This is an outline of the basic academic content each child will be taught during the fourth grade. It is not a set of long-term goals, but rather is a brief summary of what is happening in the classrooms of the Fort Zumwalt School District.

In addition to Communication Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Health presented here, there are curricula for other subjects (Art, Music, Physical Education, and Gifted Education). Each child also has experience in library skills, assemblies, seasonal school-wide functions, cafeteria, and on the playground. Some students may also participate in special education programs, counseling programs, and/or remedial programs to help them develop appropriate skills.

Each teacher approaches the curriculum in a unique way. This capitalizes on the individual strengths and interests of the professional staff. In the final analysis, even though all classes use the same materials and the same curricula, the professional staff is what elementary education is all about - learning with enthusiasm and purpose from a skillful, trained, and conscientious teacher.

COMMUNICATION ARTS

1. Apply Phonetic Strategies: Apply phonetic elements: apply vowel sounds; analyze and apply base words, prefixes and suffixes for word identification; use inflected endings; apply syllabication skills.
2. Word Recognition and Meaning: Demonstrate understanding of new vocabulary, prefixes, and suffixes; understand synonyms, antonyms, homographs and homonyms; use context clues; apply prior knowledge to predict meaning.
3. Comprehension of Text: Apply prior knowledge; recall experiences; distinguish between fact and opinion; identify topic, main idea, and supporting details; identify and describe character traits; explain cause/effect; compare and contrast; make inferences; recall story details; compare problems and solutions of characters; identify new or unfamiliar viewpoints; identify and interpret similes, metaphors, idioms, and personification.
4. Write for a Variety of Purposes: Respond to literature in a variety of written forms; develop sentences/paragraphs that sequence order of events and provide supporting details; summarize material read with opinions supporting statements; compose paragraphs including a topic sentence and three supporting details; take brief notes; produce writing samples illustrating comprehension/application of writing process; demonstrate competency in writing process when completing forms of writing.
5. Develop and Apply Mechanics of Writing, Grammar and Usage: Produce sentences using correct subject/verb agreement; demonstrate ability to combine related sentences into one sentence; produce written assignments indicating correct grammatical usage; identify/apply adverbs, prepositions, double negatives, conjunctions, and interjections; compose meaningful sentences for designated purpose; demonstrate correct punctuation and capitalization.
6. Apply Techniques in Handwriting in Written Communication: Write legibly using appropriate cursive handwriting techniques; use appropriate headings, spacing, and margins on written assignments.
7. Demonstrate Ability to Spell and Use Words Correctly Across the Curriculum: Us a variety of integrated, curriculum-based resources to spell words and use them correctly in meaningful context; demonstrate the ability to correctly spell a given list of high frequency words; apply phonetics/structural analysis strategies to spell words.
8. Listening, Speaking and Viewing Skills: Read grade level materials with appropriate speed and inflection; respond to literature in variety of ways.
9. Locating, Organizing, Test-Taking, and Study Skills: Follow multi-step written directions; use table of contents, index, title page and glossary; use reference materials to obtain information; understand and use basic guidelines for use of a dictionary; alphabetize to the fourth letter; use key words to locate information; create and use graphic organizers.

MATHEMATICS

• Read and write numbers through six digits.
• Identify place value to six digits.
• Identify fractional parts and graph points representing halves, thirds, and fourths on a number line.
• Add and subtract up to six digits numbers with and without regrouping.
• Multiplication and division facts through ten.
• Multiply 2 and 3 digit numbers with a one digit multiplier.
• Determine value of coins and bills to $20.00.
• Solve money equations involving real-life money situations in +, -, multiply and divide.
• Make change to $1.00 with fewest amount of coins.
• Identify equivalent fractions, improper fractions, mixed numbers, and subtract like fractions.
• Round to the largest place.
• Estimate sums, differences, products, and quotients.
• Apply number sense skills to solve real-life and word problems using problem-solving strategies.
• Use problem-solving strategies.

• Perimeter, area.
• Identify polygon, pentagon, hexagon, and octagon.
• Identify parallel, intersecting and perpendicular lines and right angles.
• Recognize congruent, similar and symmetrical figures.

• Construct and interpret charts, graphs, tables.
• Coordinate graphing.
• Investigate, predict, write simple probability.

• Investigate and construct patterns.
• Identify function in a given pattern.
• Apply problem-solving strategies to solve real-life problems involving patterns.

• Supply missing numbers in equations.
• Create and solve number sentences using the variable "n".

• Measure and record lengths in customary measurement and metric measurement.
• Tell time to the nearest minute.
• Estimate and measure an object's volume, size, weight and temperature.
• Determine appropriate unit of measurement.
• Solve problems on elapsed time to the nearest half hour.

• Understand technology is used to understand and compute math operations.
• Recognize that many careers require and use math.
• Use calculator appropriately throughout curriculum.

SOCIAL STUDIES

1. Economics - Analyze economic decisions based on cost-benefit (scarcity, private/public good, savings, investment, interdependence); explain economic concepts ) money/bartering, consumption/production); explain effects of change on the economy; identify conservative practices.
2. Geography - Expand map and globe usage and interpretation skills; define and explain U.S. and Missouri regions and resources.
3. History - Understand importance and sequence of historical events related to the U.S. and Missouri (e.g. Louisiana Purchase, Westward Expansion, Civil War, etc.); explain contributions of important historical figures; interpret time lines, photographs and works of art.
4. Political Science - Explain branches of government and their relationship to each other; demonstrate an understanding of democratic principles; understand laws/authoritative decisions; explain the purpose of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
5. Sociology/Anthropology/Psychology - Explain reasons people settle in certain areas and how people adapt to changes in the environment.

SCIENCE - HEALTH

The focus of the fourth grade science curriculum is on expanding the foundation of scientific knowledge and process skill application through the teaching of units in the life, earth, and physical sciences. Through scientific inquiry, rocks and minerals, plant functions, animal adaptations, and digestion/nutrition will be explored. Students will be taught to use critical thinking skills, reasoning skills, and to search for the scientific relevance of content areas. Learners will be prompted to generate questions, to investigate, and hypothesize. Activities may include the construction of models and/or the use of manipulative, interactive, and physical materials. In addition, experimentation will be an integral part of science instruction and process skills will be stressed using this method.