The fourth grade is a true year of growth and change at the Renaissance Academy. Students continue to build knowledge and confidence across disciplines, delving into topics such as ancient civilizations, force and motion, belief systems and natural resources. Fourth graders build collaboration skill, such as being reflective and thoughtful communicators. Students learn that education crosses subject boundaries, applying and enhancing math skills and using knowledge gained for reading and writing sessions. Learning experiences extend beyond the classroom and include exciting trip opportunities that enhance topics covered during the year. This balanced approach to learning helps cultivate an adaptive and engaging classroom of students.
Students begin fourth grade by reflecting on their reading habits and genre preferences. As the year progresses, students dig deeper into the texts they read, building their inferencing skills by uncovering implicit themes, ideas, and character motivations in fictional works. Later, fourth graders practice “reading for a purpose” using nonfiction texts to aid in research and heighten their understanding of the subject matter being studied across disciplines. Students enhance their note-taking skills and formulate questions within their reading that require them to research further for the answer. In book clubs, fourth graders practice analyzing literature with a critical lens, identifying important and relevant topics like social issues within the texts they read.
In fourth grade, students experiment with craft elements, tone, and voice in their writing. Fictional writing is always a fun unit for students where they write a story from beginning to end. Fourth grade writers elevate the quality of their stories by adding description and detail with strategies like “show don’t tell,” as well as practicing introductions that hook the reader. Students also focus on organization in writing, practicing paragraphs, and outlining personal essays, as well as properly using conventions like capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Students also explore researched based writing by backing up their opinions with relevant research. We connect to our reading by having students journal from a character’s perspective in a historical fiction novel. We also focus on how word choice and more specifically, figurative language, can help create impact on a reader in our poetry unit.
During the year, fourth graders inquire into many different mathematical concepts. All topics we learn about are differentiated based on student readiness and individualized level. Problem-solving skills are interwoven into all units studied. Fourth graders also become more independent in selecting strategies to solve problems, as well as explaining their mathematical thinking. Students use place value understanding to round multi-digit whole numbers to any place. Multiplication and division are a focus in fourth grade, and students review their basic facts, while becoming experts in multi-digit multiplication and division with remainders. Fourth graders collect data and analyze information to connect to different subject areas. Students extend their understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering through games and hands-on activities.
Students will use Panama Pacifico to bring each unit to life in many different ways. Some examples of our learning journey will include students examining human impact on resources and reflecting on how their own consumption of these resources impacts the world around them. Through the fourth grade science program, students are guided to ask deeper questions that will lead to richer discussion around the unit topics. Fourth graders learn skills that integrates forces, resources, life, earth, and physical science. The modules are designed to inspire curiosity, investigation, and innovation. Students are also taught to become more proficient at finding answers for themselves by exploring multiple forms of media. There is a strong emphasis on cooperative learning as students use one another as resources and work as a team to make discoveries.
In social studies, students will gain building blocks for critical thinking, develop a strong reading and writing foundation, and learn what it means to be responsible, active citizens. With engaging content students takes a fresh approach to social studies in the classroom. Topics supports students in developing themselves and how they interact with the world. Students investigate how decisions affect who we are and our relationship with others.
In fourth grade, students are able to reproduce all previously learned content and learn more complex grammar and vocabulary, such as action verbs and daily activities. Students understand a string of phrases and can write short phrases themselves and use them in creating a short story. Students start to engage in more complex conversations, such as how to shop and how to order food.
Fourth graders have great opportunities to strengthen their performance confidence and communication skills through multiple venues and group or personal projects. In a creative, design thinking lab setting, students continue to strengthen essential learning and problem-solving skills while singing, composing, and playing various instruments of world and classical orchestras, such as the violin, cello, double bass, guitar, ukulele, flute, clarinet, trumpet, and multiple percussion. Students are exposed to and utilize the latest age-appropriate music technology platforms and are engaged in various basic music theory and history activities that further strengthen their knowledge and appreciation of the art form. Students enjoy singing two and three-part choral arrangements and closely analyze, study and perform a rich vocal and instrumental repertoire in various styles and genres. Throughout the year, fourth grade students present and share their music talents in Community Meetings, holiday concerts, lower school assemblies, and Community Outreach Projects.
Fourth grade students solve challenging problems in groups and identify and utilize the strengths of individual group members in team activities to accomplish a common goal during adventure challenges. They apply skills and techniques involved in a variety of lead-up games, and modified versions of these games. Students also develop their own games and related activities. Fourth grade students use their bodies in response to stimuli and as a medium for expression. They improve and refine traditional gymnastic skills and work in groups to design their own sequences. Students understand the interconnectedness of the factors that contribute to a safe and healthy lifestyle, begin to set goals, and identify strategies that will help to develop well-being. A special focus is on biomechanics, which also helps them to improve techniques of jumping, throwing, and running. They have the opportunity to test their new skills and independently collect and record data in at least one activity in a modified track and field event.
Starting in fourth grade, students are using their devices with increasing independence. Students work on projects while still acquiring skills to become more sophisticated technology users and design thinkers. Students engage in digital citizenship and literacy, develop their internet-based research skills, and create products to communicate ideas for an intended purpose and audience. Students become proficient in presenting their ideas using a variety of presentation tools. Students apply design thinking to build 3D structures using computer-aided design (CAD_software / SketchUp) and animate simple machines.
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