Academics/Curriculum
Curriculum
Grade 4
Language Arts / Vocabulary
- Uses grammar correctly in speaking and writing (i.e., verb tenses, subject- verb agreement)
- Uses various strategies to build vocabulary (i.e., Latin and Greek roots, derivations)
- Understands similes, metaphors, analogies, and alliteration
- Uses punctuation and capitalization correctly
Reading
- Understands the development of a plot in age-appropriate literature
- Understands how conflicts are resolved in a story
- Makes inferences and draws conclusions regarding story elements
- Knows similarities and differences of characters, setting, and events in literature
- Knows that the attitudes and values that exist in a time period affect stories and informational articles written during that time period
- Identifies cause and effect relationships in text
- Responds to literature by explaining how the motives of the characters and causes of the events compare with those of own life
- Understands the major theme in a story
- Understands the major information in a nonfiction text
- Forms ideas about what has been read and uses specific information from the text to support those ideas
- Uses prior knowledge integrated with text features to generate questions and make predictions about content of text
- Extends knowledge and skills to increasingly complex reading assignments
- Understands explicit and implicit ideas and information
- Identifies author’s purpose in a text
- Distinguishes between informational and persuasive texts
- Identifies examples of fact, fiction, and opinion in text
- Understands a variety of textual organizations
- Uses a variety of reference materials to gather information
- Uses a systematic research process
Writing
- Establishes a purpose for writing
- Focuses on a central idea or topic
- Uses an organizational pattern appropriate to purpose and audience
- Uses supporting ideas, details, and facts from a variety of sources to develop and elaborate the topic
- Uses varied sentence structures
- Generally follows the conventions of punctuation, capitalization, and spelling appropriate to age level
- Follows all stages of the writing process, including peer editing and review
Public Speaking
- Understands information presented orally
- Uses listening strategies in noninteractive settings
- Interacts with peers in a variety of situations to develop and present familiar ideas
- Understands the main concept and supporting details in nonprint media messages
- Uses strategies to speak clearly
- Prepares for and gives presentation for specific occasions, audiences, and purposes
- Uses eye contact and gestures that engage the audience
- Uses discussion strategies
- Presents a speech in an organized manner
Mathematics
- Reads, writes, and identifies whole numbers through millions or more
- Reads, writes, and identifies fractions and mixed numbers
- Reads, writes, and identifies decimals through hundredths
- Compares and orders whole numbers, commonly used fractions, and decimals using concrete materials
- Locates whole numbers, fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals on a number line
- Uses concrete materials to model equivalent forms of whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
- Knows that two numbers in different forms are equivalent or non-equivalent
- Reads, writes, and compares the decimal numbers system with the Roman numeral system
- Recalls basic multiplication and division facts quickly and fluidly
- Explains and demonstrates the multiplication and division of whole numbers, fractions, and decimals using manipulatives, drawings, and algorithms
- Knows the properties of numbers
- Estimates the relative size of solutions in specific problems
- Chooses, describes, and explains estimation strategies used to determine the reasonableness of solutions to real-world problems
- Multiplies by multiples of 10, 100, and 1000
- Uses models to identify perfect squares to 100
- Knows measurement concepts and uses oral and written language to communicate them
- Knows about varied time intervals, including decades, hours, minutes, and seconds
- Solves real-world problems involving perimeter, area, and volume
- Devises nonstandard, indirect ways to compare lengths
- Knows an appropriate unit of measure to determine the dimensions of a given object
- Knows how to estimate the area and perimeter of regular and irregular polygons using graph paper, geoboard, or other objects
- Selects and uses appropriate tool for situational measures
- Uses manipulatives to solve problems requiring spatial visualizations
- Recognizes geometric terms and applications
- Explores tessellations
- Describes, extends, and creates numerical and geometric patterns using a variety of models
- Knows mathematical relationships in patterns
- Solves problems involving equations or simple inequalities using manipulatives
- Uses a variable to represent a given verbal expression
- Knows the purpose of different parts of a graph
- Chooses reasonable titles and labels for graphs
- Interprets and completes circle graphs using common fractions
- Analyzes and explains the implications of data displays
- Identifies the mean, median, and mode from a set of data
- Identifies the range on a line graph
- Uses a calculator to determine the range and mean of a set of data
- Uses computer applications to examine and evaluate data and to construct graphs
- Represents all possible outcomes for a simple probability situation or event using models
- Conducts experiments to test predictions
- Uses statistical data to identify trends and to make and justify generalizations
Physical Education
- Stress the importance of warming up and stretching before each unit
- Emphasis on fair play, teamwork, and sportsmanship
- Stress on understanding and application of rules, skills, and strategies of team sports
- Emphasis on body control during movement
- Introduction to proper throwing, catching, and kicking techniques
- Introduction and understanding of the basic skills needed to play soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, volleyball, and flag football
- Introduction to the heart rate monitor
- Practices and takes the Presidential Fitness Test
Social Studies
- Knows selected physical features of Florida
- Understands ways geographic features of Florida influenced exploration, colonization, and expansion
- Knows people and events related to significant eras of Florida history
- Recognizes state symbols
- Identifies contributions of famous Floridians
- Understands the diverse cultural makeup of South Florida and the ways various cultures contribute to the social, cultural, economic and political features of Florida
- Understands the functions of government under the framework of the Florida Constitution
- Knows the branches of Florida state government
- Knows examples of scarcity in Florida
- Knows the concept of earning income
- Knows the basic concept of a budget
- Knows the ways the state government provides goods and services through taxation
Science
- Knows why health problems should be detected and treated early
- Knows how childhood injuries and illnesses can be prevented and treated
- Knows why illegal drugs should not be used and the consequences of their use
- Describes the ecosystem of the Everglades and the threats to this system
- Compares and contrasts wetland and desert
- Investigates the biological significance of the Everglades
- Describes the water cycle
- Describes the human impact on water usage in Florida
- Describes coastal ecology in Florida
- Recognizes how hurricanes and tornadoes develop
- Describe recommended preparations for natural disasters
- Knows that complex animals have specialized organs to carry out life processes
- Identifies the major organ systems of the human body
- Understands the functions of the various body systems
- Knows that living things are composed of cells
- Knows that processes needed for life are carried out by the cells
- Knows ways in which people can conserve natural resources
- Extends and refines knowledge of ways people can reuse, recycle, and reduce the use of resources to improve and protect the quality of life
- Knows ways misuse of natural resources affects the quality of life for all species
Chinese
- Understands more complex stories recited
- Responds through role playing, drawing, singing, and moving
- Provides intermediate spoken information
- Describes in more detail people and objects in daily environment
- Recognizes and uses oral syntax and inflection
- Recognizes Pinyin phonetic system: initial sounds and final sounds
- Recognizes and vocalizes intermediate ideograms
- Memorize correct brush grip
- Uses brush strokes approximation
- Reinforces usage of the pinyin system on the computer keyboard
Spanish
- Expresses likes or dislikes regarding various objects and events in the everyday environment
- Organizes information in spoken or written form about a variety of topics
- Writes simple narrative
- Gives responses in spoken or written form to age-appropriate stories, poems or other literature, songs, films, or visual aids
- Recognizes and uses grade level appropriate syntax and usage
- Shows adequate mastery of Spanish mechanics to speak and write using adequate vocabulary
- Continued emphasis on building writing and conversational skills
- Continued emphasis on the study of Latin American culture
Art
- Uses good craftsmanship in producing a variety of two- and three- dimensional media
- Knows the effects and functions of using various organizational elements and principles of design when creating works of art
- Knows how to identify the intentions of those creating works of art
- Understands the influence of artists on the quality of everyday life
- Understands the similarities and differences and the various contributions of galleries, studios and museums
Music
- Recognizes differences in pitch
- Understands concepts of range and register
- Identifies and participates in linear harmonies
- Recognizes parts of musical form (introduction, coda, etc.)
- Identifies musical notations for tempo
- Generates simple musical notation
- Identifies simple rhythmic meter
Computer and Technology
- Uses developmentally appropriate keyboard techniques and touch typing
- Uses correct terminology for computer hardware and software
- Prints documents independently
- Creates and saves slideshow
- Creates or changes the look of a presentation using various graphics and formats
- Uses multimedia in real world context as an extension of class curriculum
- Applies appropriate techniques for information retrieval
- Uses a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities across the curriculum
School Skills
- Outlines various text materials
- Knows purpose of footnotes and bibliographies
- Completes a research project complete with simple bibliography
Thinking Skills
- Distinguishes explicit and implicit themes in text
- Compares analogous situations by transferring insights to new contexts
- Begins to develop own perspective by creating or exploring beliefs and theories
- Analyzes and evaluates actions policies
- Compares and contrasts ideals with actual practice
- Gives reasons for conclusions and evaluates evidence