Fourth Grade

In fourth grade, students continue working as artists through TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) and are becoming adept at the studio habits that have been taught each year.  Materials and techniques are taught at the beginning of class, and students are given ample time to explore and experiment. Students improve upon their skills through practice and are asked to reflect upon their creations through critiques and written observations.  Students work autonomously, planning and creating works of art based on personal experiences and interests.  The work created is authentic and unique to each student.  Students are encouraged to express themselves through their artwork and given resources and guidance to do so.  Studios include drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, pottery, printmaking, and fiber arts.

The fourth-grade reading and language arts program provides opportunities for the integration of communication skills through the curriculum. Students learn analytical skills using both traditional and modern literature in a variety of genres. Using Guided reading, a small-group reading instruction,  students are provided differentiated teaching that supports students in developing reading proficiency. The small group model allows children to be taught in a way that is intended to be more focused on their specific needs, accelerating their progress. Our Junior Great Books® Nonfiction and Fiction Libraries promote independent classroom reading. Guided reading is an important component of a robust, high-quality literacy effort, but it is not our entire literacy program—it takes place within a larger framework. Key components of our framework include:

• Guided instruction and practice in reading (grammar, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension)
• Independent reading
• Teacher read-alouds
• Challenge reading and in-depth discussions with speaking and listening instruction and opportunities
• Writing instruction and opportunities using The 6+1 Trait® Writing Model of Instruction & Assessment 
• Words Their Way in which each stage-specific companion volume features a complete curriculum of reproducible sorts and detailed directions for teachers working with students in each stage of spelling development, from emergent through derivational relations.

Fourth graders incorporate the use of research methods in a large Biographical Project called Living Museum. During this project they cultivate their reading, listening, discussion and story retelling skills. They also learn to locate resources, use criteria to choose credible sources as well as to paraphrase and summarize information, avoiding plagiarism to create an all encompassing presentation in front of family, friends and students.

The mathematics program in fourth grade continues to build the foundation in computational and problem-solving skills. Using the Everyday Mathematics program, mathematical concepts are presented in a real-world context, with students solving problems cooperatively, as well as individually. Skill acquisition is monitored in practice, reteaching, enrichment, and extension activities using a variety of hands-on materials. Decimals, metric and standard measurement, fractions, time, and money are included in basic computation.

In fourth-grade music, increased awareness of healthy vocal technique is emphasized alongside a basic understanding of music theory. Instrumentally, students reinforce their skills learned on the soprano recorder when they are introduced to the alto recorder. Skills in reading and writing musical notation are reinforced through singing, movement activities and folk dances, and playing Orff and classroom percussion instruments, ukuleles, and recorders.. Students read, write, and perform more advanced rhythmic and melodic patterns.  Examples of classical, folk, contemporary, and world music are used throughout the school year to enhance each student's development in understanding musical concepts. Students perform at Grandparents and Special Friends Day, the Lower School Winter Concert, and the Fourth Grade Honors Day.

In fourth grade PE, students should be able to demonstrate activities that develop muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. Students focus on the importance of motor skills and movement concepts to be successful in physical activity and/or sports. Students continue to work successfully in a group, regardless of personal differences while participating in games or activities.  Students are given the opportunity to participate in team sports such as: basketball, volleyball, handball, lacrosse, softball, football, soccer and hockey. Students are given the opportunity to participate in individual sports such as: tennis, gymnastics/tumbling, track & field, basketball, jump rope, dance, and recreational games (corn hole, horseshoes, bowling). Students in fourth grade also participate in The Cannon Health and Performance (CHAMP) Test. The assessment includes a variety of health-related physical fitness tests that assess aerobic capacity; muscular strength, muscular endurance, speed, power and flexibility. Scores from these assessments are compared to our overall class averages to determine students’ overall physical fitness and suggest areas for improvement when appropriate. Our goal as a Lower School Physical Education Department is for all students to be equipped with appropriate knowledge of varying sports and to develop a lifelong love for fitness.

The Lower School years are ones of rapid growth and development. Each new birthday brings tremendous change. Typical challenges and characteristics of children, by age and developmental stage, can be found on the School Counseling webpage along with recommended resources.

In the beginning of fourth grade, students focus on becoming better scientists by improving their general experimentation skills. They complete labs designed to stretch their curiosity, observing, measuring, reasoning, while forming their own hypothesis. They also do science lab work to learn more about Earth science through the study of how earthquakes and volcanoes shape the planet. They use a variety of tests to examine rocks, soil, and water and how they shape various ecosystems. They observe seed germination and study plant and animal adaptations in the various biomes of Earth.

The fourth grade social studies program, Social Studies Alive! America’s Past, covers American history from the first migrations into the Americas through the 20th century. Intense interaction with the personalities, places, and events that structured our nation leads students to be both keen observers of and informed participants in U.S. history.

In level 4, students continue expanding on previous areas adding more vocabulary—nouns, adjectives, and verbs.  They learn to use all pronouns—I, you, he, she, we, you (pl) and they.  They conduct basic conversations about their daily lives at school, at home, and on vacation.  They are able to share what they have in common with other peers and enquire about the lives of people from other countries.  Speaking, listening, reading, and writing are all part of every class.  Culturally, fourth grade focuses on Spain.

In Lower School, our learning design involves high engagement, structured so that students are drawn into appropriate levels of challenge. Curiosity and creativity are nurtured, along with consistent encouragement for teamwork and partner work. Students are encouraged to try new things, and to think and talk through problem-solving steps. Students follow core values as they use media and technology.

During the fourth grade year, students work with robotic devices using EdBlocks, a fully graphical robot programming language ideal for students aged 8 to 12 years old. Students also gain experience with coding through using a variety of resources and challenge tasks. Students use digital resources alongside hands-on learning. They participate in a variety of hands-on maker challenges and creative presentations.

Technology is integrated into classroom curriculum units to promote information literacy, creative work, and critical thinking. Students create and save files to a cloud-based account and share files to teachers and collaborators. Students also use quality learning software appropriate to their developmental level in the areas of literacy and reading, and in math and problem solving. Tech basics include digital citizenship education, keyboarding/writing, creative mixed media and presentations, and information literacy. Special emphasis is placed on comprehension, communication, organization, and research skills. This program helps students increase their sophistication levels in currently available technology, but also incorporates "learning to learn" in a way that will transfer to the technology tools of the future.