Fourth grade discusses the goodness of God’s creation, and celebrates the fact that life from God is amazing. We will discuss Reconciliation and all of the benefits of prayer and forgiveness. We participate weekly in Mass and feel strongly about singing loudly and worshiping together.
 

Leader In Me
Nativity is proud to be a Leader In Me School. We learn about the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Students, and learn to put those habits into practice each and every day; in the classroom, with classmates, teachers, and visitors. Even at this age, it is exciting to see them take charge of their choices and actions. They learn that they can create and own their attitude, choice, and consequences. Students see how their choices affect others around them. Learning respect and taking responsibility for their choices and actions, not only makes for a stronger character but Christ-like character.

Language Arts
Fourth grade will work hard on writing. We will incorporate different styles of writing including narrative, persuasive, research, and poetry. Our students should be able to construct complete sentences using proper punctuation and expression. We will journal over fictional topics, reading responses, interesting ideas, and thematic concepts in fourth grade. Grammar, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions are all reviewed and retaught. These grammar practices will be used in our writing daily.

Social Studies
Students in fourth-grade study Indiana and its relationships to regional, national, and world communities, including the influence of physical and cultural environments on the state’s growth, development, principles, and practices of citizenship, and government in Indiana.
 
Math
Our math curriculum here at Nativity is evolving as students can always get extra practice on IXL. Here are some highlights of fourth-grade math: understanding and fluency with multi-digit addition and subtraction, fraction equivalence, addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators and multiplication of fractions by whole numbers, analyzing and classifying geometric figures, understand place value to 1,000,000, properties of operation, focusing on the distributive property, division, describe, analyze, and compare two-dimensional shapes, and multiples and factors.

Science
In order for students to truly understand the nature of science and technology, they must model the process of scientific investigation through inquiries, fieldwork, lab work, etc. Scientific Thinking: mathematical and logical skills, good communication, writing journals, lab reports, summaries, etc. The Physical Setting: the structure of the universe, the major processes that have shaped planet Earth, and the concepts with which science describes the physical world in general -organized under the heading of Matter and Energy and  Forces of Nature.

Visual Arts
Fourth-grade students at Nativity explore the elements and principles of art such as color, line, shape, form, space, pattern, and texture as part of their visual arts education. An artistic exploration of these elements and principles is chosen to be appropriate for their age and expands on the skills they have already learned. As part of their Indiana History curriculum, fourth graders learn about Hoosier artists and their contribution to the art world. Fourth graders take a field trip to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and view these artists’ work. As a further exploration, the students have the opportunity to sketch their own drawings on the museum grounds in the same tradition as many other Hoosier artists.

Reading
In fourth grade reading revolves around the “Five Components” of Language Arts: fluency, phonics, phonemic awareness, comprehension, and vocabulary. Fourth grade will have a vocab/spelling list weekly. These words are taken from weekly stories, novels, short stories, or magazine articles. We will have centers working on the five components and they have whole-class instruction with our selected reading. We respond to and analyze literature through discussion and writing.

Technology
Our use of technology in the fourth grade will include: proper finger placement while typing, IXL Math Program, Accelerated Reader Program, guided online research and activities, Microsoft Word processing, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, Microsoft Excel, Introduction, and publish creative writing pieces
.
Spanish
Spanish class provides the students the opportunity to learn a different language and culture. Students will work on writing and speaking basic words and phrases. They will extend their Spanish vocabulary to include numbers, colors, greetings, emotions, months, days of the week, weather, family members, actions, common foods, and animals. Students extend their knowledge of Spanish learning songs and saying a prayer every morning. Students are introduced to the traditional celebrations of El Dia de Muertos, 5 de Mayo, and Los Posadas.
 
Music
Music provides our fourth-grade students with an opportunity to explore rhythm, melody, and harmony with song, movement, and games. We continue our
recorders in 4th grade and expand our vocal experiences as well as an increase in complexity that has been learned before. Fourth-grade students have the opportunity to sing in our 4th & 5th Grade Choir which performs several times throughout the school year. We endeavor to implant a life-long love of music through all types of hands-on experiences. Our fourth-grade students participate in one of two major concerts each year.

Religion
The fourth-grade religion standards can be found on the Archdiocese Website @ http://www.archindy.org. To summarize, fourth graders will practice making choices, practicing forgiveness, and loving. They will understand the need for faith and prayer.  Jesus came to bring forgiveness, taught us how to live, and the Holy Spirit guides us to live as Jesus did. They will understand that as members of the church, they teach others the way of God. They also practice being thankful.

Physical Education
Fourth-grade physical education standards are incorporated into games and activities. Special emphasis is placed on team-work and cooperation. Activities are designed to build on basic skills developed in the primary grades!!
 



 




 

 
 
 


Click Here to Learn More About Our 4th Grade Teachers.