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Reading/Language Arts
- Fine children’s literature, selected from modern fantasy, science fiction, biography, poetry, historical fiction, drama, fables, folklore and mythology, forms the core of the reading program.
- Writing is done to enhance reading comprehension and also permeates all areas of the curriculum. Students write book reports as well as reports on topics addressed in science and social studies.
- The full writing process is practiced; attention given to spelling, vocabulary development. Cursive handwriting is reinforced.
Mathematics
- Numeration: Whole numbers to millionths, decimals to thousands; +, - numbers.
- Measurement: area, perimeter, volume, density, calories, angles.
- Operations: Mastery of +, -, x, and division facts; operations with 2 and 3 digit numbers; prime numbers, composites, divisibility; commutative, associative, distributive properties of numbers; fractions, rations, percentages; multi-digit procedures for whole numbers and decimals.
- Data & Chance: probability, scale drawings, surveys, range, median, mean, mode.
- Geometry & Spatial: lines, rays, angles, geometric solids.
- Patterns: Frieze patterns; rate tables; equivalence fractions.
- Algebra & Use of Variables: missing addends; +, - of positive, negative numbers; open sentences; functions models.
- Materials used include Everyday Mathematics from University of Chicago Press.
Science
- Cross-curricular units include Late Pleistocene mammals of the Los Angeles basin; marine animals of the southern California coastal region; plant life; magnets and electricity; measurement; the solar system; environmental preservation.
- Videos, films, guest speakers and field trips enhance classroom instruction and lab activities.
Social Studies
- California prehistory and history are the core content and are taught in a cross-curricular approach.
- The geography of California today is compared with California at the end of the Ice Age.
- Attention is given to the contribution made by men and women of many cultures to the development of California.
- Historical fiction and biographies connect social studies to the reading program.
- Links are also forged between social studies and art, writing, library and study skills.
Art
- A better understanding of materials and techniques enables students to create specific projects in science, social studies.
- Flexibility within each project allows for creative thinking, imaginative visualization, problem solving.
- Assignments in drawing, color theory, clay, construction and papier maché are included as well.
Music
- In addition to building on previous experiences fourth graders learn to play soprano recorder.
- Students learn part-singing and canons, and more about reading and writing musical notation.
Physical Education
- PE includes conditioning, flexibility, coordination exercises and emphasis on sportsmanship and leadership.
- Students are encouraged to participate and achieve realistic individual goals rather than competition with classmates.
- Activities includes softball, swimming, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, football, track and field, volleyball, pillow polo, jump rope, juggling, movement exploration, rhythms and basic skills.
Library
- Students continue to explore many types of fiction and are exposed to substantial works of biography and non-fiction.
- A more detailed understanding and use of the Dewey Decimal System is taught and practiced.
- Research tools used include encyclopedias;CD-ROMs; dictionaries, atlases, vertical files, indexes and the Internet.
Computers
Cross-curricular projects in geometry, pie graphs, solar system and California missions are done on the MicroWorlds program.
Special Projects
The Fourth Grade gives special focus to the problem of hunger. Service projects include organizing and leading the schoolwide Food Ingathering at Thanksgiving, and the Hunger Walk each spring and raising funds for the Heifer Project.
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