4th Grade Curriculum
Arizona: A to Z
YAHOO!
Sonoran Sky fourth graders saddle up and participate in a year of exploration and adventure as they learn about their home state, Arizona: A to Z.
Throughout the busy year, students develop life long skills for independence in learning through cooperative learning techniques. These techniques help students develop positive interdependence and individual accountability. The fourth grade comprehensive curriculum includes:
Programs in music, art, media/technology, and physical education are also provided to students at Sonoran Sky. Trained specialists not only teach essential skills relative to their special areas, but also work with classroom teachers to plan learning experiences, which enrich classroom curriculum and assist children in discovering their own strengths and talents.
Sonoran Sky fourth graders use the Harcourt's Storytown, which places a great deal of emphasis on vocabulary development, comprehension, and writing skills. Our Reading Renaissance Program (Accelerated Reader) is used to increase the volume, quality and enjoyment of reading. Sonoran Sky fourth graders are expected to complete 60 minutes of silent reading per day. A minimum of 45 minutes is provided within the structure of a normal fourth grade day. Students read books that meet their individual needs and reading levels. To make reading an even more important and memorable experience, parents are encouraged to continue reading to their children. Another excellent path to developing comprehension, is reading to siblings. back
Sonoran Sky uses the Harcourt Spelling Program. Each week a different spelling skill is covered. The students are introduced to and master many language arts skills while emphasing their spelling. Their spelling grade is a combination of their ability to master weekly words and their use of applied spelling. In fourth grade, 1,200 of the most frequently used words in the English language are also highlighted. The heart of this program emphasizes spelling in the context of writing. back
Even though students in the Paradise Valley School District receive cursive instruction during their 3rd grade year, we feel that to properly develop these skills, instruction needs to be reinforced. Cursive handwriting is practiced throughout fourth grade. All homework and final drafts are to be done in cursive. back
Sonoran Sky fourth graders use the Harcourt Math textbook and cover a variety of topics: place value, greater than/less than, multiplication, division, geometry, solids, logic and reasonableness, graphs, organization of data through charts, graphs, algebraic equations, patterns, fractions, decimals, elapsed time, telling time, measurements -- perimeter, area, volume, distance, and weight. back
Arizona is the main thread found in the fourth grade Social Studies curriculum. Students use the Gibbs Smith Discovering Arizona textbook and are exposed to a variety of AZ texts, literature, music and art of the southwest. Major units include Geography and Geology, including the Grand Canyon, Ancient and Modern Day Native Americans, Spanish Explorers, Missionaries and Statehood. back
The Houghton-Mifflin Textbook serves as the foundation of the fourth grade Science program. During the first semester, science instruction is departmentalized. One teacher covers Electricity and Magnetism by using a hands-on foss kit, another covers Weather, while another will teach about Animals. During the second semester, students are back with their homeroom teachers and continue studying these topics as well as character education. back
Generally speaking, homework is regularly assigned in fourth grade. We encourage you to become familiar with your child's assignment calendar. Occasionally, class time is given for homework, but it is unlikely that all students will have time to complete all assignments. As a rule, one hour and 15 minutes of homework is considered appropriate. If your child becomes frustrated or does not understand an assignment, allow them to stop, and please let us know. We will assist them the following day.
In addition, we remind our students that they can always study if all their assignments are finished. We stress the difference between homework and studying. Some suggestions are:
Practice basic arithmetic facts
Practice weekly spelling lists
Oral reading
Practice cursive
Read!
When students are absent, they are expected to catch up on work they've missed. Time frames will be discussed on an individual basis. If you do wish to request homework, please do so through the office when you report the absence.
Several activities throughout the year are celebrated as grade level functions.
Campfire Stories
Native American Arts & Crafts
Arizona's Birthday
Cinco de Mayo
Since the focus of the fourth grade curriculum is on Arizona , it's our desire to expose the students, as much as possible, to many varied experiences in our beautiful state. Students attend the following field trips throughout their fourth grade year.
Flagstaff
Rawhide
Capitol Building
Tucson
AZ Science Center
4th
Grade's Recommended Supply List
2" 3-ring high quality notebook - large (Please, no velcro closures, or soft sided)
Wide-ruled white notebook paper
4 sets of 5 notebook dividers with tabs
2 folders with pockets
Zippered pencil pouch, NO PENCIL BOXES
2 marble covered composition books
12” ruler with Metric and Standard measure (PLEASE watch that the 1/4 and 1/2 fractions of an inch portion are clearly marked)
10 No. 2 Pencils (no lead refill
pencils) - please sharpen ahead of time.
Set of colored pencils - please sharpen ahead of time.
1 pink bar eraser
2 red pencils or pens
2 black or blue pens (erasable are preferred)
2 yellow highlighters
1 set of fine tip markers
1 dry-erase marker and sock for erasing
Scissors (children's, if possible)
2 glue sticks
1 package 3 X 5 cards
1 box of tissues OR 1 box ziplock bags (large, sandwich, or snack size)
1 package EACH of mini and 3" square sticky notes
1 package of reinforcement adhesive rings for notebook paper
$5.00 check made out to PTO to cover Assignment Book
4th Grade Honors Math Recommended Supply List
Binder: Please make sure your child has a clearly marked section for math in their regular classroom binder
One 3-hole4/4 Quadrille spiral graph notebook (available at Staples or Office Depot)
One 3-hole vinyl pencil pouch (please no pencil boxes)
One package 4/4 graph paper
Two large Elmer’s glue sticks
Several colored pens or thin Flair markers
Several #2 mechanical or regular pencils
One package top load heavyweight sheet protectors
One pump bottle hand sanitizer
Please keep the following supplies at home. I will let your child know when we will need to use them at school.
One 12 inch ruler with customary and metric units
One protractor
One mathcompass
One inexpensive calculator
One package 4/4 graph paper
FYI: Office supply stores carry reinforced edge 3- hole filler notebook paper and plastic binder dividers.
4th Grade Honors Reading Recommended Supply List
Binder: Please make sure your child has a clearly marked section for reading in their regular classroom binder
One 3 subject spiral notebook with dividers that have pockets
One 3-hole vinyl pencil pouch (please no pencil boxes)
Two large Elmer’s glue sticks
Several colored grading pens
Several #2 mechanical or regular pencils
One pair Fiskers scissors (children’s)
Four different colored thin highlighters
24 sharpened pencils
One package top load heavyweight sheet protectors
Please keep the following supplies at home. I will let your child know when we will need to use them at school.
One spiral index card notebook
FYI: Office supply stores carry reinforced edge 3- hole filler notebook paper and plastic binder dividers.
