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 Indigenous Tribes
- Zoology which concludes with students choose two animals to research, create habit models, and present to the school community
- Norse Mythology
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:
- Introduction to fractions through visual images
- Fraction addition, subtraction multiplication, and division.
- Fraction reducing and expanding, improper fractions to mixed numbers
- Prime and square numbers
- Times table practice and mastery
- Long multiplication and division
- Word problems practiced
Science:
- Zoology: including classification of animals. Accurate drawing of maps, graphs, and charts for the recording of data
Spanish & World Language:
- Introduction to to verb conjugation through writing
- Reading and writing simple texts
- Animal names practiced and memorized
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.