Grade 4

Fourth grade language arts will use the Four Blocks Literacy Model which focuses on guided reading, self-selected reading, working with words and writing. An overview of the Four Blocks Program can be read here. Through guided instruction students will learn a variety of reading and comprehension strategies including: making connections, determining importance, visualizing, inferring, questioning and synthesizing.

Students in grade four will continue to develop their skills in reading, writing, and oral speaking. The course is designed to enhance these skills through writer's workshops, literature circles, and oral and written activities. The program will help develop students' love for reading and writing, but also develop a repertoire of reading strategies that will enhance their reading comprehension. Students will be actively involved in a wide selection of literature genres, including novels. High frequency words, new vocabulary and grammar will be introduced and reviewed based on students' individual learning needs. Students will also visit the computer lab weekly to increase their understanding and use of technology including: typing skills, gmail, google drive apps, digital story writing and personal blogs.

The Mathematics program is designed to review skills introduced at previous levels, build upon the current knowledge base, and introduce new concepts in order to prepare the learner for advanced levels of study. Beyond the focus of building skills and understanding of concepts, this course puts emphasis on problem solving and real-world application. To continue to challenge the students beyond the normal class assignments, students will be required to complete weekly problem-solving tasks and four quarterly projects in the course.

The grade four science program is designed to cover three major domains of science: life science, physical science, and earth science. Students will be actively involved in the investigation and in-depth study of force and motion, states of matter, fossils, and the food web. This rigorous scientific program will incorporate the scientific method when students conduct scientific experiments and research.

The fourth grade social studies course is designed to enhance the learner’s understanding of our world. This view includes the physical aspects of our planet as well as the inter-workings of groups of people within society as a whole. Students will learn about the civics, economics, geography and history of America and the world. A study of some important historical events will assist the student in relating to events in their lifetime.

Physical Education (P.E.) is an integral part of the education program for all students. P.E. teaches students how their bodies move and how to perform a variety of physical activities. Students learn health-related benefits of regular physical activity and the skills to adopt a physically active, healthy lifestyle. The discipline also provides learning experiences that meet the developmental needs of students. With high-quality physical education instruction, students become confident, independent, self-controlled, and resilient; develop positive social skills; set and strive for personal, achievable goals; learn to assume leadership; cooperate with others; accept responsibility for their own behavior; and, ultimately, improve their academic performance.

Native Speakers

In CNS G4 students focus on develop students literacy skills. Most of our students in this class are Chinese speakers so that we would like to build up their reading and writing skills besides their oral skills. In this class we will integrated students heritage backgrounds and homeroom knowledges to introduce Chinese literature and global issues.

All the students are expected to develop their critical thinking, narrative writing, and enable to express in different types, such as story writing, drama performing, and speech, etc.

Foreign Learners

CFL Grade 4 is targeted at young students with previous exposure to Mandarin. The curriculum is specially designed for children living in non-Chinese speaking families. The materials feature a spiral-up lesson structure that builds upon and applies previous material, so children can learn Chinese naturally--the way they would in a native environment.

Vividly illustrated with a comprehensive selection of sentence patterns, easy-to-read Chinese characters, Pinyin, and colorful pictures, the book introduces young readers to basic Chinese sentences in a daily living environment. Each lesson features sections on vocabulary, exercises, character practice and a reading challenge, along with English translations for each vocabulary word and sentence.

Music

The Grade 4 music course provides students with a sequenced instruction in the elements and skills of music, as well as connections to other disciplines. The music elements include expression, rhythm, form, melody, timbre and texture/harmony. A wide selection of music from different cultures and genres is used to engage students in active music making and help them develop a lifelong appreciation of music.

Computer Science

At this point students should be growing in their confidence using basic programming concepts and are ready to start using them to solve more novel problems. Throughout this course students will learn to identify when to apply and combine the many concepts they’ve learned in previous courses. Students will begin with some light review, followed by a deep dive into the idea of functions. Students will be encouraged to work together to find solutions rather than relying on help from the teacher or other experienced supervisor. Students will be empowered to try multiple techniques and should be given praise for persistence and for helping others.

Visual Art

In visual arts classes, there are four interconnecting and organizing strands: 1) the fundamentals of art concepts, tools and materials; 2) creativity and imagination; 3) project-based learning; and 4) reflecting upon and communicating aboutthe personal, historical and contemporary context of art in world cultures. Skills in composition, form, volume, depth, and coloration are emphasized and developed through practical experiences constructing two-dimensional and three-dimensional works of art. Students develop their ability to discern and communicate ideas, messages, and their contexts of origin. Proficiencies in drawing, painting, mixed media, printmaking, maskmaking, applied arts and crafts, three-dimensional construction and clay are emphasized.

The principles and elements of art are practiced through project-based learning and reflected upon using the critical analysis process to develop informed personal points of view. In discussion, students learn how to articulate their creative and artistic choices, styles and content, and how reflect upon the diverse cultures, times and places in which works of art were made by others. Students work with themes and topics to create projects and present them to others.

Digital Art

This course is intended to introduce students and broaden their creativity using computer technology as a tool. Students will be encouraged to develop their artistic observation, creative expression, history and cultural relevance, critical evaluation, and response by means of a digital environment. The use of computer Art software for the creation of the virtual world and digital imaging will increase the students’ creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, as well as their critical thinking, problem-solving, decision making and digital citizenship.

The art-making focuses on the elements and principles of art i.e. line, color, shapes, space, form, texture, balance, etc with the comparison of cultural and historic art to the present artworks in order to help the understanding of visual communication.

In this course, Elementary students are exposed to the major digital art software family, which has a general overview of all other software in digital art creation. Adobe Family software has all the capabilities of designing and creation an imaginary digital world. Using this software helps students to be capable of using any other digital creation software that can be around; also students are prepared for the future usage of complex tools in Adobe digital creativity.