Grade 4 Curriculum

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"Academic Excellence Enhanced by the Arts"

4^th Grade Curriculum Resources

Math

Math concepts are introduced as suggested by Everyday Mathematics and in accordance with the Sunshine State Standards. Whenever possible, a “hands-on” approach is applied. Materials used include:

	Everyday Mathematics - McGraw Hill
	Mathland - Creative Publications (supplemental)

English

The English program contains daily practice in language mechanics and grammar accompanied by independent writing assignments. Materials used include:

	English - Silver Burdett
	Caught ‘Ya Again - Jane Bell Kiester
	Writer’s Express - Great Source Education Group
	Writing Strands - National Writing Institute
	Strategies for Writers - Zaner-Bloser
	Creating Worlds - Creswell
	Learning Centers - The Education Center, Inc.
	Poem-Making - Myra Cohn Livingstone
	Teaching Children to Write Poetry - Kenneth Koch
	Conventions and Skills - Zaner-Bloser

Spelling

The Spelling curriculum is structured around a phonetic approach as outlined in Silver Burdett. Furthermore, an individualized spelling instruction is given through routine checks of the child’s daily journal writing. Materials used include:

	Spelling - Silver Burdett
	Vocabulary - Teacher Created Materials, Inc.

Reading

The Reading program is literature based, starting with the core programs of Open Court Reading and Junior Great Books. All literature is read and discussed in student lead discussion groups. This is supplemented with readings containing a more conventional comprehension check, as found in such materials as High Interest Reading. Materials used include:

	Junior Great Books - The Great Books Foundation
	Open Court – Reading Level 4
	Open Court – Reading Assessment Level 4
	Weekly Readers
	High Interest Reading - Kawowski / Instructional Fair
	Hourcourt Reader - (supplemental)
	Poppy - Avi
	Poppy and Rye - Avi
	Ragweed - Avi
	Summer of the Swans - Betsy Bryar
	Julie and the Wolves - Jean Craighead-George
	BFG - Roald Dahl
	Sees Behind Trees - Michael Dorris
	Winter Eyes - Florian
	Pictures of Hollis Woods - Patricia Reilly Giff

	Number the Stars - Lois Lowery
	Escape from Fire Mountain - Gary Paulsen
	Escape From Slavery - Doreen Rappaport
	Witch Child - Celia Reese
	Sorceress - Celia Reese
	Steal Away Home - Lois Ruby
	The Midwife's Apprentice -
	Holes - Louis Sachar
	Sign of the Beaver - Elizabeth George Speare
	Knots in My Yo-Yo String - Jerry Spinelli
	Loser - Jerry Spinelli
	Maniac McGee - Jerry Spinelli
	Wringer - Jerry Spinelli
	Last Left Standing - Barbara Timberlake

	Flip Flop Girl -
	Walk Two Moons

Social Studies

Social Studies is taught in units chosen so as to cover the requirements of the Sunshine State Standards. Art, Language Arts and Reading are integrated into the units whenever appropriate. Materials used include:

	Florida - Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
	Weekly Readers
	The Thirteen Colonies - Gail Sakuri
	Making Thirteen Colonies - Joy Hakim
	Colonial America - Teacher Created Materials
	Colonial American Craftsmen - L.E. Fisher
	Home Crafts - Bobbie Kalman
	Tools and Gadgets - Bobbie Kalman
	If You Lived In Colonial Times - Ann McGovern
	Revolutionary War - Teacher Created Materials
	Crossing the Delaware - Louise Peacock
	Atlas of Exploration - Scholastic
	World History - Ken Hills
	Teaching American History with Art Masterpieces - Schlastic
	Take a Stand! - Daniel Weizman

Map Skills

Map skills are incorporated into all aspects of the social Studies Curriculum. Materials used include:

Our American Heritage: Map Study Skills - A Beza Book

Science

Science, like Social Studies, is taught in units. The themes of the units have been chosen to ensure coverage of the Sunshine State Standards, and follows the sequencing suggested by Harcourt. Materials used include:

	Harcourt Science - Harcourt School Publishers
	The Human Body - Vriesenga
	How your Body Works - Moore / Science Works for Kids Series)

Health

Health is incorporated into the Science curriculum. Materials used include:

Comprehensive School Health Education - Linda Meeks, Phillip Heit, Randy Page

Art

Art is taught as a separate entity, and includes art history, art critique, and exploration of materials and techniques. In addition, it is taught as an integral part of the Science and Social Studies units when appropriate. Materials used include:

	Discover Art l and ll - Laura H. Chapman
	Drawing with Children - Mona Brooks
	Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain - Betty Edwards
	Emphasis: Art A Qualitative Art Program for the Elementary School - Wachwiak
	How to Teach Art to Children - Evans and Moore
	Masterpiece of the Month - Teacher Created Materials

Instructional Focus Calendar for 4^th Grade

	First 9 Weeks	Second 9 Weeks	Third 9 Weeks	Fourth 9 Weeks
Reading	Literature Circles Main Idea Predictions (Using Table of Contents, Title, Illustrations Etc) Genre Comprehension Vocabulary Open Court Reading & Assessments	Literature Circles Context Clauses Main Idea Author’s Purpose Predictions Comprehension Vocabulary Open Court Reading & Assessments	Literature Circles Character Development Character Analysis Figurative Language Comprehension Vocabulary Open Court Reading & Assessments	Literature Circles always include: Dictionary Skills Passage Picker Thought Provoking Questions Reading Out Loud Fluency Using Context Clues Teacher-Lead Discussions Peer Discussions Open Court Reading & Assessments
Writing	Grammar Journal Writing Sentence Structure Vocabulary Building Skills Synonyms & Antonyms Paragraphs Topic Sentences Introductory paragraph Prewriting process Book Reviews	Grammar Verbs Adjectives Nouns: Proper, Common, Possessive Report Writing Vocabulary Compound Words Persuasive Writing Essay Writing Introduction Body Conclusion	Grammar Pronouns Subject& Object Possessive Usage: I, me we & us Homophones Narrative Essay Friendly Letters	Grammar Verbs Linking Verbs Conjunctive Verbs Picture Writing Stories: fantasy, Science Fiction, Mysteries Subject Verb Agreement Contraction with Verbs Adverbs Poetry
Math	Multiplication: One Digit Decimals: Orders, Adding, Subtracting Geometry Angles Lines Shapes	Multiplication: Double and Triple Digits Finding Area, Perimeter, Volume Units of Measurement Metric Decimal Fractions	Multiplication: Large Numbers Large Numbers Place Value Division with/without Remainders Remainders as Fractions Mixed Numbers	Division with/without Remainders Parts of Wholes Mixed Numbers Fractions: Adding & Subtracting Equivalent Fractions Comparing Fractions
Science	Space Solar System Gravity Moons Sun Order of Planets Space Exploration Earth Layers & Atmosphere Matter: States, Properties, Comparing Matter	Human Body Cells Circulatory System Muscular System Skeletal System Senses Weather Conditions	Environmental Science Protecting Ecosystems Florida’s Ecosystems Animal Adaptation Animal Growth Plant Growth Classification of Living Things Water in the Ocean Roles of Oceans Currents & Motions	Electricity Magnetism Simple Machines Motion Forces at Work
Social Studies	Florida History Prehistoric Ice Age Land Formation Map Skills Longitude, Latitude Cities of Florida Major Bodies of Water Surrounding and Within Florida Florida Changing Over Time	Native Americans Florida Timacua: House, Food, Traditions, Clothing, Relationships between Timacua & Europeans Europeans Exploration of Florida	Spanish Florida Settling of St. Augustine: Life, Food, Houses, Clothing Spanish Missions Changing Flags Over Florida	Seminoles: Clothing, Food, Survival, Houses Seminole Wars Ocala Black Seminoles Living in Florida Today
Art	Picasso: “Portrait of a Man” Blind Contour Cubism/Futurism/Precisionism Stella: “Brooklyn Bridge” Line & Perspective Bruegal “ Wedding Dance” Movement & Line Point of View Northern Europe Color, Form, Line Shape, Space, Texture, Balance, Emphasis, Rhythm, Harmony	Johnson “ Plowing” Movement & Thick Contour Hokusai “Great Wave” Flowing Rhythm Renoir: “Lady with a Parasol” Harmony Analogous Colors Impressionism Color, Form, Line Shape, Space, Texture, Balance, Emphasis, Rhythm, Harmony	Wyeth: “Christina’s World” Color Value Environmental Perspective Social Realism Van Gogh: “Postman Roulin” Visual Texture Movement Post Impressionism Color, Form, Line Shape, Space, Texture, Balance, Emphasis, Rhythm, Harmony	Matisse: “Egyptian Interior with Curtains” Complementary Colors Visual Texture Fauvism 3D Sculpture Recyclable Materials Coiled Clay Bowls Color, Form, Line Shape, Space, Texture, Balance, Emphasis, Rhythm, Harmony
Music	Recorders Group Singing Instrument Care Basic Instrument Instruction Breath & Posture Tuning Reading Music	Instrument Technique Band Method Book 1-20 Tone Quality Holiday Songs Band Concert	Instrument Technique Music Theory Rhythm Band Method Book pp1-30 Dynamics Articulation	Band Method Book pp1-42