Welcome to Grade Four!

Grade Four at Preston Primary School is an exciting, enjoyable and engaging year in which students continue to consolidate and extend their understandings from their first four years of school. It is an exciting time, as the students transition from the junior timetable to the senior timetable and socialise with the Grade 5 and Grade 6 children at lunchtime and recess, and expectations around personal organisation and social responsibility increase. 

Students take another step in their journey to become independent, resilient and self-motivated learners, and are encouraged to take ownership of their own learning, actions and decisions. Across all subjects our school values of Respect, Resilience, Responsibility and Learning Success are encouraged and explicitly taught, with a specific focus on developing problem-solving skills, persistence and belief in their own abilities which are applied both socially and academically. 

English

The Grade Four reading focus shifts from learning to read to reading for understanding, with an emphasis on finding enjoyment from reading and continuing to practise reading aloud with expression and oral fluency. We continue to increase all students' confidence in their abilities as they continue to read a wide range of texts, including fiction and non-fiction. Students have access to a classroom library and a school library. As they continue to challenge themselves, we encourage students to track their thoughts during independent reading time to enable them to clarify unknown words, make predictions, identify main ideas and connect to the text. Each term, as part of the literature unit, students delve deeply into the characters and themes of a class wide text. 

Throughout the year students experience writing in a variety of forms, including narrative, persuasive and information reports. Students are explicitly taught each form of writing over several weeks as skills are gradually built upon. A range of topics are provided to ensure all students are engaged and excited to write. Students regularly work as a whole class, in small groups, in pairs and individually to assist in the development of their ideas. At Preston we believe grammar development and spelling are important aspects of great writing. These are addressed through directed class teaching as well as on an individual basis. 

Mathematics

In Mathematics, Grade 4 students are learning to think like a mathematician by using their problem-solving skills and mathematical thinking. They are explicitly taught the mathematical skills they will utilise when working on a maths questions. When applying these skills, students are encouraged to take risks and make connections between their mathematical knowledge and skills. We continue to enhance all children’s basic facts knowledge, with a focus on Multiplication and Division.

ICT

In Grade 4 students ICT is incorporated into the curriculum, using digital technologies.  Throughout the year students are taught and educated about the importance of cyber safety and are taught essential ICT skills. During ICT lessons, students work collaboratively on tasks using a variety of apps. 

Humanities and Science

Across the year, students explore engaging units across Science, History and Geography, building their knowledge, wonder and interpretation of the world around them.

• Science: Students investigate Materials, The Water Cycle, Changing Weather and Patterns, Food Chains and Forces.
• History: Students explore Early Colonisation of Australia to 1800.
• Geography: Students investigate the Earth’s Environment and how to manage different types of environments.

At Preston Primary School the Grade Four teachers plan engaging and challenging lessons to deliver a program that promotes each student’s ability, independence and learning style. We provide an encouraging, supportive and safe learning environment to help develop a resilient and respectful mindset in each student.