Richmond

Natural Science 4 is a collective work, conceived, designed

and created by the Primary Education department at Santillana,
under the supervision of Teresa Grence Ruiz.

WRITER
Mara Antonia Fernndez
MANAGING EDITOR
Sheila Tourle
EDITORS
Beatriz Garca Hiplito
M Antonia Oliva
PROOFREADING
Jane Drummond
James Price
ILLUSTRATIONS
Alademosca illustraci
Digitalartis
Jos Luis Navarro
Marcelo Prez
Jos Santos

Do not write in this book.

Do all the activities in your notebook.

PRIMARY

Natural Science

CONTENTS
Topics

Natural Science syllabus

Unit

People and health

1 Life processes

Systems involved in nutrition

6
People and health

2 Our senses

Sight
Hearing

16

3 People and health

Nutrition

People and health

Health
Prevention

26
TERM REVISION
Living things

Classifying

4 living things

Animals

38
Living things

5 Plants

Living things

Wild plants

The parts of a plant

Photosynthesis

48

6 and crops

Groups of living things

Plant sensitivity
The life cycle of plants

60

TERM REVISION
Matter and energy

Forces and

7 energy

8 Heat and light

9 Machines

Gravity

72
Matter and energy

Heat
Conductors and insulators

82
Technology, objects and machines

92

TERM REVISION

Cooperative project: Olive oil

2 two

The effects of forces

The pulley
The inclined plane

Topics
Sensitivity

The locomotor system

The nervous system

Reproduction

Touch

Taste

Smell

Looking after your senses

Health care

A healthy diet

Healthy habits

Accident prevention

Plants

Fungi

Algae

Bacteria

Plant respiration

Asexual reproduction

Sexual reproduction

Plant classification

Vegetation

The process of farming

Crop farming

Types of crops

Non-renewable energy sources

Transformation of energy

Renewable energy sources

Uses of energy

Properties of light

Composition of light

Refraction

Reflection

The lever

Operating parts

Complex machines

Gears

Know how to
Identify healthy diets

Interpret and use codes

Mediate in a conflict

Classify samples from living things

Draw a flower using a magnifying glass

Choose and look after a plant

Identify the effects of forces

Identify the primary colours of light

Build a catapult

three 3

6
6.1

Wild plants and crops

Growing tomatoes all year long

Tomatoes are delicious and nutritious. However,
tomatoes go off quickly, so we need to eat them fast.
Years ago, we did not have tomatoes in winter and
spring. This is because tomato plants only grow and
produce fruit under hot conditions.
Today, tomatoes are cultivated in greenhouses.
A greenhouse is a building made of glass or plastic
that allows light through but keeps the heat in.
This way, tomatoes can grow all year long. They just
need water and fertile soil.
Temperature and humidity can be easily controlled in
greenhouses. For this reason, scientists use them to
conduct experiments. These experiments test the best
conditions for growing different plants.

Read and understand

Why do we need to eat tomatoes fast?
Years ago, tomatoes were only cultivated
in warm seasons. Why?
What are greenhouses made of? Why?
Why do scientists conduct experiments
in greenhouses?
Can you see different-coloured tomatoes
in the photo? Why?

SPEAKING. In pairs, talk about the types
of plants that are cultivated in greenhouses.

60 sixty

KNOW HOW TO
Describe how different
plants live.
Identify different types
of vegetation.
Describe crop farming.
FINAL TASK
Choose and look after
a plant.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?

The characteristics of plants
Plants make their own food. This
process is called photosynthesis.
Most plants have sexual
reproduction. Flowers are the
reproductive organs of a plant.
Other plants have asexual
reproduction.
1


What do plants need for
photosynthesis?

Name the parts of a flower.

sixty-one 61

How plants live

6.2

What do plants need to grow?

Plants only grow in places where they can get what they
need to survive. The place where a plant lives is called
its habitat.
Unlike animals, plants make their own food. This process is
called photosynthesis. Plants need sunlight, water, mineral
salts and carbon dioxide to carry out photosynthesis.
But not all plants need the same amount of these elements.
For example, plants that live in deserts need less water
than plants that live in rainforests. 1


Cactuses can live with very
little water.


Mimosa plant.

Plant sensitivity
Like animals, plants respond to changes in the environment.
However, plants respond differently to animals because
they do not have sense organs. Most of their responses are
movements related to growth.
The roots grow downwards, in search of humidity.
The stem and the leaves grow towards light. If the plant
receives sunlight from one side, the stem and the leaves
grow in that direction.
Some plants are capable of rapid movement. For
example, the mimosa plant closes its leaves when it is
touched. 2

LEARN MORE

Plants change
Plants adapt to changes
throughout the four seasons.
For example, flowers grow in
the spring and leaves fall in the
autumn.
Some plants look different at
different times of the day. For
example, the hibiscus plant
opens its flowers during the
day and closes them at night.

62 sixty-two

6
6.3

The life cycle of plants

The life cycle of a plant includes the different stages of its
life. Life cycles are not the same for all plants. There are
two main groups of plants: annual and perennial.
Annual plants. These plants complete their life cycle in
one year. They are born, grow and reproduce in the
spring and they die in the summer. Annual plants
disappear, but their seeds remain in the soil, and new
plants grow again each spring. 3
Poppies, sunflowers and cabbages are annual plants.


Mountain grassland with
annual plants.


The iris is a perennial plant.

Perennial plants. These plants have got a long life cycle.

Some trees, such as olive trees and yews, live for
thousands of years. Their trunks and roots grow
throughout their life cycle.
There are two types of perennial plants:
Perennial grasses. The visible part of these plants
disappears every year, but some organs remain
underground. These organs grow new stems, flowers
and seeds in the spring. 4
T
 rees and bushes. These plants grow throughout their
life cycle. They grow flowers and seeds in the spring.
Their leaves can be deciduous or evergreen.
Plants obtain what they need to survive in their
habitat. Depending on their life cycle, plants can be
annual or perennial.

ACTIVITIES
1

SPEAKING. Do all plants have the same needs to survive?

Discuss with your partner.

ICT. Search the Internet for information about the oldest tree in the world.
Write down the most interesting facts about it.

WRITING. Choose an annual or a perennial plant and write its biography.

Include a drawing.
sixty-three 63

Vegetation
6.4

Plants are affected by the climate, the relief, the humidity

and the soil in the place where they grow. Some plants
live in cold places while others live in warm areas. Some
plants need a lot of water while others live in very
dry areas.
Vegetation is all the plants in an area, region or country.
Forests, shrubland, grassland and deserts are areas
with different types of vegetation.

Forest
A forest is an area where many trees
grow close together. Some forests have
only one type of tree, for example, pine
forests, holm oak forests and beech
forests. Other forests have many
different types of trees, for example,
rainforests.
Forests need good conditions, such as
high humidity and fertile soil.

The Amazon rainforest is the

largest forest in the world.

Shrubland
A shrub is a bush. Shrubland is
an area dominated by bushes.
Bushes grow in places with poor soil
and low humidity.
Sometimes, after a very long period
of time, shrubland can grow into
a forest.

Various types of bushes

make up this shrubland.

64 sixty-four

WORK WITH THE PICTURE

Look at the photograph of

the forest. Is there more
than one type of tree?

6
Grassland

6.5

Grassland is an area dominated by grasses.

Trees and bushes are scarce. Grasslands are
found in places with long periods of drought
where forests cannot grow.
Grasses die every year, but new grasses
grow from the seeds the following year.
In Africa, grasslands are called savannahs.
The African Savannah
is home to the zebra.

Desert
A desert is an area with arid soil and very
little water. There are very few plants.
Cactuses grow in deserts because they
need very little water. They store water
in their stems.
Temperatures can be very high during
the day and very low at night.

The Namib Desert, Africa.

Forests, shrubland, grassland and deserts are areas with

different types of vegetation.

ACTIVITIES
1

Match each characteristic to one of the four areas.


drought high humidity arid soil bushes

SPEAKING. What type of vegetation do you like best?

Why?

ICT. Search the Internet for information about the African Savannah or the
Amazon rainforest. Describe the vegetation there.

6.6

sixty-five 65

Crop farming
6.7

What is crop farming?

WORK WITH THE PICTURE

Crop farming is the activity of cultivating

plants to obtain different products. These
products are called crops.

Which method do you think uses the most

water? And the least?

Most crops are grown for food, for example,

cereals, fruit and vegetables.

Other crops are used as raw materials to

make other products, such as fabric,
cosmetics and medicines.
Crops are also used to feed animals, for
example, farmers grow hay for cows and
sheep.

The process of farming

The most important stages in the process of
farming are:

Ploughing. In this stage, farmers turn the

soil to make it ready for planting.
Sowing. Farmers carefully place seeds in
the soil.
Fertilizing. Fertilizers contain mineral salts
that help plants to grow.
Irrigation. When rainfall is not enough,
farmers water their crops. There are
different irrigation methods: sprinkler,
drip and flood irrigation. 1

Fumigation. Farmers spray plants with

pesticides to stop insects harming the
crops.
Pruning. Some branches are cut from
trees and bushes. This helps the rest of
the plant to grow.
Harvesting. This is the final stage, when
farmers collect mature crops from fields.
1

66 sixty-six

Different irrigation methods. A. Sprinkler

irrigation. B. Drip irrigation. C. Flood irrigation.

6
6.8

Types of crops
There are different types of crops. We can classify them by
how much water they need to grow:
Dry crops. These crops only need rainfall. Some
examples are wheat, barley and olive trees. 2
Irrigated crops. Farmers need to water these crops.
Some examples are corn, tomatoes and rice.
We can also classify crops by plant type:

Wheat is a dry and

herbaceous crop.

The orange tree is an

irrigated crop.

Herbaceous crops. These include cereals and garden

plants such as tomatoes, lettuce and potatoes. They
have to be planted every year.
Trees and bushes. These include fruit trees, olive trees
and vines. They are only planted once and grow to
produce fruit. 3
Crop farming is the activity of cultivating plants to
obtain different products. We can classify crops by
their water needs or by plant type.

ACTIVITIES
1

6.9

Crop farming provides different products.

Make a list and explain why they are
important.

WRITING. Draw a comic strip representing the

process of farming and label it. Make sure you
include all the stages.

How do dry crops obtain water?

SPEAKING. Look at the picture on the right and

explain what type of crop it is.

ICT. Search the Internet for information about

the most typical crops in your area. What type
of crops are they? Share your information with
your classmates.

sixty-seven 67

KNOW HOW TO

Choose and look after a plant

Choose a plant that you will be able to look
after easily. For example, if you dont have
a garden, look for plants that can live in
small pots.
Choose a plant.
1

Look at the plants in the photos.

Which ones can you look after?

Choose a plant you like. Explain

your choice.

Learn to look after your plant.

3

Find out about your plants needs.

Search for information on the Internet
or in books or magazines, or ask
an adult.

Make an index card with tips for

looking after your plant.
Looking after a geranium plant
It needs sunlight. Put it in a sunny area of your garden or near a window
if you keep it indoors.
It needs a lot of water in the summer, but little in the winter. Dont spray
its leaves or flowers.
The soil should be moist. Make sure there are holes in the bottom of
the pot to allow excess water to drain out.
Fertilize when the plant is blooming.

Prune it in the spring. Cut dry leaves at the stem joint.

Watch the leaves for pests. If you need to use a pesticide, read
the instructions carefully.

68 sixty-eight

FINAL ACTIVITIES
1

SUMMARY. Copy and complete with these words.

harvesting shrubland irrigated stages cultivating
perennial crops habitat sowing herbaceous

6.10

The place where a plant lives is called its

The life cycle of a plant includes the different

of its life. According
to the length of their life cycle, plants can be annual or
.
Vegetation is all the plants in an area, region or country. Forests,
are areas with different types of
deserts, grassland and
vegetation.
Crop farming is the activity of
These products are called

plants to obtain different products.

.

The most important stages in the process of farming are: ploughing,

, fertilizing, irrigation, fumigation, pruning and
.
. They can also be

Crops can be dry or

bushes.
2

WRITING. Write what type of vegetation you can see in each photo.
Then, write its characteristics.
A

crops or trees and

THINK ABOUT IT. Can you identify which vegetation you have in
your area? Prepare a poster with photographs and label each plant
with its main characteristics.

Show your skills

Choose one of these activities:
A. 
Search for information about a desert: location,

name, size and main characteristics.

B. 
Choose an annual or a perennial plant and draw the different stages of its life cycle.
C. Write a story about a sad seed that cannot find the perfect place to grow.
sixty-nine 69

TEST YOURSELF

Check your vocabulary

algae aquatic living things
which make their own food.

grassland an area dominated by grasses.

gymnosperm a flowering plant with small,
simple flowers that does not produce fruit.
Its seeds are grouped together in cones.

angiosperm a flowering
plant with beautiful flowers
that produces fruit with
seeds inside.

moss a non-flowering plant with tiny

stems, leaves and roots.

bacteria the smallest and

simplest living things.

pollen grains formed in the stamens

of the flower.

bulb an underground stem with leaves that

stores food, like onions and garlic.

photosynthesis the process by which

plants make their own food.

desert an area with arid soil, very little

water and few plants.

ploughing the process in which farmers

turn the soil to make it ready for planting.

elaborated sap the food that plants make.

raw sap the mixture of water and mineral

salts that plants absorb through their roots.

fern a non-flowering plant with large leaves

and an underground stem.
fertilizing the process in which farmers
add fertilizers to the soil that contain
mineral salts that help plants to grow.
forest an area where many trees grow
close together.

rhizome a specialized stem that grows

horizontally underground, like irises.
shrubland an area of vegetation
dominated by bushes.
stolon a specialized stem that grows
horizontally above the ground, like
strawberries.

fumigation the process in which farmers

spray plants with pesticides to stop insects
harming the crops.

tuber an underground stem that develops

roots.

fungi living things that feed on other living

things and cannot move about.

vegetation all the plants in an area, region

or country.

Describe the living things in the photographs.

A

70 seventy

SECOND TERM

Check your progress

Copy and write the correct answers in your notebook.
1

The main types of fungi are

mushrooms, moulds and

a. yeasts.
b. bacteria.
c. algae.
2

a. roses and
daisies.
b. mosses and ferns.
c. cypress and fir trees.

The smallest living things are

a. algae.
b. bacteria.
c. fungi.
To carry out photosynthesis, plants
need

Flowers, seeds, bulbs and rhizomes

are related to
a. plant respiration.
b. plant reproduction.
c. plant classification.

Poppies are
a. perennial plants.
b. bushes.
c. annual plants.

a. light and mineral salts.

b. water, mineral salts, and raw sap.
c. water, mineral salts, carbon dioxide
and light.
4

Gymnosperms
include

Corn, tomatoes and rice are

a. irrigated crops.
b. dry crops.
c. herbaceous crops.
Check your answers
Correct the answers you got wrong.
Write in your notebook which
lessons you need to practise again.

Plants that produce fruits with seeds

inside are
a. gymnosperms.
b. angiosperms.
c. ferns.

Think like a floriculturist

Some schoolchildren are going to visit the fields where
you cultivate plants for their flowers. Imagine how you
would use your plants to explain the following points:
What cultivated plants and wild plants are.
The different types of leaves.
The differences between grasses and bushes.
The parts of a flower.
seventy-one 71