Fourth Grade
August and September
Commonalities: Life Cycles and Membership in Groups
Friendship and Personal Responsibility coupled with author study of Patricia Polacco and Beverly Cleary
Key Questions:
- Why do people organize in groups?
- What groups do I belong to?
- What are my roles and responsibilities in each group?
- What are my personal responsibilities for my own health?
October, November and December
Commonlities: Connectedness to Nature and Sense of Time and Space
Introduction to Regions of North Carolina: Focus on Mountains supported through author and artist study (Gloria Houston and Alison Krauss).
Key Questions:
- How are peoples’ lives shaped by where they live?
- How do people impact the place they live?
- How do performing arts evolve?
- How do the mountains impact my life?
January
Commonality: Sense of Time and Space
Study of the Piedmont Region: Focus on Government and Technology
Key Questions:
- How does geography influence culture and trade in the Piedmont?
- How has the Piedmont changed over time?
- How has technology affected development in the Piedmont?
- What is my life like in the Piedmont Region?
February and March
Commonality: Producing and Consuming
Study of Economics through producing and consuming, exploration will include an inventor (Rube Goldberg) and an artist (Jackson Pollock)
Key Question:
- What is economics and why is it important to society?
- What systems help society function?
- What is my role as a producer and consumer?
- How is cause and effect depicted in economics?
April and May
Commonalities: Life Cycles and Response to the Aesthetic
Conclusion of Region Study: Focus on The Coast. Students will explore animal adaptation and conservation and consider the work of coastal artist Wilslow Homer.
Key questions:
- What are the life cycles present in the coastal region?
- How does the coastal region impact animals and plants?
- How does the coastal region impact the world of art?
- Does the coastal region have any effect on my life?
A Typical Day
| 8:30 - 8:45 |
Arrival, Welcome, Morning Activities, Individual Work |
| 8:45 - 9:15 |
Group Time
Calendar, weather, Pledge of Allegiance, poetry reciting, class happenings, important events, mini lessons (skills such as phonics, word chunks, singing, creative movement, etc. |
| 9:15 - 11:00 |
Literacy Block - "Independent Time"
Six main activities: Reading Conferences, Writing Conferences, Making Words (phonics/spelling), Independent Reading, Independent Writing, Individualized Spelling.
Although we focus on a lot of skill work during this time, the integrated unit of the month is also evident during this block of time as students often choose to read and write about the theme as it is typically of high interest to them.
*Morning snack takes place during this time. |
| 11:00 - 12:00 |
Math Block
Alternate days of math mini lessons and then math stations where students practice these skills in meaningful ways. |
| 12:00 - 12:30 |
Bathroom, Wash hands, Lunch |
| 12:30 - 1:30 |
Centers (Thematic Unit) & Small Group/Individual Work
One required center and then choice centers (motor work, visual memory/discrimination/sequencing work, knitting, embroidery/stitch work, chess, manipulatives, puzzles, games, etc. |
| 1:30 - 2:00 |
Outside Play |
| 2:00 - 2:20 |
Standing Ovation, Class Pledge, Reflection Time, Story |
| 2:20 - 2:30 |
Dismissal |
The following teachers come to work with the students during the week:
-
Art Teacher
- Music Teacher
- PE Teacher
- Spanish Teacher (twice per week)
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