Grade 4 Curriculum

English/Language Arts

Language

• Conduct interviews and surveys and report the results.

• Orally express opinions and conclusions about texts read or heard.

• Use a dictionary, thesaurus, or other reference book to determine meaning, usage, and pronunciation.

• Identify standard mechanics and usage involving punctuation, parts of speech (verbs, nouns, pronouns, and adverbs), paragraph format (indentation, topic sentence, conclusion), spelling and complete sentences (simple, compound).

• Compare and contrast differences in language from different regions.

• Use a variety of strategies to determine the meaning of new words.

Literature

• Identify main ideas and supporting details, analyze and interpret information read, and compare/contrast information from different sources.

• Introduce and compare various traditional literature, such as myths, legends, fairy tales, fables and tall tales.

• Distinguish the theme from the topic; use more complex comprehending strategies.

• Provide evidence from a story to support the understanding of theme, character, plot, and setting.

• Demonstrate cause and effect relationships.

• Compose reports or presentations which include visuals (timelines, charts, maps, etc.).

• Compare themes in poems.

• Identify and use a variety of patterns in poetry (end rhyme, free verse, couplets, haiku, limerick, etc.).

• Identify, analyze, and explore sound devices, sensory words, exaggeration (hyperbole), and direct and indirect comparisons (simile, metaphor, personification).

Composition

• Write multi-paragraph compositions that develop a central idea in an expository format.

• Show development in organization, content, paragraph development, level of detail, mechanics, word usages, and sentence structure in written work.

• Use graphic organizers and additional strategies (note taking, summarizing, etc.) to plan and write the composition.

• Revise writing to improve level of detail.

Math

Number Sense and Operations

• Understand fractions as part of a whole unit.

• Understand use of decimals as they relate to money.

• Add and subtract up to 5 digit numbers.

• Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12, and use them to solve problems.

• Divide up to a 3 digit whole number with a single digit divisor.

• Round whole numbers through one hundred thousand (100,000).

• Multiply up to 3 digit by 2 digit numbers.

Patterns, Relations, and Algebra

• Use pictures, models, tables, charts, graphs, words, number sentences, and mathematical notations to interpret mathematical relationships.

Measurement

• Identify time to five minute intervals on analog and digital clocks using AM and PM.

• Identify and use appropriate tools to measure length, width and weight.

Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability

• Represent the possible outcomes for a simple probability situation.

• Collect and organize data, and identify appropriate ways to display the data.

Religion

•     The Ten Commandments, God’s laws of love, were given to the chosen people.

•     Sacraments originate from the witness of Christian life within the family.

•     Preparation for First Reconciliation which is given by parents.

•     Gospel stories which help students to develop a relationship with Jesus and connect their lives to His life and mission.

•     The study of Liturgy to facilitate their participation at Mass.

•     Basic concepts of social justice to encourage students to reach out and build relationships of love and goodness.

Science

Earth and Space Science

• Identify various forms of precipitation.

• Explain how temperature, humidity, precipitation, and air pressure are all factors in determining the weather.

• Make connections to the weather in a particular place and time.

• Understand the water cycle.

• List some causes of air pollution and tell why it is harmful to many of the Earth’s ecosystems.

Life Science

• Understand that animals have unique physical and behavioral characteristics that help them to survive and interact with all parts of their environment.

• Classify animals according to the inherited characteristics they share.

• Recognize that animals go through predictable life cycles including birth, growth and development, reproduction and death.

• Describe the life cycle of a plant and describe the importance of plants to life on Earth.

Physical Science

• Compare and contrast the basic properties of water in the solid, liquid and gas state, and know that one can move between the states by adding or taking away heat.

Social Studies

Geography

• Use cardinal directions, map scales, legends, and titles to locate places on contemporary maps.

• Identify and locate the continents and major oceans.

• Understand the differences between maps and globes and know when to use one as opposed to the other.

Civics and Government

• Give examples why communities need to have governments.

• Give examples of the different ways people in a community can influence their government.

• Develop an understanding of the three branches of the Federal Government.

History

• Explore the meaning and use time periods in historical narratives (decade and century, etc.) and use them in speaking and writing.

• Distinguish cause from effect and fact from opinion.  Summarize main ideas from readings, and write brief summaries of research and brief explanations using evidence.

• Formulate questions on a topic of interest, plan research, evaluate relevance of the information, communicate the information, and evaluate the research project as a whole.

• Read a biography of a person and summarize his/her life.

Spanish

Review and reinforce material covered in Grade 3

• Detailed conversation segments

• Understanding of masculine/feminine noun concept

• Vocabulary through special projects/culture

Art

• Studying the meaning and mixing of the full spectrum of colors.

• Introducing pencil, water color, opaque paints, crayon resist, pastels, printing, collage and other mixed media for 2-D works.

• Introducing skills and techniques for 3-D media including clay, wire, paper and soft sculpture.

• Developing fine motor skills.

• Developing observational and analytical skills.

• Learning about cultures and history through artwork.

• Encouraging the individual expression of the students.

• Art skills are also integrated into the regular classroom curriculum.

Music

• The Music Curriculum focuses on the following:

• Students will sing a varied repertoire of music alone and with others

• Students will demonstrate ability in the music skills of melody, harmony, form, expressive qualities and rhythm.

• Students will gain an understanding of basic music vocabulary such as echo, beat, loud/soft, high/low, fast/slow, tempo, steady beat, etc.

• Use of recorders.

Computer

The Technology Curriculum is designed to ensure that the student has mastered the appropriate beginning and intermediate computer knowledge and skills to accomplish tasks assigned in and outside the classroom. Learning/usage of skills is integrated into the classroom curriculum and instruction is taught in the lab.

Physical Education

• Improve coordination.

• Use mature form in object control to use basic sport specific skills for a variety of activities (kick, run, strike, throw).

• Use control in weight-bearing and balance activities.

• Instill sportsmanship.

• Use range of strategies for net and invasion games.

• Understand rules, procedures, and etiquette that are safe.

• Work in a group in both cooperative and competitive games.

• Develop an appreciation and enjoyment of physical activity.

• Understand that different individuals have differences in abilities.

• Engage in activities that provide personal challenge.

• Identify the benefits of good health habits and an active lifestyle.

• Engage in activities that increase cardio-respiratory endurance.

• Engage in activities that develop flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance.

• Know the characteristics of a healthy lifestyle.

Library

Children come to the library weekly.  They learn to explore the reading materials and find books to take home.  Library and listening skills are introduced.  Children learn the responsibility of borrowing and returning books on a weekly basis.

The Librarian works in conjunction with the classroom teacher on class projects.  Children are guided to select appropriate materials at their level.