WM 4th Grade Curriculum Update
February 2020
Reading and Writing
Reading
We will begin our unit titled "Reading History" where students will read about various historical events using texts to support research and multiple points of view.
The big work of this unit is for students to:
find and support a central idea to summarize what was read
describe the central ideas or concepts from nonfiction including what happened and why.
Writing
Students will be composing writing pieces using what we learn and research in reading to bring history to life.
4th Grade Math
Finishing Unit 4
Starting Unit 5: Geometry and Measurement
Measure angles and determine angle measurements based on given information
Sort and classify shapes based upon the number and kinds of sides and angles they have.
Calculate the area and perimeter of rectangles.
5th Grade Math
Finishing Unit 4
Starting Unit 5: Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
Multiply fractions by whole numbers
Use rectangular arrays to show multiplication of a fraction by a fraction.
Divide a whole number by a fraction.
Divide a unit fraction by a whole number.
Science
Throughout the school year 4th graders will study:
Environments: organisms and how they interact with their ecosystems
Energy: circuits, magnetism, and how energy transfers
This is our current unit
Rocks, Soil, and Landforms: weathering, landforms, and mapping Earth’s surface
Social Studies
Students are continuing to study Wisconsin’s First Peoples
In preparation for extended learning at the Wisconsin Historical Society Museum trip at the end of the month, this includes Eastern Woodland Indians and the relationship with the European Explorers.
We’re focusing on the Fur Trade and the wars that resulted from it.
LMC - Library
Fourth graders know that the library is much more than a collection of books; it’s a place to ask, explore, discover, communicate, and create. This month, we’ll be looking at genres, including graphic novels and nonfiction, and we’ll begin looking at fiction genres such as historical fiction and realistic fiction.
Music
Mrs. Spahn’s classes will be working on: The Blues and Black Music History, including playing the 12-bar blues and writing out our own blues lyrics.
4th: Miss Soltis’ classes will be studying music from around the world! We will be traveling to countries in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and more! Students will be singing in different languages and will be learning about the food, architecture, traditional attire, and instruments from different countries!
Technology
Students will create a presentation about digital citizenship or a digital superhero. They will then present their Google Slides presentation to their class. Students will continue to strengthen their typing speed and words per minute.
Art
How do artists bring dreams to life? What does art tell us about our world? (Dragon Sculptures)
PE
We have our Aquatics Safety Unit at the High School Indoor Pool next month! 4th Graders will be split into groups and learn lifelong aquatic safety skills and aquatic games. Our swimming dates are March 10, 12, 16, 18, and 20. Permission slips will be handed out mid February & due back to classroom teachers by February 28th. Aside from swimming, we will be bowling and playing basketball. We will also focus on February being Heart Healthy Month! Although we will continue to teach valuable lessons introduced with the heart healthy curriculum, families that choose to do fundraising and support the American Heart Association are asked to do so online only this year.