4th Grade Traditions

Year-Round

Points for Pages - Reading is encouraged throughout the year with involvement in several programs. In addition to the library's "Accelerated Reader" and Pizza Hut's "Book It" programs, fourth grade participates in Points for Pages. All year students earn points (reading bucks) for the number of pages read. The anticipation mounts as students see the reading chart updated weekly and culminates with an exciting auction the last week of school.

Science - Tracking Hurricanes - During hurricane season students are expected to listen to daily weather forecasts, gathering information necessary to track tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes that develop in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico . Students place this information on a class hurricane tracking chart. As a follow up, students will be required to track one tropical storm or hurricane from development to landfall, charting its course on individual hurricane tracking charts.

Christmas Around the World - Language arts, social studies, music, art, and technology are integrated into a fun and exciting multidisciplinary unit during the month of December. Students enjoy reading the hysterical and heartwarming antics of the Herdmans in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, as they practice for their own Christmas play. Each student researches one country for Christmas or holiday customs, crafts an ornament representing that country, creates a newspaper, and shares his or her findings at a Christmas Around the World celebration including food, family, and friends.

Taste of Texas - A highlight of fourth grade is being a special guest at the Taste of Texas restaurant. Owner, Nina Hendee, storyteller extraordinaire, shares with students many exciting and some rare events of Texas history. After a personal tour of the restaurant with its unique Texas memorabilia, students are treated to a delicious lunch with all the trimmings.

Heroes of the Faith - Students choose a hero of the Christian faith to investigate for a research project. Language arts, history, and technology are combined as students use biographies, encyclopedias, and the Internet to acquire information. Students then participate in a special chapel dressed as their subject and are interviewed for why they are remembered. A special Power Point presentation and music are included, and families and friends are invited.

Science Fair - Throughout the year, students work through many hands-on investigations learning the steps of problem solving that many of our scientists use today. In the spring, each student will design a scientific project solving a problem from everyday life or investigating a question about the world in which they live. During this project, students become a working scientist by questioning, researching, hypothesizing, journaling, organizing, and drawing conclusions based on data gathered. Students then present their findings at the Annual Fourth Grade Science Fair.
Washington-on-the-Brazos - Students learn Texas history hands-on as they visit Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park and the Star of the Republic Museum . Enjoying the bluebonnets in bloom is a bonus along with visiting the oldest Baptist church and museum in Independence , Texas . A true Texas history field trip would not be complete without a last stop at the best little creamery in Texas , Blue Bell , where the day-long trip ends with a short tour and enjoying the best ice cream ever.