Everything that a child encounters in his/her school day from the minute the student enters the school building until he/she leaves to go home is considered the curriculum. This includes classroom experiences, lunchroom, gym, recess, prayer, as well as any other activity that occurs during the school day. Whatever a child encounters in school is part of the curriculum.
The fourth grade program at Sacred Heart School is a transition from the comfort of the primary grades where students learn to read to the more intense work of reading to learn. The student is encouraged to think critically, logically, analytically and ethically. Emphasis is placed on the ability to express ideas orally as well as in a written manner using correct terminology. On a daily basis, students will be required to apply techniques in real world situations by identifying and solving problems within the situation. They will engage in learning activities using appropriate technology, demonstrate confidence in their skills and recognize the importance of life-long learning.
The curriculum consists of:
- Religion: Thestudents learn the Liturgy of the Mass, prayers, the Liturgical Year, the Beatitudes, Sacred Scripture, and the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are studied in detail. The students celebrate the Sacrament of Penance at least twice during the school year.
- Reading/Language Arts: The Reading/Language Arts Curriculum includes both an on-level and accelerated program. This program allows the teacher to focus on each child’s individual learning style and ability. Students will be working alongside their peers who demonstrate similar instructional needs. This will provide them with the opportunity to flourish and build their skills within guided reading groups.Comprehension, vocabulary, skills, grammar, spelling, written and oral communication and listening are all strands of the Language Arts program. Students read stories that emphasize a variety of genre. Vocabulary strategies, comprehension skills and response to the text are also enforced. Concepts regarding main idea, plot/ character, fact/opinion, compare/ contrast, cause/effect, author’s purpose and clear communication are stressed. In writing, students are prepared to understand writing as a process that consists of pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing.
- Math: The Math curriculum includes both an on-level and accelerated program. This program allows the teacher to focus on each child’s individual learning style and ability. Students will be working alongside their peers who demonstrate similar instructional needs. This will provide them with the opportunity to flourish and build their computation and problem solving skills.The curriculum is based on The Archdiocese of Newark’s Mathematics Curriculum Map which identifies the content to be taught and student skills to be mastered at each grade level. The 4th grade map includes:
- Place Value and Number Sense: Millions to Thousandths
- Addition: Millions to Thousandths
- Subtraction: Millions to Thousandths
- Multiplication
- Factors and Multiples
- Division Facts
- Problem Solving
- Graphing: Reading and Interpret Graphs
- Division and Rules of Divisibility
- Statistics and Probability
- Fractions and Mixed Numbers
- Geometry
- Symmetry and Congruence
- Coordinate Plane
- Transformations
- Perimeter, Area, Volume
- Patterns
- Measurement: Weight, Length, Capacity, Conversion, Time, Elapsed Time, Calendar, Temperature
- Graphing and Data
- Order of Operations
- Algebraic Expressions and Equations
- Functions
- Fractions: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication
- Decimals
- Multi-Digit Multiplication and Division
- Science: The Science curriculumincludes Earth, Physical and Life Science. The curriculum incorporates S.T.E.M – an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM Education attempts to transform the typical teacher-centered classroom by encouraging a curriculum that is driven by problem-solving, discovery, and exploratory learning. It requires students to actively engage in the situation in order to find its solution.
- Social StudiesThe Social Studies curriculum includes the study the regions of the United States including but not limited to:
- States and their Capitals
- Landmarks
- Resources
- Famous People
- Geography
- Citizenship
- Government
- The curriculum also includes the study of the state of New Jersey which includes:
- NJ’s state, county and local government
- State symbols
- Famous people of New Jersey
- Regions, Cities, Population Density and Climate
- Music
- Computers
- Physical Education
- Art
- Library
- Health
- Introduction to World Language (Spanish)
