The fourth grade art program is organized around universal themes relevant to students’ daily lives. These themes help students make meaningful connections to artworks across
time and place. Students create original artworks as they explore the ways artists think and work, and as they learn to perceive, think, talk and write about art.
The Fourth Grade units are:
- Appearances: Looking At Our world: Students learn to look very carefully at our world and practice contour and gesture drawings, create a wire sculpture, paint a landscape from
a bird’s–eye view, and a colorful still-life composition.
- Presenting Places: The Human Landscape: Students review the elements of art: line, shape, texture, color, and space, while drawing dream rooms, and designing dream houses and
colorful towns. They learn about dwellings of Anasazi Indians, Ancient Greece architecture, and Frank Lloyd Wright.
- Nature’s Gifts: Students look to wild and tame creatures in nature for ideas, paint a natural habitat, use materials found in nature (clay) to make coil pots.
- Traditions: Our Artistic Heritage: Students understand that traditions are the living history of the human race. Traditions are vital and dynamic, reflecting over time the changes
in the cultures that celebrate them. They’ll create “molas” in the style of Kuna Indians, “batiks” inspired by the art of Indonesia, and papier-mâché masks looking at the African
examples. This unit has strong geography cross-curricular connections.
- Imagination: Invention and Abstraction: Students learn that challenges inspire human creativity. Artists challenge themselves to see their worlds in new different ways, using
their creativity to show us, through their artworks, unique and innovative interpretations of everyday scenes and familiar objects. Students create imaginary clay sculptures,
paint abstract trees, and draw animals.
Every unit is enriched with images from art and the real world. Students create vocabulary cards as they learn to talk about art.
References:
Explorations in Art, Davis Publications, Inc., Wilton Art Appreciation CD-ROMs, and Davis “Compare and Contrast” CD-ROM
Fourth Graders will explore the life of Christ from the Gospels, a study of the Holy Spirit, and a study of the life of Paul as they examine Acts and the Epistles. Weekly Scripture
memory, life application activities, and vocabulary help ensure a life-long appreciation and knowledge of God’s Word. Students apply Biblical principles as they prepare and lead
a chapel program for the Lower School student body. Fourth Graders will also lead a service project within our community and exhibit compassion and the love of God.
In Fourth Grade Bible, students will find knowledge, wisdom, and understanding for themselves from the Word of God. The curriculum helps establish each student in the Word so
that he/she can begin to find answers for themselves. While it is important to begin with the factual knowledge of the Scriptures, we believe that students need to grow in wisdom
and understanding. At Whitefield, we want to guide each student to comprehend, discern, apply, analyze, and evaluate a variety of concepts. An intimate study of Scripture helps
them form personal convictions and develop strong character.
In Fourth Grade, students continue to use the Mac laptops to hone their keyboarding skills and increase their typing speed. Their appreciation of and respect for the world-wide-web
grows as they realize the significant role technology plays in our “flat” world. Inherent in this virtual world, students learn to make wise choices writing e-mails and surfing
the web. Keyboarding skills are practiced as students continue to make internet research activities relevant to their classroom assignments. The connection between practicing
the skill and engaging the tool, as a form of learning, becomes a reality in the Fourth Grade.
Fourth Graders study both the world around them, in general and then an in-depth study of the United States regions. Through geography, students reinforce their knowledge of both
the United States and Georgia history. We learn about the landforms, climate, plants, animals, history, and other important characteristics of each region and the contributions
these regions make to both our economy and government. Students study the states and capitals, Central America, and the Caribbean. Fourth Graders investigate the following: the
American Revolution; Trail of Tears; Slavery; the Civil War; Reconstruction; World War I and II; the U.S. Government; and the Rights and Responsibilities of the American People.
Students study economic concepts that include the role of the consumer and producer; profit and loss; as well as Georgia’s economy. We will examine the state of Georgia as we
focus on Georgia’s past and present. Other experiential learning includes trips to Stone Mountain’s American Indian Festival and Pow Wow, and the Driftwood Education Center on
Saint Simons Island.
Students build on grammar learned in Third Grade, by continuing the use of The Shurley English Curriculum. Students are active participants as different aspects of English are
learned and explored. Each lesson builds upon prior lessons, making the pace of learning quite rigorous. A focus on vocabulary and analogies is prevalent throughout each chapter
and classroom practices, chapter checkups, and tests provide immediate feedback on each student’s progress. Some of the unique features of the Shurley English method include the
following:
- Jingles: Definitions to the parts of speech are taught in jingle/chant form. This style of learning improves memory and makes learning more enjoyable.
- Question and Answer Flow: Students use a systematic approach to sentence “dissection” by asking questions to determine the role of each word in the sentence. This process is
done orally in a group environment and helps the student analyze sentence patterns, sentence types, and the context of the various words within a sentence.
- Practice and Revised Sentences: In order to write more fluently and use complex sentences, students are given daily practice through revision and review.
- Writing: Fourth Graders use the knowledge of sentence structure to form paragraphs and then to expand to narrative essays. Students learn the steps of prewriting, writing rough
drafts, revising, editing, writing final papers, and publishing. Shurley English supports our writing curriculum to help students produce eloquent five paragraph writing pieces.
Students experience
reading through many avenues to help them learn, analyze, and appreciate a variety of resources, while developing a love for reading. Fourth Graders
do novel studies with books of various genres; fiction and non-fiction. Students learn both as a class and individually, as they explore these books, recognize symbolism, and
make life connections together. They learn to distinguish events and characters in texts, discussing how they relate to both the secular and Christian worldview. Students experience
God’s greatness by observing the talents and craft of writers. These observations are applied during writing workshops as they share their own craft with other students. Additionally,
we study strategies to master comprehension skills that will enhance their foundation for success in reading, as well as other subjects.
Through learning
vocabulary and the correct
spelling of words, students develop a richer knowledge of English words and their meanings. Fourth Graders use the
Wordly
Wise 3000 series, published by Educators Publishing Service for vocabulary development. They receive spelling lists based on novels studied in class. Spelling is systematically
taught using phonetic rules and spelling patterns which are then included into their composition writing pieces. The Wordly Wise curriculum helps expose our students to a wide
variety of vocabulary terms. There are also online practice activities which engage the students in the learning process. The student lessons involve reading passages, while using
context clues to determine meanings.
Fourth Graders learn the art of expressing their thoughts through
writing. They focus on narrative writing throughout the year. Students will learn to brainstorm and organize
their thoughts in order to begin the writing process. They will learn how to solidify the parts of a sentence, how to use a dictionary and a thesaurus to get rid of “worn out
words” and enhance their writing, and how to go back and edit their own work. Strong focus on development, organization, support, sentence structure, word choice, and writing
mechanics are practiced throughout the year. They will also master a five paragraph essay by the end of Fourth Grade. Fourth Graders’ writing is assessed through the WrAP Writing
Assessment in the spring.
Upon entering Fourth Grade, students are expected to know how to use competent cursive
handwriting. Proper handwriting is expected in all subjects and is assessed in writing
pieces and on daily work.
Mastering book selection skills take place throughout the Fourth Grade year. Students become comfortable and proficient using the online catalog. They are able to connect spine
labels with call numbers and can locate materials in the fiction, non-fiction and reference sections of the library. Reference skills expand as students compare atlases to globes
and use indexes and tables of contents to locate states, countries, continents, the poles, and the equator. Listening and comprehension skills increase as books are read over
a period of weeks. Discussion of plot, characters, and theme becomes more in-depth. The various genres are discussed as students select personal reading materials.
The primary goal of Fourth Grade math is to build upon the foundational base of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Through hands-on activities, technology integration,
manipulatives, and real life situations, math concepts are practiced and mastered. Students will learn key strategies and problem-solving skills as they work individually, with
partners, and in cooperative groups, exploring new ways to use reasoning skills. Fourth Graders will also focus on comparing and ordering numbers, decimals, estimating, fractions,
integers and rational numbers, mixed numbers, place value, algebra, measurement, geometry, working with money, and other mathematical strategies. Participation in the Math Olympics
(grades 3-5) is a capstone for our highly successful mathematicians.
Fourth Grade students continue to learn many of the themes introduced in previous years which include delving deeper into instrument learning, reading music, as well as listening
and watching high quality music. Students begin to construct meaning in the areas of classical and modern music history by sequentially learning about major periods of musical
development, classical composers, and modern music genres and events. Composition is another major topic covered in the Fourth Grade curriculum. Using a computer-based curriculum,
Groovy Music, students construct original compositions with the help of pre-recorded loops and self-written examples.
Fourth Grade physical education continues to develop skill proficiency while practicing and performing drills and playing modified games. Our goal is that students will demonstrate
competency in knowledge, activity and fitness objectives; including the benefits of physical activity, aerobic activity, abdominal/lower back strength, arm/shoulder strength,
and hip/lower back flexibility. We continue our health and nutrition education throughout this grade, with more emphasis on establishing life skills and daily habits.
In the study of science we learn more about our God and our world through enlightening activities and lessons. Our curriculum is based on a distinctively Christian perspective,
building all lessons on the foundation of God’s Word. Students learn science concepts most effectively by exploring concrete examples recording observations; making predictions
and drawing conclusions through textbooks, technology integration and active experimentation. Fourth Graders will learn about the earth’s land resources, fossil fuels, conservation,
properties of matter, chemical and physical changes, animal behaviors, animal adaptations, vertebrates and invertebrates, magnetic fields, electric circuits, electrical currents,
weather patterns, weather processes, air pressure, and seasons and climate. Students will have an opportunity to visit the Driftwood Education Center, located on St. Simons Island,
for a two-night, three-day experiential immersion into the study of animal life and culture. During this time, students get to dissect a fish, explore ocean life on the beach,
and hold reptiles. In addition, this trip creates a wonderful atmosphere for the students to work cooperatively and form stronger relationships with their fellow classmates.
Fourth Grade students open class with the Padre Nuestro (Our Father) prayer and basic conversation. Students continue to acquire high-frequency Spanish vocabulary through Total
Physical Response Storytelling, where students answer a multitude of questions and provide creative details as their classmates act out the stories with a simple prop. Speaking,
reading and writing skills are practiced with Volume 2 of the
Cuentame Gabi series. Performing favorite episodes of the book in small groups, to be videoed, builds student
confidence. An upbeat, rhythmic chanting of verbs is introduced to help students discover the patterns of Spanish. Staying in touch with their Ecuadorian pen pals through our
bilingual letters is an important cultural connection.
