Fourth Grade at Magellan

Students in fourth grade at Magellan are motivated through the use of a wide range of teaching techniques. Such techniques include role playing, discussions, simulations, written expression, experimentation, and creativity through the arts. We believe this diversity promotes higher level thinking, maximizes student time-on-task, and allows us to address the various learning styles in our classrooms. While innovation is a common thrust for us, more traditional means of teaching have not been abandoned. There are times when drill and practice remain the most effective ways to master certain skills. Additionally, our program strives to cover and enhance the North Carolina Standard Course of Study through meaningful activities and curriculum integration.

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The fourth grade just returned from another great 3-day trip to Haw River. At this facility, students studied the ecology of the wetlands, learned how to use a compass for orienteering, and practiced survival techniques in the woods. Students loved the challenge course activities and games! To conclude the festivities, the kids held their annual end-of-year dance ~ what fun! Next week, the fourth grade class will begin to study tessellations. They will learn about M.C. Escher and his many talents. The following week, the annual quilt construction will begin. Each student w ill design a tessellating pattern to put on a square. This will become a part of our newest quilt!

4th Graders Lead the Way with Three Community Service Projects

The fourth grade began its community service program for the year with a "hoot" of a project to help the North Carolina Wildlife Rescue Center, which rescues and rehabilitates injured or orphaned wildlife, including raptors, amphibians, and small mammals. The kids collected a generous supply of food and medicines for the animals. They also learned more about the Center at a presentation featuring some of the Rescue Center's "tenants", including a great horned owl, turtles, and snakes. The fourth graders have also collected tens of thousands of can tabs filling almost eight large water bottles to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, a non-profit organization that provides lodging for families of children undergoing medical treatment far from home. Since opening in 1988, this Ronald McDonald House location has served more than 17,000 guest families. In November, the 4th grade homeroom classes held a special competition to see which class could collect the most can tabs in a month. Ms. Bass' class was the winner and won an ice cream party for their homeroom. The can tabs will be delivered soon by representatives of each fourth grade class. In other community service news, 4th grade homeroom classes have read 100 books each as part of the Scholastic Book Clubs ClassroomCare literacy program. As a result of their efforts, Scholastic will donate 400 books to disadvantaged children nationwide to help children understand the joy of reading and giving. To date, five million new books have been donated by Scholastic on behalf of participating schools across the country. Congratulations to all the fourth graders for their outstanding commitment to community service at Magellan during this school year, and to the fourth grade teachers for coordinating a meaningful and educational program.

Social Studies

The focus of fourth grade social studies is North Carolina. Using textbooks, literature, primary sources, maps, the arts, the Internet, guest speakers, and field trips, students explore the geography, history, people, and culture of our state. Students analyze current events and how they relate to the past. Social studies is integrated with language arts through the use of historical fiction, works by North Carolina authors, creative writing, and research-based writing.

Language Arts

The reading component of the language arts curriculum explores a wide range of genres including novels, biographies, short stories, non-fiction, poetry, fairy tales, tall tales, and plays. A major goal of our program is to have each child develop a love for reading and writing. We incorporate spelling and grammar into our lessons daily. Students also prepare for the North Carolina Writing Test by learning to write personal and imaginative narratives. There is a strong emphasis in both subjects on application and synthesis of the material, rather than just rote memorization of general information.

Math

Students are taught according to their skill levels in math only. Classes follow the basic North Carolina topics, such as place value, geometry, fractions, decimals, etc. Students are encouraged to use higher level thinking skills and apply information they know. Hands-on learning is crucial in this class, using manipulatives whenever possible. A favorite activity is the assembly of the annual tessellation quilt, where students sew a quilt containing fabric squares designed by them.

Science

Although math and science are taught as separate subjects, students quickly see how these two go hand in hand. In science, children learn how calculating degrees of an angle can be applied to the design and construction of a simple machine. Diameter, radius, and proportion all become real when students make their own model of a North Carolina lighthouse. Classes also create a multi-media presentation on an animal of their choice during the animal unit. In both math and science, concepts are learned and then applied to make content more meaningful.

Overall we believe that learning is best achieved by doing, going, and seeing. Fourth grade is filled with exciting hands-on experiments, field trips, projects, and visits from community leaders, writers, scientists, and business owners. More specifically, fourth graders go on two three-day voyages during the school year. The first is to The Trinity Center on the coast of North Carolina. To complement our unit of study on animals and the Coastal Plain region, students explore marine life and their habitats and learn techniques for conservation. Fourth graders also culminate the year with a trip to the North Carolina mountain region.

Back at Magellan, student writing is enhanced by our participation in the Writer-In-Residence program. Music and science are integrated through a Science and Symphony program offered by the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra. Students also learn the principles of entrepreneurship through our bi-annual "Magellan Marketplace" as they create and operate their own businesses.

These are just a few of the rich learning experiences that we feel are an important part of every Magellan fourth grader's daily journey through education. From experiences like these, we know, without a doubt, our students are ready to sail on!

4th Grade Links

Math:

January Hangman