Fourth Grade
Community-building is emphasized at the beginning of the Fourth Grade year with a field trip to Calleva where students support each other through a variety of high ropes activities. This is the first of several field trips as students explore the DC area to complement their learning of American History.
Highlights often include various Smithsonian museums, the U.S. Capitol, and Tudor Place among others. Students are given the opportunity to participate in the NPS Chorus Program and the whole grade performs for our school community in a jazz show in March. Students receive letter grades for the first time in Fourth Grade and to emphasize the importance of process over product, students will lead spring portfolio conferences with their parents to showcase their learning throughout the year.
Mathematics
- Place value to the millions and thousandths
- Multiplication and division facts through 10
- Multi-digit multiplication and division
- Fractions and decimals
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Problem solving with real world application
Reading
- Reading Workshop: Realistic fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction book clubs
- Comprehension strategy instruction
- Character development
- Note taking
- Examining perspectives through historical fiction
Language Arts
- Writing Workshop: realistic fiction, personal essays, persuasive essays, informational books, literary essays, poetry
- Mastery of the paragraph: topic sentence, supporting details, closing sentence
- Weekly spelling, vocabulary, grammar and handwriting assignments
Social and Global Studies
- Early American history: colonial times to the Civil War
- US geography
- US government and civics
- Evaluating primary and secondary sources
- Note taking
- Pioneers simulation: examining westward travel through teamwork, decision making, and risk assessment
- Revolutionary Leaders Project
Science
- Soil, rocks, and landforms
- Energy and electromagnetism
- Environments
Homework
- Four nights a week: up to 40 minutes
Highlights
- Kindergarten buddies
- Chorus
- Mentor Program with NPS faculty & staff
- Jazz Musical
- Student-Led Portfolio Conferences
- Many field trips including: U.S. Capitol, Smithsonian museums, Mount Vernon, Tudor Place, and Calleva.
- Specials: Art, Drama, Library, Music, PE, Religion, Science, Spanish, Technology