Energy and motion comes to life through familiar examples in this Grade 4 science reading organizer. Students explore how moving objects have energy by reading about a rolling soccer ball, a skateboard, flowing water, a bicycle, and a bouncing ball. Each passage gives students concrete examples to help identify the central scientific idea and select details that support it.

Explore motion in everyday situations

The passages introduce the connection between movement and energy through objects children can recognize. Students read about a soccer ball that can move a cone, a skateboard rolling down a slope, and flowing water turning a small water wheel or pushing a toy boat. They also consider how pedaling moves a bicycle, how brakes slow it down, and why a bouncing ball gradually makes lower bounces.

These examples provide a starting point for discussing energy of motion, speed, and changes that happen when moving objects interact with other objects. The content also introduces simple examples of energy transfer, such as a moving ball pushing another ball or a ball knocking over a lightweight block.

What students do

Every passage is paired with a main idea and supporting details organizer. Students read the informational text, identify the sentence that expresses its main idea, and find the supporting details that provide examples or evidence. They then restate the central idea and record the relevant details in their own words.

This main idea reading practice brings together science content and informational text skills. Students must distinguish the passage's central point from examples, explanations, and closing statements rather than simply copy any sentence that mentions motion.

Included in the resource

• Five informational reading passages about everyday examples of moving objects.
• A main idea and supporting details graphic organizer for each passage.
• Picture plans connected to the objects and situations described in the passages.
• Organizer responses identifying the main idea and supporting details.

Classroom use

Use the reading organizer during a Grade 4 physical science unit on energy and motion, as independent reading practice, or as a follow-up to a class discussion about moving objects. The familiar examples can also prompt students to explain what changes when objects move, collide, roll, bounce, or interact with flowing water.

With science concepts built into a focused reading task, students practise identifying main ideas and relevant supporting information while making connections to the energy of moving objects. The resource lists NGSS performance expectation 4-PS3-1.