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4th Grade: the whole year

Every subject a 4th grade student takes, and what each one covers. Each subject is 180 daily lessons; open any course to see its units and lessons.

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Math

Math 4

A full year of 4th-grade math: numbers to 1,000,000, multi-digit multiplication and division, equivalent fractions and adding fractions, decimals to hundredths, measurement conversion, angles and symmetry, with long stretches of mixed practice.

  1. Number sense and place value to 1,000,000
  2. Multi-digit multiplication and division
  3. Fractions
  4. Decimals, conversion and area
  5. Angles, lines and symmetry
  6. Mixed practice, real-world problems and games
  7. Second round of practice
  8. Mixed reviews, self-assessment and mastery checks
  9. Portfolio, final checks and celebration

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Reading

Reading 4

Fourth grade reading centers on theme, character and point of view in stories, myths, a poem and a play, plus the five ways nonfiction is organized. Most days after the first two months are read-a-passage-and-answer practice.

  1. Theme, narrators, figurative language & myths
  2. Poems, plays, word choice & summarizing
  3. Passage practice: setting, purpose & central idea
  4. Comprehension Olympics, cause chains & features
  5. More passages & self-assessment
  6. Trivia finale, portfolio & year-end

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Writing & Grammar

Writing 4

A full year of 4th-grade writing: organized opinion pieces, informative reports and stories, two research reports, a long run of shorter pieces in many forms, and the grammar that goes with them. Ends with a portfolio of the year's best work.

  1. Getting started & the first research report
  2. Narrative craft and revising
  3. Opinion, how-to and short forms
  4. Second research report
  5. Many forms of writing, part 1
  6. Many forms of writing, part 2
  7. Looking back and final pieces
  8. Final reports and portfolio
  9. Wrap-up and celebration

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Science

Science 4

Fourth-grade science on energy and motion, electricity, waves and sound, how plants and animals are built to survive, and how Earth's surface changes, with engineering challenges throughout and two science fair projects. The second half is largely review.

  1. Energy, electricity, waves and how we see
  2. Earth's changing surface and energy choices
  3. Structures, energy changes and a nature journal
  4. First science fair project
  5. Sound, habitats, maps and engineering solutions
  6. Friction, landforms and more design challenges
  7. Second project, heat, waves, boats and umbrellas
  8. Review games, reflection and a final design
  9. Trivia finale, portfolio and celebration

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History & Social Studies

History 4

A fourth-grade course that covers each of its big topics twice, first as a quick overview and then in depth: medieval Europe, the Islamic world, Africa and China, then the American Revolution, the Constitution, the early presidents and 1800s reformers.

  1. First look: Rome's fall, Islam, Africa and China
  2. First look: the Revolution, Constitution and reformers
  3. In depth: the Middle Ages and the Islamic world
  4. In depth: Africa, China and the Mongols
  5. In depth: the American Revolution
  6. In depth: the Constitution and how government works
  7. In depth: early presidents and reformers
  8. Year in review & celebration

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Electives at this grade

Add any of these alongside the core subjects.

Art

Art 4

A year of fourth-grade art: using the elements and principles on purpose, color mixing and one-point perspective, drawing and painting techniques, clay and weaving, art traditions from many cultures, and a capstone piece.

  1. Review and getting started
  2. Color and one-point perspective
  3. A planned project, and drawing techniques
  4. A message piece and new materials
  5. Painting, printmaking, clay and weaving
  6. Five art traditions
  7. Reading art in context
  8. Presenting and preserving art
  9. Capstone project
  10. Portfolio and certificate

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Music

Music 4

A full year of 4th-grade music: reviewing the elements of music, tonality and meter, composing pieces with an accompaniment, instrument families and timbre, music and culture around the world, evaluating performances, and a capstone composition.

  1. Review and new vocabulary
  2. Tonality and meter in depth
  3. Composing with rhythm, melody and accompaniment
  4. Finishing and presenting a composition
  5. Timbre and the instrument families
  6. Music and culture
  7. Evaluating and rehearsing performances
  8. Capstone composition
  9. Portfolio review and celebration

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PE & Health

PE & Health 4

A fourth-grade year of balance and ball skills (throwing, striking, serving, kicking, dribbling) with health lessons on bones and muscles, digestion and the heart, fitness components, bike and water safety, first aid, stress, screen time and healthy decisions.

  1. Goals, balance and basic ball skills
  2. Bones, muscles and healthy habits
  3. Catching, striking and fitness components
  4. Digestion, heart, fueling and environment
  5. Serving, striking, kicking, bike and water safety
  6. Dribbling, teamwork, first aid and decisions
  7. Sportsmanship, habits, stress and screens
  8. Skills showcase and a year of health topics reviewed
  9. Family day planning and goal reflection

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Social Skills

Social Skills 4-5

A social and emotional course meant to be used across 4th and 5th grade, at the pace that suits the child. It builds self-awareness, goal-setting and stress management, perspective-taking, listening, disagreeing respectfully, honesty, teamwork and sound decision-making.

  1. Knowing yourself
  2. Managing yourself: goals & stress
  3. Seeing through others' eyes
  4. Listening, disagreeing, including & compromise
  5. Teamwork, honesty & trust
  6. Making responsible decisions
  7. Year in review

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