Assessment/Implementation Statement
Grade Four
Implementaion
The Board of Trustees adopted Harcourt and Nystrom materials for the purpose of implementing the Social Studies curriculum. The assessment components for grade four include the use of LXR tests and performance based assessments which measure the learning objectives found in the GFPS Curriculum Guide.
Required
units needed to cover the curriculum objectives:
Introduction: Why to study Social Studies
Chapter 1: The American Landscape
Chapter 2: We, The Many People
Chapter 3: Looking at Regions
Chapter
12: The
Chapter
13:
Montana Unit (Chapters 1-7)
Geo-Themes
(South America, Africa, Europe, Asia,
Daily
Geography (GROW)
Assessment
Chapter tests are required for chapters 1, 2, 3, 12, and 13. (Chapter 12 and l3 maybe tested as part of a cooperative learning project.) A Montana Unit test will also be given. A score of 70 percent is considered satisfactory. The performance test for units one and six will also be required. These can be found in the Harcourt Assessment Program book p.32-33 and p.112-113. Teachers may choose to complete the group performance assessment or the individual performance task. Follow the scoring procedures provided in the teacher’s manual on p.9-11. Scores will be recorded on the LXR form as:
Unit 1 performance test—Section 5 on the Chapter 3 test
Unit 6 performance test—Section 5 on the Chapter 13 test.
Chapter
tests and the
OPTIONAL
Chapters 4-13 provide the opportunity for a cooperative learning project. Divide the students into five groups (one for each region). Students will work on chapter activities or projects and report back to the entire class. Cooperative learning projects may be assessed by administering either the chapter tests to each group, the performance task to each group, the unit tests to the entire class, or a performance task/project to the entire class. A sample is provided in the implementation binder. This same procedure may be used for the continents.
As students prepare for chapter tests, teachers should direct them to the chapter review pages. These provide a summary of the vocabulary, key ideas, critical thinking, and application of skills. It is also recommended that the Making Social Studies Relevant or a similar activity could be linked to units as this ties to the first state benchmark.