Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade Current Unit of Inquiry
THE EXHIBITION
Theme: How We Express Ourselves
Central Idea: Individuals worldwide convey their uniqueness in many creative and imaginative ways.
What is the Exhibition?
In the final year of the IB program, students participate in a culminating project known as the Exhibition. Students are required to engage in a collaborative transdisciplinary inquiry process that involves them in identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life issues or problems. The central idea must be of sufficient scope and significance to warrant a detailed investigation by all students.
Please join us for Woodlands Prep's first exhibition: Wednesday, April 6th - 9:00 -11:00 am and April 7th 4:00 - 6:00 pm.
English Language Arts
A more challenging reading, writing, speaking, and listening based content is presented in the fourth grade English Language Skills curriculum. Students participate in higher-level literature discussions in which they begin to actively participate in critical thought. Spelling skills are improved through spelling practice, weekly pre-tests, and final spelling tests. The writing process is mastered through frequent practice in journaling as well as sentence and paragraph writing. Five paragraph essays, narratives, persuasive essays, and research reports are all emphasized at this level. In addition, course work continues to develop life long study and organizational skills. The introduction of important communication skills creates a strong evolvement of their reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities. Vocabulary is studied in conjunction with course literature and word origins, and definitions are analyzed. Attentive listening skills are addressed, as students evaluate speakers’ purposes in small and large groups. Listening strategies enable students to focus on speakers, analyze speech content, and respond to what they hear. In grade 4 the unit of inquiry with a Language Arts focus will be Find Your Voice.
Math
Fourth grade students will continue to focus on five strands of mathematics: number sense and numeration, geometry and measurement, statistics and probability, patterns within algebraic functions, and problem solving. Number sense and numeration will cover whole number computations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Fractions with like denominators will be compared, ordered, added, and subtracted. Students will compare the values of sets of coins, make correct change, and find appropriate amounts of sales tax. Geometry and spatial relationships involve constructing geometric solids. Students learn to tell time among the various U.S. time zones and write dates using words and digits. Linear measurement, weight, capacity, perimeter, area, and volume are also studied. Both reading and creating graphs is learned and enhanced through the use of technology. Simplifying expressions containing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division will be a part of understanding algebra and its functions. An integrated problem solving approach will be incorporated into all mathematical strands. In grade 4 the unit of inquiry with a mathematics focus will be Opportunity Knocks.
Science
Science learning takes place primarily in units of inquiry with a science focus. Students investigate and explore central ideas of significance and relevance while developing inquiry skills from a science perspective. Hands-on lab work enhances the students’ ability to gather and report data, as well as to think and write scientifically. They will reflect on these findings to identify y patterns and connections, make predictions, and test and refine their ideas with increasing accuracy. They will examine change over time and be aware of different perspectives and ways of organizing the world. In addition to classroom and laboratory experiences, students broaden their awareness of the natural environment in an outdoors educational classroom. history. In addition, students will reflect on their learning by making connections between the questions asked and the concepts that drive the inquiry to become more aware of the relevance these concepts have to all of their learning. In grade 4 the unit of inquiry with a science focus will be Code Red .
Social Studies
Social Studies learning takes place mainly within the context of units of inquiry with a social studies focus. The students will extend their understanding of human society, focusing on themselves and others within their community as well as other communities that are distant in time and place. They will investigate how and why groups are organized within their communities and the ways in which communities reflect the cultures and customs of their people. They will deepen their understanding go how people influence and are influenced by the placed in their environment and why groups choose to settle in new places. They will extend their understanding of time, recognizing important events in peoples’ lives, and how the past is recorded and remembered in different ways. In grade 4 the units of inquiry with a Social Studies focus will be On the Move, Children at Risk and Opportunity Knocks.
Art
Students work with a wide variety of mediums including paint, pencil, colored inks, clay, glazes, linoleum blocks, tissue paper, and plaster to create and express themselves. With participation in the art program, students develop skills in the use of various techniques. They will interpret and evaluate both their individual artwork and that of other students, as they explore art as it relates to culture, society, environment, and careers. In grade 4 the unit of inquiry with an art focus will be Find Your Voice.
Music
Through singing songs and playing instruments, students will develop the ability to perform accurately and confidently, making expressive use of musical elements. Instruction at this levels involves music appreciation activities to enhance students’ musical abilities. Music theory will include music notation, note values, key, time signatures, rhythm, dynamics, melody, harmony, and the sounds of musical instruments. Growing awareness of the social and cultural horizons of musicianship are stressed in this well-rounded experience.
Computer Technology
Computer instruction at the fourth grade level is incorporated into daily studies as students are introduced to applications through a project-based program as well as keyboarding skills through emphasis in completion of typed papers. Children are prepared for their future by introducing them to technology vocabulary through multi-media projects. Students will be able to use terms such as file, save, open, close, print, hardware, software, fonts, graphics, menu, toolbar, and much more. At this level, students are exposed to network applications and Internet use. By the end of the course, they should be able to carry out guided searches, copying, pasting, and acknowledging sources of documents from the Internet. They should also be able to create and use applications involving word processing and graphics as well as increase their rate of typing using “Type to Learn”. In addition, computer use will be integrated into the classroom through tasks devised from all areas of the units of inquiry.
Physical Education
Student focus on physical fitness and team building skills while developing gross-motor skills, spatial awareness, body control and movement activities. Emphasis is placed on the areas of cardiopulmonary fitness, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility. The President’s Challenge Physical Fitness test is administered to the students in the spring; however, physical fitness training takes place through the year to improve fitness levels. Students participate in a variety of games, such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, and tennis and focus on learning the basic rules of the game. Cooperative group skills are emphasized through a variety of games that develop a sense of fair play and cooperation with others.
Spanish
Building on their previous knowledge of Spanish, students will develop their vocabulary and be able to speak in simple sentences in Spanish. Using oral language for social interaction and to obtain knowledge of Spanish life and culture, they will use language for greetings and polite behavior. Students will learn the functional vocabulary related to daily experiences both in school and outside tin the community. Increasing their vocabulary knowledge, student at this level are encouraged to speak and explore the Spanish language through hands-on activities. Centered around the Spanish culture, this course builds basic grammar, sentence structure and communication skills of Spanish speaking countries.
Personal and Social Education
Personal and social education is concerned with developing the characteristics embodied in the Student Profile together with the attitudes that are one of the essential elements of the Primary Years Program. The students will develop an awareness of self as evidenced by their self-confidence and self-worth. They will learn to recognize, communicate and manage their own emotions., reflect on their behavior and take responsibility for their actions and choices.
The curriculum fosters awareness of the cultural, racial, social, linguistic, and religious differences in the school population, and students will develop appropriate social skills when interacting with others, while learning to develop healthy relationships, and to respect the views, needs and rights of others. The students will approach learning with flexibility, creativity and commitment, showing increasing independence and self-direction. In fourth grade the unit of inquiry with a Personal and Social Education focus is The Gift of Style.
Library
Students will be able to orient themselves in the library in order to conduct effective research. They will be able to understand and use the library terminology, select books by interest and reading ability, locate materials both by browsing and using the online catalog, distinguish between fiction and non-fiction texts, and understand the Dewey decimal classification system. Students will be able to collect data, extract and record information, and synthesize and present information and ideas logically.
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