Fourth Grade
Reading/ Language Arts. Review of the phonetic elements and handwriting and cursive again begin the year. This continues to be an important function of the learning process, because the actual physical process of writing strengthens the neural pathway from the brain and increases the retention of the phonetic elements, which enable us to read, write and spell with accuracy and precision. Classic and contemporary storybooks as well as units of study from phonetic readers continue to be used, interspersed with literature units from trade books. Some of the Fourth grade literature units include Amos Fortune, Free Man, Dear Mr. Henshaw, The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever, The Trumpet of the Swan, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Egypt Game, Baby, and Tuck Everlasting. Comprehension of materials read is continually evaluated. Rules of grammar and correct usage in writing are incorporated into daily lessons as well as writing and research units. Paragraph writing and revision, editing, planning strategies and research and development of a paper are taught, and a variety of papers are completed by the students.
Mathematics
Science. Fourth grade students continue to formulate hypotheses, collect, record, classify and report data. They measure linear distance, volume and mass, using standard and metric units of measurement. In the area of force, motion and energy, their study from third grade expands to forms of energy, both potential and kinetic, simple and complex machines, and efficiency, friction and inertia. Their study of electricity includes voltage, amperes, resistance, conductors and insulators, as well as circuits, magnetism and magnetic fields, and static electricity. A study of plants and Ecosystems is also included in fourth grade, as well as human influences on ecosystems.
Virginia History and Geography. Fourth grade begins an in-depth look at Virginia’s role in the development and establishment of today’s form of government in America. They begin with the location of American Indians, Europeans and Africans and study of their role in the expansion and development of the country. Study of the absolute and relative location of our city, the county, state, original states, United States, Western Europe and West Africa and the physical characteristics, and climate and their effect on crops, products and industries is studied. The economic, social and political life of the Virginia Colony are explored, as well as Virginia’s political and economic relationship to England. The contributions of various groups of settlers are explored through a field trip to The Museum of American Frontier Culture, and trips to The Monacan Indian Village and Jamestown. Virginia’s reasons for and role in the American Revolution are studied through learning about such famous Virginians as George Washington, George Wythe, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe and Patrick Henry. Virginia’s continuing role in the establishment of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and her role in the conflicts between northern and southern states and her location as a major site of many of the battles of the Civil War is explored, as well as the many leaders of the Army that were Virginians.
Reconstruction’s impact on politics, government and the economy of Virginia following the Civil War are studied and her economic and social transition from rural to industrial society. The move into the Twentieth Century offers student the opportunity to learn of other prominent Virginians such as Woodrow Wilson, Harry F. Byrd, L. Douglas Wilder and Arthur Ashe. Lying in close proximity to the nation’s capital, students learn of the important role that Virginia plays in the U.S. economy and the impact of transportation, communication, money and banking services on the development of eastern Virginia into a megalopolis. Literature reading that is related to the study of history includes Virginia, From Sea to Shining Sea.