Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
4th Class Exploring Our World: Scientific Inquiry and Discovery
A comprehensive science curriculum for 4th Class students that emphasizes hands-on investigation and the development of scientific skills. Students explore biological systems, physical forces, and environmental stewardship through evidence-based inquiry.
The Living World: Systems and Survival
Students investigate the complex relationships between living things and their environments, focusing on plant life cycles and animal adaptations.
An exploration of how plants grow from seeds and the specific conditions required for healthy development.
Examining how animals have evolved specific physical features to survive in diverse Irish and global ecosystems.
A study of the internal structures that provide support, protection, and movement for the human body.
Energy and Forces: Making Things Move
Students investigate the invisible forces of magnetism and electricity, alongside the mechanics of friction and gravity.
Investigating the properties of magnets and how they interact with various materials and each other.
Building and testing simple electrical circuits to understand the flow of energy and the role of switches.
Exploring how different surfaces affect the speed and distance of moving objects through the force of friction.
Materials and Change: Chemistry in Action
An investigation into the properties of materials and how they change state through heating, cooling, and mixing.
Identifying the characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases and observing how substances transition between them.
Observing the reversible and irreversible changes that occur when materials are exposed to temperature changes.
Using scientific techniques like filtering and sieving to separate mixtures and solutions.
Earth and Space: Our Place in the Universe
Students explore the relationship between the Earth, Sun, and Moon, and the geological processes that shape our planet.
Understanding the movement of the Earth and how its rotation creates the cycle of day and night.
Investigating the different types of rocks found in the local environment and how soil is formed over time.
Tracing the journey of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation in the natural world.
Environmental Stewardship and Engineering
Students apply scientific knowledge to solve environmental problems and design sustainable solutions for the future.
Exploring how natural resources like wind and sun can be harnessed to create clean energy.
Analyzing the impact of human waste on the environment and designing systems to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Applying the engineering design process to create a prototype that solves a specific environmental or physical problem.