Fourth Grade Curriculum

Language Arts

Fourth grade students read complex, authentic texts and focus on close reading and text evidence. Students build endurance and fluency, begin to practice key skills and strategies, and develop their ability to construct extended written responses to literature.

In fourth grade, students are on the verge of writing longer, more academic texts. They write persuasive essays, learn to develop rich characters and narratives throughout the year, conduct research reports in and reflect on fiction in longer literary writings. 

Mathematics

Bridges in Mathematics is a comprehensive K–5 curriculum that fully addresses state standards in a rigorous, engaging, and accessible manner. 

Students gain a deep understanding of concepts, proficiency with key skills, and the ability to solve complex problems. The curriculum is composed of three distinct but integrated components: Problems & Investigations, Work Places, and Number Corner.

Science

Fourth grade curriculum covers a variety of science concepts this year: Energy, Environments, and Earth’s Systems. Students will be using the Next Generation Science Standards and practices to investigate all science topics covered in fourth grade. This approach to science is inquiry based; students will be asking questions, developing models, carrying out scientific investigations, and making arguments based on evidence.

Social Studies 

Fourth grade social studies looks at the essential question, “How does where you live and what you do matter?” Units focus on how Illinois fits into the United States, who has power in Illinois and the United States, and how individuals can make change. Students learn about the resources, landforms, and cultures in both Illinois and the surrounding regions of our country. Students begin to explore how a government gets its power, how it is organized, why people need a government and the basics of an election on the local/state/national level. Furthermore, students examine how a citizen can create change based on issues or problems of a community, understand how local laws differ from national laws, and recognize that they have a voice in government.

Student Services   

Student Services includes robust staffing supports for all students, including the following staff: Student Service Teachers and Teaching Assistants, District Speech-Language Pathologist, Social Worker, District School Psychologist, District Behavior Interventionist, Certified School Nurse and District English Language Learner Teacher.

This team works together to meet the needs of students with IEPs and 504 plans; in addition, they provide other educational supports to all students.