Curriculum
Grade Level 4 (Full Set)
Grade Level 4 (Full Set)
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GL4 Art Overview: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26).
God created us in his image to reflect his character. He loved being the Creator, and because humans are made in his image, we also have the gift of artistic activity and expression. The study of the arts, both its production and history, stimulates the mind and develops creativity.
This Grade Level 4 Art course is designed to provide students with opportunities to express themselves through the visual arts. The course reviews and builds on the fundamental skills and elements taught in the GL1-3 Art courses. Each of the five units of study focuses on one of the five elements of art—line, shape, value, texture, and color. The curriculum is designed for anyone who desires to teach it and carefully reads and prepares for each lesson, whether an experienced art teacher or a novice. Background information on artists and art history, visual aids, and clear step-by-step methods and instructions are incorporated into every lesson.
Art Teacher Text (and Art Prints) includes an introductory section explaining the benefits and purposes of studying art, how to use the curriculum, instructions for using the art images and prints, suggestions for providing a classroom atmosphere conducive to creativity, and tips for care of supplies and materials and managing student behavior. Each lesson follows a similar format of introducing students to an element of art and incorporating a principle of design. Lessons also include student objectives, biblical worldview integration, a list of materials needed, a scripted introduction paired with art images/prints, vocabulary words and definitions, detailed instructions for student activities and assignments, informal assessment questions, and possible extensions or modifications to the lesson. Also includes color prints of art reproductions, instructional material, and examples of student art assignments; reproduced on high quality card stock with a semi-gloss finish.
GL4 History Overview: In classical education, the study of history is the backbone of the curriculum. By studying history in chronological order and integrating other subjects into this core, students are able to bring order to their understanding of the world and the ways in which God has worked throughout history to accomplish his glorious purposes and plans. In Grade Level 4, students are taught about historical events, places, and people through actively listening to engaging stories, arts and crafts, small group activities, games, projects, and vocabulary exercises. The Grade Level 4 History course covers the history of the Byzantine Empire, the rise of Islam, the medieval world, schisms in the Western and Eastern church, the high Middle Ages, and the age of the Crusades.
History Teacher Text corresponds to chapters through nine of the GL8 History Student Text (included as a Resource Text), which is included in a full set. The teacher text includes instructions for preparation, how to use the materials, and a suggested weekly class schedule. Each lesson contains student objectives, biblical worldview integration, a list of needed materials, lesson introduction, lesson vocabulary and definitions, detailed methods for instruction and learning activities, informal assessments, and suggested lesson extensions and modifications.
Language Arts Teacher Text includes general instructions for how to use the teacher text and explanations for the components of language arts lessons, instructions for weekly use of vocabulary and spelling lessons and games, descriptions of the characteristics of a classical language arts classroom, an introduction to classical methods of teaching grammar, writing and literature, and an explanation of the classical Progymnasmata, or preliminary rhetorical exercises. Each lesson includes student objectives, biblical worldview integration, a list of needed materials, an introduction, detailed instructional methods, assessments, and suggested lesson extensions and modifications. The teacher text includes copies of student worksheets, answer keys, and grading rubrics.
Language Arts Student Text includes student worksheets, literature selections, writing samples, and grading rubrics.
Literature Teacher Study Guides include an introduction to classical methods of teaching language arts and literature as well as a breakdown of how to schedule the different components of the language arts curriculum. The literature study guides correspond with eight books Rafiki has chosen to teach as part of its GL4 Language Arts course in all Rafiki schools. Titles are Chike and the River, by Chinua Achebe; Journey to Jo’burg, by Beverly Naidoo; Nelson Mandela, by Rowena Akinyemi; Tales from Africa, retold by Kathleen Arnott; The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. Note: Books are not included with the study guides. Note: Books are not included with the study guides.
Literature Study Guides Student Text | This student text includes worksheets and activity guides for the six Literature selections in the GL4 Literature Study Guides Teacher Text for independent follow-up to teacher-guided reading and discussion of the stories. These study guides are intended only for supplementary review after reading and discussing the book with the class. Note: Books are not included with the study guides.
To use the Literature Study Guides in this course, you will need to purchase the following books on your own: Chike and the River; Journey to Jo'burg: A South Africa Story; Nelson Mandela; Tales from Africa; The Hundred Dresses; and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
GL4 Maths Overview: “The study of mathematics ought to strike a balance between wonder, work, wisdom, and worship.”
Clark, Kevin, and Jain, Ravi Scott. The Liberal Arts Tradition, Revised Edition. Classical Academic Press. Camp Hill, PA. 2019. p. 67.
The goal of Grade Level 4 Maths is to train students to think mathematically. Instruction pursues mastery through systematic sequencing of concepts explored in concrete, pictorial, and abstract terms. Concepts explored include mental math strategies and probability; multiplication and division of two, three, and four-digit whole numbers; adding, subtracting and multiplying fractions, improper fractions and mixed numbers; decimals; collecting and presenting data (range, mode, median, mean); geometry basics (angles, degrees, areas, perimeter of triangles); order of operations and solving equations; coordinate graphs.
Each lesson follows the same pattern: scripted calendar review, counting, problem of the day, fact practice, conceptual review, new skill instruction, guided and independent practice, and review.
Maths Teacher Text provides each lesson in the GL4 Math curriculum with student objectives, biblical worldview integration, a list of needed materials, assessment, suggestions for lesson extensions or modifications, and interactive scripts for daily lessons. Each lesson includes detailed methods for: opening review, lesson introduction, guided practice, independent practice, lesson wrap-up, review, and suggestions for lesson extensions and modifications. Teacher text includes copies of all student worksheets and answer keys.
Maths Student Worksheets include consumable, lesson-by-lesson worksheets for math drills, skills practice, unit assessments, and unit/lesson reviews. Additionally, Extra Practice Worksheets for each lesson provide opportunities for independent review and skill application leading to mastery.
Reading Strategies Handbook (GL3-6) | This handbook organizes an abundance of information about the complexities of reading and expectations for successful GL 3-6 readers, as well as numerous graphic organizers for identifying plot, character, main ideas, cause and effect, prediction skills, vocabulary enrichment, and story mapping.
GL4 Science Overview: “Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.” – Sir Isaac Newton
The Christian classical view of science upholds that science gives us a view of God’s revelation of himself in his creativity and omnipotence. In our approach to science, we aim to know God through his attributes observed in creation and Scripture. The Grade Level 4 Science course is designed to help students think scientifically and to discover foundational concepts related to scientific investigation and experimentation in physical, life, and earth sciences. The course contains units on scientific investigation—surveys, experiments, and studies—the organ systems of the human body, discovering living organisms in an ecosystem, light and sound, magnetism and electricity, and rocks and minerals.
Science Teacher Text includes an introduction explaining the Christian classical perspective in the sciences, the Science Scope and Content standards for kindergarten through GL8, biblical worldview principles, and instructions on how to use the teacher text. Each GL4 Science unit includes an introductory overview that contains unit objectives, materials needed, items for display, unit vocabulary, and suggestions for additional study, research and reading. Individual unit lessons are structured similarly and include student learning objectives, biblical worldview integration, materials needed, an introduction, vocabulary words and definitions, detailed instructional methods, student worksheets, lesson/unit reviews, group and individual assessments, rubrics and answer keys, chants and songs to aid student learning and memorization, and suggestions for lesson extensions and modifications.
Science Student Pages are colorful consumable worksheets, visual aids, and reference materials related to various topics of study in the GL4 Science units and lessons
Spelling Teacher Text builds and extends on the procedures and skills students have learned in GL1-3. This text includes an overview of the GL4 Spelling curriculum and its components; directions for Cover-Copy-Compare, alphabetizing and word sorting; and suggestions for how to create word lists and spelling lessons from other parts of the Language Arts and GL4 curriculum. Each weekly lesson is comprised of student learning objectives, biblical worldview integrations, pre-test, spelling rules/generalization/word meanings, C-C-C, games/chants/songs, alphabetizing, and a post-test. This text also contains an overview of the GL4-6 spelling lessons, topics, and words.
Spelling Student Text contains weekly spelling word lists and cumulative review words for each of the 18 lessons.
Classical Academic Press’s Writing & Rhetoric series dynamically complements the language arts component of the Rafiki Education System, GL3-6. An adaptation of Writing & Rhetoric Book 1: Fable is available for use in Africa. Rafiki Foundation recommends the use of Classical Academic Press’s Writing & Rhetoric Collection for schools outside Africa. See book and grade level suggestions at this link:
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