Overview of Fourth Grade Curriculum
Language Arts, including English, Spelling and Reading: Bob Jones University Press Publications; Handwriting: A Beka Publications: During the fourth grade year, Students concentrate on refining their writing skills while learning current sentence structure (including kinds of sentences, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations, and possessive words). A unit on letter writing helps students become familiar with writing a variety of types of letters including business and friendly letters, post cards and thank you notes. Students are required to write a report involving gathering information by using encyclopedias. Composing book reports and creative compositions rounds out the writing experiences of the fourth grade student. Grammar skills presented this year include using all eight parts of speech and diagramming of verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives and adverbs. Students have a great deal of practice refining their cursive penmanship skills. As in past years, students have weekly spelling and vocabulary tests. Reading skills in oral reading, comprehension, speed-reading and vocabulary building continue to be refined as students are exposed to a variety of materials. Students read from classic literature that highlights character building. Faithfulness, honesty, industry, kindness and service are but a few of the character themes presented in the material students read.
Mathematics: A Beka Publishers: Mathematics for grade four is a success oriented program that builds on prior learning and on the specific skills presented in kindergarten through third grade. A Beka Mathematics is a balanced, integrated mathematics program that includes continual development of whole number concepts (including single-digit multiplication and division), whole number computation, mental math, problem solving, patterns and functions, measurement, geometry, fractions, decimals, statistics and probability. Word problems are incrementally developed and continually practiced throughout the year. A Beka curriculum builds students' confidence and speed in computation work.
History and Geography---A-Beka Publications: At the fourth grade level, students receive their first formal study of American history. In chronological order, students travel through time and experience the following events that have made our nation what it is today:
The Years of Discovery
The Years of Conquest
The First Americans
The English come to America
The New England Colonies
The Middle and Southern Colonies
A Picture of Colonial Life
The Great Awakening The French and Indian War
The American War for Independence
Building a New Nation
Our Nation Grows
The Civil War
New Frontiers
An Age of Progress
Beyond our Boundaries
The World Wars
Science: Bob Jones University Press: The fourth grade science program presents an interactive approach to science through a Christian worldview. Students learn to observe and understand the world around them by studying the following subject areas:
Earth Science:
• Weathering:o Mechanical• Mass-wasting:
o Chemical
o Humus
o Topsoil
o Bedrocko Creep• Erosion:
o Landslide
o Avalancheo Water, splash erosion, sheet erosion• Space:
o Gully, rill, valleys, gorges
o Delta, flood plain
o Glaciers
o Till, wind, blowout, conservation, preventiono History of the moon: theories, age activity, dust, distance, purpose, light, movement, calendar
o Moon features: structure, surface size, mass gravity shape distance, temperatures, motions, phases
Life Science:
• Living things:o Insects, arachnids and myriapods; Insect order• Human Body:
o Plants: classification, botanist, fungi, molds, algae, mosses and liverworts, ferns, conifers, seeds, deciduous, flowering and fruit-producing plants, monocotyledons, dicotyledons
o Animal defenses: camouflage, weapons, protective coverings, special defenses, tactics
o Trees: classifying by leaf, simple and compound leaves, pinnate and palmate leaveso Digestion
Physical Science:
• Energy:o Electricity• Matter:
o Lighto Length, area and volume
Bible-Association of Christian Schools International: Christ and His Word: The fourth graders study Biblical doctrine written on their level focusing on God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, Salvation, Heaven, Angels, Hell and Final Events. Students learn how these relate to life problems of honesty, getting along with others, self-esteem, good use of time, divorce in the family, acceptance, and feeling others are unfair.
Enrichment Classes:
*Computer Introduction and Instruction: Curriculum skillfully integrates classroom studies with computer skills. Students at all grade levels learn about keyboarding, desktop publishing, data base management, spreadsheets, multimedia presentations and all other components of the Virginia Standards of Learning in the area of technology.
*Music: In weekly music classes, students learn the fundamentals of rhythm and music theory.
*Physical Education: Our physical education teacher helps the students develop large motor skills and knowledge of games with rules.
*Library: All elementary students have the opportunity to visit the school library each week for a literacy lesson. They are also able to borrow books on a weekly basis.
*Spanish: Students learn conversational Spanish in a fun and interactive way through the internet language program Rosetta Stone.
*Art: Students have an art class in addition to the art that is integrated the daily program. Students learn about different techniques and about working with different media, as well as receiving an introduction to Art History. They are introduced to famous artists and see how Bible stories and concepts have been illustrated through the centuries with art.
*Chapel: The entire elementary school joins together in the church chapel for a short service each Wednesday morning. This is a time or worship, prayer and testimonies. Classes take turns presenting the weekly lessons. Christ Chapel pastors are frequent visitors.
We also offer music lessons at an additional fee.
