Fourth Grade Curriculum

In fourth grade, students use Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts, a curriculum built on the science of reading that has been recognized as a program that excels in building knowledge. Students have the opportunity to read both fiction and nonfiction texts this year. They will begin their year studying personal narratives, empires, and the Middle Ages. Both novels and short stories will be utilized to help students grow in knowledge, skill, and critical thinking. Independent lessons are provided at each student’s reading level. Our reading support specialist is also available to work with students who may benefit from additional support. In writing, we focus on: narratives, persuasive essays, poetry, and research pieces.

In fourth grade, all students will have the opportunity to develop conceptual understanding and procedural fluency in mathematics. We want to help our students “think” mathematically. To that end, we continue to have small math groups that allow for differentiated instruction, ensuring that students are at a similar level of conceptual understanding with peers. The content is developed with focus, coherence, and rigor that closely follows the Ohio Common Core standards. This is followed by visual learning to solidify the underlying concepts. In fourth grade, strategies and properties are used to solve multiplication and division problems at various levels of complexity with whole numbers and then with decimals. Geometry lessons focus on aspects of measurement, time, capacity, mass, and volume. 

The science program is inquiry-based and requires students to design experiments to test their understanding of science content and concepts. Fourth grade students dig deep into soil, rocks, and landforms. They evaluate the layers of soil, how weathering impacts soil and rocks, and how the earth settles. When exploring how energy works, students take a close look at electricity, circuits, and electromagnetism and the role each plays in our everyday lives.

The social studies curriculum for fourth grade focuses on understanding Ohio geography, longitude and latitude, geographic features, early history and timelines, cultural development, and economic change. Students focus on the early development of Ohio and the United States, and learn about the history, geography, government, and economy of their state and their nation. Foundations of U.S. history are laid as students study prehistoric Ohio cultures, early American life, the U.S. Constitution, and the development and growth of Ohio and the United States. Throughout the year, students collaborate on numerous projects that enhance their understanding of the concepts taught including early Native American cultures, the inventions and people of the Industrial Revolution, and detailed maps of Ohio using various media. As students learn about Ohio’s participation in the Underground Railroad, they have the opportunity to expand their learning through a visit to John Parker House and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Fourth graders attend music, library, technology, physical education, and art classes at least one time per week. Students also attend STEAM once a week in our state-of-the-art Curiosity Center. Art is also integrated throughout the year with the Judaic and general studies curriculum. Highlights in fourth grade include learning how to create block prints, as well as the popular ceramic unit where students study artwork by the famous Cincinnati cartoonist Jim Borgman and his illustration of “How Am I Feeling Today.” Once a week, our school counselor leads a class session using the Sources of Strength curriculum. This curriculum is designed to increase well-being, help-seeking, resiliency, healthy coping, and belonging.

In fourth grade, the students deepen their Hebrew abilities by practicing their writing, and utilize writing to facilitate comprehension. As students’ conversational Hebrew expands, they are also able to study biblical texts, and holidays through a pluralistic lens that embraces tradition and explores the variety of expressions across different communities. The fourth grade curriculum focuses strongly on Jewish values through a ‘Daily Life’ series. While learning vocabulary in Hebrew, the students use a framework of ‘Problem, Advice, Solution’ to consider ‘derech eretz’ - ethical behavior. How do we get along with people of all abilities, how do we avoid making assumptions, what is our responsibility to the group, and what happens when we disagree with one another? Students engage in a cross-curricular study program with social studies and Judaic studies exploring the concepts of freedom - from the Israelites’ enslavement to the Civil Rights movement to human trafficking in the 21st century. They ask questions such as, “where does personal freedom fit?” and “what role do individuals and communities play in ensuring such rights?” This study culminates in the fourth grade Freedom Program. Fourth graders join older classmates in electives and in welcoming the the day together with morning prayers in Boymel Chapel. The students take turns leading the service, reading from the Torah, and teaching their classmates.