4th & 5th Grades
Morning & Afternoon Sessions
Students spend the morning focused on history, art, and science and then turn to expanding their skills in writing, vocabulary, and math facts in the afternoon.
History
History will be taught to all grade levels chronologically in four volumes (years): Ancient Times, Middle Ages, Early Modern Times, and The Modern Age. During class time, students will learn about a significant event, place, or important person from the focus time period for the schoolyear. They will complete an engaging activity, hear a beautiful picture book read to them, draw on maps, or listen to a chapter from The Story of the World.
Science
Students will alternate a science lesson and a science lab each week, focusing on a concept, theory, or scientist, giving them time to dive deep into experiments and discovery and exercise the learning that took place during the previous weekâs science lesson.
Art Appreciation
This block will bring to life the art of the time period. In alternating weeks, students will learn about important art, artists, and techniques during their lessons, and then they will create their own masterpieces during their art studio time.
Presentations & Literature Lounge
On alternating weeks, we will have presentations or a book chat time called Literature Lounge. During Lit Lounge, students will share a book that they have enjoyed with the class, giving details and hopefully persuading the class to try new and different books. The book could be a picture book that the parent read to the student, a family read-aloud chapter book, or a book (either picture or chapter) that the student read on their own. On the alternate weeks, students will share brief informative, persuasive, or instructive presentations.
Club 45
Club 45 focuses on expanding the skills that students are practicing such as math facts, writing, and vocabulary. The students also have an opportunity to practice sportsmanship and learn sports skills during a PE block.
Writing
Using the Institute of Excellence in Writing (IEW) lessons, students will learn to organize their thoughts, develop strong sentence structures, and confidently express themselves through writing. We can guide students through key IEW techniques, such as keyword outlines and stylistic dress-ups, while allowing time for peer interaction and feedback.
Language Roots
Students will explore Greek and Latin language roots through interactive and engaging activities. Each week, we will introduce new roots and their meanings, discuss their connections to modern English words, and practice using them in context. Students will participate in fun games, such as root word matching or word-building challenges, to reinforce their understanding and retention. These hands-on activities will not only enhance their vocabulary and improve spelling but also deepen their appreciation for the linguistic foundations of the English language.
Scholar Showcase
The end-of-year showcase project will guide students through the process of researching a topic of personal interest, developing critical thinking and communication skills, and expressing their findings through writing and presentation. This project gives students the opportunity to practice new or refined skills and to share what they have learned. The Scholar Showcase is not a separate class; rather, it is the culminating project of the year that integrates the different subject blocks.
PE & Math Games
Student will alternate PE and math games weekly. They will play math games to improve math fact retention and recall. On the alternate weeks, through structured games, skill-building activities, and fitness challenges, the students will develop coordination, teamwork, and sportsmanship.