Curriculum Night 4 th Grade Team

Report Card Indicators The K-5 Grade Reports to Parents include the following levels of performance: 4 = Above benchmark / Exceeds current grade level expectations 3 = Meets benchmark / At grade level expectations 2 = Approaching benchmark / Improving but not consistent 1 = Below grade level / Needs more time and support Blank = Not yet introduced GOAL

Reading 1st Quarter: Story Elements- How can understanding these elements help us understand the culture or tradition of that story? (Character traits, drawing conclusions, cause and effect, making inferences, sequencing, major and minor characters, setting, plot, and genre.) 2nd Quarter: Fairy Tales and Fables- Different cultures have similarities in their writing. Culture influences an author’s ideas and beliefs. What similarities are found in cross cultural works of literature? What is the moral of the story?

Reading Quarter 3: Expository Texts- Every expository text is written for a purpose and has a main idea, supporting details, and a conclusion. (Drawing conclusions, determining the author’s purpose, identify persuasive vocabulary, fact and opinion, identify the main idea, supporting details, and conclusion.) Quarter 4: Reading for research- There are many tools used for gathering information. Questions are a good strategy to use when comprehending a text. What type of resources help us gather information? How do questions benefit comprehension? We will have a strong focus on non-fiction throughout the year (cross-curricular) We will do class literature studies and literature circles throughout the year.

Writing Narratives- How can we express ourselves through narratives? Create a narrative using the elements of a story. (characters, dialogue, plot, sensory details, clear language, and sequencing of events.) Create a pre-write, rough draft, and final draft. (A day in the life of a superhero narrative, Mini-Trait Lesson, Mini-Writing Process Lessons) Using text to support writing-Be able to support ideas through text evidence in their own words.

Writing Descriptive writing- Using descriptive language enhances your writing and engages the reader. (Poetry, figurative language, descriptive words, and choosing the appropriate words to describe). Letter Writing and Functional Writing- Writing is a form of communication. How do we use writing in our lives? (Friendly letters, business letters, persuasive writing, thank you notes, messages, invitations, directions, labels, procedures, rubrics, recipes, graphs and tables.) *Friendly Letter, Persuasive business letter to Mr. Cover and Mrs. Papke

Writing Expository Writing- There are many forms of writing to provide information to an audience. What formats do we use to provide information? (Summaries, essays, newspaper articles, reflective logs, and journal.) Utilize the writing process and Six Traits of Writing. Research Report- Use prior knowledge, paraphrasing, and particular research materials to provide information to a designated audience. (Create research notes from a variety of sources, site sources, follow the writing process, Six Traits of Writing, and create a presentation for your intended audience.)

Math Quarter 1: Place Value, Factors, Patterns, Multi-Step Word Problems, Multiplication of four numbers by one and two by two, Finding quotients and remainders with up to four-digit dividends and one-digit divisors, Apply area and perimeter formulas in real word applications, Understanding of fractions (addition and subtration). Quarter 2: Equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, interpreting multiplication equations, Measurement, Multiplication and division word problems,

Math Quarter 3: Adding and subtracting mixed numbers with like denominators, Line Plots, Geometry, Multiplication of fractions, Decimal Place Value, Word Problems Quarter 4: Geometry (Angle measurement, lines, rays, symmetry), Measurement(customary and metric), State Test Review, 5 th Grade Preparation

Science Quarter 1: Earth’s Resources- What type of resources does the Earth have? Why do the Earth’s resources need to be conserved? How can we conserve Earth’s resources? Erosion- How does erosion occur? How does erosion change Earth’s surface? Is there a set time for erosion? How can we determine that erosion has occurred? How do natural phenomena cause the Earth’s surface to change? Water- How is the Earth affected by water? Where does water come from? Why is water important? How does water appear on the Earth’s surface.

Science Quarter 2: Environments- How do human beings effect the environment? How do natural events cause positive effects? The Animal Kingdom- How do animals survive in their environments? Why do animals look different from one another? How can animals thrive in their environments? The Plant Kingdom- How do systems in living organisms perform different functions? Why do plants have a specific life cycle?

Science Quarter 3: Weather- How is the climate in Arizona different from climates in other states? How are weather maps used to predict the weather? Measurement- What tools can be used to measure? In what ways can we record data that is measured? How does measurement impact our observations and investigations? (Measure, inquiry, scale, balance, metric, and U.S. Customary)

Science Quarter 4: Electricity- How is electricity produced? Why are conductors and insulators essential? What is the role of circuits in electricity? Magnetism- How do magnets react with one another? Why do magnets attract/repel? How do polarities affect magnets? How do magnets create energy? Inventions and Inventors Invention Project!

Social Studies Arizona History - Creation of Salt Dough Maps, Knowledge of state symbols, Important explorers, Native American tribes, Government, Economics, Western Expansion, Mountain Men, Outlaws, Great Depression, WWII AZ Studies Weekly Newspaper used to develop skills for reading expository text Preparation for our Annual Grand Canyon Trip!!!

Gifted Services Services to gifted students will be provided by grade level teachers who will differentiate instructional strategies to meet the specific needs of verbally, quantitatively, and nonverbally gifted students. Students will remain in their classrooms as recent research in elementary education shows that children’s academic needs are best met by highly qualified classroom teachers with the support of a gifted specialist. Ms. Carlucci will be working closely with gifted cluster teachers to ensure that they are making the necessary modifications in the curriculum to keep students engaged and challenged.

Grand Canyon More information to come Registration opens in early October Classes with park rangers One parent for every 5 students If you are interested in chaperoning, please be sure to get your tier 2 clearance in the office. If you’d like to drive up behind the bus you are more than welcome to come