A Look at… Fourth Grade in California Public Schools and the Common Core State Standards CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES DIVISION INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING SUPPORT BRANCH CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION October 2011 Edition Contents Page Fourth-Grade Curriculum ................................................................................................................................ 4.1 English Language Arts ...................................................................................................................................... 4.2 Overview ......................................................................................................................................................... 4.2 What Fourth-Grade Students Should Know .................................................................................................... 4.2 What Students Learn in Fourth Grade ............................................................................................................. 4.3 Reading ........................................................................................................................................................ 4.3 Writing ......................................................................................................................................................... 4.5 Speaking and Listening ................................................................................................................................ 4.5 Language ...................................................................................................................................................... 4.6 Extra Support for Struggling Readers .............................................................................................................. 4.7 Support for English Learners ........................................................................................................................... 4.8 The Standards................................................................................................................................................. 4.14 Mathematics ..................................................................................................................................................... 4.22 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 4.22 What Fourth-Grade Students Should Know .................................................................................................. 4.22 What Students Learn in Fourth Grade ........................................................................................................... 4.23 Operations and Algebraic Thinking ........................................................................................................... 4.23 Number and Operations in Base Ten ......................................................................................................... 4.23 Number and Operations—Fractions .......................................................................................................... 4.24 Measurement and Data .............................................................................................................................. 4.24 Geometry.................................................................................................................................................... 4.25 Support for English Learners ......................................................................................................................... 4.25 Use of Calculators .......................................................................................................................................... 4.26 The Standards................................................................................................................................................. 4.26 CCSS Domains .......................................................................................................................................... 4.31 History–Social Science ..................................................................................................................................... 4.32 Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 4.32 What Fourth-Grade Students Should Know .................................................................................................. 4.33 i What Students Learn in Fourth Grade ........................................................................................................... 4.33 Physical and Human Geographic Features That Define California ........................................................... 4.33 Pre-Columbian Settlements and People ..................................................................................................... 4.33 European Exploration and Colonial History .............................................................................................. 4.33 Missions, Ranchos, and the Mexican War for Independence .................................................................... 4.34 The Gold Rush and Statehood ................................................................................................................... 4.34 California as an Agricultural and Industrial Power ................................................................................... 4.35 Modern California: Immigration, Technology, and Cities ........................................................................ 4.36 Local, State, and Federal Governments ..................................................................................................... 4.37 The Education and the Environment Initiative .............................................................................................. 4.37 Support for English Learners ......................................................................................................................... 4.38 The Standards................................................................................................................................................. 4.38 Science ............................................................................................................................................................... 4.43 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 4.43 What Fourth-Grade Students Should Know .................................................................................................. 4.43 What Students Learn in Fourth Grade ........................................................................................................... 4.44 Physical Sciences ....................................................................................................................................... 4.44 Life Sciences (Standard Set 2) ................................................................................................................... 4.44 Life Sciences (Standard Set 3) ................................................................................................................... 4.45 Earth Sciences (Rocks and Minerals) ........................................................................................................ 4.45 Earth Sciences (Waves, Wind, Water, and Ice) ......................................................................................... 4.45 Investigation and Experimentation ............................................................................................................ 4.45 The Education and the Environment Initiative .............................................................................................. 4.46 Science Across the Content Areas ................................................................................................................. 4.46 Support for English Learners ......................................................................................................................... 4.47 The Standards................................................................................................................................................. 4.47 Visual and Performing Arts ............................................................................................................................ 4.50 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 4.50 What Fourth-Grade Students Should Know .................................................................................................. 4.50 What Students Learn in Fourth Grade ........................................................................................................... 4.50 Dance ......................................................................................................................................................... 4.50 Music.......................................................................................................................................................... 4.50 Theatre ......................................................................................................................................................