4th Grade

4th Grade

Overview

Fourth graders at OCA are expected to have mastered a number of concepts in each of the core subjects, including Bible. Our students also begin to learn how to think deeper to grasp the more complex concepts across all subjects as well. We encourage our fourth graders to be more independent in how they learn — setting the foundation to be lifelong and self-starting learners.

Bible

We continue with Purposeful Design as our curriculum. Our Bible series is Purposeful Design. In this series it will help develop a Christian worldview. This Christian worldview holds that the primary reason for each person’s existence is to love and serve God. People develop a Christian worldview through both the knowledge and application of Scripture. We will learn how God tells His great story in the Bible and how that Word is truth.

Reading

Reading takes place in every subject, but we do set aside time each day to focus specifically on reading skills. In fourth grade we spend little, if any, time discussing how to read words. Instead, our focus is on enjoying and learning from reading. This happens as the students comprehend what they are reading, think critically about the facts and values being presented, and share what they are learning through oral reading and verbal and written summarizing. Students will further their reading through building their skills and comprehension with finding and identifying main ideas/themes, and text evidence using text structures.

Math

Students will build upon the skills they have learned in previous years, with an emphasis on the understanding and application of multiplication, division, fractions, and some decimals. Fact mastery is also a major focus as students increase their accuracy and speed in multiplication and division facts. Finally, critical thinking and problem-solving are developed in each lesson through teaching techniques, story problems, and problem-solving lessons. Technology is applied through learning sites such as IXL.

Language Arts

Language arts continues to primarily focus on employing the skills and concepts from previous grades to publish writings such as personal narratives, opinions, poems, and informational reports using grade-appropriate language, spelling, and grammar. We also continue to present information orally according to the Oral Presentation Guidelines properly. Finally, iPads apps during computer time are used to reinforce learned skills.

Science

Fourth graders at OCA use the Purposeful Design curriculum provided by ACSI to get a taste of the many wonders of God’s created world through their study of science. In the area of life science, they will study life cycles, cells, and habitats. As part of physical science, they will discuss energy, heat, light, sound, motion, forces, and matter. In earth and space science, they will look at Earth’s processes; natural resources; weather and climate; and the sun, earth, and moon. They will also do many experiments throughout the year.

History/Geography

In fourth grade at OCA, history will take students on a journey through the history of the state of Florida, starting the growth of the state and ending in the 21st Century.

By the end of 4th grade, students will: