Fourth Grade

Fourth Grade:  A World in Motion

Everything moves. Birds fly south.  Seeds are carried for miles by the wind.  Ships sail and rains move from ocean to plain.  Even the earth itself moves, as soil erodes and plants draw from and replace the soil’s nutrients.  People, too, move from place to place, city to city, nation to nation, as they pursue adventure, seek freedom, join loved ones and find new homes.

In Fourth Grade, students study the way things move.  In science, the cycles of life, the compression of rocks, the motion of waves and the shifting of oceanic plates come under close scrutiny.  How did this come to pass? In what direction and to what place does this go? Can we trace the course of a growing plant, a forming rock, or the movements of ocean currents? These are the questions that shape the struggle for insight as students work to find the story behind the changing earth.

At the same time, in social studies, students trace the path of people who have traveled the regions of North America. This year, students focus on the geography of North America, with an emphasis on the significance of location, human interaction with the environment, regions and movement.  As students experience rural communities first hand, they become familiar with lifestyles, religion, culture and environments that are new and complex. In addition, as students learn the history of New Jersey and tour the urban, tri-state area, the hopes, work, language and customs of diverse peoples and cultures come into view. 

Language Arts

This year, students read a number of short novels that represent a variety of settings and characters.  As they read a broad range of genres, they build a deep understanding of the many dimensions of human experience. Important titles include: Little House on the Prairie; Ida B; I Have a Dream: The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr.; Hatchet; and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

The Fourth Grade writing program, informed by R. Fletcher’s Qualities of Effective Writing,  L. and Calkin’s Writing Workshop model, includes significant experiences in writing personal narratives, expository and persuasive essays, informational reports, and poetry.  In writing workshop, students repeatedly choose writing topics, draft, revise, edit and publish their writing.  As students learn how to organize ideas to suit various forms and purposes, they also work to develop ideas, word choice, and conventions in writing. Skills such as parts of speech, punctuation, writing mechanics and spelling, as well as word study, are emphasized and a formal vocabulary, spelling, and grammar curriculum is begun.

Science

As they pursue areas of scientific study, Fourth Graders raise questions, observe changes and movements, make discoveries and gain respect for creation, as well as their own callings to observe, discover and invent. The science program, which utilizes Delta Science curriculum, includes studies of: 1) Life Cycles and Taxonomy of Plants and Animals, 2) Pollution & Recycling, and 3) Earth Movements.   In the fall, learning is enriched by a trip to a Pennsylvania farm.  In the spring, scientific studies are extended by trips to the Meadowlands Environmental Education Center and the Sterling Hills Mine.  Throughout the year, Fourth Graders learn and practice observational skills, record and interpret data, and express learning through simple reports.

Mathematics

In Fourth Grade math, students are encouraged to solve problems in different ways and communicate their processes to others both orally and in writing.  Number sense is deepened as students increase their facility with basic facts, place value, and the four operations with whole numbers.  Estimation is also an integral part of each task.  Varied hands-on materials are consistently used to help develop the meaning behind the algorithms of multiplication and division. Through the use of pattern blocks, geoboards, and the like, fractions and geometry are investigated, while measurement and graphing lead to discussions about probability. Terc’s Investigations Program provides a firm foundation for understanding, while other materials provide for students’ need to master the facts.

The Arts

In the visual arts, students work with a wide variety of media, including drawing materials, paints, clay, printmaking materials, mixed media sculpture and digital media.   Subjects often relate to thematic studies of the ocean, urban areas, farms and other regions. In music, as well, students sharpen skills and develop critical and creative habits of mind.  Students also participate in choristers.

As students study Spanish, they develop an understanding of their own language and culture as they learn to communicate more fully. Students will graduate equipped with the skills, knowledge and proficiency necessary to pursue Spanish II in high school.  They will also have an insight that prepares them for a multi-lingual world.

Beyond the Classroom

Student’s educational experiences extend beyond the walls of the classroom.   Field trips are integrally related to classroom studies and may include:

Summer Reading List

Summer reading list for incoming Fourth Graders.