Fred Limmel School Administrator 3rd and 4th Grade Music P: 952-474-5181 x219 E: fred.limmel@oslcs.org Read Full Profile »

May our words and actions bring glory and honor to God and be a blessing to those around us. This is our 4th grade guiding principle. Fourth grade students begin to take on more responsibility as they become stronger independent learners and cooperatively become a community of learners. Organizational skills are taught and reinforced. Students grow in their relationship skills as they work together and practice love and respect for each other.

Religion

Using Voyages and the Bible, the students study how God lovingly directed the lives of the people of the Old Testament such as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses to bring about the promised Savior from sin, Jesus Christ. This same loving care can be seen in the lives of the early Christians and our lives, too.

Memory Work
Fourth graders are responsible for memorizing material that includes Bible passages, the Ten Commandments and their meanings, the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostle’s Creed.

Language Arts

Reading
Students continue to develop their reading skills and learn strategies to help them understand what they read even better. Students are encouraged to read at least one novel a month of their own choosing.

English
In language they spend a great deal of time using the writing process to create stories of their own that are organized and have a sense of the student’s own voice. They also learn how our language is put together using parts of speech such as nouns and verbs. Students practice how to properly use them to communicate clearly and correctly.

Spelling
We use the Houghton Mifflin curriculum that focuses on learning spelling rules as well as other techniques to spell words correctly. Students also learn the meaning of the words and how to use them correctly. There is a weekly spelling workbook assignment and test. Our students also participate in a local spelling bee sponsored by Mayer Lutheran High School for the area Lutheran grade schools.

Handwriting
Students learn and practice legible handwriting practices using the D’Nealian method. Weekly assignments not only include correct letter formation, but also how to take notes, address envelopes, create posters and more.

Phonics
Phonics is an important part of our curriculum. Students learn patterns that help them read and spell new and unfamiliar words.

Math

Students build on math skills such as rounding, estimating, and adding and subtracting 3 and 4 digit numbers. They continue to work on mastering multiplication facts and learn to multiply and divide 1 and 2 digit numbers. Story problems help them apply their math skills to everyday life situations. They continue to improve their skills in working with money, telling time, and measuring in both the customary and metric systems. Also they gain a working knowledge of basic geometric figures and terms such as perimeter, area, and volume.

Science

What an awesome God we have. His creation indeed shows his handiwork. 3rd and 4th grades share a combined science class that explores the wonders of God’s creation. One year we discuss how to protect the Earth and the environment that we live in. We also learn about matter, electricity, the wonderful world of nature and how meteorologists predict the weather. The next year we study the life cycles of plants and animals, the Sun, Moon and Earth, energy and Earth’s amazing water. Classes include demonstrations and hands on activities. Our goal is to encourage children to ask questions and wonder and together learn about the world around us.

Art

Art meets once a week for one hour. Students continue to recognize God as the original artist who created the natural world surrounding them and see design principles in the environment. Students gain enjoyment through expressing themselves imaginatively through art using personal experience and observation as a framework for creativity. Students develop their observation skills and recognize the use of line, shape, color, texture, pattern, and point-of-view. They also explore the works of the masters through Art Masterpiece and apply concepts to their own work.

Social Studies

Students learn how to use the tools and principles of sociology to learn about our country. They study the states grouped together in five different regions of the US. Their study includes how the states are alike, how they are different, how people earn a living in each region, and how they govern themselves. They memorize the state capitals and learn the many different physical features and natural resources of our nation. They also develop map and chart reading skills.

Technology

Using laptop computers the students learn how to compose using correct keyboarding techniques and search the internet sources to find accurate information safely. They also explore how to design, draw and publish material in order to communicate clearly and quickly.