Reading
Through the reading of several fictional novels in various genres throughout the course of the year, fourth grade students’’ literal and inferential comprehension skills continue to develop. Students identify the author’s message and themes of each novel. They also make inferences to understand a character’s perspective, and their vocabulary expands as they use context clues to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words. In fourth grade, students read several short stories and learn the structural elements of a short story. They also read poetry and study different types of figurative language, including idioms, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, and alliteration. Nonfiction texts are read in conjunction with the science, social studies, and Jewish studies curricula; students research a planet in our solar system in science, a country of the world in social studies, and a modern-day city in Israel.
Writing
In fourth grade, students continue to utilize the writing traits of ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation to improve their writing. Spelling is taught using the Words Their Way program. Students apply hands-on strategies of categorizing and sorting words to learn spelling patterns and vocabulary. Grammar is taught using the Framing Your Thoughts program. Students practice using their knowledge of subject and predicate to recognize and correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences. They also use adverbs and prepositional phrases to add more detail to sentences. The study of grammar is done with the intention of improving students’ writing skills. In fourth grade, students use templates to write multi-paragraph essays. They practice constructing concise and relevant topic and concluding sentences and sequencing information within a paragraph using transition words and phrases to connect ideas. After reading several short stories and learning the structural elements of a short story, students write their own short stories using dialogue and descriptive language to develop plot and character.
We use the Illustrative Mathematics (IM) curriculum for fourth grade math.
The big ideas in Grade 4 math include: developing understanding and fluency with multi-digit multiplication, and developing understanding of dividing to find quotients involving multi-digit dividends; developing an understanding of fraction equivalence, addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators, and multiplication of fractions by whole numbers; understanding that geometric figures can be analyzed and classified based on their properties, such as having parallel sides, perpendicular sides, particular angle measures, and symmetry. ~Illustrative Mathematics
The first unit of study is the Universe. Topics include: the theory of the formation of the solar system, the life cycle of stars, the rotation and revolution of the planet and its effect on the length of days and years, and the formation, composition, and orbit of the moon. To conclude, students write a research paper about a particular planet and create a three-dimensional model. The next unit focuses on the human body. Students learn about six of the body’s systems: skeletal, digestive, circulatory, nervous, respiratory, and muscular. The final unit in fourth grade science is electricity. Students differentiate between series and parallel circuits, identify insulators and conductors, explain the flow of electrical currents, and describe magnetic fields. Ultimately, students build a cardboard house and wire it to independently produce electricity in four separate rooms.
The first unit of the year is the five themes of geography. Students begin with further developing their map-reading skills by learning how to differentiate between absolute and relative location and locating places on a map using lines of longitude and latitude. They then learn that geography extends beyond maps and includes the study of how humans interact with their environment and one another. Students analyze the relationship between geography and culture, identify the causes of human migration, and consider how human behavior impacts and is impacted by their environment. The unit concludes with each student researching the geography, government, economy, and culture of a particular country. The next unit is immigration which focuses on immigration to the United States from Europe between 1840 and 1920. The students study reasons for immigration, the journey to America, and the experiences that immigrants had once they arrived in America. For the final unit, students explore the cultures of the indigenous populations of the Americas, including the Maya and Aztec of Mexico, the Inca of Peru, and the First Nations of Canada.
Hebrew
Students continue to develop conversational skills, as they are encouraged to speak in Hebrew throughout class. The iTalAm program provides videos and activities for students to learn more about Israeli culture and Hebrew grammar. Students learn the masculine, feminine, singular, and plural forms of nouns and adjectives used to describe people physically, their likes and dislikes, and hobbies. Students also identify and use second- and third-person singular and plural past tense verbs. Their vocabulary also grows to include new prepositions and conjunctions to improve their oral and written Hebrew.
Jewish Studies
Torah: Torah is taught using the MaTok curriculum which examines Torah in Hebrew verses. Students learn to find meaning in the text with the goal of becoming more independent biblical Hebrew learners. Some deeper conversations are conducted in English, but students are able to discuss the text in Hebrew as well. Connections are drawn between modern Hebrew and biblical Hebrew, and students review specific strategies to “unlock” the text: characters, roots, verbs, repeated words. The parashot of Vayetze, Vayishlach, Miketz, Vayigas, and Vayhi are studied in depth. The themes of these parashot are explored in connection to the text.
Holidays: Students learn about the Jewish holidays in Hebrew. They examine different customs and traditions associated with each holiday and explore how some traditions and customs have remained the same since ancient times while others have been adapted for different time periods and cultures. Students also review blessings that are connected to each holiday. Students focus on the history of different holidays and the connection to Israel. Students also read stories in Hebrew about many of the holidays.
Israel: Students develop a meaningful relationship with Israel through personal connections with language, people, places, and events. As an ancient land and modern state, we teach our students that Israel is a home for diverse and vibrant expressions of Judaism. Our students engage with Israel at all grade levels and feel a deep connection to their homeland.
Prayer: Students experience community z’man kodesh once a week. Music is used to enhance students’ spiritual experience connecting their hearts and minds. Students learn the keva (structure) of the Shacharit (morning prayer service) and explore pathways to deepen kavana (intentionality). Students also participate in a Torah service and discuss the weekly reading as well as other sacred texts.
The goal of our music program is for students to become skillful and enthusiastic music makers, encouraging music literacy, participation, and performance. Through classical and contemporary music, students learn to sing in tune with expression and confidence while gaining confidence on stage. Fourth grade students learn to play the keyboard, learning the correct finger positions and simple chords.
Students work with a variety of drawing tools, paints, and papers in sophisticated ways. Students learn techniques for drawing, painting, printmaking, and collage. Within each grade level, elements of art such as line, shape, form, color, texture, value, and space are taught. In fourth grade, students practice combining elements into their artwork. Emphasis is put on the creative process rather than the finished product.
An important part of the fourth grade experience is the performance of the Purim story in Hebrew. The students work very hard studying their lines and acting out their roles in front of their peers and families.
In fourth grade, students build upon previously learned skills in both the soccer and basketball units; they continue to work on their ball control and hand-eye coordination. During a tumbling unit, students are introduced to different gymnastics equipment to increase their balance and develop body awareness. Fourth graders also participate in a track unit where they work on their breathing and endurance.
Students continue exploring different kinds of leisure reading while beginning to focus more on synthesizing and sharing information. Students deepen their understanding of how the library is organized and create way-finding signs for our non-fiction section highlighting the topics found in each section. Fourth grade students use picture book biographies to learn about a person of their choice then create a presentation to share their new knowledge with their classmates while also learning about citations and being ethical users of information.