Fourth Grade

St. Paul's 4th grade students practice songs for their musical showcase.

Program Overview

Fourth grade is a hallmark year for learning about entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and students can start to get more involved in arts and athletics! There are creative learning units designed to get students collaborating and presenting their ideas, including the 50 States Project and their Shark Tank Unit. Before and after school, fourth grade students can choose to join a wide range of activities including Math Club, In Harmony Choir, Drama Club, Running Club, and more. Learn more about fourth grade curriculum, special classes, and typical daily schedule below.

Curriculum Objectives and Academic Approach

Using hands-on learning at the core of our our curriculum, students are given space to explore areas of individual interest. In addition, students explore activities that combine art, social studies, music, and science. Some fourth grade learning objectives include:

English/Language Arts: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Math: Solve equations involving fractions, mixed numbers, decimals, area, perimeter, graphs, and probability.
Social Studies: Learn about the different regions of the U.S. including landmarks, economies, history, climate, capitals, and natural resources.
Science: Students learn about the basics of the human brain, including anatomy, nervous system functions, stimulus/response, and preventing brain injuries.

Makerspace
In Makerspace class, students have weekly time devoted to designing, building, coding, and other STEAM-related skills. In fourth grade, students are challenged to create kinetic racers, light-up brain models,

Eurekus
Eurekus is a type of STEAM curriculum that students participate in weekly, typically during their Makerspace class. In 4th grade, students design and build electronic, moving shadow boxes to highlight the unique aspects of a U.S. State of their choice.

Project Based Learning
PBL is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. Students participate in two of these projects each year.

RULER
Using RULER from the Yale Center of Emotional Intelligence as our social emotional learning foundation, students practice understanding and labeling their emotions while also learning strategies to regulate and express their emotions in healthy ways.

Second Step
This social emotional learning curriculum focuses on building emotional IQ. This works gives students the tools and practice to thrive in their relationships at home and at school. Some examples of Second Step lessons include: learning not to place blame when resolving conflict; how to share our feelings while listening to others; the proper technique for apologizing.

Special Programs and Classes

In addition to the core content explored with their classroom teachers, students participate in a range of special classes designed to get them moving, making music, exploring foreign language, and participating in school service projects.

The St. Paul's academic program is arranged in a 7-day rotation with special classes occurring a varying times throughout the seven days. Each day features at least two specials classes.

Daily Chapel: At the start of each day, students gather to share songs, stories, and prayer. Using local stories from community leaders and bible stories, teachers emphasize topics to encourage empathy, open-mindedness, and life skill development. There are often speakers representing different faiths and life experiences so students can learn about a range of customs, cultural celebrations, and world perspectives.
Music: Twice in every seven day period. Students play with percussion and string instruments, learn choreography, and write musical compositions . This time offers students a chance to move, try out instruments, and refocus for more classroom exploration. In addition, music classes reinforce themes that are covered in core classes. Fourth grade students perform a special Christmas music program for friends and family.
Spanish: Three days in every seven day period, fourth grade students take Spanish classes where they explore vocabulary, sentence structure, and Hispanic cultural traditions.
Physical Education: Students play games, learn about sportsmanship, and practice team-building skills during their P.E. classes. They attend P.E. three times during the seven day rotation schedule.
Art: Students attend art classes three times during the seven day rotation schedule. The art program emphasizes core academic content and provides ample opportunity for creative expression while students explore new materials and mediums.
Library: Parents can also sign up to volunteer as the Library Helper during students’ visits to the St. Paul's library. This class happens once during the seven day rotation.
Buddy Program: Fourth grade students are buddies with Preschool students, and they meet-up regularly for activities, playground time, shared meals, and they sit together every Friday at All School Chapel.

Daily Schedule Example

Core Program

8:00 - 8:20 a.m: Drop-off/ Morning Work
8:20 - 8:40 a.m: Chapel
8:40 - 9:50 a.m: Math
10 - 10:35 a.m: Special class (Spanish, Library, PE, Music, Study Hall)
10:35 - 11:05 a.m: Grammar
11:15 - 11:40 a.m: Lunch
11:45 - 12:05 p.m: Recess
12:15 - 1:05 p.m. - Science
1:15 - 2:15 p.m. - Special class (Spanish, Library, PE, Music, Study Hall)
2:15 - 3 p.m. - Reading
3 - 3:30 p.m. - Study Hall / Prepare for Dismissal

Extended Day
Morning care is available from 7:15 - 8 a.m. After school care is available until 6 p.m. Click here to learn more about Extended Day options and pricing.

Admissions Information

Service Learning in Fourth Grade

At St. Paul's, we help students learn the value of serving others. Each grade level works with a community partner organization for embedded service projects throughout the year.

Fourth Grade Partner Organization - Midtown KC Now

Fourth grade students help this organization by:

Organizing St. Paul's clean up projects
Keep Midtown Kansas City clean by picking up in our neighborhood
Clean up litter and debris from right-of-ways along Main Street.

Fourth grade also participates in the spring fundraiser supporting our sister school in Haiti. Click here to earn more about our school-wide service projects.

A St. Paul's 4th grade student practices for their grade level musical showcase.

St. Paul's 4th grade classrooms have only 22 students.

Community Pledge

Everyday at Chapel, students say the St. Paul's Community Pledge.

As a member of the St. Paul's community, I pledge to be honest, to respect others, to take responsibility for my actions and words, to be kind and inclusive, and to help others do the same.

These words reinforce the St. Paul's mission and values and help students focus on the day ahead.

Explore What Comes Next

FIfth gRade

Fourth Grade Learning Highlights

A wall of displayed brain models showing the function and anatomy of the nervous system. — Brain Models
In their Makerspace clase, fourth graders build LED brain models. These models include a complicated circuit system to display how each section of the brain serves a different purpose (i.e. memories, stress response, emotions, problem solving, etc.). They even construct switches using recycled conductive materials.

4th grade students tie wishes to a St. Paul's tree. — Wish Tree
After completing the novel, Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, students create their own wishtree for St. Paul’s to enjoy. The book explores the Irish history of writing down wishes on pieces of cloth and hanging them from a tree’s branches. The St. Paul’s 4^th grade wish tree inspires us all to be more accepting, kind, and to appreciate our differences.

A St. Paul's family of 4 look at a presentation on a US state on an ipad. — 50 States Road Trip
Every spring, 4^th grade completes their 50 U.S. States Road Trip project. After studying the different U.S. regions, students each chose an individual states to research. The unit culminates in a Road Trip where students share interesting facts and artifacts in presentations for family and friends. The unit explores each state’s unique economy, landmarks, climate, food, culture, and local traditions.

A group of four students pose with a product they constructed for a St. Paul's Shark Tank Unit. — Shark Tank
Fourth grade students participate in Shark Tank entrepreneurship projects. During official pitch sessions for expert Sharks, students present product concepts, advertising, and prototypes. They even answer tough questions about profit margins, pricing, and supply/demand. We are always amazed by the ongoing product creativity. Recent examples include: a party planning suitcase, a lego sorter vacuum, a snack delivery drone, and a kitchen appliance that packs lunches.

A St. Paul's 4th grade student shows off their version of a blue dog painting. — Blue Dogs in Art Class
In preparation for their 50 States project, 4^th grade students learn about artists from different U.S. regions. As an example, students paid homage to Louisiana artist, George Rodrigue, and his famous blue dog series which was inspired by the Cajun legend of Loup Garou (werewolf). 4^th graders learned about color mixing while creating their own Blue Dog paintings in the setting of their choice!

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