Integrated Curriculum

To make learning more relevant for students, related concepts from Science, Social Studies, and Health are taught within the same unit so that connections can be made.  Texas and Texas history is a primary focus throughout the year in the fourth grade curriculum.  The students will learn through the integration of the subjects within these six units:

1. Clues that Communicate—Students will be looking for clues as they investigate mysteries, master map skills, practice safety procedures, and learn about the sun, moon, and earth.  The unit culminates at the end of the first six weeks with each  student creating his/her own island, and solving very complicated logic problems!
2. Many Faces, Many Places—During the second six weeks students will be researching the Native Americans and the explorers, as well as the regions of Texas.  In science, the students will also be learning about rocks, minerals, and the scientific method, in addition to the states of matter.
3. State of Diversity—The study of Texas history from the first Spanish missions to the Republic is the focus of the unit for the third six weeks.  The diverse cultures from the many countries that have influenced Texas will also be discussed.  In science, the students will explore the diversity of plants—the roots, stems, and leaves—and nutrition.  Students will also be completing a Texas Mini-Biographies project researching famous Texans!
4. Changes Over Time—During the fourth six weeks, the students will continue to study the history of Texas from the republic to the present.  The students will also learn about the weather, as well as the scientific method.  Each student will be responsible for creating a Science Project or Science Fair entry.  They will have the option of completing the project individually or in a small group.  This unit culminates with each child writing his/her autobiography!
5. Mankind and Nature in Harmony—During the fifth six weeks, the students will be investigating our world and our responsibilities.  Renewable and nonrenewable resources and ecosystems are explored.  This unit culminates with the creation of a slide show on a computer database called “Our Environment.” 6.One Affecting the Other—This last six week unit teaches fourth graders about our economics system!  The students thoroughly enjoy the process of forming companies, creating a product, advertising, making, and finally selling their product to the rest  of the  school.  The student learn the effects of their company’s good and/or bad business choices.  The digestive, circulatory, and respiratory systems are also included in this study of systems.

Language Arts

The Language Arts program includes reading, supplemented with novels, the writing process, and grammar.  The students learn different types of writing focusing on six traits: Ideas and content, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions. In order to master these writing skills, the students will be instructed to use graphic organizers, peer and self-editing, and revising.  Elaboration strategies that include alliteration, idioms, similes, metaphor, dialogue, personal examples, adverbs and adjectives are taught throughout the year. 

Math

The primary focus in the math program is problem solving and problem solving strategies building on skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and geometry.