Welcome to the 4^th Grade at GICS!

Check out our Monthly Highlights following the Program and Curriculum Overview.

Program Overview

     Fourth-graders are inquisitive and enjoy being active learners. Students have many opportunities, through projects and assignments, to take more responsibility and become increasingly independent learners.  They write more extensively and with more description and detail.  There is much integration between subject areas, especially Reading, Writing, and Social Studies.  Instructional methods include teacher-led and student-led discussion in whole group or small groups, cooperative group activities, hands-on discovery activities, independent student work including daily homework assignments, and thematic or content-based projects and research reports.  Past field trips have included an overnight trip to Echo Hill Outdoor School, the National Zoo, the General Assembly in Annapolis, a Walking Tour of historic Annapolis, and Children’s Theater performances.

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Curriculum Overview

     Language Arts:  Reading and Literature
          Students read a variety of literature in Fourth Grade, with selections often reflecting the social studies curriculum.  Emphasis is on student comprehension, inference-making, and the use of higher level thinking skills.  Our reading studies include adventure, fiction, historical fiction, biographies, and Shakespeare.  The use of the Harcourt Brace series, Treasury of Literature, self-selected literature, text sets, and Book Clubs fosters the enjoyment of reading throughout the year.  (Texts: Treasury of Literature, Harcourt Brace; trade books such as Misty of Chincoteague, Stone Fox, Bridge to Terabithia, Freedom Train, Sing Down the Moon, Tuck Everlasting, Number the Stars)

     Language Arts:  Writing
          Fourth-graders use the writing process to develop their thoughts.  We use POWER: Plan, Organize, Write, Edit, Rewrite.  Students are encouraged to make their own decisions about what they should write, share, and publish.  Students write narratives, poetry, essays, and research papers.  In addition, students keep a daily journal detailing their thoughts and experiences as fourth graders.  Students refine their understanding and strengthen their use of the conventions of English grammar through their practical reading and writing experiences. (Text: Language, HBJ)

     Language Arts:  Spelling
          Students study new spelling words each week.  We emphasize frequently used words that are at the students' vocabulary level.  Word lists also commonly contain new words from other subject areas such as Reading and Social Studies. (Text: Useful Spelling, Useful Learning)

     Language Arts:  Handwriting
          Fourth-graders practice D’Nealian cursive handwriting.  They are expected to use cursive handwriting on most classwork, homework, and projects.  (Text: D’Nealian Handwriting, Scott Foresman)

     Mathematics
          Our fourth-grade math program emphasizes problem-solving and deepening the understanding of basic mathematical skills and operations.  Students study place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, measurement, geometry, probability, and data collection.  In addition to the text, students frequently use manipulatives and calculators.  Students also engage in several mathematical projects that help them to apply their skills in reality-based situations.  (Text: Math Central, Houghton Mifflin)

     Social Studies
           Fourth-graders study a variety of topics, with a focus on Maryland History from colonization to the present day.  Students begin the year learning geography, which leads to the study of exploration and the colonization of the New World.  Students develop geographical, critical thinking, and researching skills throughout all units of study.  (Texts: The Maryland Adventure, Gibbs-Smith; Weekly Reader)

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     Art
          Students study the elements of design and review the principles of art.  Projects focus on thematic or representational issues pertaining to the work of artists studied in this course.  Art as a career is discussed. Highlight projects include papermaking, slab clay construction, puppet making, and portraits.  A variety of mediums are used.  Contemporary and Master artists are introduced.

     Computer
           Fourth graders navigate through a variety of programs independently, compare different Internet search engines, format and edit text, scan images, copy and paste images from other sources, and create simple PowerPoint presentations.  Basic troubleshooting techniques are taught, as well as ways of modifying desktop appearances, mouse controls, and sounds.  Keyboarding practice begins as students learn to use proper hand positions and to memorize keys’ positions on the keyboard.

     Library
          There is a greater emphasis on reference sources in fourth grade as students use encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and the Internet to search for information.  The fourth graders continue to practice using the catalog to locate materials, and the 10 main classes of the Dewey Decimal System are explored.  Book talks are given regularly to introduce the students to adventure, mystery, fantasy, realistic, historic, and science fiction titles, and reading of all kinds is encouraged.

     Music
          Students continue to explore basic music elements such as pitch, tempo, as well as increasing complex rhythmic patterns and music notation.  Most of the songs they learn are two-part and involve movements.  Students continue to expand their knowledge of the four major instrument groups and exposure to different music genres through composer of the month and multicultural music.  They also learn to use new percussion instruments and tone chimes.  Cross-curriculum approaches are integrated into music lessons in cooperation with the homeroom teachers.  Exposure to performance opportunities will occur in class, during the December Holiday Program and through Assembly Programs.

     Physical Education
          The Fourth Grade physical education program is designed to introduce the principles of exercise: (1) increase the heart’s efficiency; (2) strengthen bones ligaments, and tendons, (3) increase flexibility.  Students will understand that skilled movement enhances skilled performance.  Students are encouraged to put their best efforts through vigorous physical exercise, sports, and games.  Physical fitness assessments are done in the fall of each year.  Students may receive an introduction to paddling and canoeing.  Sportsmanship, cooperation, and safety are reviewed and enforced.

     Science
          Students use the scientific method in hands on investigations and activities.  We stress thinking skills, forming hypothesis, interpreting data, problem solving, and observing patterns. Students use previous knowledge and experience in developing inquiry-based questions and content learning goals.  They build upon these authentic questions using the appropriate steps of the scientific method.

          The major topics studied in Fourth Grade are the solar system, earth science, rocks and minerals, the human body, digestion and nutrition, healthy choices, animal classification, weather predictions and outdoor exploration focused on Bay studies.  Fourth grade students work with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Department of Natural Resources while growing underwater grasses in their classroom.  These grasses are planted at the end of the third trimester in our local watershed.

     Spanish
          In the fourth grade Spanish classes, we expand greatly on vocabulary. Students begin to learn Spanish grammar, such as definite and indefinite articles, subject pronouns, adjectives and agreement, regular “ar” verbs and much more using the textbook, Spanish is Fun. Book A.  (Amsco School Publications, Inc.)  We focus on the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish. We will continue to explore Spanish speaking countries of the world, learning to appreciate their cultural differences and similarities.
                 

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4th Grade Highlights

May & June 2008

Language Arts
During the month of May, the fourth grade will be reading the novel, “Bridge To Terabithia”, by Katherine Paterson. The novel explores the meaning of special friendships. The students will discuss their own feelings on friendships.

In writing, the fourth grade will focus on paragraphs of comparison and contrast and on reviewing the mechanics of writing.

Our objective in Grammar is to review the parts of speech and parts of a sentence. We will be composing the four different types of sentences.
 

Math
In Math, the fourth grade objective is to continue working with fractions. Besides addition and subtraction, we will be working on problems of multiplication and division. We will continue to identify fractions in simplest form and find the simplest form of a fraction.
 

Social Studies
Our topic for May is Modern Maryland. The fourth grade will be developing an understanding of how our government works and briefly explain how a bill becomes a law. We will list the rights of Maryland citizens and what these rights mean. Also, the fourth grade will learn what it means to be a good citizen.
 

Specials Highlights

May & June 2008

Art

   Fourth grade also worked “en plein air” from our own nature walk area to create oil pastel landscapes. They employed a viewfinder to “frame” their view and mixed oil pastels for a painterly effect. We’ll finish the year with some outdoor painting, using watercolors in a variety of forms (paints, pencils and crayon).

Due date for submissions to the Art Show is May 1st! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to show us your talent!

Computer

In preparation for next year’s use of individual laptops, each student will be given a school network account this month and will begin to login to this account each class period.

They will begin the month exploring Microsoft Publisher, learning how to edit existing templates as well as how to create a new publication. Each week’s work will be saved to the student’s personal account with a unique file name so that student’s can better understand the difference between Save and Save As options as well as track the changes that they make to their work.

Students will be receiving their laptops/notebooks at the end of the month. We will use our time in early June to practice logging in, creating shortcuts, exploring personalization options, and reviewing the work that they are to do over the summer. (Next year’s going to be great!)

Library

In May, we will finish our review of the Dewey Decimal System, then practice searching encyclopedias and dictionaries to find answers to a variety of specific questions. The students will compare a print source’s ease of use and format to those of online sources.
Toward the end of the month and into June, we will examine newspapers, looking at the many types of information to be found in a daily paper and how to locate specific types of information.

Music

  Fourth grade and fifth grade will be preparing songs to perform at the upcoming graduation ceremony.

P. E.

  The Student-Faculty Basketball game was a huge success and the 4th graders are now enjoying our lacrosse unit. They will continue to work outside with an emphasis on eye-hand coordination and agility. The class will participate in various “playground activities” such as SPUD, 4-square, hopscotch, kickball, tee-ball/softball, and a jungle gym obstacle course.

Field Day will be held on Wed, June 4. Parent volunteers are needed!

PE Uniform reminder: navy dress shorts are not PE uniform shorts. Please wear the navy gym shorts with the GICS logo.

Science

We are finishing a long unit on animals by studying the vertebrate phylum. After their presentations, we will start to look at the geographic features of the Chesapeake Bay.
 

Spanish

In May we will begin to conjugate the verb “ser”, “to be” and learn the different uses of “estar” and “ser”. We will do a lot of fun activities to reinforce learning. We continue to work on descriptive words and their correct use. Our new vocabulary unit is “las profesiones”, “the professions” and we will do a lot of activities to enrich the unit. We continue to work on “las preguntas”, “the questions”, past vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, reading, and comprehension. The students will participate in a Cinco de Mayo celebration to become aware of an important event in Mexican history.

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