Fourth Grade
In Fourth Grade, after the nine-year-change, when the transition to a still unconscious but strong sense of self is complete, work begins on learning how an individual becomes fully responsible within a social group, a class, a “tribe” as we like to call it. Fourth Grade is a time to look around and see how one stands in relation to what surrounds us and to find security and uprightness through healthy relationships. It is beneficial to learn that contributing to the energy of a social group brings happiness and joy and that taking responsibility for everything you have taken from nature or others is simply your duty. Fourth graders explore California history and geography, the animal kingdom, fractions, and tales of heroes and tricksters through Norse Mythology.
Humanities:
- California History and Geography
- California's Local Indigenous Tribes
- Norse Mythology
- Zoology (Science Block see below) integrates with Humanities themes
Language Arts:
- Practice the parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs
- Reading comprehension and writing practice
- Writing skills are applied when creating the content for projects or for capturing the essence of the block content
- Cursive writing practice
- Class Play
Mathematics:
- Place value up to 10 thousand & expanded notations
- Daily practice of times table
- Thorough review of 4 processes
- Multiples & Factors
- Introduction to fractions through visual images
- Fraction addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
- Improper fractions and mixed numbers
- Word Problems
- Geometry: Area, Perimeter, Angles, Parallel & Perpendicular Lines
- The Four Operations of Decimals (if time permits)
Science:
- Zoology: exploration of classification of animals culminating with students choosing two animals to research, create habit models, and present to the school community
Spanish & World Language:
- Introduction to verb conjugation through writing
- Reading and writing simple texts
- Practicing and memorizing animal names, parts of the house, types of food, restaurant ordering phrases, and family member names
Handwork:
- Learn to cross stitch to make geometric designs. Followed by a needle felting project to make animals of their choosing as part of their final zoology project
Woodwork:
- Projects: serving fork and bowl
Travel:
- Since the inception of our school, our 4th graders embark on a class trip to Headwaters Outdoor school in Mt. Shasta to learn nature survival skills offering the children a chance to step away from their home to live with their class or tribe, sleep in bark shelters, and feel the earth under their bodies - it is an “earthing” process so to speak.