Institute for Sustainability, Education and Ecology  

Green Partnership Schools: (GPS)
Standards Alignment

NGSS and Oregon State Standards


GPS Lesson Plans, NGSS and Oregon State Standards
(4th Grade)

PSS understands the importance of supporting schools/teachers in meeting Oregon Education Standards. The following list outlines the topics in our 4th grade program, and lists the standards covered. We hope this is helpful to you, and if you have any questions please be in touch!

Topics and Standards:
NOTE: We have added some 3rd or 5th grade standards where applicable.

Intro to Sustainability Week: Wolves in Yellowstone (video and ecosystem connections activity); Healthy Choices Activity
NGSS: 4-ESS3-1; 4-LS1-2; 3-LS4-3; 3-LS4-4; Crosscutting Concepts: Systems and System Models
Social Sciences: 4.3, 4.4, 4.9, 4.10, 3.7

Soil Week: Soil formation; Earth as an Apple (topsoil scarcity); soil erosion activity; PowerPoint presentation slides
NGSS: 4-ESS2-1; 4-ESS3-1; 4-LS1-1; 4-LS1-2; 4-ESS1-1
Social Sciences: 4.3, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10; 3.6, 3.9

Water Week: Bioaccumulation demonstration; water quality testing; PowerPoint presentation slides; water audit
NGSS: 4-ESS3-1; 4-LS1-1; 4-LS1-2;
Social Sciences: 4.9, 4.10

Energy Week: PowerPoint presentation slides; renewable vs. non-renewable energy; electric car models
NGSS: 4-ESS3-1; 4-ESS3-2; 4-PS3-2; 4-PS3-4; 3-5-ETS1-1; 3-5-ETS1-2
Social Sciences: 4.10, 4.12

Waste Prevention: Slides, Lecture, Recycle Challenge Activity, Recycling in Oregon video
NGSS: 4-ESS3-1; 4-ESS3-2; MS-PS1-3;
Social Sciences: 4.3, 4.10, 4.13, 3.4

Transportation: Safe Routes to School presentation and mapping exercise
NGSS: 4-ESS2-2; 4-ESS3-1; 4-ESS3-2; 3-5-ETS1-1
Social Sciences: 4.10

Tree Week: presentation and tree tour (Friends of Trees)
NGSS: 4-LS1-1; 4-LS1-2; 4-ESS3-1; 4-ESS3-2; 5-LS2-1
Social Sciences: 4.7, 4.9, 4.11

Environmental Justice: presentation
Social Sciences: 4.1 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.9, 4.10, 4.13

Using Your Voice: presentation and public speaking practice
Social Sciences: 4.3, 4.4, 4.9, 4.10
ELA/Literacy Standards: 4.W.1, 4.W.2, 4.W.4

General (themed throughout all lessons)
NGSS:4-ESS3-1 and 2; 5-ESS3-1
Social Sciences: 4.10, 4.23



 PSS believes that all schools have the opportunity to provide:

 A place in our community where youth can explore what their world has in store for them.

 Stepping stones that lead each student towards independent success, paired with the ability to contribute or "give back."

 Places where knowledge is passed from teacher to student in hopes that each student will carry on to make the best life for themselves and others.

What do you think about making our local schools even more aligned with the goals outlined above? PSS's program, Green Partnership Schools, is designed to achieve these goals through environmental education, place-based and project-based learning.