FOURTH GRADE READING and
WRITING
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Increasing
Vocabulary
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Use Reading Strategies
§ Meaning (context)
§ Structure analysis (contractions, compound words, prefixes, suffixes, root words, and plurals)
§ Use auditory discrimination, visual discrimination, and phonics to determine word pronunciation
§ Use a variety of reading strategies to comprehend informational text (e.g. skimming, scanning and locating specific information to support opinion)
§ Use organizers of text (e.g. examples, graphs, pictures, summaries, Italics, margin notes, tables, definitions, and bold print)
§ Use knowledge of figurative language (e.g., simile, personification, metaphor)
§
Recognize and use expository writing elements
(e.g. comparison, and contrast, cause and effect, and chronological
order) |
Increase Comprehension
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Communicate through Writing
§ Use prewriting strategies: brainstorming, mapping, clustering, graphic organizers, fast writing, simple note-taking skills, interviewing, make lists § Write complete sentences with a purpose, theme, idea § Identify and use parts of speech and appropriate sentence structure when writing including: noun, verb, complete sentence, compound sentence, noun/verb agreement, proper tense, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, pronouns, prepositions, possessive nouns, punctuation (period, question mar, exclamation mark, apostrophe, commas in a series for combining sentences, and quotations) § State the main idea of the paragraph in one sentence § Fully explain the main idea with a logical sequence of ideas and supportive and relevant details § Use cause and effect as an organizational pattern and write fact and opinion paragraphs § Use elements of style, including word choice, tone, voice, and sentence variation § Paraphrase or summarize information § Use encyclopedias, dictionaries, newspapers, and other texts to gather information for research projects § List titles and authors of materials used as sources and references Publish a variety of types of writing: journals, letters, learning logs, nonfiction reports, poetry, fiction §
Final draft uses correct usage, spelling capital
letters, end punctuation, format (indentation, heading, margin) sentences,
and words which communicate clearly |
Discussions And Oral Presentations
§ Speak clearly at an understandable rate and volume § State the main idea and fully explain it in an organized manner § Answer questions from peers and ask questions of peers § Give a brief oral report (e.g. book report, current event, demonstration)
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Listening Skills
§ Use active listening to summarize, respond, recall main ideas, sequences, and important details § Understand and follow directions
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NUMERATION
§
Read,
Write, and Compare Whole Numbers
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Read,
write, model and order positive and negative whole numbers to 1,000,000
including thermometers and number lines
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Use
manipulatives to show understanding of number value, computation,
properties, operations and place value
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Know
each place value to million
§
Recognize
100 and 1,000 more or less than a given number
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Describe
a number using expanded notation
§
Read, write, round and order
decimals to tenths and hundredths
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Demonstrate
the commutative and identity properties of multiplication
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Understand
the meaning of division
§ Read and write Roman numerals to 100 |
MEASUREMENT §
Convert
standard units of money, distance, and time
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Measure
line segments to the nearest centimeter
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Convert
between millimeters, centimeters and meters
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Convert
between inches, feet, and yards
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Solve
problems regarding the measurement of the perimeter and area of real and
represented objects
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Draw,
measure, and classify basic geometric shapes §
Find
perimeter of regular and irregular shapes §
Write
and solve word problems involving map scales, elapsed time and
temperature
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Read
and create schedules, timetables, and timelines to solve
time/distance/rate problems |
ESTIMATION AND COMPUTATION Perform Basic Arithmetic Functions Using Mental Math and Paper and Pencil ·
Know multiplication facts through 10's
Add
and Subtract Whole Numbers and Fractions with Common Denominators to 12
using Models and Algorithms
Understand
and Use Fractions
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FUNCTIONS
AND RELATIONSHIPS § Recognize and solve problems based on existing patterns § Describe patterns within a number chart § Identify and complete input/output rules (find the rule, the input, or the output to input/output scenarios to a sum or product of 100) § Write number sentences using letters or shapes to represent missing numerals § Write and solve word problems that use equations containing a variable (at least one unknown) § Decide which operation is necessary to make an equation true § Use parentheses in numerical equations §
Use a calculator to find a missing item in a
number sequence |
GEOMETRY § Draw, measure, and classify basic geometric shapes and describe their attributes (plane and solid figures) § Draw and label parallel and perpendicular lines § Classify angles as right, obtuse, acute or straight § Identify and describe properties of polygons § Recognize congruent shapes after they have been rotated, reflected, enlarged, or reduced § Use standard terms to describe a location of objects in space § Compare and contrast plane and solid figures using relevant attributes, including the number of vertices, edges and the number and shape of faces § Locate points specified by ordered pairs, on a rectangular coordinate grid § Identify, classify, and compare various triangles and quadrilaterals according to their sides and/or angles | |
STATISTICS AND
PROBABILITY
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PROBLEM SOLVING, COMMUNICATION,
REASONING
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Fourth Grade
students will investigate structures of life, magnetism and electricity, water,
and measurement. Scientific process
skills for fourth grade students will include: observing, communicating,
classifying, measuring, predicting, experimenting, and formulating
problems.
· Generate questions about generally accepted knowledge
· Gather information to explore topics
· Develop ideas/theories about what may be happening when presented with new and unfamiliar situations
· Develop more than one way to order or group objects or events
· Test new knowledge for consistency with prior knowledge and experience
· Formulate and justify predictions based on cause and effect relationships
· Set up investigations to test their theories
· Measure and estimate the weight, length, or volume of objects
· Measure to the smallest unit
· Record observations in tables using labels
· Follow a set of written instructions for a scientific investigation
· Analyze process to confirm results of their own experiments, test or observations
CORE CONCEPTS
Life
Science
· Develop an attitude of respect for life · Gain experience with organisms, both plants and animals · Classify a variety of organisms according to selected characteristics e.g., backbone vs. no backbone · Observe and compare properties of seeds and fruits · Investigate the effect of water on seeds · Observe, describe, and record properties of germinated seeds · Compare different kinds of germinated seeds · Grow plants hydroponically and observe the life cycle of a bean plant · Observe and record crayfish and land snail structures and behavior · Organize data about crayfish territorial behavior · Develop responsibility for the care of organisms |
· Analyze the ability of soil to support the growth of many plants, including those in our food supply · Determine the qualities of nutrients, light, and water in the environment affect plant growth · Analyze plant structures for specific functions e.g., growth, survival and reproduction · Determine that new plants can be generated from seeds, tubers, bulbs, and cuttings · Relate structural characteristics and behavior of a variety of animals to the environment in which they are typically found · Determine animal behaviors and body structures that have specific growth and survival functions in a particular habitat · Evaluate living and nonliving things that affect animal life i.e., other animals, plants, climate, water, air, and location |
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Physical
Science
· Observe the interaction of permanent magnets with a variety of common materials · Discover that magnets display forces of attraction and repulsion · Measure the change in force between two magnets as the distance between them changes · Identify materials that are conductors and insulators · Analyze conduction (the movement of heat from one object to another) · Evaluate the ability of different materials to conduct heat · Understand and construct simple open, closed, parallel, and series circuits · Analyze the parts of a light bulb · Learn how to make an electromagnet · Experience the relationship between the number of turns of wire around an electromagnet core and the strength of the magnetism · Use knowledge of electromagnets to make a telegraph · Acquire vocabulary associated with magnetism and electricity · Determine the ability of electric circuits to produce light, heat, sound, and magnetic effects ·
Measure magnetic effects over distance or through
substances such as glass and paper |
Earth/Space
Science
· Observe and explore properties of water in liquid, solid, and gaseous states · Observe the expansion and contraction of water as it warms and cools · Investigate factors that influence evaporation and condensation of water · Consider components of the water cycle · Observe and compare how water moves through different types of earth materials, including soil and gravel · Identify various types of soil e.g., sand, clay and humus · Differentiate the properties of soil such as color, texture, and capacity to retain water · Consider the water quality of local water sources · Investigate how water can be used to do work · Observe and describe changes in the local environment caused by weather, waves, wind, water, ice and living organisms · Describe how living organisms have changed over time |
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Scientific Reasoning and
Technology · Understand the necessity for standard units of measurement · Develop an understanding and intuitive feel for the metric system · Measure length and distance in meters and centimeters with a meter tape · Measure mass in grams with a balance and mass pieces · Measure liquid volume and capacity of containers in liters and milliliters with 50-ml syringes and graduated cylinders · Measure temperature of liquids and air in degrees Celsius with a thermometer ·
Use science knowledge and reasoning to explain the
science of everyday events |
World to Work · Invite scientists as guest speakers · Keep a journal of science related occupations in our community and state · Develop questions about how science might be used in an occupation · Research an occupation that uses science. Find out how science is used, preparation or education required for employment, safety issues and rules related to the occupation, etc. · Investigate the occupations that provide a public service to people in our community and state, with an emphasis on how science and employee commitment helps others ·
Discuss and explore the ethics and attitudes that
are important to science and the work place |
FOURTH GRADE SOCIAL
STUDIES
COURSE
CONTENT
The
fourth grade social studies curriculum will focus on exploring regions in the
United States and the world and Alaska Studies. Students should do an in-depth study of
the geography, history, culture, and economy of Alaska. Historical, economic, and geographical
concepts expand discussions on national topics, developmental stages of the
nation, global issues, supply and demand, and the role of technology, and
geographic patterns.
Students learn about geography and
how people use geographic knowledge.
Students also examine how the physical features, resources, and climates
of the United States affect people’s lives. Students also discover what a region is
and explore the regions in the United States and the world. Students will also explore the
responsibilities of being a good citizen.
Students will study about The Northeast (land and sea), The South (rivers
and coasts), The Midwest (prairies and plains), and The West (from desert to
tropics). Students will discover
how regions of the United States depend on each other and other countries around
the world. Students will do an
in-depth study of the geography, history, culture, and economy of
Alaska.
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CULTURE
· Explore cultural celebrations as observed by various groups in Alaska (i.e., potlatch) · Describe and compare the diverse cultures within Alaska · Examine the environmental adaptations of each native culture group · Explore similarities and differences in how groups, societies, and cultures address similar human needs and concerns · Show different cultural regions on an Alaskan map identifying such things are religion and language · Summarize the contributions of people of the various groups in Alaska · Recognize that culture affects one’s values, beliefs, and attitudes · Identify the influence of immigration and migration · Explain the value of cultural diversity within and across groups |
CITIZENSHIP/GOVERNMENT
· Assume specific roles in group activities · Understand the unique character of government in Alaska · Explain the past and present importance of gold mining, lumbering, fishing, fur trapping and the discovery of oil on Alaska’s development · Explain the significance of Alaska Day and Earth Day · Recite the Pledge of Allegiance to honor the United States · Understand the composition of local and state legislative systems (governor, senators, and representatives) · Describe the different purposes of various organizations · Describe how cooperation and conflict affect places in different communities · Identify the three branches of the national government · Identify different groups that came to America and examine how they have contributed to the diversity of the nation · Identify the different reasons why people immigrated to the United States · List some of the rights covered by the Bill of Rights and explain why they are important |
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