St. Francis Xavier School

Language Arts and Writing

Students in 4th grade go into depth on reading and writing skills that develop comprehension. A focus is also on proper grammar and English language usage. The writing process is incorporated into other subjects as they advance in writing research reports.

 

Social Studies

The 4th grade Social Studies curriculum begins to explore early Americans and the geography of North America. Students spend time in the first months of school learning about a country and preparing for International Night. A unit on Vermont history is also completed.

 

Science

Among other exciting learning opportunities, 4th graders are the youngest participants in the school’s annual Science Fair. Much time and energy is spent on the process of researching and preparing to present about a chosen endangered species. The other four major components of science are organization of living things, ecosystems, the atmosphere and beyond, and energy and motion. The class also contributes to school-wide composting efforts.

 

Religion

In Religion, students continue learning about the life of Jesus. Fourth graders assist in Mass preparations on a rotating schedule, serving as readers, bringing up the gifts, and participating in altar server training. The Circle of Grace curriculum is taught to provide a holistic approach to the safety, well-being, and spiritual formation of children and youth. Fourth graders meet regularly with their PreSchool buddies to develop positive relationships and help the PreSchoolers grow as community members.

 

Math

Students continue to work in the Sadlier Progress in Mathematics program and follow a Math Menu structure to explore:

• Understanding of the four operations with whole numbers and the relationships among them

• Multiplication facts through 12x12

• Solve addition and subtraction problems with whole numbers with regrouping through the thousands place

• Addition and subtraction problems with decimal fractions

• The place value structure

• Area and volume formulas

• Elapsed and accrued time to the quarter hour

• Standard units, tools, and strategies to measure length, area volume, weight, time, temperature, and the size of angles

• Organizing data using tables, bar graphs, line plots, stem & leaf, Venn diagrams, and pictographs

• Problem solving