Grade 4

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Language Arts & Literature Hide

The English and language arts curriculum is designed to develop and promote the student's interest in and knowledge of language and literature, including his abilities to listen, speak, write, and read effectively. He accomplishes this through a comprehensive program that includes a balance of written and oral language. Teachers employ a variety of instructional activities to help students learn the necessary skills and strategies to become proficient communicators. It is hoped that each boy will acquire a lifelong appreciation for the power of the spoken and written language, a love of literature, and a personal belief that literacy can enhance his life. The English/language arts program is built upon three critical strands: listening and speaking, reading, and writing. It also includes four essential conventions: grammar, sentence structure, punctuation and spelling. The grade four program includes research presentations, oral book reports, poetry, short story and journal readings. Students read novels, short stories, poetry, book reports, news articles and literature from a variety of sources. Through journal writing, literature responses, character sketches, interviews, biographies, myths and field trip follow-ups, students develop a variety of writing skills. Students learn the nominative and objective pronouns, regular and irregular verbs, adverbs, and prepositions. Simple and compound sentences help the student vary his writ-ing. Students learn to use apostrophes in possessives and contractions as well as parentheses and titles. Students review the rules of capitalization and what is capitalized in magazines, newspapers, works of art and organizations. Their social studies unit on the Gold Rush pro-vides an ideal text for the collaboration of language arts and social studies.

Mathematics Hide

The mathematics curriculum assumes that students will make sense of mathematics in which they engage and become confident, active learners. Building this understanding is a long process that is in sequence and includes mathematical tools, technology and manipulatives. Students solve real-life problems and investigation, explore and investigate mathematical ideas and think both inductively and deductively. Communication is essential: "Students communicate to learn mathematics, and they learn to communicate mathematically" (NCTM Standards). Stuart Hall mathematically-literate students exhibit confidence in their abilities, are flexible, efficient and accurate with basic facts and computation, and demonstrate a variety of problem-solving strategies. The mathematics curriculum is built upon five essential strands:

• numbers and operations
• patterns, functions and algebra
• geometry and spatial sense
• measurement
• data analysis, statistics and probability

The following topics will be covered in 4th Grade:

• Place Value of Decimals
• Divisibility Rules
• Compare and Order Fractions
• Long Division with one digit divisors with up to four digit dividends
• Two digit by two digit multiplication
• Algebraic equations with variables
• Qualities of lines and shapes
• Diameter and radius of circles
• Measurement

Social Studies Hide

Stuart Hall social studies is a study of humanity. Students study the past in order to understand its connection to the present and how it directs the future. The curriculum emphasizes that ethnic and religious groups of the United States and other countries have a role in shaping the diverse society in which we live. The curriculum educates students to use critical thinking to understand the world and how each person fits in the world. The social studies curriculum is built upon four strands:

• civic values, ethics, rights, responsibilities and social participation
• geographic literacy
• historical literacy
• cultural literacy

The study of California history provides the perfect lens through which fourth grade students demonstrate an understanding of statehood and the function of the individuals who govern the state. They learn about the responsibilities that leaders have to the individuals and the communities they serve. They learn about how political decisions effect various groups. They learn about California geography and the relationship between geography and history. They study the history of early California settlements and observe patterns and reasons for migration in California. They learn about various state celebrations and how cultures rely upon these celebrations to preserve their heritage.

Science Hide

The science curriculum is designed to promote an understanding of the nature of science and an appreciation of its methods and philosophy. The program prepares each student for the future by providing opportunities to investigate, explore, and evaluate the world. The program addresses how science works and what processes and methods expand scientific understanding. In kindergarten through grade five, all three strands (Earth, Physical and Life) are studied. In contrast, in grades six through eight, students study one strand per year. This reflects a shift to more in-depth study in the older grades. The science curriculum is built upon three critical strands: Earth Science, Physical Science and Life Science. Hands-on exploration and the use of the scientific method are central to the approach used to investigate the natural phenomena associated with the various strands of science. This approach includes eight essential processes: observing, communication, comparing, ordering, categorizing, relating, inferring, applying. Fourth grade students study the basic structure of the Earth and what causes earthquakes, volcanoes and floods. They learn about the relationship of force to work and how simple machines can make work easier. They study the components of the biosphere and how the biosphere is affected by the atmosphere and the Earth's crust. They also understand their responsibility to conserve life and resources.

Religion Hide

In an endeavor to educate the whole child, we are guided by and faithful to the Roman Catholic tradition of faith in God and in Jesus Christ who reveals to us the love of God for all people. Studying the basic symbols, practices and concepts of religion makes much of history, literature, art and contemporary life intelligible. The intent of the curriculum is to help the student discover and articulate his own beliefs. Because the family is the primary educator in matters of faith and spirituality, we support both parents and students in their religious identities and in the faith foundations established in the home. Active faith propels one toward the pursuit of peace and justice in a diverse world. By educating each child to the love of God, self and neighbor, religious education at Stuart Hall forms in each student deep human values, a sense of wise freedom, and an informed, active faith. The religion curriculum is built upon four strands:

• Scripture: the student understands that scripture is an account of faithful people and that it has literary and historical contexts and inspirational aspects.
• Tradition: the student understands tradition as the collective lived and living response in relationship with God.
• Faith: the student understands faith as trust in God.
• Reason: the student recognizes the role of conscience and discernment in religious and ethical understanding.

The primary goal of 4th grade religion is for students to understand that the Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments form the basis for living an authentic Christian/faithful life. Students develop an understanding of the Beatitudes, the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount and compare language and story-telling in various scriptural passages. Students continue to examine and experience the importance of tradition and ritual as practiced in various types of worship. Students consider how the stories of faith are lived out in the daily life of believers. They also investigate ways to make the challenges of the Beatitudes, the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount part of their lives. Students understand that we form “church” by being examples of faith to one another. Students also understand the fundamental difference between proclaiming and living one's faith.

International Languages Hide

Through the study of foreign language, the goal is for students to:

• develop communication skills that enable the student to interact with a broad and varied range of people
• gain insight into other cultures and broadens understanding of the self as well as others
• become global citizens by breaking down barriers and customary borders
• accept personal and world responsibility by fostering a sense of intellectual curiosity about cultural values.

Starting in fourth grade, students choose between Spanish and French to study throughout the year. Classes meet three times a week. The following topics will be covered:

• Verbs: regular, present tense
• Noun and adjectives: gender, number
• Food
• Parts of the Body
• personal prononuns
• Cultures and Customs

Art Hide

The study of the visual and performing arts provides the students with opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge of the arts through a sequential, creative, integrated and inclusive program that prepares them for further, more focused study. The arts teach students to participate in society in an intelligent way by encouraging them to "look at things carefully, hear things thoughtfully, feel things sensitively, and understand the role of the arts in the life of the individual and the collective life of [world] culture." The focus for the fourth grade year in art is on indigenous art and mask making. A fourth grade student studies myths and design in art from other cultures. Through this exploration, he uses his own skills, first to imitate that art and then to create his own. He refines his use and understanding of major media of art specifically by focusing on transferring a two dimensional drawing into a three dimensional object.

Music Hide

The study of the visual and performing arts provides the students with opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge of the arts through a sequential, creative, integrated and inclusive program that prepares them for further, more focused study. The arts teach students to participate in society in an intelligent way by encouraging them to "look at things carefully, hear things thoughtfully, feel things sensitively, and understand the role of the arts in the life of the individual and the collective life of [world] culture." Grade four boys build on the rhythm exercises they did in third grade. Students develop their left/right in preparation for playing hand chimes. The boys are introduced to the differences between major and minor scales, and apply this knowledge to the soprano recorder, even as they expand their playing range. Classes discuss and model appropriate etiquette for performance, both as listeners and performers. One of the major projects of the year is to create a original composition using the Sibelius music software.

Physical Education Hide

The primary focus of the physical education program is the student's total physical and emotional development. All students learn the motor skills needed in everyday living and in recreational activities. Students develop and maintain sound physiological functions through vigorous muscular activity. The curriculum provides situations for learning to compete so students learn to cooperate with others, treat others with respect and strive for achievement of common goals. Students learn to accept responsibility for their actions. The program provides a life-long sense of responsibility for health and well-being. The physical education curriculum is built upon four strands:

• physical activity
• movement skills and knowledge
• physical fitness and mental wellness
• social development and movement interaction

The fourth grade student develops knowledge and understanding of cooperative games, such as earth ball and parachute. He also learns and plays team games, such as prison ball, hockey, baseball, frisbee, net ball, European handball, basketball-baseball, soccer-baseball, and pin-war, all of which are lead-up games for team sports. He participates in the Presidential Physical Fitness Testing Program to develop cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength, and agility, by testing himself in circuit training, one mile-jog-walk, shuttle run, chin-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, etc. He develops the use of directions of forward, backward, side boards, and circular.

Computer Studies Hide

The computer lab provides an environment in which students, teachers, librarians and lab instructors collaborate on curricular-based projects. Through their years at Stuart Hall, the students explore a variety of hardware, software applications and telecommunications media. Students are introduced to these things at an early age and continually develop their skills. As the field changes, they adapt easily and explore confidently as new technology is incorporated into the curriculum. Critical thinking skills and problem solving strategies are a primary focus. Students will be knowledgeable, independent users of powerful computer applications. The Unkefer instructors, librarians and classroom teachers collaborate to create projects that use open-ended software such as multimedia programs and word processing. Students develop computer skills (copying and pasting, draw tools, etc.) that transfer easily across applications and computer platforms. Changes in hardware, software and curriculum keep the program alive and in a constant flux. The following yearly plans for each grade level are subject to variations depending on classroom teacher input, new products, and changes in technology. Beginning in the first grade and continuing for the next several years, students develop their word processing, multimedia and web skills. They write stories, interviews, and short reports in conjunction with classroom activities and assignments. Students begin to develop interactive multimedia presentations. Projects in the lower grades incorporate basic graphics and text, increasing in scope with grade levels to include digital images, sounds and movies. Students in grades three and four learn basic aspects of desktop publishing and web design. Keyboarding is introduced in the fourth grade via the Herzog Keyboarding Method and the program “Type!” First through fourth grade students also create simple databases and graphs as a means to track and record information. Younger students may use a graphic drawing program to illustrate their findings, while third and fourth graders create more advanced pictographs or use Excel to display results. Beginning in first grade, the computer projects incorporate the basic elements of research and use of reference materials. Each student learns how to cite and evaluate any information they include in their reports. By the fourth grade students have used electronic library and Internet resources to gather information. Students learn how to use these resources appropriately and to critically evaluate their content.