Adda

Clevenger
Ms. Jacobson
[email protected]
(415) 824-2240

Course Objective
Fourth grade is designed to begin the transition into upper school. Students will be setting
goals throughout the course of the 2019/2020 school year and begin to take control of their
own learning. I am excited to spend this next year challenging your child and watching them
grow. I will be facilitating learning based on specific individual goals. Every child learns
differently, so I will be working with each one of them, individually, to ensure a successful
4th grade experience. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns
about your student’s learning environment.

Supplies
• Sharpened pencils and erasers
• 6 colored folders
o Each folder serves a different purpose:
! Yellow: Homework
! Red: Math
! Purple: ELA
! Green: Science
! Blue: History
! Black: Friday folder
• 3 composition notebooks
o Math
o ELA
o Science & History
• 1 highlighter (any color)
• Colored pencils
• Black sharpie marker
• 1 pair of small scissors
• 2 black dry erase markers
• 1 pencil pouch
• 1 pack of sticky notes

Homework
! Homework will change throughout the course of the year. I will send home
assignments in your child’s Friday folder and it will generally involve some sort of
choice activity.
! These assignments will be designed to reinforce topics taught in class and get your
child to engage in other beneficial activities.
! Homework should not take up your child’s entire time at home, unless they are not
using their class time wisely.
! In 4th grade, I encourage the students to embrace this time before upper school and
become the mature, self-sufficient, and responsible students that they are.
Therefore, I expect students to communicate their problems, questions, and
concerns with me.

Grading
! Students will be graded based on participation, classwork, exit tickets, quizzes, unit
tests, and group projects.
! The goal of this year is learning and growth, so if your student feels that they would
like to re-take a test, they may make an appointment with me to explain their
reasoning. I will not accept all pleas for re-takes. Students must effectively
communicate their desire for a re-take in order to be granted another opportunity.
! Grades will be broken down into these categories:
o Tests and Projects
o Homework
o Classwork/ Informal Observations
o Participation

100-90= A 89-80= B 79-70= C 69-60= D Below 60= F

Parent Communication
! Every Friday students will be receiving their homework for the week and the
Weekly Newsletter. This Newsletter will have important information about
upcoming events, assignments, and any other important announcements.
! You will be able to access the school’s Renweb for grades, newsletters, and other
important school information.
! I also have a class website! I will be posting pictures, resources, extra practice, etc..
This website is new to this class, so it is still a work in progress.
www.rockingfourthgrade.weebly.com

Responsibility & Organization
! 4th grade is an especially important grade because it prepares them for Upper
School. Therefore, it is my job to make sure they are mature, responsible, and
organized individuals by the time they leave my classs.
! Important papers will go home in your child’s Friday folder. It is their responsibility
to give you any papers to sign or review.
! I am a fairly relaxed person and I know that things happen. If there is an issue or you
have a question about an assignment, feel free to email me at:
[email protected]

Technology
! Technology is a huge part of our everyday lives. Therefore, we will be using
Chromebooks over the course of this year for activities, research, and typing. It is
the responsibility of your child to follow instructions and ask questions as needed.
! I will be giving students clear instructions when using the Chromebooks. If a student
is doing something on the Chromebook that they were not instructed to do, I will be
issuing a tech infraction. This infraction will result in a conversation with me, an
email/call home, and suspended use of the Chromebooks.
! If you have any questions about the use of technology in this class feel free to reach
out!

Math

Math Facts
! Basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems (0-12) that
students in 4th grade MUST memorize and master in order to effectively tackle all of
the standards in the 4th grade curriculum.
! In class I will be providing students with many strategies, songs, and small group
support to help them learn these basic facts. However, students will need to practice
on a DAILY basis in order to successfully master all of these facts.

Numbers and Operations in Base Ten (NBT)
Understand place value for multi-digit whole numbers up to 1,000,000.
1. Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using standard form, base ten numerals,
word form, and expanded form.
2. Compare two multi-digit whole numbers based on the value of each digit using <,>,
or =.
3. Round numbers to any place.
4. Analyze relationships between numbers and be able to explain your reasoning in
multiple ways: using number lines, hundreds charts, words, and pictures.
5. Add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers.
6. Multiply four-digits by one-digit whole numbers and multiply two-digit by two-digit
numbers using strategies based on place value and the properties of operations.
Illustrate and explain calculations with equations, arrays, area models, and partial
products.
7. Find whole number quotients and remainders with up to four digit dividends and
one digit divisors using strategies based on place value, the properties of operations,
and the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain the
calculations using equations, arrays, and area models.

Number and Operation- Fractions (NF)
Understand fraction equivalence and ordering
1. Understand a fraction as a part of a whole.
2. Recognize that two different fractions can be equal even though the number and
size of the parts differ.
3. Explain why two fractions are equivalent by using visual fraction models, number
lines, area models, and multiplication and division.
4. Compare two fractions with different numerators and denominators by using a
variety of methods: making common denominators, compare to a benchmark
fraction like 1/2. Use symbols (<,>, =) in order to compare. Use pattern blocks to
show how to find a fraction or piece of the whole block.
5. Add and subtract fractions: Build fractions from unit fractions. Join and separate
parts of a whole. Decompose a fraction into a sum of fractions with the same
denominator.
6. Add and subtract mixed numbers. Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions
and vise versa.
7. Multiply a fraction by a whole number. Extend and build on previously taught topics
of adding fractions (repeated addition = multiplication).
8. Divide whole numbers by fractions and understand that dividing means breaking
down the number into more pieces so unlike standard division, your answer will be
larger than what you started with.
9. Solve word problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of
fractions and whole numbers.
 10. Understand decimal notion for fractions and compare decimal fractions. Change
fractions with a 10 in the denominator into equivalent fractions that have a 100 in
the denominator. Add/subtract fractions with respective denominators 10 and 100.
11. Use decimal notation for fractions (0.62 = 62/100)
12. Compare decimals to the hundredths place by reasoning about their size. Comparing
fractions and decimals is only valid when they refer to the same whole.

Operations and Algebraic Thinking (OA)
Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems.
1. Find all factor pairs for a whole number in the range 1-100.
2. Recognize that a whole number is a multiple of each of its factors.
3. Determine whether a number is prime or composite.
4. Generate number or shape patterns that follow a given rule (written as an
equation). Students us a T-chart to illustrate the pattern at work.
5. Write and identify equations and statements for multiplicative comparisons.
6. Translate comparative situations into equations using a variable to stand for your
unknown. Use the inverse operation to solve for the unknown.
7. Solve multi-step word problems by determining the operation you need to use and
the steps needed.
8. Use estimation strategies and compatible numbers (numbers that sum to 10 or 100)
in order to arrive at reasonable answers.
9. Interpret remainders in the following ways: remainder as a left over, partition into
fraction or decimals, discard remainder leaving only the whole number answer,
increase the whole number answer up one, round to the nearest whole number for
an appropriate result.

Measurement and Data (MD)
Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to
a smaller unit
1. Know metric and customary systems of liquid, volume, mass, weight, length,
distance, time, and money.
2. Express measurements in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit.
3. Determine and record measurement equivalents in a two-column table and show
the rule.
4. Us the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time,
liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money. Represent measurement quantities
using number lines and graphs.
5. Apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles.
6. Determine the missing length or width by solving the formula for the unknown
factor.
7. Measure objects using a ruler to an eighth of an inch. Then use this data to make a
line plot to display the data set. Solve problems involving addition and subtraction
of fractions using the information presented in the line plot.
8. Identify the relationship between lines, angles, and circular measurement (360
degrees).
9. Measure angles in degrees using a protractor. Draw angles of specific measures.
10. Recognize angle measure as additive.
11. Determine unknown angle measures by decomposing larger angles (broken down
into smaller parts).

Geometry (G)
Draw and identify lines and angles and classify shapes by properties of their lines and
angles
1. Draw points, lines, line segments, rays, angles (right, acute, obtuse), and
perpendicular and parallel lines. Identify these lines in two-dimensional figures.
2. Identify two-dimensional figures based on heir properties- types of lines and angles.
3. Sort, compare, contrast, and categorize polygons based on their characteristics.
4. Recognize lines of symmetry and draw lines of symmetry on figures.

Extensions and Challenges
1. Critical thinking, problem solving, and logic/decision making are crucial skills that
21st century learners need in order to solve higher level problems, synthesize and
interpret complex information, and analyze data in innovative ways.
2. These are the skills that students will utilize throughout their lives and will allow
them to be successful inside and outside the classroom.
3. My goal is to help students train their brain to look at situations and problems
through many different lenses, open their minds to new ideas, and use scientific
reasoning on their problems.
4. I plan to use brain teasers, problems that yield multiple answers, and games that
involve building, inventing, logic links, and puzzles.
5. Students will have the opportunity to explore these activities when they finish their
work early and during Teacher Time.

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created
them.”
-Albert Einstein

Science
Unit 1: What is science?
! What does it mean to “think like a scientist”?
! Engineering and Design Process (EDP)
! Solving Today’s Problems and Shaping the Future
! Design an App
! Scientists of the Past, Present, and Future
Unit 2: Physical Science
! States of Matter
o Atoms, solids, liquids, and gases
Unit 3: Physical Science
! Energy
o Thermodynamics
o Electricity
o Magnetism
o Electromagnetism
o Types of Energy
o Environmental Solutions
Unit 4: Science Fair
! Design a Fair Experiment
! The Scientific Method
! Applying the Engineering and Design Process
Unit 5: Earth Science
! Layers of the Earth
! The Water Cycle
! Weather, Climate, and the Seasons and the Why
! Slow Changes to the Earth’s Surface
o Weathering, Erosion, Deposition
! Rapid Changes to the Earth’s Surface
o Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Tsunamis, Hurricanes, Flash
Floods, etc.
! The Rock Cycle and Rock Classification
! Environmental Issues
o Global Warming and Climate Change
o “Going Green”
o Protecting our Earth and How we can make a difference
Unit 5: Space Science and Astronomy
• Beyond Earth
o The planets and our atmosphere
o Constellations and patterns
Unit 6: Life Science
• Plants and Animals
• Food Chains
o Producers, Consumers, Decomposers
• Adaptations and Animal Defenses

History
California’s History- Studies Weekly

• Each week students will get a colorful reading brochure for the week’s focused
topic. On the first day of each week we will read it together or in partners. Students
will then engage in various activities throughout the week based on this brochure.
These activities will be completed in class as well as for homework. Students will
then take a quiz each week based on their reading and activities.

Unit 1
• Where in the World Are We?
• Dividing the Earth
• California Regions
• California Resources
• California Native Americans
Unit 2
• Early Explorers Visit California
• The Mission System
• Mexico Gains Independence
• End of the Mission System
• The New Economy
• Early Settlers
Unit 3
• The Mexican-American War
• Gold Discovered
 • The Gold Rush (Our Biggest Focus)
• Women in Early California
• The Effects of the Gold Rush
• Compromise of 1850
• Statehood of California
Unit 4
• The Stagecoach, Pony Express, and Telegraph
• Transcontinental Railroad
• Immigrants Build California
• Migration to California
• Dust Bowl, Depression, and WWII
• California Industries
• California Government

English Language Arts
Novel Study & Reading Comprehension
1. Students will read and discuss class novels.
2. Students will annotate the text to track their thinking and help answer questions
with evidence.
3. Students will answer text dependent questions citing evidence form the text to
support and justify their answers.
4. Students will explore various genres of literature and identify the characteristics of
each genre.
5. Students will compare/contrast character traits and themes among the novels and
evaluate the writing style of the author.

Class Novels
1. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
2. Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse
3. The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
4. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
5. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
6. Percy Jackson & The Olympians, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Language Arts
• Spelling, Vocabulary, and Grammar Units
• Spelling, Vocabulary, and Grammar quizzes every Friday
• Cursive will be practiced throughout our ELA block and spelling tests will be
completed in print and cursive

Writing
1. Personal Narrative
2. Persuasive Essay
3. Informational/Non-Fiction Essay
4. Creative Writing
5. Poetry