the earth

that have been worn away by wind and water accumulate at the

bottom of rivers, lakes, and oceans and are eventually compressed

into rock; metamorphic rocks form when igneous or sedimentary

rocks are changed by heat and pressure)



Rocks & Roll (cont’d)

- describe the characteristics of the three classes of rocks (e.g.

sedimentary rocks often have flat or curved layers, are composed of

pieces that are roughly the same size with pores between the pieces,

and often contain fossils; igneous rocks have no layers, are usually

made up of two or more minerals whose crystals are different sizes,

and normally do not contain fossils; metamorphic rocks may have

alternating bands of light and dark minerals, may be composed of

only one mineral, such as marble or quartzite, and rarely contain

fossils), and explain how their characteristics are related to their

origin

Up & Down &

Around We Go

- evaluate the impact of pulleys and gears on society and the

environment

- investigate ways in which pulleys and gears modify the speed and

direction of, and the force exerted on, moving objects

- demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles and functions

of pulley systems and gear systems

- assess the impact of pulley systems and gear systems on daily life

- assess the environmental impact of using machines with pulleys

and gears, taking different perspectives into account (e.g. the

perspective of a car driver or cyclist, someone who is physically

challenged, the owner of a multi-floor building), and suggest ways

to minimize negative impacts and maximize positive impacts

- use scientific inquiry/experimentation skills to investigate changes

in force, distance, speed, and direction in pulley and gear systems

- use technological problem-solving skills to design, build, and test

a pulley or gear system that performs a specific task


pulley, gear, force, and speed, in oral and written communication



- describe the purposes of pulley systems and gear systems (e.g. to

facilitate changes in direction, speed, or force)

- describe how rotary motion in one system or its components (e.g.

a system of pulleys of different sizes) is transferred to another

system or component (e.g. a system of various gears) in the same

structure

- distinguish between pulley systems and gear systems that increase

force and those that increase speed

- identify pulley systems (e.g. clotheslines, flagpoles, cranes,

elevators, farm machinery) and gear systems (e.g. bicycles, hand

drills, can openers) that are used in daily life, and explain the

purpose and basic operation of each



Can You Feel the

Energy?

- assess the impact on society and the environment of technological

innovations related to light and sound

- investigate the characteristics and properties of light and sound

- demonstrate an understanding of light and sound as forms of

energy that have specific characteristics and properties

- assess the impacts on personal safety of devices that apply the

properties of light and/or sound (e.g. UV-coated lenses in

sunglasses, safety eyes on garage door openers, reflective material

on clothing, ear plugs, backup signals on trucks and cars, MP3

players, cell phones), and propose ways of using these devices to

make our daily activities safer

- assess the impacts on society and the environment of light and/or

sound energy produced by different technologies, taking different

perspectives into account (e.g. the perspectives of someone who has

to walk on the street late at night, a cottage owner, a person who is

hearing impaired, manufacturers of and merchants who sell MP3

players)

- investigate the basic properties of light (e.g. conduct experiments

to show that light travels in a straight path, that light reflects off of

shiny surfaces, that light refracts [bends] when passing from one

medium to another, that white light is made up of many colours,

that light diffracts [bends and spreads out] when passing through an

opening)

- investigate the basic properties of sound (e.g. conduct experiments

to show that sound travels, that sound can be absorbed or reflected,

that sound can be modified [pitch, volume], that there is a

relationship between vibrations and sound)


natural, artificial, beam of light, pitch, loudness, and vibration, in

oral and written communication



- identify a variety of natural light sources (e.g. the sun, a firefly)

and artificial light sources (e.g. a candle, fireworks, a light bulb)

- describe properties of light, including the following: light travels

in a straight path; light can be absorbed, reflected, and refracted

- describe properties of sound, including the following: sound

travels; sound can be absorbed or reflected and can be modified

(e.g. pitch, loudness)

- explain how vibrations cause sound

- distinguish between sources of light that give off both light and

heat (e.g. the sun, a candle, an incandescent light bulb) and those

that give off light but little or no heat (e.g. an LED, a firefly, a

compact fluorescent bulb, a glow stick)



A Medieval

Renovation –

Keep On Digging

- assess the social and environmental impacts of human uses of

rocks and minerals

- investigate, test, and compare the physical properties of rocks and

minerals

- demonstrate an understanding of the physical properties of rocks

and minerals

- assess the social and environmental costs and benefits of using

objects in the built environment that are made from rocks and

minerals from it are persistent in the environment

- analyse the impact on society and the environment of extracting

and refining rocks and minerals for human use, taking different


- use a variety of tests to identify the physical properties of minerals

(e.g. hardness [scratch test], colour [streak test], magnetism)

- use a variety of criteria (e.g. colour, texture, lustre) to classify

common rocks and minerals according to their characteristics

- use scientific inquiry/research skills to investigate how rocks and

minerals are used and disposed of in everyday life


hardness, colour, lustre, and texture, in oral and written

communication



(e.g. use a graphic organizer to show how rocks and minerals are

used in daily life)

- describe the properties (e.g. colour, lustre, streak, transparency,

hardness) that are used to identify minerals

- describe how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are

formed

- describe the characteristics of the three classes of rocks and

explain how their characteristics are related to their origin

A Medieval

Renovation – If

You Build It,

They Will Come

- analyse the effects of human activities on habitats and

communities

- investigate the interdependence of plants and animals within

specific habitats and communities

- demonstrate an understanding of habitats and communities and the

relationships among the plants and animals that live in them

- analyse the positive and negative impacts of human interactions

with natural habitats and communities (e.g. human dependence on

natural materials), taking different perspectives into account (e.g.

the perspectives of a housing developer, a family in need of

housing, an ecologist), and evaluate ways of minimizing the

negative impacts



A Medieval

Renovation – If

You Build It,

They Will Come


habitat, population, community, adaptation, and food chain, in oral

and written communication



(e.g. use presentation software to show the steps one might follow

to set up and maintain a terrarium)

- demonstrate an understanding of habitats as areas that provide

plants and animals with the necessities of life (e.g. food, water, air,

space, and light)

- identify factors (e.g. availability of water or food, amount of light,

type of weather) that affect the ability of plants and animals to

survive in a specific habitat

- describe structural adaptations that allow plants and animals to

survive in specific habitats

- describe ways in which humans are dependent on natural habitats

and communities

- investigate ways in which pulleys and gears modify the speed and

direction of, and the force exerted on, moving objects

- demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles and functions

of pulley systems and gear systems

- use scientific inquiry/experimentation skills to investigate changes

in force, distance, speed, and direction in pulley and gear systems

- use technological problem-solving skills to design, build, and test

a pulley or gear system that performs a specific task


pulley, gear, force, and speed, in oral and written communication



- describe the purposes of pulley systems and gear systems (e.g. to

facilitate changes in direction, speed, or force)

- distinguish between pulley systems and gear systems that increase

force and those that increase speed

A Medieval

Renovation –

Light, Camera,

Action

- assess the impact on society and the environment of technological

innovations related to light and sound

- investigate the characteristics and properties of light and sound

- demonstrate an understanding of light and sound as forms of

energy that have specific characteristics and properties

- assess the impacts on personal safety of devices that apply the

properties of light and/or sound (e.g. UV-coated lenses in

sunglasses, safety eyes on garage door openers, reflective material

on clothing, ear plugs, backup signals on trucks and cars, MP3

players, cell phones), and propose ways of using these devices to

make our daily activities safer



A Medieval

Renovation –

Light, Camera,

Action

- assess the impacts on society and the environment of light and/or

sound energy produced by different technologies, taking different


- investigate the basic properties of light

- investigate the basic properties of sound


natural, artificial, beam of light, pitch, loudness, and vibration, in

oral and written communication



- identify a variety of natural light sources (e.g. the sun, a firefly)

and artificial light sources (e.g. a candle, fireworks, a light bulb)

- describe properties of light, including the following: light travels

in a straight path; light can be absorbed, reflected, and refracted

- describe properties of sound, including the following: sound

travels; sound can be absorbed or reflected and can be modified

(e.g. pitch, loudness)

- explain how vibrations cause sound

- distinguish between sources of light that give off both light and

heat (e.g. the sun, a candle, an incandescent light bulb) and those

that give off light but little or no heat


ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

It’s Alive; Rocks & Roll; Up & Down & Around We Go; Can You Feel the Energy?

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Knowledge and

Content

Demonstrates

limited

understanding of the content

areas, including

habitats & communities,

rocks &

minerals, gears & pulleys, and

light & sound

Demonstrates

some


areas, including


rocks &


light & sound

Demonstrates

considerable


areas, including


rocks &


light & sound

Demonstrates a

thorough


areas, including


rocks &


light & sound

Thinking Uses processing

skills such as gathering

evidence and

manipulating materials,

forming

conclusions and

convincing arguments with

limited

effectiveness

Uses processing


evidence and


forming

conclusions and


some

effectiveness

Uses processing


evidence and


forming

conclusions and


considerable

effectiveness

Uses processing


evidence and


forming

conclusions and

convincing arguments with a

high degree of

effectiveness

Communication Expresses and organizes ideas

and answers,

using appropriate

vocabulary and

scientific terminology with

limited

effectiveness

Expresses and organizes ideas

and answers,

using appropriate

vocabulary and


some

effectiveness


and answers,

using appropriate

vocabulary and


considerable

effectiveness


and answers,

using appropriate

vocabulary and


a high degree of

effectiveness

Application Applies knowledge and

skills in both

familiar and unfamiliar

contexts, and is

able to connect

learning with real-world

experiences with

little effectiveness

Applies knowledge and

skills in both


contexts, and is

able to connect


experiences with

some effectiveness


skills in both


contexts, and is

able to connect


experiences with

considerable effectiveness


skills in both


contexts, and is

able to connect


experiences with

a high degree of effectiveness


SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

A Medieval Renovation

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Knowledge and

Content

Demonstrates

limited


areas, including


rocks &

minerals, gears & pulleys and

light & sound

Demonstrates

some


areas, including


rocks &


light & sound

Demonstrates

considerable


areas, including


rocks &


light & sound

Demonstrates a

thorough


areas, including


rocks &


light & sound

Thinking Uses processing


evidence and


forming

conclusions and


limited

effectiveness

Uses processing


evidence and


forming

conclusions and


some

effectiveness

Uses processing


evidence and


forming

conclusions and


considerable

effectiveness

Uses processing


evidence and


forming

conclusions and

convincing arguments with a

high degree of

effectiveness

Communication Expresses and organizes ideas

and answers,

using appropriate

vocabulary and


limited

effectiveness


and answers,

using appropriate

vocabulary and


some

effectiveness


and answers,

using appropriate

vocabulary and


considerable

effectiveness


and answers,

using appropriate

vocabulary and


a high degree of

effectiveness

Application Applies knowledge and

skills in both


contexts, and is

able to connect


experiences with

little effectiveness


skills in both


contexts, and is

able to connect


experiences with

some effectiveness


skills in both


contexts, and is

able to connect


experiences with

considerable effectiveness


skills in both


contexts, and is

able to connect


experiences with

a high degree of effectiveness


BEFORE THE PARK IT’S ALIVE

IT’S ALIVE

1. Describe a habitat around your school.

2. a) Brainstorm: Imagine your school playground 20 years

ago. What do you think it looked like then? Use words or

draw a picture.

b) What plants and animals do you think you could find then?

c) What happened to those animals when the houses and school were built?


BEFORE THE PARK IT’S ALIVE

3. Observe the following food web that could be found near your school.

Suppose one part of the web was damaged or missing, could all the other living things

keep surviving?

4. Predict: In what ways do the plants and animals around us help our lives?


BEFORE THE PARK ROCKS & ROLL

ROCKS & ROLL

Observe the following picture of strip mining and shaft mining.

1. In Groups: Create a Venn diagram on the similarities and differences of these 2 types

of mining.


BEFORE THE PARK ROCKS & ROLL

2. What do you think happens to all the rocks that aren’t used from the strip mining?

3. What impact does mining have on the environment?

4. Collect and examine 2 rock samples from your teacher. How many similarities and

differences can you find between them?

5. How do you think these rocks were formed? Igneous, Sedimentary or Metamorphic?


BEFORE THE PARK UP & DOWN & AROUND WE GO

UP & DOWN & AROUND WE GO

1. a) Design and Test: Create a single pulley to lift a weight.

b) Design and Test: Repeat the same task using a single to single pulley and a double

to double pulley.

c) Vocabulary: Simple machines always have a trade-off, meaning they do something

good, but unfortunately, there is a bad part. For each pulley combination, list what

was good about it and what was bad about it.

Good Bad

Single pulley

Single to single

Double to

double

2. Where are pulleys useful in your life?



3. a) Design and Test: Create a gear train where a:

i) medium gear turns a small gear

ii) medium gear turns a medium gear

iii)medium gear turns a large gear.

b) Fill out the table to describe the trade-off.

Good Bad

Medium gear

turning a

small gear

Medium gear

turning a

medium gear

Medium gear

turning a large

gear

4. Where do we find gears in your life?



5. In Groups: Simple machines make work easier for us, for example, cars and bicycles

both use gears. Do all simple machines help the environment? Use the following T-chart

to help organize.


BEFORE THE PARK CAN YOU FEEL THE ENERGY?

CAN YOU FEEL THE ENERGY?

1. Brainstorm: Look around your classroom. List all the sources of light.

2. Design and Test in Groups: Design an experiment to prove that light travels in a

straight line until it hits something where it can be reflected or absorbed.

3. Describe some positive and negative benefits of light in everyday life.


BEFORE THE PARK CAN YOU FEEL THE ENERGY?

4. Use a Venn diagram to compare sound and light.

5. Technology has made great advancements in sound. For example,

your parents did not have tiny MP3 players. Use the T chart to explain

how this has helped our world, but also had some negative impact as well.


GRADE 4 SCIENCE

AMUSEMENT RIDE ACTIVITIES

AT THE PARK

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT


AT THE PARK IT’S ALIVE

IT’S ALIVE

1. Before Canada’s Wonderland was built in 1981, it was a

field with tall grass, shrubs and some trees. What types of

plants and animals do you think you could find there?

2. Find some examples where Canada’s Wonderland has

integrated natural habitats within the Park and rides.

3. How does the natural habitat benefit the people who attend the Park?


AT THE PARK IT’S ALIVE

4. Based on what you saw at Canada’s Wonderland, is it possible for humans, plants and

animals to live together? Provide reasons.

5. In what ways do plants, animals and humans have to adapt in order to live in the same

environment?


AT THE PARK ROCKS & ROLL

ROCKS & ROLL

1. When Canada’s Wonderland was first built, it was dug up and

there was a lot of left over rocks. Some of those rocks are still there

today. How are rocks being used there today?

2. Some of the left over rocks were transformed into different products. Find some

examples of how these rocks have been reused. Hint: look down at your feet.

3. How do rocks help create a natural habitat at Canada’s Wonderland?


AT THE PARK ROCKS & ROLL

4. Find a rock at Canada’s Wonderland and write down all of its characteristics. When

you get back to school, see if you can use your skills to classify it using colour, texture,

hardness and lustre.


AT THE PARK UP & DOWN & AROUND WE GO

UP & DOWN & AROUND WE GO

1. Find some examples of machines that could use gears or pulleys

at Canada’s Wonderland.

2. What is their trade-off?

3. Predict: What would happen if the gears were installed backwards on your example?


AT THE PARK UP & DOWN & AROUND WE GO

4. Some simple machines require electricity to make the gears and pulleys move which

can damage the environment. Find some examples where Canada’s Wonderland uses

natural energy to propel its rides.

5. Some rides need electricity. How can we reduce the impact those rides have on the

environment?


AT THE PARK CAN YOU FEEL THE ENERGY?

CAN YOU FEEL THE ENERGY?

1. List all the sources of light at Canada’s Wonderland.

2. Where does Canada’s Wonderland get most of its light from?

How does this help the environment?

3. How could this light source have a negative impact on humans if we don’t protect

ourselves?


AT THE PARK CAN YOU FEEL THE ENERGY?

4. When you are riding on a roller coaster, describe all the sounds you hear. Why is it

that you cannot hear your friends if they are sitting behind you on the ride, but you can

hear them just fine once you are off the ride?


SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

A MEDIEVAL

RENOVATION

Prior Classroom Learning Required

Problem Solving and Reasoning Skills

Basic Concepts of the Grade 4 Science Strands:

Habitats and Communities

Pulleys and Gears

Light and Sound

Rocks and Minerals

Group Work

Design Process

Canada’s Wonderland has decided to relocate their Medieval Attraction to a new

area. The highlight of this new centre will be a new and improved large castle

with a performance stage in the middle of the courtyard. Being mindful of the

environment, Canada’s Wonderland has vowed to make this their “Greenest”

attraction ever.

Using a variety of skills and information, which you mastered over your Grade 4

year, you will be responsible for making decisions and designing this new

attraction from the ground up.

NOTE These Summative Assessment activities are for the purpose of this program and do not accurately

reflect operational procedures or plans for Canada’s Wonderland.


SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT KEEP ON DIGGING!

A MEDIEVAL RENOVATION

Keep on Digging!

Canada’s Wonderland has decided to move their new Medieval Attraction to the edge of

their park boundaries. The current area is very rocky, so they have hired you to oversee

the strip mining of the area.

1. Research: You suspect that you are digging into shale. Find 3 facts about shale.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. Design Option: Use colour, texture and hardness tests to determine if you have shale.

3. Congratulations! You have determined that this area is suitable to build your new

castle. Unfortunately, you have large mounds of rock left over. Your boss called a

company to come and remove all of the rocks. You told your boss to wait because you

have a better idea. How could you reuse some of the rocks in building your new

attraction and the surrounding area?


SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT KEEP ON DIGGING!

4. Draw a picture of your new castle and label where you recycled some of the leftover

stones.

5. When using large machinery to strip mine and remove a lot of earth, what

environmental issues are there?

6. Is it possible to fix any of the environmental problems?


SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!

MEDIEVAL RENOVATION

If You Build It,

They Will Come!

Refer back to the IT’S ALIVE section about the types of animals and plants that were at

Canada’s Wonderland. When you dug up this area, all those animals and plants had to

leave. This is supposed to be the “Greenest” Attraction ever.

1. a) How are you planning to restore the animal’s habitat once you have finished

building?

b) Go back to your drawing in the KEEP ON DIGGING! section and add the

surrounding area and any improvements you have made to restore plant and animal life to

the castle.



2. What will the people who attend the attraction have to do to make sure that they can

co-exist with the animals and plants? Make a sign below that you will hang up around

the attraction to remind them what to do and not to do.



3. The Chief Builder has come to you to help solve some problems.

a) We have a 2000 kg piece of metal that we need to get from the ground to the top of the

castle roof. It is too heavy and tall to lift by hand. How should we get it up there?

Explain how you would solve this problem.

b) The stage is in the centre of the courtyard and the stands surround it. That means

when the performers are on stage, their backs will be facing some of the people. We

want to make the stage rotate, but we cannot figure out how to do it. Explain how you

would solve this problem.

c) Design Option: Build a model of either situation a) or b) to demonstrate how you

solved the problem.


SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!


Lights, Camera, Action!

You have finished building the castle. Now it is time to install the lights and sound

system for the performances. Below is a front view of the stage and the supports where

the lights will be mounted.

Bar to Mount Lights

Stage

1. Below is a light sample and the angle which the light leaves the bulb. How many

lights will you need to light the entire stage? Explain how you determined your answer.

Light

Light Beam



2. Some of the performers have complained that the lights produce a lot of heat which

makes it uncomfortable to perform. How could you use additional lighting sources to

solve this problem?

3. Recall that this is an environmentally friendly attraction. Which light source will you

choose to light up your stage? Explain why.

4. a) You have learned about trade-offs in various tasks. By choosing a better light

source, you have made an environmentally friendly choice. What are some negative

outcomes of choosing that light source? Hint: Does it bother the people, environment,

animals, plants?

b) Fix or minimize 1 of those problems.



5. The sound technician is concerned that they only have 4 speakers in the entire

courtyard. The technician claims that only the people in the direct pathways of the

speakers will hear the sound. You have assured your friend that everyone will hear

regardless of where they are sitting. Use your knowledge of how sound travels to

explain why everyone will hear the performance.

6. Design Option: Any good castle has to have a Draw Bridge. Build a model of a

working draw bridge using your knowledge of gears and/or pulleys.

speaker

Direction of sound


SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT DEAR GENERAL MANAGER…


Dear General Manager…

Congratulations! You have finished building a fantastic new attraction that is very

environmentally friendly. Write a letter to the General Manager of Canada’s Wonderland

explaining everything you did to ensure that this new castle will be the “Greenest”

attraction at the Park!


GRADE 4 SCIENCE

ANSWER KEY


ANSWER KEY

It’s Alive

Before the Park

1. Answers will vary but should include a variety of plant life and natural and man-made

structures.

2. a) Answers will vary.

b) Answers will vary but likely a variety of small animals such as mice, snakes,

squirrels, foxes, various birds and small shrubs and trees.

c) When new structures went in, the living things had to adapt to their new

surroundings, or they were likely to die. Adaptations could be finding a new habitat and

food supply in the Park or move to another area to find a different habitat.

3. Anytime a piece of a food web/chain is removed it can affect the rest of the change in

some way. Sometimes the differences are noticeable to us; sometimes they take a lot of

time to become visible. Each part depends on the others.

4. Answers will vary, however they could include controlling population size of other

animals, cleaning our air, enrich our soil etc…

At the Park

1. Answers will vary, but likely a variety of small animals such as mice, snakes,

squirrels, foxes, various birds and small shrubs and trees.

2. Canada’s Wonderland has a variety of natural habitats that surround most of its

attractions, including trees, rocks and small bodies of water.

3. These habitats provide a welcoming atmosphere and sense of a real community (i.e.

see fish swimming and birds flying). In addition, these habitats provide shade and rest

areas for us.

4. It is possible because these animals live in very busy human environments. As long as

the humans respect these habitats by not being overly intrusive, all living things can co-

exist.

5. Answers will vary, however they could include animals having to deal with excessive

noise and becoming comfortable with the presence of humans. Animals may adapt to

view humans as a potential source of food (i.e. feeding seagulls)


ANSWER KEY

Rocks & Roll

Before the Park

1. Strip mining removes all of the soil and rocks that lie on top. It is above ground and

uses large machinery to remove the immense quantities of materials. Shaft mining also

removes rocks and minerals but it does so below ground. Using a series of pathways and

large winches, it allows machines and people to go below the surface.

2. Answers will vary, but could include dumping them somewhere else or reusing them

for other materials and structures such as concrete, aluminium, salt…

3. The large machines could cause a lot of pollution and there is an obvious destruction

of the habitat. There is also a significant human risk including mine collapses and

various respiratory problems.

4. Answers will vary, but could include colour, lustre, hardness, texture, mass, size.

5. Igneous rocks form when hot, liquid rock from deep below the earth’s surface rises

towards the surface, cools, and solidifies; sedimentary rocks form when small pieces of

the earth that have been worn away by wind and water accumulate at the bottom of

rivers, lakes, and oceans and are eventually compressed into rock; metamorphic rocks

form when igneous or sedimentary rocks are changed by heat and pressure.

At the Park

1. Some rocks are used for habitats, sitting areas, decoration…

2. Rocks and minerals can be used for concrete, paving stones etc…

3. Rocks provide protection and shelter for animals from their prey. They can also serve

as a barrier to humans to prevent them from stepping on plants.

4. Answers will vary, but students should use their colour, texture/hardness, lustre test.


ANSWER KEY

Up & Down & Around We Go

Before the Park

1. c) Single pulleys require more force to lift an object, but we don’t have to pull it as

far. Double to double pulleys require less force, but we have to pull the string very far (4

times longer). Single to single pulleys are in between these 2 extremes.

2. We see them on clotheslines, flagpoles, cranes, elevators.

3. b) A medium gear turning a small gear makes the small gear turn fast, but it is harder

to turn when a mass is applied to it. A medium gear turning a large gear makes the large

gear turn very slow, but it is easy to turn. A medium gear turning a medium gear is in

between these 2 extremes.

4. We can find gears in bicycles, cars, can openers, clocks…

5. Answers will vary, however gears reduce the effort needed to pedal a bicycle, but

riding a bicycle still requires more effort and takes longer than driving a car to the same

destination. However, the bicycle is more environmentally friendly because it does not

use fossil fuel.

At the Park

1. Some of the roller coasters could use gears. Drop Tower could operate using pulleys.

2. Trade-off for gears is that they allow for faster movement, but require a lot of force.

The trade-off for pulleys is that they make it easier to lift, but need the force to be applied

for a long distance.

3. If the gears were installed backwards, the trade-off would reverse. It would move

slowly, but require very little force.

4. Some of the water rides use the motion of the water and most rides use momentum

after going up the first big hill.

5. As with most electrical devices, only running them when necessary will help reduce

their environmental impact. Using natural light instead of electrical lights will cut down

the impact as well.


ANSWER KEY

Can You Feel the Energy?

Before the Park

1. Light bulbs (various types), sun, computer screens, electrical devices etc...

2. Answers will vary but could include ray boxes, mirrors and different mediums

(transparent, translucent, opaque)

3. Light often gives a sense of security and decoration (street lights) but use a

tremendous amount of electricity. Sun light gives energy to our earth and starts the

energy flow, but over-exposure can cause eye and skin damage.

4. Light travels in a straight path, that light reflects off of shiny surfaces, that light

refracts [bends] when passing from one medium to another, that white light is made up of

many colours, light diffracts [bends and spreads out] when passing through an opening.

Sound travels in many directions, that sound can be absorbed or reflected, that sound can

be modified [pitch, volume], and there is a relationship between vibrations and sound.

5. Technology has helped by allowing people who have difficulty hearing to use small

amplifiers to increase sound and hear it at a comfortable level. That same technology has

allowed tiny earphones to produce very large volumes in MP3 players which could

ultimately damage our hearing.

At the Park

1. Sun, light bulbs on rides, games, arcade screens, etc…

2. Sunlight is the primary source so it does not drain our resources as it is a natural

source of light.

3. We need to use sun block and sunglasses to protect our skin and eyes.

4. The sound of the roller coaster and environment (i.e. people screaming beside you)

cause your friends voice to be masked by the other sound waves.


ANSWER KEY

Summative Answers

Keep on Digging!

1. Shale rock is a type of sedimentary rock formed from clay that is compacted together

by pressure. They are used to make bricks and other material that is fired in a kiln.

2. Shale is usually black or grey, with a smooth texture and a hardness rating of around

3.

3. They could use some of the rocks to build the walls of the castle, stones to walk on,

decoration or habitats etc…

4. Answers will vary.

5. Machines run on fossil fuels which can lead to global warming and pollution. They

also destroy natural habitats.

6. Ensure that we restore the habitats that we destroy and only do what is necessary.

Shutting the machines off, instead of idling will reduce the amount of pollution.

If You Build It, They Will Come!

1. a) Answers will vary, but should include some restoration of the original environment.

2. Answers will vary, but could include staying within the designated areas, using

garbage cans for trash etc…

3. Answers will vary however it should include the use of gears and pulleys. Encourage

different approaches to solve the problems.

Lights, Camera, Action!

1. Based on the principle that light travels in a straight line, it should take around 5 lights

for the entire stage.

2. As an alternative, we could use natural sunlight or fluorescent/LED lights that do not

produce heat like traditional light bulbs.

3. Natural light would be the best option in terms of protecting the environment.

4. a) Using natural sunlight, we have to ensure to protect ourselves (sunglasses, sun

screen), it is unpredictable (e.g. rain, clouds), it could be very hot etc…

4. b) You could create a canopy for the audience to give them some shade, or have a set

of low energy LED lights as a back-up.

5. Sound waves move by particles colliding with one another. One hits another, and that

one hits another and so forth. Sound waves consist of molecules moving back and forth

together. These collisions cause the wave to travel in different directions after it collides

with materials, other particles etc… Therefore the sound from the speakers will send

waves over the entire area.

6. Answers will vary

Dear General Manager…

Answers will vary depending on their personal decisions, opinions, etc...

grade 4 science · a correlation with the ontario science curriculum, grade 4 activity expectations...

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