Math

Unit 6 is designed to help students understand the many connections between multiplication and division. A strong understanding of arrays and ratio tables will prepare students for fifth grade math. During unit 7 students will review and extend foundational skills of fourth grade. These skills include recognizing and generating equivalent fractions, comparing fractions with unlike denominators. Students will also review multi-digit multiplication and explore the standard multiplication algorithm. 

Click here to review multiplication strategies.

Click here to review division strategies.

Reading

We’ll continue using close reading strategies as we deepen our understanding in non-fiction texts. Students will identify the author’s message in a nonfiction text.  Students will need to support their ideas with relevant evidence. Fourth graders will also revisit non-fiction text structures and text features. 

We will wrap up our book study or The One and Only Ivan and watch the movie on May 10th. Students will look for similarities and differences between the book and movie while snacking on some of Ivan’s favorites.  (Sign up to  donate here!) The movie is rated PG, please reach out if you have any concerns or would like an alternative activity for your child. 

In the final quarter students will work on their presentation skills. Students will be researching, creating, and presenting an “Animal Expert” presentation. They will have up to 5 minutes to teach the class about an animal of their choice, focusing on that animal's adaptations. They may create a slide presentation, a handout, a video or other creative way to engage and teach their peers. 

Science

Fourth graders will study plant and animal adaptations. We’ll look closely at how these adaptations help meet the needs in their environment. Students will apply their learning in an “Animal Expert” presentation.  

Social Studies

Fourth graders will learn about what changed Wisconsin from being mostly rural to a state with more large cities. Students will read about changes in transportation including how railroads and steamboats could carry more resources in and out of the state. As cities grew so did the variety of work, bringing new challenges and ideas. As we move through our Wisconsin timeline, we will also discuss how global events affected how people in Wisconsin make a living, travel, and play. 

Writing 

Fourth graders will start the quarter researching and writing informational paragraphs using the text structures learned earlier (Description, Cause and Effect, Problem and Solution, Order and Sequence and Compare and Contrast). After going through this process as a class, students will select a topic to research.