Hello, and welcome to grade 4! While I have taught students of every age and grade, my favorite grade by far is grade 4! I feel that one of the most important skills in grade for is personal independence, and therefore I will help students learn organizational skills, develop good work habits, and become responsible, independent students! 
This course is a full grade 4 curriculum, with the exception of social studies. In term 1 (this section), students will do math, reading, writing, science, art, French, and cooking. Term 2 includes math, reading, writing, science, French, music, and technology. 

First period is 30 minutes long, and is a homeroom block. This will focus on social-emotional learning, executive functioning skills, and will be a study hall/homework help block as needed. 

Period 2 is 45 minutes long. Monday-Thursday is Math, and Friday is Art (term 1) and Music (term 2). 

Students will have a 15 minute recess break. They are encouraged to get a snack, water, go to the restroom at this time, etc. 

Period 3 is Cooking (term 1) or technology (term 2) on Monday. Tuesday/Thursday is writing and grammar. Wednesday/Friday is Reading.

Period 4 is Science (Monday/Wednesday) and French (Tuesday/Thursday). Friday is early dismissal day--students are welcome to leave after Reading, but if they need help with assignments or have work to catch up on, they are welcome to stay for fourth period. 

Course descriptions: 

**Please note that the last units of term 1 and first units of term 2 may overlap, depending on student needs and the pace we move through things. While I will strive to stick to this schedule, we may move faster or slower than the schedule. If we do not finish units before Christmas, we will pick up where we left off after the break. If we are ahead of schedule, we will start with work from term 2. 

Math: 
Unit 1: 
Addition and Subtraction facts and strategies
Adding and subtracting up to 3 digit numbers
Adding and subtracting decimals

Unit 2: 
Place Value from the thousandths to the millions
Representing numbers in standard, expanded, word, number line, and picture form
Comparing numbers using <, >, and =

Unit 3:
Graphing (pictograph, bar graph, pie graph, line graph)
X- and Y- axis

Unit 4:
Telling time to 5 minutes on an analog and digital clock
Telling time on a 12- and 24- hour clock
Elapsed time

Unit 5: 
Perimeter of regular and irregular shapes
Area of regular shapes (LxW)
Finding the missing side of a shape

Unit 6: 
Multiplication facts
Multiplication 3 digits x 1 digit

Unit 7: 
Canadian and American Money
Calculating totals and Change

Unit 8: 
Budgeting basics
Household/family budgets
Grocery budgeting

Literacy/Reading: 

Students will need a copy of the first Harry Potter book; Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. They need to have read the chapters before coming to class (for example, before Thursday’s class of the first week, students need to have read chapter 1.)  In class, we will start with a warm-up question to get students to think about the chapter they've read. We will also go over some vocabulary, and students will answer questions ranging from simple true/false and multiple-choice to more complex comprehension questions. 
Week 1: Introduction, Chapter 1. 
Comprehension element: Point of View

Week 2: Chapter 2, 3
Comprehension element: Point of View 

Week 3: Chapter 4, 5
Comprehension Element: Point of view
Chapter 1-5 test

Week 4: Chapter 6, 7
Comprehension Element: Character traits

Week 5: Chapter 8, 9
Comprehension Element: Character analysis

Week 6: Chapter 10
Comprehension element: Compare/contrast
Chapter 6-10 test

Week 7: Chapter 11, 12
Comprehension Element: Figurative language

Week 8: Chapter 13
Comprehension Element: Figurative language

Week 9: Chapter 14
Comprehension Element: Story Elements: Plot

Week 10: Chapter 15
Comprehension Element: Story Elements: Conflict

Week 11: Chapter 16
Comprehension Element: Story Elements: Theme

Week 12: Chapter 17
Comprehension Element: Story elements: Resolution, lesson

Week 13: Review, Chapters 1-17 Test
Comprehension Element: 

Week 14: This week, students will write a book review of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". We will work through the writing process together as students finish it. I will also introduce the final project. Students will have several choices and 2 weeks to complete a cumulative project. They can write a biography on the author, design a movie poster, build a miniature stage for one scene of the play, create a board game for this book, do a news report video, or create their own project. These projects will be presented at our last class to all students. 


Week 15: This week is designed to be "workdays" for students to work on their final projects. As this is the end of a semester-long class, these projects are expected to be of high quality. Students can use this time to ask questions, share what they've done so far, and ask for feedback. 


Week 16: This week is the presentation of the final projects. Students should present a 5-7 minute presentation to share with the class. (As this is a presentation, students' cameras will need to be on during their presentation.) If they have made a video or written a piece that takes less than 5-7 minutes to share, they should be prepared to discuss their project further and/or ask for questions. Students will be graded on their presentation, as well as on the content they shared. 


Writing:
Each week we will follow the writing process of planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Students are invited to do their writing in google docs so they can share it with me for real-time feedback, but they can also work on paper. Templates, editing checklists, rubrics, etc. will all be provided in the course packet. 

Week 1: Compare/Contrast--Macaroni Penguins vs. Emperor Penguins

Week 2: Compare/Contrast--Killer bees vs. honey bees

Week 3: Compare/Contrast--Giant pandas vs. red pandas

Week 4: Compare/Contrast--Owls vs. Bats

Week 5: Letter writing--friendly letter

Week 6: Letter writing--letter to the editor (opinions)

Week 7: Letter writing--persuasive letter to parents

Week 8: 5 paragraph essay--planning/brainstorming
Theme: Choose a country you would like to visit and write 5 paragraphs about it (introduction, 3 “big ideas”, conclusion)

Week 9: 5 paragraph essay--drafting

Week 10: 5 paragraph essay--revising, editing (working with a partner)

Week 11: 5 paragraph essay--conferencing, final draft

Week 12: 5 paragraph essay--planning/brainstorming
Theme: Holidays around the world

Week 13: 5 paragraph essay: drafting

Week 14: 5 paragraph essay--revising, editing

Week 15: 5 paragraph essay--conferencing, final draft
Students will add a title page, outline page, and source page

Week 16: 5 paragraph essay presentation (with powerpoint or other visuals sharing what you’ve learned!)

Art:

Week 1: Back to School “A Ball About Me” art

Week 2: Pop art

Week 3: Water color free create

Week 4: Oil pastel/water color resist!

Week 5: Art response (writing)

Week 6: Art response (writing--continued)

Week 7: Paper Sculptures

Week 8: Picasso history and self portrait

Week 9: Eye of the Dragon

Week 10: Elements of Art: Lines

Week 11: Elements of Art: Color

Week 12: Elements of Art: Shape

Week 13: Elements of Art: Form

Week 14: Elements of Art: Space

Week 15: Elements of Art: Texture

Week 16: Shaving Cream Christmas art project

Science:

Week 1: Introduction to Biomes

Week 2: In-depth look at biomes

Week 3: Students research individual biomes with a partner

Week 4: Students will choose or be assigned a biome for a research project. They will be writing about it, creating a powerpoint, giving a presentation, and building a biome box. 

Week 5: Biome project work

Week 6: Biome project work

Week 7: Biome project work

Week 8: Biome project work, presentations

Week 9: Simple Machines--wedge, lever, wheel and axle

Week 10: Simple Machines--pulley, inclined plane, screw

Week 11: Simple Machines--review and test

Week 12: Solids, Liquids, Gas

Week 13: How matter changes forms

Week 14: How matter changes forms

Week 15: Mixtures and Solutions

Week 16: States of Matter test

French: 
Unit 1: 
Grammar: Personal Pronouns
Verb" "be" verbs
Adjectives: happy, sad, tired, hungry
Sentences: How are you? I am happy. How is he? He is hungry.

Unit 2:
Family members: grandmother, grandfather, father, mother, sister, brother
Rooms: house, room, living room, dining room, bathroom, kitchen, garage
Prepositions: in, with, under
Sentences: Where is my father? He is in the living room. Where is your sister? She is in the kitchen.
Other: the (le, la, les)

Unit 3:
Furniture: bed, chair, sofa, table, dresser, stove, refrigerator, tv, lamp, bath, toilet. 
Verb: "have"
Sentences: The bed is in the bedroom. My house has a kitchen. My brother is under the bed. 

Unit 4: 
Food: Fruit, vegetable, cheese, chicken, bread, rice, egg, salt, pepper
Verb: "want", "buy"
Adjectives: other, today, numbers 1-10
Adverb: please
Sentences: My father buys bread today. I want to buy cheese, please. 

Mid-Term Exam

Unit 5: 
Food: Coffee, hot chocolate, water, juice, milk, cake, ice cream, potato, carrot, apple, banana
Verbs: "eat", "drink"
Adjectives: hot, cold, large, small, favorite
Sentence: I want to eat three cakes. I eat a small apple. 

Unit 6: 
Places: city, park, restaurant, movie theater, bank, hospital, school, store
Verb: "go"
Preposition: to, after
Sentences: I want to go to school. I go to the store after school. My favorite restaurant is ________. 

Cooking:
Please note that generally, as this is only a 45 minute class, we will be sticking to box mixes, instant food packets, canned goods, etc. where possible. Full recipes, ingredient lists, etc. will be provided at the start of class. 

Week 1: Scrambled Eggs and Toast

Week 2: Chocolate Chip Muffins

Week 3: Brownies (box mix)

Week 4: Banana Bread

Week 5: Chili (crockpot)

Week 6: Mini Meatloaves and rice

Week 7: Chicken Stirfry

Week 8: Lasagna

Week 9: Apple Crisp

Week 10: Shepherd’s Pie

Week 11: Egg Roll in a Bowl

Week 12: Snickerdoodles

Week 13: Italian Beef and Macaroni

Week 14: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup 

Week 15: Poutine

Week 16: Tacos

Lessons will be taught using various methods: lecture, discussion, powerpoint, interactive activities, experiments, research projects, etc. Students will be given assignments to complete in class, and about 40 minutes of homework each evening. Depending on holidays and Western celebrations, activities may be seasonal in nature. For example, when doing place value, we may use pumpkins to help us practice an activity or do pumpkin math for estimating and measurements. At Christmas time, some fact review activities may be holiday-themed. If you do not celebrate these holidays, please let me know and I will provide alternative activities. 
Canadian and American holidays will be observed in correlation with a public school calendar. For example, Canadian Thanksgiving will be a day off, and American Thanksgiving will be 2-3 days off. Dates will be provided in the course syllabi. If you are in another country and have a holiday that is considered a day off school, please let me know. If we still have class, the videos will be available for you. I am happy to incorporate various holidays into our school days--please just let me know what I can do to make this class more inclusive! If your child will be absent from class, please let me know. Attendance will be recorded, and included in the report card. If there are specific skills your child is struggling with, that you'd like me to focus on, I am happy to work it into the curriculum. 

Students will be expected to be attentive in class and to complete all assignments. If your child has specific learning needs or challenges, please let me know and I will attempt to accomodate. Without information from a parent/guardian, students will be graded based on rubrics. Students are expected to be in class with the required supplies and materials. They will be asked to answer questions, share information, do presentations, and participate regularly in class. A participation mark will be given for each class. 

Most classes are very student-involved and even student directed at times. If there is a lecture I am teaching, it will only be for a part of the class, and then students will have time to discuss what we have learned, work on a project, practice a new skill, or complete an assignment/activity. 

Please note that breakout rooms will be used occasionally, especially in French and writing.