Fourth Grade Curriculum
	General Math Description: Students attend class no less than 50 minutes a day/five days per week in grade appropriate activities designed to develop higher order thinking skills, problem-solving skills, an understanding of mathematical concepts, and an ability to make appropriate, correct calculations. Text(s): Title: Math, The Millenium Edition Authors: Charles, Barnett, Briars, Crown, Johnson, Leinwand, and Van de Walle Publisher/Copyright Date: Scott Foresman, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1999 General Objectives: 1. The student will learn to value mathematics, reason mathematically, communicate mathematically, develop confidence in the use of mathematics, solve problems using mathematics, and compute accurately. 2. The student will demonstrate effective usage of thinking skills and problem solving strategies, real number applications, operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, estimation, measurement with metric and English units, organizing data, ratios, proportions, percentages, exponents, basic probability, basic statistics, and basic geometry.   General Science Description: An overview of the basic concepts in life, earth, the human body, and the physical sciences designed to enhance the student’s understanding for and appreciation of the world in which we live. Text(s): Title: Scott Foresman Science Author: Cooney, DiSpezio, Foots, Matamoros, Nyquist, Ostlund, Chamot, Cummins, Kahn, Sipkovich, Weinberg Publisher/Copyright Date: Scott Foresman Publishers Inc., 2000 Edition: First General Objectives: The student will: 1. be introduced to: a. life science b. physical science c. earth science d. human body e. proper notebook management and study skills   Reading/Creative Writing Description: A survey of published children’s literature enriched with integrated studies of reading, grammar, and creative writing. Text(s): Title: Open Court Reading , Level Four Author: C. Bereiter, M.J. Adams, M. Pressley, M. Roit, R. Case, A. McKeough, J. Hirshberg, M. Scardamalia, A. Brown, J. Campione, I. Carruthers, G.H. Treadway Publisher/Copyright Date: SRA/McGraw-Hill, 2000 General Objectives: The student will: 1. build fluency in reading, leading to greater comprehension. 2. use reading skills and strategies for inquiry and research. 3. write with expression and creativity.   Short title: HANDWRITING Description: Students will continue to develop cursive handwriting skills. Text(s): Title: Handwriting Four Author: C.S. Hackney, P.J. Farris, J.T. Jones, L.L. Lemme Publisher/Copyright Date: Zaner-Bloser, Inc., 1991 General Objectives: The student will: 1. use cursive writing correctly in a written work done in the fourth grade.   Grammar Description: A curriculum designed to enable students to express ideas effectively. This is accomplished through study of grammar and writing. Text(s): Title: World of Language (Grade Five) Author: M.D. Toth, N.N. Ragno, B.G. Gray Publisher/Copyright Date: Silver Burdett Ginn, 1996 General Objectives: The student will: 1. use correct grammar while writing. 2. use correct grammar while speaking.   Spelling Description: Students are exposed daily to fundamental principles of effective and correct spelling of age-appropriate words. Text(s): Title: Wordly Wise 3000 Book 1 Author: K. Hodkinson, S. Adams Publisher/Copyright Date: Silver Burdett Ginn, 2001 General Objectives: The student will: 1. accurately spell fifteen new words each week. 2. recognize and understand the meaning of the weekly spelling words through vocabulary study. 3. correctly use the weekly spelling words in sentences.   United States Geography Description: A study of the regions of the United States with emphasis on its geography, people, economy, and government. Students attend class not less than 50 minutes per day, five days per week. Text(s): Title: States and Regions Author: Dr. Richard G. Boehm, Claudia Hoone, Dr. Thomas McGowan, Dr. Mabel C. McKinney-Browning, Dr. Ofelia B. Miramontes, Dr. Priscilla H. Porter Publisher/Copyright Date: Harcourt Brace and Company, 2002 General Objectives: The student will: 1. increase knowledge of the United States and its regions. 2. gain an appreciation for the diversity of the United States and its people. 3. develop good study skills and organizational techniques.   Art Description: Students attend class once a week for 50 minutes and study sequential and interdisciplinary studio and classroom experiences in the visual arts. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. continue to develop and expand knowledge in the fine arts through hands-on activities and studies. 2. enjoy the world of art and showcase personal abilities. 3. develop and expand fine arts knowledge. 4. develop and express skills related to the fine arts. 5. acquire knowledge of historical and cultural developments. 6. build a base from which to make informed aesthetic judgments.   Music Description: By participating in music class, fourth grade students will have a greater understanding and appreciation of music. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. by listening, singing, moving, and clapping instruments, the student will be able to: a. recognize meters and time signatures b. identify dynamic symbols c. identify and notate scales, intervals, note names, and key signatures d. identify rounds, chords, and counter melodies e. categorize instruments in their families, cultures and historical periods f. follow the form of music g. differentiate tempo, accelerando, fermata, and ritardando   Physical Education Description: A basic program designed to promote good physical health and encourage a lifelong interest in physical activity. Students attend class once a week for 50 minutes. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. Demonstrate competency in many different movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms. 2. Apply movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills. 3. Exhibit a physically active lifestyle. 4. Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. 5. Demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings. 6. Demonstrate understanding and respect for differences among people in physical activity settings. 7. Understand that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction.   Library Description: The fourth graders come to the library for library skills during a forty-five minute period weekly. Students begin an intense study and drill of the library and its resources. Text(s): Title: The Complete Library Skills Grade 4 Author: Linda Turrell Publisher/Copyright Date: T.S. Denison, 1994 Title: Developing Library Skills Author: Esther Lakritz Publisher/Copyright Date: Frank Schaffer Publications, Inc., 1989 General Objectives: The student will: 1. continue to learn about the variety of written media. 2. practice independent use of Accelerated Reader. 3. continue to develop reference skills.   Computer Science Description: To reinforce basic computer components and functions. To provide reinforcements of the skills taught in forth grade classroom. To review the concepts learned in third grade computer class. The students will be exposed to input and output. Learn about computer peripherals. Students will now come to the computer lab three times a week. Text(s): Title: Microsoft Office 2000 Author: Connie Morrison Publisher/Copyright Date: South-Western Educational Publishing, Thomson Learning, 2001 General Objectives: The student will: 1. be comfortable using a computer. 2. have a working knowledge of how to use Word 2000 3. be exposed to Excel.   Spanish Description: A basic introduction to Spanish culture and language. Students attend class once a week for 20 minutes. Text: None General Objectives: The student will: 1. Ask and answer simple questions in Spanish. 2. Use greetings, farewell expressions, and polite expressions in Spanish. 3. Carry out a few commands. 4. Identify objects, colors, numbers, days of the week, months, dates, seasons, parts of the body, emotions, animals, hobbies, clothing, and foods. 5. Describe themselves and discuss things they like to do.