Curriculum Mapping in Grades 4 - 6

Subject	Strands	Assessments
The Arts	DanceDramaMusicVisual Arts	The Arts curriculum consists of 4 strands: Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts.  However, assessments are not solely based on a student’s knowledge in these strands, but their ability to apply their past and current knowledge on different topics and apply that in a multimedia environment.  They learn how to look past the surface and analyse what the arts are really symbolizing.  This builds critical thinking and communication skills – both vital 21st century skills.
French as a Second Language	ListeningSpeakingReadingWriting	The main goal of the French of as a second language program is to improve and increase the abilities of today’s students to speak the French language.  Students are assessed on their ability to read and listen to the French language and comprehend what is being said to them.  As well, they are assessed on their ability to write and speak French themselves.  At the end of the day, students are learning a whole new language – this is not an easy feat.  Teachers are assessing that students are putting in an effort and are appreciating that learning a new language is not only difficult but important in the bilingual country we live in.
Health and Physical Education	Living Skills:·  Active Living·  Movement Competence·  Healthy Living	The Health and Physical Education curriculum focuses on building a student’s knowledge on living a healthy lifestyle.  This includes active living (participation, fitness, safety), movement competence (movement skills and strategies), and healthy living (healthy eating, personal safety and injury prevention, substance use, addictions, and related behaviours, and human development and sexual health).  However, due to the nature of this course, it does not solely focus on knowledge and skills, but takes into account a student’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development throughout the year.  This makes assessment of this subject more complex.  Assessment remains focused on the individual learner, but not on how much they have achieved the required curriculum.  Instead, it focuses on how the student has self-improved and grown as an individual.
Language	Oral CommunicationReadingWritingMedia Literacy	The Language curriculum assesses students based on their oral communication, reading and writing skills, and media literacy.  However, assessment does not necessarily focus on meeting the required expectations.  Instead, that students have taken their past experiences and have grown and improved their abilities as an individual.  This also includes their ability to critically analyze, represent and communicate – all 21st century skills.  As previously mentioned, students are also assessed on their media literacy.  This is a significant part of the language curriculum as today’s students are being raised in an age of media and technology.  Therefore, this is not an assessment of their ability to use or access media.  However, it assesses a student’s ability to truly understand the media, interpret different strategies and techniques, identify bias, and create their own media texts.
Native Languages	Oral CommunicationReadingWritingGrammar, Language Conventions, and Vocabulary	The Native Language curriculum assesses a student’s ability to orally communicate, read, and write in the Native language, including grammar, language conventions, and vocabulary.  The primary focus of the Native Languages program is to appreciate and inspire interest in the Native Languages.  Therefore, not only does this program assess a student’s ability to learn and understand a new language, but their newfound appreciation of a new culture and respect for individual identities, rights, and values of others.
Mathematics	·  Number Sense and Numeration·  Measurement·  Geometry and Spatial Sense·  Patterning and Algebra·  Data Management and Probability	The Mathematics curriculum focuses on five major strands of math: Number Sense and Numeration, Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense, Patterning and Algebra, and Data Management and Probability.  Each of these strands evolves as the grade level increases.  However, the mathematics curriculum does not solely assess students on their ability to meet curriculum expectations.  It also assesses students on the Mathematical Processes.  This includes: Problem Solving, Reasoning and Proving, Reflecting, Selecting Tools and Computational Strategies, Connecting, Representing, and Communication – each of which is a vital 21st century skill.
Science and Technology	·  Understanding Life Systems·  Understanding Structures and Mechanisms·  Understanding Matter and Energy·  Understanding Earth and Space Systems	·  The Science and Technology curriculum focuses on four main strands throughout grades 1-8.  These strands closely resemble the strands being taught in high school as well as the four main strands of science.  These are: Understanding Life Systems (Biology), Understanding Structures and Mechanisms (Physics), Understanding Matter and Energy (Chemistry), and Understanding Earth and Space Systems (Ecology).  In each year, students will focus on different topics within each strand.  In grade 4, students will be assessed on their knowledge of Habitats and Communities, Pulleys and Gears, Light and Sound, and Rocks and Minerals.  In grade 5, students will be assessed on their knowledge of Human Organ Systems, Forces Acting on Structures and Mechanisms, Properties of and Changes in Matter, and Conservation of Energy and Resources.  In grade 6, students will be assessed on their knowledge of Biodiversity, Flight, Electricity and Electrical Devices, and Space.  However, the assessment of these topics is not solely based in knowledge, but broken up into Knowledge and Understanding, Thinking and Investigation, Communication, and Application.
Social Studies	Heritage and IdentityPeople and Environments	At the Junior level, the Social Studies curriculum focuses on two strands: Heritage and Identity and People and Environments.  However, in each year, students will focus on different topics within each strand.  In grade 4, students will be assessed on their knowledge of Early Societies (3000BCE – 1500CE) and Political and Physical Regions of Canada.  In grade 5, students will be assessed on their knowledge of First Nations and Europeans in New France and Early Canada and The Role of Government and Responsible Citizenship.  In grade 6, students will be assessed on their knowledge of Communities In Canada, Past and Present and Canada’s Interactions with the Global Community.  Similar to the Science curriculum, assessment is divided into the sections Knowledge and Understanding, Thinking, Communication, and Application.