Welcome to Fourth Grade

The fourth grade year includes the extensive study of rocks and geology, and what better mineral frenzy to focus on than the Gold Rush as part of the year-long study of California history.

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The year ends with the much-loved overnight trip to Gold Country to actually pan for some of the yellow metal. Reading includes both independent and class reading assignments as students dive into longer texts within the genres of fiction, non-fiction, and historical fiction. All of this works well with the fourth grade school job of Library Leadership.

Fourth Grade Social and Emotional Standards (C.A.R.E.S.)

Cooperation: Is able to make and keep friends, works with others toward a common goal, resolves differences quickly, cooperates as a group leader or as a member of the group
Assertiveness: Expresses strong emotions or opinions effectively, is able to seek help, shows openness and honesty, persists through challenging events, takes initiative to do what’s right, makes choices they feel good about later
Responsibility: Selects the best option among choices for a suitable outcome, holds oneself accountable, demonstrates social, civic and digital responsibility, takes care of property
Empathy: Recognizes and manages one’s own emotions and recognizes the emotions of others, respects and values diversity in others. Respects different cultural norms, is aware of the impact of one’s actions on others
Self-control: Adheres to social, behavioral, and moral standards, manages overwhelming thoughts and emotions, controls impulses and delays gratification, shows hope and perseverance

Fourth Grade Mathematics

A Blue Oak math classroom features a combination of whole-group, small-group, and independent activities that are problem centered. In fourth grade, students focus on multiplication and division with multi-digit numbers, fractions, and geometry. Fourth graders engage in five major kinds of activities: Problems & Investigations, Work Places, Math Forums, Problem Strings, and Assessments.

Communicates and represents mathematical thinking
Attends to precision
Read and write numbers to ten thousands, using numerals, word form and expanded form
Rounds multi-digit whole numbers to any place
Can add multi-digit whole numbers
Can subtract multi-digit whole numbers
Is fluent with multiplication facts to 9×9 and division facts up to 100 divided by 10
Uses understanding of place value to divide 4-digit dividends by 1 divisors
Understands fraction equivalence
Builds fractions from unit fractions(⅕+⅕=⅖)
Understands decimal notation for fractions and can compare decimal fractions(25/100 and 3/10)
Can draw and identify lines and angles, and classify shapes by properties of their lines and angles
Calculates area and perimeter of regular geometric shapes
Know relative sizes of measurement units within one system of units
Interprets and uses graphs in various ways of displaying data
Multiply or divide to solve word problems involving multiplicative comparison
Solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers using the four operations

Fourth Grade Literacy

Speaking and Listening

Engages effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics
Comes to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material
Follows agreed-upon rules for discussion
Makes comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.
Speaks clearly and at an understandable pace
Reports on a topic or text in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes

Reading

In fourth grade, students delve into complex texts and see significance in details. The year is broken up into units. Students study the complexity of characters and explore themes while developing skills such as inference and interpretation. Forming research teams, students delve into topics about extreme weather and natural disasters while developing their skills comparing and contrasting and evaluating sources to determine credibility. Students study multiple points of view, support a position with reasons and evidence, tackle complex texts, and learn strategies for using new domain-specific words. Finally, students practice reading analytically, synthesizing complicated narratives, comparing and contrasting themes, and incorporating nonfiction research into their reading. Many of these are in conjunction with their social studies exploration of California state history.

Reads grade-level texts with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
Accurately summarize setting, characters, and plot of a grade-level text
Writes regularly in their reader’s notebook to develop ideas about independent reading
Compares and contrasts nonfiction texts on the same subject
Determines the main idea of a text, explaining how the key details support the main idea
Integrates information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably

Writing

Fourth grade writers employ the Writers Workshop to delve into writing realistic fiction, personal and persuasive essays, and an historical research paper in conjunction with the social studies unit. Literary essay writing is supported by the use of more formulaic paragraph structure to further encourage supporting details and writing organization.

Writes regularly in their writer’s notebook to develop ideas, while thoughtfully trying new strategies
Knows and uses the stages of the writing process appropriately
Can edit for and use correct capitalization, grammar, and punctuation
Uses reference materials, both print, and digital, to clarify the precise meaning of keywords and phrases
Uses conventional spelling for grade-appropriate words, consulting references as needed
Writes legibly in cursive or print
Has stamina for writing and uses writing time productively
Shows organization strategies, meaningfully connect 3-5 paragraphs with transitions

Fourth Grade Science

Participates in scientific discussions and demonstrates curiosity through investigation
Uses observation and questioning skills in science inquiry
Collects and records data with pictures, numbers and words
Makes predictions and draws conclusions based on observed patterns
Answers questions using scientific resources and observations
Effectively communicates results of experiments and lab work using scientific vocabulary
Demonstrates understanding of content and key concepts in current units

Fourth Grade Social Studies

Explains how chronological events relate to each other
Interprets maps and uses them to identify locations of historical events
Describes the various regions of California and explains how their characteristics affect human activity
Explain the systems of cooperation and conflict as different cultures interact
Explains democratic systems
Uses evidence from historical texts to demonstrate understanding of differing perspectives
Conducts research using primary and secondary sources throughout fourth grade units of study
Demonstrates understanding of content and key concepts in current units

Fourth Grade Physical Education

Shows awareness of teammates during games
Demonstrates correct body position while performing strengthening exercises
Sets goals for self and reflects on success
Throws a ball with increased focused on accuracy
Works collaboratively with teammates during strategy games - communicates, listens, expresses opinions
Shows increased understanding of a Warm-up/Stretch
Demonstrates respect for individual differences in physical abilities
Participates effectively and demonstrates effort in sports games and fitness activities
Engages in sportsmanship and accepts wins and losses with awareness of others

Fourth Grade Visual Art

Practices color mixing and relationships of color
Demonstrates increased understanding for the implementation of elements and principles in artwork
Demonstrates increased stamina and understanding for the process of observing and creating
Self directs creative process, perseveres and explores solutions to art problems
Discusses thoughts, feelings and experiences expressed in artwork; participates and is open to peer feedback about creative process
Identifies and compares work of art that connects to personal life, other cultures, time/place and community
Demonstrates an understanding of the safe and proficient use of materials and tools for a variety of artistic process
Assesses, reworks art and prepares it for presentation

Fourth Grade Library and Information Technology

Accesses information using a variety of resources.
Understands basic organization of the library classification system.
Defines online terms, (home page, website, search engine, URL)
Defines URL extensions, (.com, .org, .edu,..gov, .net)
Retrieves information in a timely, safe and responsible manner.
Evaluates information for currency, credibility, authority and accuracy.
Distinguishes between fact and opinion.
Recognizes the role of media to persuade and interpret events
Demonstrates ethical, legal, and safe use of information.
Reads a good representation of grade level text, including classic and contemporary literature and online information.
Understand and describes the purpose of age-appropriate book awards (e.g. Caldecott, Newbery, California Young Reader.
Uses a variety of information resources to deliver oral presentations that express main ideas supported by significant details.

Fourth Grade Spanish

Uses salutations and expressions of courtesy according to the time of day
Begins to use verbal cues provided in the target language to infer meaning
Begins to respond accurately to basic conversational questions
Uses previously learned vocabulary in the target language, including months of the year, family, places/jobs in our school community, prepositions of place, hobbies and date/time
Communicates on familiar topics using short sentences
Demonstrates comprehension of simple sentences and/or phrases in the target language
Comprehends classroom directions provided in the target language
Expresses likes, dislikes and emotions in the target language
Shares basic information about self in the target language
Uses curriculum based vocabulary
Practices cultural components through music, games and celebrations

Fourth Grade Music

Sings a variety of unison songs and canons with developmental accuracy
Demonstrates understanding of simple and compound meters
Develops understanding of the musical form of the “blues”
Refines soprano recorder technique
Cultivates music-reading skills
Achieves introductory level ukulele technique
Refines ensemble performance skills
Demonstrates understanding of word rhythm and singable/memorable melody
Demonstrates willingness to improvise