Currently we are plugging away at our Science Fair projects. We are off to a good start, and are looking forward to some awesome projects at the end of the month! The students are doing projects that correlate with all the content expectations for 4th grade. Parents: Remember, Science Fair (for the most part) is done at home! It is absolutely necessary to be involved to ensure a satisfactory end product! If you have any questions about the process of Science Fair, please stop by and see me!
Fourth Grade
Grade Requisite: Mastery of 3rd Grade GLCE’s One Year
Language Arts: Language Arts for 4th grade students is a combination of reading, writing, spelling, and listening and speaking.
Reading incorporates using multiple strategies to varying genres. Students will also be able to use reference materials to locate
various research topics. During reading activities students may do literature circles, and have a chance to read chapter books
such as Because of Winn-Dixie, James and The Giant Peach and Shiloh. Writing at the 4th grade level includes applying correct
grammar, punctuation, and spelling for writings such as fantasy, adventure, poetry, comparative essay, myths/legends and
research projects. Spelling, listening skills and speaking skills will also be covered throughout the 4th grade school year.
Math: 4th grade math will further develop skills introduced in the 3rd grade. Number sense and numeration in 4th grade will
include: rounding and estimating, using the 4 operations, fractions and decimals, place value and money. Geometry and
measurement will include: the identification of shapes and their properties, measurement of length, weight, temperature,
perimeter, area, volume and calendar and time. Data analysis and statistics along with probability concepts will also be covered.
Science: The 4th grade science unit will correlate with the academy’s month themes of: Ecosystems, Living Things, Weather,
Space, Natural History, Water and Land Use. Students will cover concepts that include: animal adaptations, the human
digestive system, properties of rocks and minerals, forms of energy, substances and solutions. Many of these lessons will be
focused on by using our 63 acre property. Fourth grade students may participate in dissecting owl pellets, making maple syrup
and planting and taking care of the gardens.
Social Studies: 4th Grade Social Studies will focus on Michigan History. Various Michigan cultural groups will be compared
and contrasted. Functions of the Michigan government will be identified. Michigan’s economy will be analyzed along with the
affect of economic development from the 1800’s to the early 1900’s. Students will also build upon map, globe, chart, graph,
grid, table and cardinal direction skills. Students will be able to identity and explain land forms in major locations of Michigan.
