Items in bold exceed 3rd Grade State Common Core Standards.
Language Arts
Phonics and Word Knowledge
- Know and apply phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words
Comprehension Strategies
- Make predictions, ask questions, visualize, summarize, make connections, confirm predictions, and answer questions
- Explain how illustrations contribute to the story
- Make inferences with support from the text and background knowledge
Comprehension Skills
- Determine main ideas and supporting details
- Know the difference between fact and fiction & reality and fantasy
- Sequence events, classify and catgorize, compare and contrast
- Realize point of view & cause and effect
- Draw conclusions & compare and contrast themes, settings, and plots of stories
- Use comprehension skills to complete activities and monthly book projects
Vocabulary
- Increase vocabulary
- Read all grade-level high frequency words
- Use context clues and the dictionary to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words
- Identify base/root words, comparatives, question words, contractions, prefixes, and suffixes
- Understand figurative language
- Be familiar with some Greek and Latin roots
Writing and Composition
- Use the five processes of writing to develop 3 paragraph essays
- Write effective beginnings, endings, plots, characterization, and settings
- Develop a topic sentence and keep the focus throughout the writing
- Incorporate details and description
- Write collaboratively
- Write several forms of personal/opinion, narrative, informative/expository, and persuasive writing
- Compose poetry
Grammar
- Identify the parts of speech
- Recognize the different verb tenses
- Use capitalization and punctuation
- Write simple, compound, and complex sentences
- Identify and know the meaning of common prefixes and suffixes
Spelling
- Use short/long spelling patterns
- Recognize special spelling patterns
- Identify sound/letter relationships
- Spell words with silent letters, inflectional endings, contractions, and irregular plurals
Inquiry and Research Skills
- Formulate questions
- Follow written and spoken directions
- Plan an investigation
- Make outlines/timelines
- Know how to use a dictionary and thesaurus
- Know the parts of a book
- Find information and take notes
- Communicate research results
- Summarize and organize information
- Create and use visual aids
Listening/Speaking/Viewing
- Ask and answer questions
- Follow directions
- Analyze and evaluate content and intent of speaker’s message
- Summarize
- Read orally in a fluent manner; by the end of the year read at a rate of 115 correct words per minute
- Present book reports and projects visually and orally
- Memorize poems and present in monthly Poetry Corners
Penmanship
- Write manuscript and cursive letters and in the correct form
Religion
Lessions are taught as a follow-up to religious education within the home
- Learn all prayers said in school
- Memorize and discuss the 10 Commandments, parts of the Mass, and Sacraments
- Discuss vocations, Mary, the Pope, the hierarchy of the Church, angels, and saints
- Complete and present a saint research project
Mathematics (4th Grade)
- Identify prime and composite numbers
- Identify perfect squares and cubes, square roots and cube roots
- Use Roman Numerals
- Identify a function rule
- Simplify expressions containing exponents
- Solve problems involving measurement and elapsed time
- Label number lines using decimals, fractions, and +/- numbers
- Master all basic addition, subraction, multiplication and division facts
- Add, subtract, and multiply using mental computation as well as with paper and pencil
- Add and subtract decimals
- Convert fractions, percentages, and decimals
- Represent and interpret data
- Name & draw lines and angles
- Draw reflections & lines of symmetry
- Identify and categorize shapes
- Identify congruent and similar polygons
- Calculate perimeter and area
- Identify and draw right, acute, and obtuse triangles
- Complete daily problem solving tasks
History and Geography
Solve problems involving measurement and elapsed time
- Read & discuss the following topics: Canada Today, World Rivers, Ancient Rome, The Vikings, The Earliest Americans
- Identify important events throughout the history of several different cultures
- Realize the importance of the river systems of the world
- Understand timelines & cause and effect throughout history
- Understand how to read a map and locate areas on a map
- Map out the exploration of North America and describe life in the thirteen colonies
- Locate and memorize all 50 states and capitals
Science
Scientific Inquiry
- Know/apply the steps to the scientific method through experimentation
Life Science
- Explore how plants are alike and different
- Categorize plants and animals
- Describe the adaptations of animals
- Define ecosystems
- Investigate how living things interact
Earth Science
- Explore different weather systems and compare types of weather
- Understand rocks, minerals, and soil and what the earth is made of
- Label the earth’s layers
- Explore earthquakes, volcanoes, weathering, and erosion
- Understand that the world has natural resources and describe how those resources are used and why they should be protected
Physical Science
- Experiment with matter and its properties
- Observe physical and chemical changes in matter
- Investigate forces and motion
Space and Technology
- Distinguish patterns in the sky
- Understand the parts of the solar system
- Understand how technology affects our lives
- Complete and present a space research project
Spanish
- Review likes and dislikes, feelings
- Express attitudes and opinions
- The farm
- Parts of the body
- Geometric shapes
- Follow a read-aloud story
- Writing in Spanish
- Hispanic holidays
- Learn key aspects of the culture of Mexico and Central America
Visual Arts
Creativity is at the heart of this instruction
- Draw, paint, sculpt, and design using a variety of tools, techniques, and media in a safe and responsible manner
- Learn to make choices that enhance communication of their ideas
- Build on artistic literacy while developing imagination and dexterity
- Know that visual arts have a history and relationship to various cultures
Character Education
- Experience the example of good character in the adults
- Practice a range of virtues called forth by the academic program and school behavioral expectations
- Experience the beauty of virtues through literature and writing activities
Choir/Music Appreciation
- Develop vocal skills and techniques
- Develop melodic and rhythmic skills
- Describe music by reading, listening, and demonstrating comprehension of music
- Perform a repertoire of Judeo-Christian and traditional songs
- Understand music theory, music symbols and music instruments
Physical Education
- Develop motor skills, fitness and flexibility
- Practice sportsmanship, teamwork and leadership