The Scripture memory focus in fourth grade helps students to answer the question of what will happen after a Christian dies. Belief in Jesus brings eternal life and the promise of heaven. They will focus on Biblical passages related to the promise of heaven and the Beatitudes. The Biblical literacy skill focus for fourth grade is related to the authorship of the Bible through types of Biblical literature. Students will learn to sort the books of the bible by their literature type: poetry, history, epistles, etc.
In fourth grade, students will be furthering their knowledge about large quantities and estimating. They will be learning 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication, dividing a single digit divisor into a multi digit dividend. Students will deepen their understanding of equivalent fractions and learn mixed numbers along with improper fractions. Decimals are introduced in 4th grade, as is Area and Perimeter.
Fourth graders at HLA are exposed to a variety of genres. Enriching exposure to many genres is a major focus of 4th grade. Students read almost all their leveled text, plus several novels. We have a variety of experiences in 4th grade including having tea as if we are in Narnia, making butter, and studying snowflakes. Another highlight students will experience is the study of a missionary within Literature Circles. Differentiated reading instruction is part of the daily reading program at HLA in fourth grade.
Science in 4th grade studies God’s creation of living things and their adaptations, namely insects and spiders, along with marine animals. We take a deep look into our body’s digestive system and bones. We look at the layers of the earth and even build a simple machine. Students learn what materials are conductors as they light up lightbulbs with circuits.
Students continue a 4-year chronological study of world history that began in the third grade. As students study the Roman empire through the time period of the Crusades, students will construct a physical timeline of events and practice map skills while studying the geography of the time period’s most influential regions. Some historical topics include Julius Caesar and Roman life, the Great Wall of China, Petra and the spice road, the life and death of Jesus, the persecution and spreading of the early church, Roman emperor Constantine, the fall of Rome, the Byzantine empire, Muhammed and the spread of Islam, and Charlemagne of the Franks.
During the 2022-2023 school year, the enrichment specials offered during the school day for fourth graders include Art, PE, and Biblical Formations. Specials are subject to change from year to year.
In fourth grade, math is taught using the Singapore Primary Mathematics 2022 edition. Other subject areas are taught using BJU programs (spelling, reading and science). Fourth grade utilizes the IEW writing program (Institute for Excellence in Writing) that pairs nicely with grammar support from Easy Grammar. Publishing company Notgrass History provides the Adam to Us program that supports our 4-year chronological approach to learning history in grades 3 - 6. In fourth grade, students practice handwriting through print and cursive while focusing instruction on typing through the Typesy online program. The Keys for the Kingdom program is utilized during morning devotional time for Biblical formation.