4th Grade Curriculum
Overall Philosophy
Fourth Grade marks an important transition year, in which students are challenged to spend more time in the content areas of Social Studies and Science than in previous areas. In earlier years, students learned to read. Now, rather, they are reading in order to learn.
An activity based approach is used throughout the school year, in which students use various learning styles to help them get the most out of each subject areas
Language Arts
Houghton Mifflin Reading Series (California Edition) as well as other resources. The following themes are explored:
Journeys: American Stories and Plays;
Amazing Stories, Problem Solvers; Heroes; and Nature—friend or foe.
Mathematics
Text: Scott-Foresman-Addison Wesley (California Edition), Envision Math.
Students explore and learn math concepts, operations, use various problem solving skills (such as Draw a Picture, Try and Check, etc), become familiar with basic algebraic concepts, such as graphing simple functions. Students will also work with basic geometric concepts, such as locating points and graphing simple functions on a coordinate plane.
Science
Text: Scott-Foresman.
Students explore the following areas: Life science (plant and animal ); Physical science, including work and energy, electricity, magnetism, light and sound energy; Earth science, including geology, oceans, weather, the solar system , and lastly, several systems of the human body, such as circulatory, digestion, and nervous . Activities are used throughout the year to deepen the students’ understanding of basic scientific concepts. A field trip to Chabot Space and Science Center helps students increase their knowledge of our solar system.
Religion
Text: We Believe, Sadlier.
This activity based approach helps to reinforce students’ understanding of the Ten Commandments. Students will also learn more about the following: the Seven Sacraments, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Precepts of the Church, as well as both corporal and spiritual works of Mercy. Each daily lesson serves to bring students closer to becoming true disciples of Jesus.
Social Studies
Houghton-Mifflin California Series. Students study the geography and history of California, beginning with the early native Californians and concluding with our state’s role in 20th century America. Several in-class projects are planned, such as constructing a salt dough model of California, creating 3-D interactive maps of important historical events, such as the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Additionally, the following field trips are planned to further the students understanding of California history, as well as its role in U.S. history: Mission San Jose; Oakland Museum of California (OMCA); and Mare Island Naval Station, where they can tour the LCS 102, a gunboat used in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Art
Weekly lessons are based on the instruction series, Art Attack, which enables students to practice and master several art techniques, such as use of line, form, pattern, color, and composition. Lessons often serve reinforce concepts learned in other content areas, such Science or Social Studies. For example, prior to our trips to Mission San Jose or Mare Island Naval Station, students learn more about the subject by illustrating it.
Physical Education
Held twice per week