Fourth grade at Meadowbrook School is an exciting adventure into what makes America
what it is today. This adventure starts in social studies with the exploration
of the immigration movement and extends into the relationships that the fourth
grade students share with very young people and very old people.
We begin by studying the journeys of immigrants to this country. The students
visit Ellis Island and see first hand accounts of the travels of many different
immigrant groups. The students also explore their own heritage. During the
annual immigration play that the fourth grade performs for their families,
the students dress as one of their ancestors. They also bring in a culinary
sample typical of their heritage.
Through realistic and historical fiction, the fourth grade experiences the
dangerous journey immigrants faced coming to America. The novel Rifka follows
a young Russian girl's journey from a small town in Russia to Ellis Island.
We experience her joys and sorrows as she leaves her family and travels in
steerage to the new world. Reading Little House in the Big Woods allows
us to compare and contrast the life of a Swedish immigrant family who chooses
to live in the prairies of Wisconsin during the 1860's. A more contemporary
novel, Hatchet, allows us to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness
with only a hatchet. Can we survive on another planet? Can we use our past
knowledge to help us in the future? Only by reading The Green Book will
we discover the answers. Each book takes us on a special adventure.
Fourth grade students share a special bond with the kindergarten children
at Meadowbrook School. Throughout the year, each fourth grader becomes a best
friend to a kindergarten child. They read stories to them each month, have
lunch with their special person and of course, have playtime with them.
The fourth grade also shares a special bond with the seniors at the Willow
Grove Senior Center. Residents of the Center visit the fourth grade and play
social studies bingo. The students write poems about grandparents to share
with their special senior. Lunch allows time for everyone to get to know each
other.
Math is an area of great excitement. Math is integrated into the social studies
curriculum when solving problems. Graphing and computing data about the regions
of the U. S. allow us practical use of our computation skills. A variety of
other problem solving strategies are examined from logical thinking to guess
and check.
Each year fourth grade students become certified travel agents for every region
in the United States. During the course of the year, the fourth graders become
experts at naming every state and capital, all the major mountain ranges, river
systems and mineral resources, the climate of each region, and the best vacation
spots in the United States.
They also become expert cartographers. Whether it is a relief map, physical
map or political map, our fourth graders can interpret each of them. We demonstrate
our culinary expertise by producing an edible relief map.
Join the fourth grade classes for an enriching journey into literature, social
studies and math.
Language Arts Philosophy
The fourth grade language arts program continues to develop and
nurture a positive attitude towards reading while improving students'
reading skills. We want the children to read for enjoyment and discovery
as well as for literary experience and to gain information. In addition,
we want to expand and extend their understanding and use of the English
language so that students will be able to speak and write with confidence
and accuracy.
Reading
Novels
Students learn strategies to improve their comprehension through reading
and discussing a variety of themed novels. A variety of activities enable
students to improve their ability to predict, evaluate and infer, as well
as to understand figurative language and character development.
Through the use of vocabulary words chosen from each novel, the children
can see how specific words can contribute to understanding the broader interpretive
issue of a story. They will learn basic strategies for thinking about definitions
in context and approaching unfamiliar words with confidence. They will bank
these words for further use in their writing.
Through child-created activities, such as crossword puzzles, posters and
skits, the children express their understanding of the author's intent as
well as compare and contrast novels.
Junior Great Books
Through the use of Junior Great Books, the children will read more carefully
and with a greater sensitivity to the significance of details. They must
use supporting evidence for their opinions.
Through small group and class discussion sessions, the children learn the
importance of expressing and listening to different opinions. The children
will learn that writing is a way of reacting to and thinking about literature.
Book Reports
Book reports foster independent reading skills. Students choose a book
appropriate to their reading level and learn to identify pot, climax and
character traits while further developing their vocabulary.
Modeled Reading
Teachers read selected and varied novels to the class. Students discover
the importance of fluency and expression while building excitement about
the story.
Writing
The writing process focuses on poetry, expository, persuasive, narrative,
and imaginative writing. As the year progresses, each child moves from writing
simple paragraphs to creative stories. They learn to express thoughts clearly
and precisely using appropriate vocabulary, metaphors, and similes.
The children develop their own literary style by writing daily in their
writing folder. They will select stories to edit and publish.
The children learn to peer edit, using rubrics while also learning the
writing process of brainstorming, rough draft and editing the final copy
of their selected stories.
Students also learn the capitalization rules as well as punctuation and
grammar skills. They practice using these skills in all areas of their written
language.
Math
Instruction in the fourth grade is based on the why and how of mathematics:
so students can see connections, make generalizations and use knowledge
effectively. Students need not only grasp concepts, but they need to understand
how the words and symbols are used in the context of mathematics. Problem-solving
and reasoning skills provide opportunities for students to explain their
thinking, justify a solution, or identify a more efficient strategy. Children
ar encouraged to explore, reason logically, draw inferences, and employ
a variety of mathematical methods to everyday life.
Social Studies
United States geography is the focus of the social studies program in the
fourth grade. We hope to increase our students' awareness of the geography,
culture and economy of the regions of the United States. In order to understand
the value of their country and their role in it, citizenship education is
also emphasized. It is also important that the children develop an appreciation
for their multicultural heritage.
Book reports foster independent reading skills. Students choose a book
appropriate to their reading level and learn to identify pot, climax and
character traits while further developing their vocabulary.
Special Events
Field Trips
Yearly field trips include excursions to experience the
journey of an immigrant at Ellis Island and the importance
of coal mining at The Lackawanna Coal Mine.
U.S.A. Cake
Our year long study of the United States culminates in the
creation of gigantic edible U.S.A. relief map. Fully bellies
is sure to accompany this fun-filled learning activity.
Kindergarten Buddies
Throughout the year, fourth graders read and write stories
and poems with the Kindergarten children. Throughout this
experience, they practice their reading and writing skills.
They also build confidence in writing and speaking in front
of an audience.