Fourth Grade Curriculum Highlights at Paradise Valley Christian

  

Bible:  The studies from this course include the spreading of the Gospel from Jerusalem to the outer parts of the earth as we study the missionary journeys of Paul and encourage the students to be faithful in spreading the Good News no matter how difficult.  Students also study several parables that Jesus taught to teach character attributes. The second half of the year highlights the life of King Solomon and how his choices affected his kingdom.  We also examine the prophets (major and minor) and how their lives and messages are relevant today.  /files/PICT2029.JPG

 

Language Arts:  The Fourth Grade curriculum is designed to encourage a love for reading a wide range of literature.  The literary skills taught build comprehension, vocabulary, responsive, creative, and interpretive writing, and enables students to interpret written and spoken language in light of God’s word.  Course content includes:  literature appreciation, poetry, comprehension and interpretation skills, elements of literature, word study skills and analysis, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation, research skills, speech and oration, spelling, handwriting-cursive skills, composition-creative and informative, types of sentences-declarative, interrogative, exclamatory and imperative, parts of speech-verb, noun, prepositions, conjunctions, adverbs, adjectives, and interjection.  Units are reinforced through skill sheets, literature units, Time for Kids reader and worksheet, response journals, combined spelling and vocabulary words, a dictionary unit and encyclopedia unit. 

 

Mathematics:  The Fourth Grade math program is structured to build upon previous math skills and develop new skills to enhance higher-level mathematical thinking and reasoning.  Through instruction the students will come to realize that they serve a God who sees order as an essential tool for daily living.  Students are placed into one of two math programs through math placement testing, recommendation and mastery.   Math placement into Abeka covers basic facts and number concepts, place value-up to millions, addition and subtraction, time and measurement, multiplication facts and properties, division facts, geometry, geometry and measurement, fraction concepts, decimals, statistics, graphing, exploring addition and subtraction of fractions, estimation, Roman numerals, story problems, money, factors, averaging.  Math placement into Saxon 65 covers place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, story problems, statistics, money, decimals, fractions, decimals, geometry, measurement, charts, graphs, equations, probability and chance.

 

Science:  The Fourth Grade science program begins with an introduction into God’s roles as Creator, then explores and investigates various aspects of His creation.  Students realize God the Creator has commissioned men to be good stewards and appreciative of His word.  Students do hands-on experiments of units on birds, insects, energy-sound and hearing, plants, matter-water, air and weather, geology, oceanography, and astronomy.

 

/files/PICT2030.JPGSocial Studies:  The Fourth Grade history curriculum entails the study of U.S. history from the exploratory discovery of America up to the Great Awakening period.  Student’s partake in an in-depth study of Arizona history including field trips, a state workbook and a state project.  Students also memorize all 50 states and capitals and develop U.S. and world map skills.

 

Spanish:  Spanish for Fourth Grade reinforces previous curriculum at the same time introduces new skills necessary to acquiring a second language and making emphasis in verbs and conjugating in present tense (regular verbs).  The goal of this course is to develop fundamental skills required to read and write Spanish properly.   

 

Music:  Students attend Music once a week.  Instruction covers recorder, enhancing singing skills, acquainting students with more sophisticated musical vocabulary and theory as well as music history.  Students perform at least two memorized school concerts each year.

 

Physical Education:  The aim at this level will be to teach a variety of sports, maintain fitness, cooperative skills, and integrate movements involving games, physical activities and muscle-building activities.  Rules and regulations of specific sports will be stressed.  Students participate in Physical Education twice a week.


Library:  The purpose of this course is to enable students to become familiar with the arrangement of the Library Media Center, understand the various types of literature and begin simple research.  The focus of the library is knowledge, teaching and learning.

 

Art:  Fourth Grade art classes meet once a week.  A variety of projects are assigned focusing on the elements of design, line, color, shape, texture, pattern and repetition.  The students are exposed to many types of media, such as paint, crayon, oil, pastel, watercolor, craft materials, etc.  Historical and cultural art is integrated into the studio art lessons.

 

Computer:  This class will give the students an introduction to general technology skills at the elementary level.  These skills include but are not limited to competency in the areas of: orientation to the computer, keyboarding, word processing, navigating the internet, and utilizing the computer for learning, presenting, and organizing information.