This grade level brochure is designed to provide you with an overview of the challenging curriculum we offer our students. It identifies key curriculum concepts for 4th grade but it is not meant to be all-inclusive.
Mission Statement
Epiphany Catholic School provides a student-focused, standards-driven and secure educational environment, based upon the Gospel values, that promotes the spiritual, emotional, moral, intellectual, and physical development of all students.
Religion & Character Formation
- Foster the virtues of kindness, respect, optimism, generosity, honesty, prudence, patience, responsibility, and morality.
- Prepare for and participate in liturgical celebrations (weekly masses, Adoration, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, Reconciliation, the Feast of Corpus Christi and visits to the Blessed Sacrament).
- Identify and explore The Ten Commandments and The Beatitudes.
- Discuss the lives of the Saints.
Language Arts – Language
- Write paragraphs that include different types of sentences (exclamatory, imperative, interrogative, and declarative).
- Write paragraphs that include a lead sentence, supporting details, and a closing sentence.
- Use parts of speech correctly.
- Apply accurate spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
- Write the following: informative/explanatory essay, opinion essay, personal narrative, and a research paper.
- Develop listening and speaking skills.
- Reinforce the D’Nealian style of cursive handwriting.
Language Arts – Reading
- Understand words by using context clues, a dictionary, and a thesaurus.
- Read aloud with fluency, accuracy, and expression.
- Identify and understand different literary genres.
- Apply literary skills (author’s purpose, making connections, and drawing conclusions of a story).
- Identify story elements of setting, character, plot, and theme.
- Develop the following reading skills: sequencing, predicting, inferences, facts/opinions, generalizations, summarizing, using context clues, structure, noting details, problem solving, decision making, cause and effect, and compare/contrast.
- Apply vocabulary skills when reading various selections.
Mathematics
- Place value, rounding and algorithms for addition and subtraction.
- Unit conversions and problem solving with metric measurement.
- Multi-digit multiplication and division.
- Angle measure and plane figures.
- Fraction equivalence, ordering and operations.
- Decimal fractions.
- Exploring measurement with multiplication.
Science
- Studying science.
- The engineering process.
- Plants and animals.
- Energy and ecosystems.
- Weather.
- Earth and space.
- Properties of matter.
- Changes in matter.
- Energy.
- Electricity.
- Motion.
Social Studies
- Our national story.
- The United States: Its land and people.
- The Midwest.
- Illinois: The Land of Lincoln.
- The story of Illinois.
Foreign Language – Spanish
- Learn basic vocabulary (greetings, classroom objects, days of the week, months and seasons, colors, the body parts, mealtime, the weather, and the family) in Spanish.
- Communicate understanding of selected topics (age, feelings, birthday, likes and dislike).
- Prayers in Spanish.
- Expand understanding of cultural diversity.
Computer
- Use home row keys proficiently while practicing proper body posture.
- Practice responsible use of computers and apply guidelines of acceptable use policy.
- Use word processor/graphic organizer to create and print a variety of writing types.
- Create slide presentations using text and graphics.
- Enter data and create a chart with assistance.
- Use electronic resources to gather information.
- Use multimedia to deliver information (present presentations using an interactive whiteboard).
- Use software which emphasizes problem solving strategies and promotes creative thinking.
- Introduce how to properly cite sources.
- Utilize Web 2.0 tools.
- Introduce the principles of coding using the drag and drop approach.
- Practice using Chrome devices and software effectively (Google Classroom, Drive, Slides, Docs).
Fine Arts – Art
- Create a work of art using proportion, balance, value, form, and repetition.
- Identify and describe themes (religious, historical) that artists use to communicate ideas.
- Describe the use of perspective technique (overlapping, size, shape) when creating an illusion of depth.
- Color mixing using primary colors to create secondary/intermediate colors. Identify color schemes (complementary, neutrals, monochromatic).
Fine Arts – Music
- Play classroom instruments, sing, and dance.
- Demonstrate, identify, and describe elements of music using traditional music vocabulary (tempo, dynamics, pitch, form).
- Visually and aurally identify instruments and describe how they produce sound.
- Read and notate simple rhythmic and melodic patterns.
- Create short melodies, rhythms, and movements within guidelines.
Physical Education & Health
- Identify lifestyle choices which have a positive effect on well-being.
- Identify specific personal safety habits that will prevent accidents at school, home, and in recreational situations.
- Identify criteria for selecting fitness equipment and sports products and explain why these factors are important.
Resource
Epiphany School offers assistance with a variety of skills and in all academic areas for students with a demonstrated need. The Epiphany Resource Program collaborates with Unit 5 to meet the needs of these students. Contact the Epiphany Resource teacher regarding any educational concerns in the following areas: academic evaluations, speech and language development, motor skills, and behavioral, health, vision, hearing, and social/emotional concerns.