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| FOURTH GRADE CURRICULUM
RELIGION
Text: Blest Are We, Silver Burdette, 2004
During
our year of study, we learn about God's Kingdom on earth. This includes
study of the Ten Commandments, the Works of Mercy, and the Beatitudes.
We are constantly learning to bring that Kingdom to others through our
words and actions We also study the Liturgical Calendar, research saints
for All Saints Day, prepare and participate in Holy Week activities,
learn about and review the sacrament of Reconciiation, study our
greatest prayer, the Mass, and participate in weekly school Masses as
song leaders, readers, and gift bearers. After Christmas Fourth Grade
students have the opportunity to take a class through the parish on
being an altar server and then serve at our school Masses. Those
students who have not recieved the Sacarament of Reconciliation can
prepare with their families through the Religious Formation Program. We
also reach out to our community through various activities. Fourth Grade
students write to older members of our community, especially those in
care centers and those who have difficulty getting out. Students
"befriend" these people and write monthly and seasonal letter and
greetings throughour the year. Some students will even take time with
their families to make personal visits. During the season of Lent, the
Fourth Graders visit the Christian Community Home in Hudson and perfom
the Living Stations of the Cross. In the Spring, after studying the
Works of Mercy, students hold a Rummage Sale for Grades Pre-K-3 and
choose a worthy organization which lives out the Coporal or Spiritual
Works of Mercy to receive the monies earned.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Texts: The Wisconsin Journey; Gibbs/Smith, 2004
Exploring Our State: Wisconsin, Follett, 1977
The
focus of our year is the study of the state of Wisconsin. We begin
with a unit on geography working with map and globe skills. Then we
study how the land was shaped by the last Ice Age. A field trip to
Interstate Park, one park of the Ice Age Trail , enhances our study of
glaciers in Wisconsin. Next, we study the culture of the Woodland
Indians before the white man came. As a culmination to this unit, the
students create an authentic Native American village. Our next unit
introduces the explorers, French fur traders, and early settlement and
how life changed for the Native American with the interaction of the
white men. Fourth Graders visit the Minnesota Historical Society and
take a class on fur trading. This is followed by studying the growth of
Wisconsin due to the discovery of lead in southwestern Wisconsin. This
leads us into statehood in the year 1848. We study Wisconsin's state
symbols, flag, and capital. Students are introduced to the causes of
the Civil War and Wisconsin's role in the war. Immigrantion is
another unit that is covered in Fourth Grade. This includes creating
family trees, research, and the celebration of an Immigrant Day where
the students role play families making the journey to America. We move
into lumbering, agriculture, economics, and Wisconsin government. We
are fortunate to have volunteers provide our students with the Junior
Achievement Program.
MATH
Text: Mathematics, McGraw-Hill; 2002
The focus of Fourth Grade Math is:
- Review of place value, Rounding, Time, and Money
- Review of Addition and Subtraction and Estimation of Sums and Differences
- Multiplication by 1 and 2 digits and Estimation of Products and Quotients
- Division by 1 and 2 digit divisors
- Data, Satatistics, and Graphing
- Problem Solving Strategies
- Measurement: Metric and Standard
- Fractions- understanding of fractions, equivalent fractions, introduction to adding and subtracting fraction
- Introduction of Geometry
We
also use a Math Daily Review to review and introduce different math
concepts including ratio, percents, decimals, problem solving, and
probability.
Fourth Graders are expected to know all of their math facts. Students are given timed tests practice and assessment.
SCIENCE
Text: Science, Houghton Mifflin, 2007
Text, videos, projects, and hands-on exploring/experiments are used with each unit. Curriculum includes the study of:
- Life Processes, including the cell
- Plant Parts and Life Cyle
- Introduction to Human Body Systems
- Energy: Light, Sound
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Water Cycle and Weather
- The Universe
- Birds, including birdwatching
READING
Text: Treasure of Literature, Houghton-Mifflin, 1993
Approximately
half of the year is spent using the basal and reading a variety of
selections including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The many skills
worked on include: cause and effect, figurative language, drawing
conclusions, following directions, graphic aids, sequence of events and
time order words, guide words, vocabulary development, main idea and
details, faact and opinion, and reference books. Students also learn to
develop thinking and writing skills through written answers to
comprehension questions.
Students read novels as a class. These include Caddie Woodlawn, Stone Fox, Shiloh, and Meet Addie.
Through activities and discussions, students learn to understand
reading on deeper level. Three of these novels were chosen specifically
to correlate with our curriculum in other areas.
Fourth Graders also experience reading in small groups and Lit Circles. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is one novel done in this fashion, and more books may be done in the Lit Circle format throughout the year.As
a supplement to our reading program, students are also encouraged to
read for enjoyment through our Accelerated Reader Program. We have
over 1000 titles and computerized quizzes.
LANGUAGE AND SPELLING
Text: Language, Harcourt, 2002
Many language
areas of grammar and usage are covered in this book. Skills include
sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, parts of speech
including nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
These
skills are applied in writing skills using the writing process. Types
of writing include personal narrative, narrative,
persuasive, expository, and descriptive writing, including poetry. Some
writings are taken to a published form using the computer lab.
Students
participate in a schoolwide Young Author program where they write and
publish their own books with teacher and parent guidance. Books are
then shared at an all-school celebration of literacy during our Young
Author Day.
Cursive writing is reviewed and required for much of the children's written work.
Text: Spelling and Vocabulary, Houghton-Mifflin, 1998
This
book is a phonics-based program which reinforces what has been taught
in the lower grades. In the workbook students learn to read and follow
directions along with other language skills. Students are graded on
workbook and weekly tests.
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