4th Grade
Catholic identity must and does permeate the curriculum guidelines, the instruction, and assessments. Curriculum guidelines provide a template for teachers to provide instruction, and assessments demonstrate that learners have achieved unsurpassed academic success. A process of continuous improvement ensures that curriculum guidelines are regularly examined and updated or revised where needed. For more detailed curriculum information, please visit olsorrows.com or contact Mrs. Andrea Allen, Assistant Principal, aallen@olsorrows.
RELIGION
The Faith and Life Series aims to help fourth grade students understand their purpose and goal in life, and to see God's plan in history to lead us all to Heaven, our true, eternal home. The Faith and Life student textbook incorporates the four principal components of catechesis: the Creed, the Commandments, the Sacraments and Liturgy, and Prayer and Scripture. Many of our fourth graders choose to serve at the Lord’s Table as altar servers in fourth grade.
SCIENCE
In fourth grade, through the FOSS program, study three different units of science. The three units are Environments (human impact on environments and how organisms effect the environment, Solids Rocks and Landforms (using topographic maps and stream tables to study Earth’s surface), and Energy (motion, sound, light, and heat). The students are engaged in the curriculum through hands on experiments and interactive lessons.
READING
Students use the Wonders curriculum which provides which provides differentiation for students while strengthening reading skills and confidence.Comprehension skills such as making inferences and determining theme are mastered through thematic units. Graphic organizers are often used to scaffold mastery of comprehension skills. Reading curriculum is enriched with quarterly book reports, focusing on a variety of genres.
WRITING
Fourth graders learn about the types of sentences, parts of the sentence, and correcting improper sentences. There is a strong focus on English grammar in all writing. Students write several pieces of work including personal narratives, formal letters, book reports, descriptive writing, how-to articles, expository writing, and creative writing. Students also continue to practice and develop their cursive through the Zaner-Bloser handwriting curriculum.
MATH
By fourth grade students have a good foundation for algebraic thinking and problem solving. Using the Progress in Math series, we will cover topics of place value, adding and subtracting large numbers, multiplying by three-digit numbers, dividing by two-digit numbers, measurement, probability, fractions, geometry, decimals, and some concepts of algebra.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In fourth grade, our students explore the regions of the United States. They work to strengthen map skills and analyze information from timelines. Students choose a state to study in depth, using research skills in order to focus on the five themes of geography.
Textbooks
The textbooks we use are evaluated on a five year basis. We choose books based on curriculum alignment, grade level appropriateness, and overall quality.