Fourth (4th) Grade APA Prioritized CPI Links
Science
STANDARD 5.5 Characteristics of Life: All students will gain an understanding of the
structure, characteristics and basic needs of organisms and will investigate the diversity of
life. The study of science must include the diversity, complexity and interdependence of life on
Earth. Students should know how organisms evolve, reproduce and adapt to their environments.
STRAND A: Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems
You MUST CHOOSE only one of the following CPIs:
CPI 5.5.4A1 Identify the roles that organisms may serve in a food chain
Essence of the CPI: Understand the role organisms play in moving matter and energy in a food
web
Matched Link
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 Given a food web that
includes the sun, identify
organisms that are
producers, consumers,
and decomposers and
explain each role*
 Describe what happens
when an organism of a
food web is removed*
 Classify organisms by
whether they are
herbivores, omnivores, or
carnivores*
 Label predators and prey
within a food web*
 Build a simple food web*
 Label producers and
consumers within a food
web*
 Identify predators and prey*
 Identify decomposers and
producers*
OR
CPI 5.5.4A4 Describe the basic functions of the major systems of the human body including, but
not limited to:
 Digestive system
 Circulatory system
 Respiratory system
 Nervous system
 Skeletal system
 Muscular system
 Reproductive system
Essence of the CPI: Understand the basic functions of the systems of the human body
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 Outline one major system’s
 Identify five systems of
 Identify at least five
pathway including organs
the body and their
systems of the human
and their functions*
functions*
body*
 Explain the inter-relationship  Identify the parts of a
 Identify the parts of a
between two systems*
system and their functions
system*
in that system*
Fourth (4th) Grade APA Prioritized CPI Links
Science
Science CPI Links were developed with the understanding that Standard 5.1, Scientific
Processes, is a vital part of scientific thinking yet difficult to assess out of the context of the other
science standards. As a result, some of the Matched Links for science also reference particular
CPIs from 5.1. In order to successfully instruct and assess a CPI Link that references 5.1 and to
address the Essence of the CPI, you must teach the Link using the scientific process. This may
occur by teaching the content of the Link within a scientific experiment, require the child to use
inquiry, observation or interpretation of data, etc. Always review Standard 5.1 when assessing a
CPI Link that requires evidence that incorporates this process. If the scientific process is
required when assessing a CPI Link but is missing from the evidence, the entry will receive zero
scores.
STANDARD 5.6 Chemistry: All students will gain an understanding of the structure and
behavior of matter. Exploring the nature of matter and energy is essential to an understanding
of the physical universe. This standard leads students from their experiences with the states and
properties of matter to the development of models of the atom and the underlying principles of
chemistry.
STRAND A: Structure and Properties of Matter
You MUST CHOOSE the following CPI:
CPI 5.6.4A3 Recognize that water (as an example of matter) can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas
and can be transformed from one state to another by heating or cooling
Essence of the CPI: Understand matter can exist as a solid, liquid, or a gas
Matched Link
 Observe water changing from
one state to another and record
and explain why the water
changed* 5.1.4A2
 Given a specific situation,
explain what form water will
take and why* 5.1.4B2
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 State how heating or
 Identify examples of
cooling will change the
water in solid, liquid,
form of water*
and gaseous states*
 Describe physical
characteristics of water as a
solid, liquid, and gas*
Fourth (4th) Grade APA Prioritized CPI Links
Science
Science CPI Links were developed with the understanding that Standard 5.1, Scientific
Processes, is a vital part of scientific thinking yet difficult to assess out of the context of the other
science standards. As a result, some of the Matched Links for science also reference particular
CPIs from 5.1. In order to successfully instruct and assess a CPI Link that references 5.1 and to
address the Essence of the CPI, you must teach the Link using the scientific process. This may
occur by teaching the content of the Link within a scientific experiment, require the child to use
inquiry, observation or interpretation of data, etc. Always review Standard 5.1 when assessing a
CPI Link that requires evidence that incorporates this process. If the scientific process is
required when assessing a CPI Link but is missing from the evidence, the entry will receive zero
scores.
STANDARD 5.8 Earth Science: All students will gain an understanding of the structure,
dynamics and geophysical systems of the Earth. The study of science should include a study
of the planet Earth and its relationship to the rest of the universe. This standard describes what
students should know about the composition of the Earth and the forces that shape it.
STRAND B: Atmosphere and Water
You MUST CHOOSE only one of the following CPIs:
CPI 5.8.4B2 Recognize that most of Earth’s surface is covered by water, and be able to identify
the characteristics of those sources of water
 Oceans
 Rivers
 Lakes
 Underground sources
 Glaciers
Essence of the CPI: Recognize that most of Earth’s surface is covered by water and that water
moves through a predictable cycle
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 Label the steps of the
 Describe various water
 Identify where oceans,
water cycle and describe
sources*
rivers, and lakes are on
how water changes from
maps/globes-must do all
 Given a diagram of the water
one step to the next*
three*
cycle, label the steps
(precipitation, surface
runoff, evaporation,
condensation, and
collection)*
OR
Fourth (4th) Grade APA Prioritized CPI Links
Science
CPI 5.8.4B3 Observe weather changes and patterns by measurable quantities such as
temperature, wind direction and speed, and amounts of precipitation
Essence of the CPI: Understand that weather can be observed and recorded (temperature, wind
direction and speed, cloud type and precipitation)
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 Gather information on at
least two different weather
conditions directly or from
various sources and
illustrate the change over
time* 5.1.4B1
 Using a thermometer, record  Identify tools and their
temperature over time*
purposes for measuring
weather*
 Using a rain gauge, record
precipitation over time*
 Given various
temperatures, identify
 Identify ways wind
whether it is more likely
conditions can be measured
to rain or snow*
and instruments that can be
used to measure these
conditions*
Fourth (4th) Grade APA Prioritized CPI Links
Science
STANDARD 5.9 Astronomy and Space Science: All students will gain an understanding of
the origin, evolution and structure of the universe. The study of science should include a
study of the planet Earth and its relationship to the rest of the universe. This Standard describes
what students should know about astronomy and space science.
STRAND A: Earth, Moon and Sun System
You MUST CHOOSE only one of the following CPIs:
CPI 5.9.4A1 Observe patterns that result from the Earth’s position relative to the sun and
rotation of the Earth on its axis
Essence of the CPI: Understand the reasons for day, night, and year
Matched Link
 Compare and contrast the
Earth’s revolution around
the sun and rotation on its
axis*
 Explain how the Earth’s
revolution around the sun is
measured in years and the
tilt on its axis causes
seasons*
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 Identify various examples
 Identify the sun, moon,
of movement of the Earth as
Earth, revolution, and
either a revolution or
rotation*
rotation*
 Identify daytime and
nighttime based on the
Earth’s rotation in
relation to the sun*
OR
CPI 5.9.4A2 Recognize and describe the phases of the moon
Essence of the CPI: Identify the basic pattern of the moon’s appearance and classify as new,
first quarter, full, or last quarter
Matched Link
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 Identify new moon, first
quarter moon, full moon,
and last quarter moon and
describe the moon’s
position relative to the
Earth/sun for each phase*
 Record observed phases of
the moon- new moon, first
quarter moon, full moon,
and last quarter moon- and
describe noted patterns*
 Identify new moon, first
quarter moon, full moon,
and last quarter moon and
arrange in order*
 Predict new moon, first
quarter moon, full moon,
and last quarter moon using
Earth’s calendar*
 Identify sun, Earth, new
moon, first quarter
moon, full moon, and
last quarter moon*