Grade 4

Grade 4 teachers expertly guide our students into the pinnacle year of the Lower School experience.
Knowing that new challenges await, we keep joy and play at the center of the student experience while preparing our fourth graders for what's next. Expanded opportunities in the arts, extracurricular activities, and community service set the stage for further social and emotional growth as students are introduced to a more challenging academic curriculum.

Grade 4 students gain more of a leadership role in our school community, mentoring younger Kindergarten students as part of our Pals program and leading our weekly Community Meetings.

Grade 4 Highlights

Egg Drop Engineering Project
Pals
Malawi Children's Mission Cultural Exchange
Student Council Opportunities
Morning Meeting Presentations
Holly Hill Farm Partnership
Mosaic Coffee Houses
Book Talks and Podcasts

In The Classroom

Math Program

Science Program

Language Arts

Fourth graders study and practice language arts through carefully developed cross-curricular experiences combined with reading and writing instruction. The focus is on reading comprehension and expository writing. Students read a variety of genres, with an emphasis on enjoyment, rich vocabulary development, discussion skills, and text connections, using multiple modes to express comprehension including Literature Circles, book groups, and writing about reading. Students continue to build foundational writing skills—using evidence to support a thesis; paragraphing; writing strong introductions, transitions, and conclusions, and developing deeper vocabularies and writing conventions—throughout all stages of the writing process.

Spanish

Specials

Fourth graders attend library class each week to nurture a lifelong love of reading, work on research and digital citizenship skills in a culminating travel research project, and explore our diverse world through literature. They can also opt to continue participating in weekly lunchtime book clubs and build community through shared stories.

In Grade 4, our Arts program expands in an exciting way with experiences in all of the Arts disciplines we offer in our Middle School, including instrumental ensembles, Drama, Shop, Sewing, Engineering Design, Vocal Music, and Visual Arts.

Concurrently, in Physical Education, Grade 4 students gain exposure to all of the sports we offer in the Middle School through units in Field Hockey, Flag Football, Soccer, Sports Training, Yoga, Hockey, Basketball, Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, and Track & Field.

A man in a vest and a boy in a t-shirt read a document together at a table, with bookshelves visible in the background.

Children are tending to raised garden beds in front of a greenhouse.

Projects Curriculum

In Grade 4, our program begins to add more STEM components to the curriculum. Students are introduced to lab science through engaging physical, earth, and biological science topics like the brain, plants, greenhouses and composting, and energy. In addition to science and geography, their presentation skills receive more attention and discrete skill-building. Their geography studies also allow for a deeper look into North America, the United States, and the movement of peoples whose immigration patterns weave the fabric of our country.

Plants

Students dive into the fascinating world of plants by exploring the intricate parts of a seed and the remarkable structures that help seeds grow and survive. They investigate how seeds are alike and different, discover the powerful effects of water on seeds, and trace the amazing life cycle of a bean plant from seed to full bloom.

Energy

Young scientists unlock the mysteries of energy by experimenting with circuits, discovering which materials conduct electricity, and harnessing the power of solar cells. They also transform a steel rivet into an on-and-off magnet and channel their inner inventor by recreating the telegraph using their growing knowledge of electromagnetism.

This unit culminates in our annual Egg Drop design challenge!

Geography & Immigration

Explorers of the world sharpen their map skills, master states and capitals, and journey through the diverse landforms, cultures, climates, economies, and histories of U.S. regions from the Northeast to the West. They also examine compelling stories of immigration and labor movements, developing a rich understanding of the people and forces that have shaped our nation.

Presentation Skills

Presentations Skills

Students build powerful communication skills by crafting polished slideshows, practicing confident public speaking, and learning how to choose visual aids that make their ideas shine. These presentation skills will empower them to share their learning with clarity, creativity, and confidence in front of any audience!