Fourth Grade Curriculum

RELIGION

The religion program focuses upon the formation of the Catholic faith.  Our approach is grounded in scripture along with the doctrine and traditions of the Catholic Church.  Our program hopes to make the Catholic faith a living, conscious, and active part of the student's life.

The students will:

• review and learn the following prayers - Sign of the Cross, Hail Mary, Our Father, Act of Contrition, Apostles' Creed, Trinity Prayer (Glory Be), and Grace before and after meals
•  experience saying the rosary
• plan and participate in liturgies and prayer services for mass or school assemblies
• review and learn mass responses
• study and honor Jesus, Mary, and the Holy Spirit
• study the lives of various saints
• learn the Beatitudes
• review the Sacraments
• participate in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist
• experience the various ways to pray - spontaneous prayer, liturgical prayer, formal prayer, meditative prayer, expressive prayer (dancing, singing, art, gestures, poetry, etc.)
• experience the church's liturgical seasons - All Souls Day, All Saints Day, Advent, Christmas, Ash Wednesday 9Lent), Holy Week (Tridium), Resurrection, Pentecost, and other Holy Days
• read about people from the Hebrew and New Testament
• learn the meaning of the different Catholic symbols seen in church
• become aware of God working in our lives today, "God Surprises"
• practice turning to God through prayer for help and encouragement
• practice reading the Bible through games such as Bible search
• participate in Family Life and Aids programs

The religion curriculum is enriched through drama, art, music, audio visuals such as CTN, tapes, videos, literature, guests speakers, etc.

LANGUAGE ARTS

The fourth grade language arts curriculum includes reading, phonics, D'Nealian handwriting, literature, English grammar, oral language, writing, and spelling.  The goal is to integrate these major components throughout the curriculum and to develop a love and appreciation for the English language.

The fourth grade students will:

• develop an awareness of and appreciation for quality literature
• distinguish between a variety of literary forms - poetry, fiction, non-fiction
• identify the story elements of plot, setting, and character
• interpret, recall, and predict fro comprehension
• demonstrate understanding of new vocabulary words by using them in speech, reading, and writing
• recognize the main idea/topic of a written selection
• recognize and interpret the following standard book features - title page, page numbers, table of contents, glossary, index, copyright/publisher, bibliography
• use reference materials and resources to expand vocabulary and develop research skills
• study the areas of grammar - subjects, verbs, nouns, pronouns, spelling, adjectives, adverbs, usage, mechanics
• follow the five-step writing process - prewriting, draft writing, revising, editing, postwriting
• reinforce comprehension through predicting, inferring, interpreting, recalling, and sequencing
• learn different ways to learn/study through the use of SQR, KWL, mindmapping, Venn diagrams, outlining, and cloud charts
• identify and use the different types of sentences
• review and practice correct punctuation in written work
• stress legibility in writing by consistent slant, size, and spacing
• practice and review grammar and spelling skills through the Daily Oral Language program
• practice spelling skills through reading, writing, phonics, pretest/study/test method, and dictation
• learn and practice oral communication skills

MATHEMATICS

The Mathematics curriculum gives students a strong conceptual base by focusing on the development of number sense, basic computational skills, practical application, and problem solving.

Problem Solving:

• locating needed information
• identifying problem solving strategies
• choosing the correct operation
• solving 2-step problems
• using tables, charts, lists, and pictures

Estimation and Mental Math:

• rounding whole numbers and decimals
• estimating sums, differences, and products by rounding
• estimating quotients
• understanding overestimating and underestimating
• using mental math to solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractional problems

Whole Number Operations:

• writing number sentences
• understanding the properties of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
• adding and subtracting 5-digit numbers
• multiplying 3-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers
• dividing with 2-digit divisors
• finding averages

Numeration and Number Theory:

• reading and writing numbers through 999,999,999
• comparing and ordering numbers
• applying the correct order of operations
• recognize negative numbers as related to temperature

Estimation:

• estimating to find sums, quotients, products, and to solve subtraction problems
• finding equivalent fractions
• writing fractions in lowest terms
• working with mixed numbers and fractions
• adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators

Decimals:

• reading and writing decimals through hundredths
• comparing and ordering decimals
• using decimals in problem solving
• relating decimals to fractions

Measurement, Time and Money:

• converting standard/metric units within a system
• finding the perimeter, area, and volume
• understanding the calendar in a problem-solving situation
• estimating and calculating additions and subtraction of hours and minutes
• understanding money in problem-solving situations

Geometry:

• classifying angles
• locating points on a grid
• identifying geometric figures
• finding the perimeter, area, and volume of figures
• identifying rays, intersecting lines, and parallel lines
• identifying congruent line segments and congruent polygons
• selecting symmetrical figures and demonstrating symmetry

Probability and Statistics:

• stating the probability of a simple event
• using probability as a fraction and a ration
• interpreting data on bar, circle and line graphs and pictographs
• combining data using tallies and tables
• graphing ordered pairs

Logic:

• organizing information to solve logic problems using strategy and diagrams
• forming precise conclusions using keywords
• classifying and sorting objects using on or more attributes

Pre-algebra

• expressing simple word problems or sentences as algebraic expressions
• finding replacements for variables that make number sentences true

Calculator

• using a calculator for problem solving
• using a calculator to check answers

SOCIAL SCIENCE

The fourth grade Social Science curriculum focuses on the geography, history, culture, social systems, and economics of California.  We hope the students will learn to appreciate the state they live in and begin to understand the events and cultures of yesterday and today that helped to create California.

Major areas of study:

• California - modern changing state
• physical setting - map study
• California Native American settlements and people - exploration and colonial history
• Spanish Missions
• Ranches and trade
• Mexican independence from Spain, Russian settlement, American trappers, immigration by land and sea
• Gold Rush
• Bear Flag/Statehood
• California industry including agriculture to industrial technology
• transportation/communications - stage coach, clipper ships, wagon trains, Pony Express, transcontinental railroad, telegraph

Activities and materials used with the text:

• map work
• drawings, models, and charts
• written reports
• skits, plays, and puppet shows
• guest speakers and demonstrations
• living history activities and field trips
• audio visuals including - overhead projector, filmstrips, CTN, and videos
• computer software
• literature
• primary sources - wagon wheels, gold pans, and hides
• bulletin boards, pictures, globes, magazines, and newspapers
• internet

SCIENCE

Students will follow an integrated science curriculum, which includes the following subjects:

Physical Sciences:

• Electricity and Magnetism
• How to build a compass and an electromagnet
• How to build a design simple series and parallel circuits

Life Sciences:

• Ecosystems and Biomes
• Food Webs and food chains
• Survival in the environment

Earth Sciences

• The properties of rocks and minerals
• The rock cycle
• How the Earth's land is shaped and reshaped

Scientific Method:

• Investigation and Experimentation
• Using Balances, Thermometers, Graduated Cylinders
• Reporting Laboratory Work
• Construct and interpret graphs

Study materials include the student science textbook, directed reading workbook, quiz sheets, review questions, video and audiotapes and use of the Internet.

The science curriculum provides many opportunities for students to develop and maintain the essential skills that form the basis for lifelong learning.  The Scientific Method skills are essential for investigating the natural world.  Students learn to ask a question. form a hypothesis, experiment and analyze results.  The curriculum integrates science with reading, social studies, writing and math skills through meaningful activities and strategies.