4th Grade

Fourth Grade

A. Course Description:

Fourth Grade builds on the reading, spelling, composition, critical thinking, and math skills developed in the Third Grade. We continue to develop a student's composition skills using the Progymnasmata. Most subject content is organized and integrated around the theme of Medieval and Renaissance/Reformation European history.

B. Objectives and Methods:

Rhetoric skills are advanced through memorizing and discerning English grammar components and through weekly vocabulary-building exercises called "verbal jousting." In keeping with the Progymnasmata curriculum, students write fables, poetry and maxims, as well as letters. Through the "Spell to Write and Read" program, students spell the 1,000 most commonly used words in the English language.

Listening and translation skills are developed through dictation. Critical thinking and note taking skills are developed by reading and discussing great literature.

Analytical skills and Mathematic proficiency are developed by teaching multiplication/division facts and tables, by reproducing geometric shapes, by solving square root, fraction and percent/probability problems, and by multiplying and dividing three digit numbers. Our Latin curriculum reinforces English grammar and vocabulary knowledge and develops muscle memory and critical thinking skills.

C. Course Goals:

Students will be able to:

write fables and maxims;
meet Joan of Arc, Charles Martel, Martin Luther and other historical figures through biographies;
assemble a Medieval castle;
identify characteristics of Medieval Roman Catholicism and Islam;
multiply and divide three digit numbers;
memorize the seven "I AM" statements of Jesus from the Gospel of John;
classify scientifically animal kingdoms, with a focus on insects;
identify the nineteen European countries and their geographic features and develop mapping skills;

D. Sample of Student Texts:

Famous Men of the Middle Ages; A Short History of the English People; Middle Ages: Renaissance and Reformation; Joan of Arc; Fifteen Battles that Changed the World; Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; McHugh's Saint Patric: Missionary to Ireland; Robinson's Luther, the Leader; Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory