Skip to content

Grade 4 · Life Science · FireFlash pack

Structures & Functions

Look at how parts of plants and animals work together.

Roots hold a plant in the soil, a box turtle closes its shell, and a mallard paddles with webbed feet. Structures & Functions shows how the parts of plants and animals, inside and out, work together to help them survive.

Get this packGet the full Grade 4 bundle

Already have an unlock code? Unlock this pack, then open it in FireFlash.

A hard shell An eastern box turtle with head and legs out beside the same turtle with its shell shut. shell
The eastern box turtle has a hard, domed upper shell and a hinged lower shell. The hinge helps it close around its head and legs when threatened. Other turtles do not all close this way.

What students investigate

Students start with plants: a root system anchors a plant, roots, stems and leaves work as one system, cactus spines help protect the plant, and a flower and its pollinator help the plant reproduce.

Then they turn to animals. An eastern box turtle closes its hinged shell, a mallard's webbed feet push against water, and bill shapes help birds handle food. Inside the body, digestive organs work as a team, and the heart and lungs supply the body together. The last card links a structure-function claim to the evidence that supports it.

Who it is for

Structures & Functions is written for Grade 4 life science. It pairs naturally with Animal Senses, which follows how animals take in information and respond.

The words claim, evidence and reasoning are taught along with the content, so students practice a short science argument as they go.

What students learn

10 learning ideas, one at a time. Each one is a silent animated Learn card, then Review and Mastery questions.

  1. A root system helps anchor a plant in soil.
  2. Roots, stems and leaves work together to support a plant.
  3. Spines on some cacti help protect the plant.
  4. A flower and a pollinator can help a plant reproduce.
  5. An eastern box turtle can close its shell for protection.
  6. Webbed feet help a mallard push against water.
  7. A bird’s bill shape helps it handle food.
  8. Several digestive organs help the body use food.
  9. The heart and lungs work together to supply the body.
  10. Strong reasoning links a structure-function claim to relevant evidence.

Science words in this pack

Each word is taught on its Learn card, then used again in Review and Mastery.

  • root system
  • anchoring
  • claim
  • evidence
  • system
  • transport
  • spines
  • protection
  • pollinator
  • compatible
  • shell
  • hinge
  • webbed feet
  • paddle
  • bill
  • dabbling
  • stomach
  • digestive system
  • heart
  • lungs
  • reasoning

Inside the pack

Spines A cactus with one thick pad; pointed spines grow in clusters across the pad. spines
A cactus spine is a stiff, pointed plant part. Spines can discourage some animals from feeding. They can also shade the cactus; protection does not mean that no animal can eat it.
Webbed feet A mallard beside an enlarged round view of its orange feet. webbed feet
A mallard has webbed feet: skin stretches between its toes. As it paddles, the wider foot pushes on water and helps the duck swim. A foot picture alone cannot measure how fast it swims.
A heart on its own A person's torso with only a heart drawn in the chest.
The lungs move oxygen from breathed air into blood. The heart pumps blood through the body. Together, these organs help deliver oxygen where it is needed.

How it works in class

  • Learn. 10 silent whiteboard animations, one idea per card. No audio, so it works on a classroom screen or a quiet device.
  • Review. 30 practice questions with feedback. Ideas a student misses come back.
  • Mastery. 30 questions to show what each student knows on their own.
  • Certificate. A student who finishes can print a certificate or save it as a PDF. It shows first-try Review and Mastery results and the ideas that needed a retry.

Standards connections

These cards support parts of the following NGSS performance expectations. They do not replace hands-on investigations.

  • 4-LS1-1 — core ideas

Questions teachers ask

Does it cover internal structures?

Yes. Cards show the digestive system and the heart and lungs as well as outside parts like shells, feet and bills.

Which plants and animals does it use?

Plant roots, stems and leaves, a cactus, a flower and pollinator, an eastern box turtle, a mallard and a cactus wren, and models of the human body.

How do I open it after buying?

Enter your unlock code on the Unlock page, then share the pack with students from Share with students.

Get Structures & Functions

Get this packGet the full Grade 4 bundle

Already have an unlock code? Unlock this pack, then open it in FireFlash.

More in FireFlash 4th Grade Science

About the FireFlash 4th Grade Science series