Fourth grade is a very exciting year for students. They begin to take ownership of their learning and begin developing their executive functioning skills. Fourth Graders reflect on their habits and needs and plan ways to increase productivity and engagement. Throughout the year, students will work toward flexible thinking, using discussion to uncover layers of meaning and acknowledgement of varying perspectives.

Language Arts:

• Reading: Students will delve deeper into complex texts, analyzing author's craft, historical context, and different viewpoints. There may be an emphasis on informational texts to prepare for the new science standards.
• Writing: Students will refine their writing skills, focusing on different styles (compare & contrast, cause & effect) and integrating research findings.
• Speaking and Listening: Students will develop persuasive arguments and deliver presentations with visual aids. This could involve mock debates or student-led conferences.
• Research: Students will learn to critically evaluate online sources and effectively cite information, potentially creating bibliographies or using online citation tools.

Math:

• Number Sense: Understanding place value, comparing fractions and decimals, and estimating calculations.
• Operations: Mastering addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. We might see an introduction to pre-algebra concepts.
• Problem-Solving: Students will develop strategies to approach multi-step problems and apply math concepts to real-world scenarios.

Science:

• Life Science: Students will explore plant and animal life cycles, adaptations, and the importance of healthy ecosystems. They might design experiments or create models.
• Earth Science: Students will investigate weather patterns, natural resources, and landforms. Projects could involve building weather stations or researching Virginia's geology.
• Physical Science: Students will understand states of matter, forces and motion, and simple machines. They could conduct experiments or design and build simple machines.

History & Social Science (Virginia Studies):

• Early Virginia History: Students will explore the arrival of Native Americans, European exploration, and the founding of Jamestown. They might research Virginia tribes or create timelines.
• American Revolution & the Civil War: Students will investigate Virginia's role in these defining moments in US history. They could compare and contrast prominent figures or debate the causes of the Civil War.
• Reconstruction: Students will understand the challenges and changes Virginia faced after the Civil War. They might research the impact on different groups of people.

Fourth graders will participate in the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments.