April/May

Math

Throughout the month of April, students focus on measurement. Students measure various attributes using both the U.S. Customary system and the metric system. They explore equivalent measurements within the U.S. Customary system as well as solve problems involving measurement. This unit offers students multiple opportunities to connect prior understandings (e.g., multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, base ten relationships) to real life situations through measurement. Being a “Throughout the Year” standard, elapsed time can now be formally assessed in this unit.

The last math unit students study before the math SOL is data, probability, and statistics. In this unit, students connect the concepts of probability and data statistics. Students study bar graphs and line graphs, making comparisons between data displayed in these different forms. They determine the probability of events and represent probability as a numerical value on a number line. They graph the results of various probability experiments and use those graphs to make predictions.

Reading

The next few weeks we will be working on a unit called "Testing as Genre" as we prepare for our reading SOL test on May 5th.

Learning to read a new genre well requires specific instruction. For fourth grade students, learning to take a standardized test also requires specific instruction. The best indication of success on a standardized test is being able to read and comprehend any grade level text.


In May, we will begin a unit on Independent Book Clubs. At the end of the school year, students benefit from spending time to reflect on the work they have done as readers, revisiting their reading identities, and making plans for summer reading. During this final reading unit, students reflect upon recent book choices to determine the types of books they like by asking themselves, “Who am I as a reader?” and “How have I grown and changed as a reader since the beginning of the school year?”

Writing

During April and May, students will be writing a fiction story. Fiction includes a variety of formats. Through previous units, students experienced both reading and writing fiction. Students had opportunities to read, write, and discuss characters, their motivations, problems they’ve encountered, and lessons they’ve learned. Students use this knowledge and understanding to develop a narrative piece of their choosing, in the format of their choosing, based on their preferences and audience.

Social Studies

April:

  • The student will explore the impact of Reconstruction on life in Virginia, focusing on the expanded rights of African Americans and the impact on Virginia's government.

  • The student will construct an understanding of the effects of segregation and "Jim Crow" on life in Virginia for American Indians, whites, and African Americans, analyzing the enduring legacy of racial discrimination on life in Virginia today.

  • The student will examine Virginia's economic development and the importance of railroads, new industries, and the growth of cities.


May:

  • The student will analyze and evaluate how women's suffrage and the Great Depression affected Virginia and its citizens.

  • The student will describe how national events, including women’s suffrage and the Great Depression, affected Virginia and its citizens.

  • The student will analyze the social and political events in Virginia linked to Massive Resistance and desegregation.

  • The student will evaluate the political, social, or economic impact made by Maggie L. Walker, Harry F. Byrd, Sr., Oliver W. Hill, Sr., Arthur R. Ashe, Jr., A. Linwood Holton, and L. Douglas Wilder.

  • The student will construct an understanding of the three branches of Virginia government and the function of each.

  • The student will describe the major products and industries important to Virginia's economy.

  • The student will explain how advances in transportation, communications, and technology have contributed to Virginia’s prosperity and role in the global economy.

Science


During April and May students will investigate and understand that the planets have characteristics and a specific place in the solar system. Students will also investigate and understand that there are relationships among Earth, the moon, and the sun.


Advanced Math

Our final math unit is about Data and Probability. In this unit, given a practical problem, students represent, interpret and compare data represented in line plots and stem-and-leaf plots. Students also use measures of center and variation to aid in the analysis and interpretation of data presented in practical contexts. Furthermore, students determine the probability of an outcome by using the Fundamental Counting Principle or by constructing a sample space.

Additionally, we will be reviewing for the math SOL test during April and May.