Transferring Information Activities for 4th Grade Science

In this engaging 5E lesson aligned with NGSS 4-PS4-3, students explore how patterns are used to transfer information through hands-on station labs, reading passages, research tasks, and interactive activities. Word wall cards and discussions build foundational understanding, while editable presentations, interactive notebooks, and note-taking templates support comprehension. Students apply their knowledge through choice projects, and STAAR 2.0-aligned assessments ensure mastery. With materials available in English and Spanish, this flexible resource supports both classroom and virtual learning. The resources below will give students a comprehensive understanding of transferring information. All of the following materials are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

The Kesler Science Using Patterns to Transfer Information 5E Lesson is a comprehensive physical science resource focused on using patterns to transfer information. Designed for elementary students, it includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments, requiring little to no prep. Differentiated, multimodal activities ensure student-led learning, with materials available in both English and Spanish.

Aligned with NGSS 4-PS4-3, the lesson follows the 5E Model. Engagement activities include word wall cards and class discussions. The Exploration phase features a student-led station lab with nine stations offering hands-on experiments, reading passages, research tasks, videos, and interactive sorting and writing exercises. A challenge station extends learning for early finishers.

For Explanation, editable PowerPoints, interactive notebooks, and note-taking templates support student comprehension. Elaboration allows students to apply knowledge through choice projects, while Evaluation includes updated STAAR 2.0-aligned assessments, discussion questions, and review worksheets.

This resource is designed for flexible use in both classroom and virtual learning environments, ensuring accessibility and engagement for all students.

The Using Patterns to Transfer Information Station Lab is a student-led, modular activity designed to engage 4th-grade students in exploring how patterns can be used to transfer information. This hands-on lesson encourages independent and small-group learning while minimizing teacher prep time.

Students rotate through nine differentiated stations that provide multimodal ways to interact with the concept. Input Stations introduce new information through experiments, research, reading, and videos. Explore It! involves an experiment or digital manipulation, Research It! guides students through online investigations, Read It! offers leveled reading passages in English and Spanish, and Watch It! features a short educational video. Output Stations allow students to demonstrate their understanding through organizing information, illustrating models, writing responses, and answering assessment questions. A Challenge Station provides extension activities for early finishers.

The station lab includes all necessary materials, signage, and task cards, with minimal additional supplies needed for hands-on activities. It is adaptable for both in-person and virtual learning, with digital options available for key activities.

The Using Patterns to Transfer Information Student Choice Projects provide fourth-grade students with creative ways to demonstrate their understanding through a project that suits their preferred output style. A project page outlines six student-led options plus a “design your own” project, all supported by an editable rubric for teacher, peer, or self-assessment.

These flexible projects allow for differentiation, with a modified version offering three targeted options for students needing remediation. Advanced learners can take on multiple projects while using the same rubric. Teachers can adjust the rubric to fit their grading needs.

The projects require standard classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, with many options available for digital completion.

The Using Patterns to Transfer Information science writing activity engages 4th-grade students in applying their physical science knowledge through a news event report format. This fun and interactive exercise supports both print and digital learning, encouraging students to develop their science reasoning and writing skills inside or outside the classroom.

Aligned with NGSS 4-PS4-3, this low-prep, student-centered activity works well for elaboration, review, or cross-curricular integration. It includes teacher directions with answer guides and rubrics, projection and full-sized print handouts, half-sheet versions for interactive notebooks, and a digital interactive version in PowerPoint and Google Slides. These prompts can be used for pre-test assessments, student choice projects, early finisher activities, extra credit, make-up work, TELPAS samples, or differentiation. Designed as a review tool, this activity assumes students have prior knowledge of the topic or access to research materials.

The WIKI Tickets© Physical Science Set provides engaging, flexible formative assessments for 3rd–5th grade science. This set includes 37 exit tickets, each available in five formats: a full-screen projection version, three printable handouts, and an interactive digital version compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Aligned with NGSS and TEKS standards, these assessments cover key physical science topics, including forces and motion, energy transformations, evidence of energy transfer, circuits, reflecting light and vision, and using patterns to transfer information. Each standard has at least one ticket, and some topics feature multiple assessments. A bonus table of contents file is included to show alignment.

WIKI Tickets© can be used in both in-person and virtual learning settings. Students can respond on printed handouts, their own paper, or digitally in a 1:1 or remote environment. These colorful, engaging assessments work as exit tickets, bellringers, or quick checks to gauge student understanding at any time.

Year-Round Resources

These year-round activities will increase your students' understanding of many middle school science topics. All of these activities are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

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These middle school science bell ringers are an excellent way to engage your students as soon as they walk into your classroom. This comprehensive FULL YEAR resource includes everything you need to start off each science class with an interesting warm-up activity.

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Review Board Games

Each game board has been carefully designed to keep students engaged. There are 10 different action spaces on each board and dozens of question cards. All of the actions are related to science concepts and keep the students motivated throughout the game.

Each game is ready to play. Simply print out the board and the cards and let the students enjoy reviewing nine different units.

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Essential Questions and Standards

Below are the essential questions and standards associated with the lessons and activities included in the transferring information unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Essential Questions

Describe some ways we use patterns to transfer information.
How can we use patterns that transfer information to solve a problem?

Standards

NGSS - 4-PS4-3 Transferring Information