Venezuela Primary School Curriculum - Science (4th Grade)

The Venezuelan primary school science curriculum for 4th grade, as outlined in the Currículo del Subsistema de Educación Primaria Bolivariana (2007) falls under the area of "Matemática, Ciencias Naturales y Sociedad" (Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Society). It emphasizes developing logical-mathematical thinking and habits of environmental and health conservation through the application of mathematical processes and scientific concepts to real-life situations. The curriculum is designed to foster active and conscious participation in the construction of new knowledge through a reflective and critical analysis approach.

Component: Interpretation, Application, and Valuation of Numbers, Measurements, Space, and Statistical Processes

• Number Sense: Interpreting and recoding natural numbers less than 1,000,000 based on place value.
• Number System: Identifying and interpreting ordinal numbers up to one million. Interpreting and formulating sequences with natural numbers less than one million using two criteria. Identifying and interpreting prime and composite numbers, and decimal numbers.
• Numerical Order: Establishing relationships using the symbols >, <, and = based on numerical order. Ordering natural and fractional numbers. Identifying and creating sequences up to one million. Identifying negative numbers on the number line.
• Reading and Writing Numbers: Reading and writing natural numbers, integers, and decimal numbers.
• Roman Numeral System: Counting Roman numerals.
• Relationships: Establishing relationships of union, intersection, and differentiation. Interpreting the relationship between fractions and division, and multiplication and division.
• Place Value: Identifying the nearest hundred or ten for a natural number less than one thousand. Positional interpretation of numbers less than one million.
• Fractions: Interpreting and representing proper and improper fractions. Performing addition and subtraction of heterogeneous fractions.
• Geometry and Measurements: Identifying and constructing coordinate systems. Graphing geometric figures in the first quadrant of the Cartesian plane. Identifying and graphing axes of symmetry of plane geometric figures (isosceles triangle, square, rectangle, rhombus, circle, trapezoid). Identifying and graphing parallelograms. Transforming plane geometric figures (translation, enlargement, and reduction). Solving problems related to calculating and estimating the perimeter of geometric figures in official units of measurement (m, dm, cm). Solving problems related to calculating areas of rectangles and squares in estimated square units. Graphing intersecting lines. Identifying and measuring angles using geometric instruments. Solving problems related to measuring and comparing volumes of cubes in cubic centimeters.
• Time: Solving problems related to the duration of situations and events with time references. Using the school calendar and distributing time according to it. Solving problems related to establishing times and duration of events in relation to hourly time references.
• Monetary System: Graphical representation of the exchange rate of the national currency (bolivar fuerte, cents). Rounding figures.
• Notion of Statistics: Interpreting and representing statistical data in various types of graphs. Identifying predictable phenomena and random phenomena. Predicting states of matter based on temperature variations.

Component: Identification, Formulation, Algorithmization, Estimation, and Problem-Solving through Mathematical Operations and Inquiry, Elaboration, Analysis, and Evaluation of Scientific Concepts from Natural Sciences.

• Numbers and Operations: Performing addition operations up to one million. Applying the properties of addition (commutative, associative, neutral element). Performing subtraction operations with numbers greater than seven digits. Solving addition and subtraction problems with natural numbers less than 1,000,000. Solving problems involving combined operations (addition, multiplication, and division) of natural numbers less than 10,000. Applying properties of multiplication in calculating multiplications of natural numbers with more than two digits. Identifying and applying the distributive property with respect to addition. Understanding the rule of signs and the meaning of parentheses in mathematical language. Solving multiplication problems with decimal numbers. Identifying and applying proportions and the concept of proportion. Introducing the symbol of proportion. Inferring the concept of square root. Calculating powers of 10 and square roots of numbers less than 100. Solving division problems with natural numbers less than 10,000. Solving problems involving the estimation of combined operations (addition, multiplication, and division) of natural numbers less than 10,000.
• Notion of Environment: Studying the biosphere and the relationships between living beings (symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism). Investigating the layers of the Earth. Differentiating plant and animal cells based on their characteristics. Investigating the reproduction processes of living beings. Relating the menstrual cycle to the reproductive function of women. Identifying evidence of air, water, and soil pollution and promoting prevention alternatives. Identifying soil properties and their uses. Studying tragedies caused by environmental pollution. Studying sanitary prevention measures for the care of animals and plants.
• Human Body: Studying and analyzing the human body as a system. Investigating the functions of the brain and nervous system and their relationship with other systems. Establishing relationships between the sensory organs of humans and animals. Differentiating forms of locomotion in animals and humans.
• Health and Hygiene: Explaining some forms of nutrition in living beings and their contribution to the environment (autotrophs and heterotrophs). Describing the processes of digestion, respiration, and nutrient absorption. Identifying different medications and their responsible use. Valuing the importance of traditional medicine based on the use of medicinal plants. Conducting statistical studies on the most frequent diseases in Venezuela and at the Latin American-Caribbean level.
• Experimentation: Experimenting and verifying the effects of temperature variations on the states of matter. Experimenting with the transfer of thermal energy (applying heat to solids, liquids, and gases). Experimenting with magnetism on Earth and the properties of magnets. Using inventions to solve environmental problems, valuing their proper use and the scientific and technological contributions of their creators. Applying agricultural technologies for the production of fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants. Building and using simple electrical circuits, valuing energy saving.