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