4th Grade

Fourth Grade

Voice & Exhibition

Five-paragraph essays, TED Talks, and a year-end Exhibition.

The PYP Exhibition

A capstone of the Lower School journey, fourth graders identify a passion, research a community issue, and present what they’ve learned through Exhibition presentations and interviews.

IB Units of Inquiry

List of 6 items.

How the World Works

An inquiry into patterns that naturally occur and change societies over time.
How We Express Ourselves

An inquiry into student passions and how they can help their community.
How We Organize Ourselves

An inquiry into how organization can help us be better thinkers and communicators.
Sharing the Planet

An inquiry into how societies use resources in different ways.
Where We Are in Place & Time

An inquiry into how movement can bring change.
Who We Are

An inquiry into understanding who we are and how it empowers us to grow.

Explore Lower School

Lower School Curriculum

Ready for Middle School

List of 4 items.

Reading

Fourth graders become confident, analytical readers of complex literature and informational texts, examining character, craft, word choice, theme, and perspective while supporting thinking with evidence. As foundational skills become automatic, they focus on interpretation and connection.
Writing & Word Study

Students craft well-organized multi-paragraph essays across genres, strengthening transitions, sentence structure, vocabulary, and voice. Through revision, peer collaboration, and rubrics, they take ownership of polished work. Word Study deepens vocabulary and spelling patterns.
Math

Fourth graders investigate multi-digit multiplication, factors and multiples, number patterns, fractions, geometry, and measurement, reasoning through multi-step problems. Using strategies like CUBES, they apply math to authentic challenges with perseverance.
Research

Preparing for the PYP Exhibition and Middle School, students ask meaningful questions, evaluate source credibility, synthesize multiple perspectives, and communicate findings through engaging presentations and authentic projects.

Specials

List of 6 items.

Frontiers

Fourth graders think like innovators, exploring ocean ecosystems, an A-to-Z research project, learning-styles inventories, hands-on algebra and logic, and Exhibition groups as they prepare for the PYP Exhibition.
Music

Vocal warmups, echo and unison songs, percussion and orchestral instruments, treble clef and Orff notation, and recorder and ukulele with self-accompaniment, plus folk dances and multicultural music.
Spanish

Applying functional vocabulary and grammar in context, numbers, colors, weather, clothing, body, family, seasons, home, and community, and writing an original story with characters, setting, problem, and solution.
Art

Students study R.C. Gorman and Frida Kahlo for desert landscapes and realistic self-portraits, create clay and 3D sculptures, and contribute to a large collaborative artwork for the annual Exhibition.
PE

Sports-based PE prepares students for middle school athletics through small-sided games and team activities, with ongoing fitness assessments, personal goals, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Library

Weekly visits nurture a lifelong love of reading, with books matched to interests and informal conferences that help students set goals and discover new genres.