Discovery. Exploration. Adventure. Fourth grade immerses students in a year of projects, hands-on experiences, mixed-grade activities, and opportunities for self-expression.  

From creating Native American myths to mastering mathematical concepts to researching remarkable Californians, fourth graders engage their creative problem solving, creativity, and critical thinking skills as they continue their journey as lifelong learners.

In fourth grade students learn to recognize social and cultural features of a text to further sharpen their comprehension skills. They are introduced to a variety of writing processes and practice paragraph and essay structure. Giving oral presentations helps students build fluency and inflection skills.

In math, students master whole number calculations, engaging in more complex problem solving and strengthening their reasoning ability. Critical thinking skills are also strengthened as students learn how to develop several strategies for a given problem. Engaging in a variety of hands-on activities with fifth graders, students learn how to employ the scientific method. Units of scientific study include astronomy, archeology, physics, properties of matter, energy and electricity, to name a few.

Social studies engages students in the study of California and San Francisco cultures, including native people, missions, ranchos, the gold rush, immigration, agriculture, social activism, and current events. People in Profile, a joint project with the third grade, invites students to conduct biographical research on a historical Californian and concludes with student performances. 

The People in Profile unit is an excellent example of the interdisciplinary nature of teaching and learning at Presidio Hill School. Read more.