Topics Related to Grade 4

Phenomenon Description: A large mass of fire ants floating on top of floodwaters.
Location: Columbus County
Grade Level or Course: 4th grade
Question: How do fire ants create floating rafts during floods? 
Crosscutting Concept: Structure and Function 
Science Domain: Life Science 

Phenomenon Description:  Sea turtles come to North Carolina beaches in the summer (May to August) to lay their eggs. 
Location:  Dare County, Outer Banks
Grade Level or Course: Grade 4  
Question:  Why do sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach instead of in the ocean?
Other related questions about the phenomenon:
How do the eggs stay safe from predators?
How do humans help sea turtles survive?
Do all sea turtles in the world nest on beaches?

Phenomenon Description: Jockey's Ridge State Park is home to the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic Coast. 
Location: Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head
Grade Level or Course: Grade 4
Question: How did the Sand Dunes get to Jockey's Ridge State Park? 
Crosscutting Concepts: Stability and Change
Science Domain: Earth and Space Science 

Phenomenon Description: Once only native to Central and South America, the nine-banded armadillo has slowly migrated to the southeastern US. The first confirmed observations in North Carolina occurred in the late 2000s.
Location: See NC Wildlife Resources Map for locations in the state
Grade Level or Course: 4
Question: Why are armadillos being seen in NC?
Crosscutting Concepts: Stability and Change
Science Domain: Life Science