Grade 4

This document outlines the Grade 4 curriculum. West Hartford’s comprehensive program is based on standards for teaching and learning adopted by the Connecticut Board of Education/State Department of Education including Connecticut Core Standards, Connecticut Social Studies Frameworks, and Next Generation Science Standards. The West Hartford curriculum also includes integration of state standards for visual and performing arts, physical education, and library media services. These standards guide development of curriculum and instruction to support student learning necessary for success on district and state assessments and for students to have the knowledge, skills and dispositions for future college and career readiness.

Through seven units of study, your child will focus on both the content of Math Standards (WHAT they will learn) and Mathematical Practices (HOW students engage in learning of mathematics) that are both part the CT Core Mathematics Standards for Mathematics.

In Grade 4, instruction focuses on five critical areas of mathematics content learning:

• Using place value understanding and properties of operations to solve multi-digit problems (Number & Operations in Base Ten)
• Using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to solve problems as well as gain familiarity with factors and multiples (Operations & Algebraic Thinking)
• Extending and applying previous understandings of operations with whole numbers to build fractions (Number and Operations - Fractions)
• Solving problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit as well as understanding concepts of angle and measurement of angles (Measurement & Data)
• Drawing and identifying lines and angles, classifying shapes by properties of their lines and angles (Geometry)

Click here for some helpful resources that you can use to gain a better understanding of the elementary math curriculum as well as ways in which you can support your child in math at home.

• The effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation (patterns of Earth's features)
• The internal and external structures of animals and plants that support their survival, growth, reproduction and overall behavior
• Energy and energy transfer by sound, light, heat and electrical currents
• Wave patterns and how waves can cause objects to move

Your child will demonstrate their understanding of these core ideas by engaging in eight science and engineering practices throughout their science units of study.

This year, your child will develop an understanding of and mastery toward Grade 4 Common Core Standards for English-Language Arts. These standards integrate all aspects of Language Arts development and are categorized under reading, language, and speaking & listening. Your child will participate in whole and small group reading lessons to support progress toward mastery of these standards. An outline of the year's units are included below.

Please note that this year, two of the Grade 4 units are newly revised to more strongly align with the Science of Reading.

Unit 1: Elements of Fiction (Story Elements & Making Inferences)

Unit 2: Inside Out & Back Again: Studying Location, Place, and Movement Through Historical Fiction

Unit 3: Features of Informational Texts (Text Structure & Text Features)

Unit 4: Using Informational Text to Support Ideas (Integrating Information from Two Texts)

Unit 5: Mythology (Comparing Themes & Patterns of Events in Greek Myths)

Click here for some helpful resources that you can use to support your fourth grader with reading at home.

Writing instruction is now embedded into the literacy block. Teachers will use both sentence-level writing routines, as developed through The Writing Revolution, along with a gradual release model for process writing to guide their writing instruction. Students will continue to engage in process writing and complete narrative, informational, and opinion pieces.

Click here for some helpful resources that you can use to support your child with writing at home.

Your child will engage in weekly lessons from the Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum as well as a Morning Meeting structure (greeting, sharing, group activities) implemented in all Grade K-5 classrooms provide West Hartford students with a consistent social-emotional learning progression. As part of our WHPS commitment to equity and anti-racism, your child will also engage in supplemental lessons that support Second Step programing as it relates to identity, diversity, justice, and action. Students build the following social-emotional learning (SEL) concepts and skills throughout their WHPS elementary experience:

• Self-Awareness: Develop a positive self-concept
• Self-Management: Identify, understand, and regulate emotions of self and others
• Responsible Decision-Making: Make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions
• Relationship Skills: Develop positive interpersonal relationships
• Social Awareness: Develop an understanding of rules and responsibilities within communities

Your child will engage in an integrated social studies curriculum developed with guidance from the Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Standards passed by the State Board of Education in October 2024. The Grade 3 & 4 standards, which include Inquiry, History, Geography, Economics and Civics, are embedded into Course Questions and Course Topics.

Course Questions:

• What influences the movement of people, goods, and ideas in the United States?
• How has Connecticut’s history shaped the state identity?
• What is the significance of Connecticut’s contribution to United States history?

Course Topics:

• Location, Place, and Movement
• Cultural Communities in Connecticut Present and Past
• Innovation, Industry, and Economic Growth

As part of the English/Language Arts curriculum, your child will will participate in two integrated Social Studies units.

1. How do the different perspectives of people who immigrate and/or migrate help us learn how American communities change over time?

• Your child will be reading, writing, thinking, and engaging in thoughtful discussions about the push and pull factors that influence people's decisions to leave one place and move to another.

2. What people, places, and events make Connecticut unique and significant in the story of America?

• Your child will use a variety of primary and secondary sources and electronic media to study Connecticut's history.

Instruction about Religion:

• Study the religious diversity of the West Hartford community.

Keyboarding:

The typing.com program introduces foundational letter and keyboarding skills. Muscle memory of the keyboard is developed with frequently used letter combinations. Your child will learn to type words and sentences using engaging and changing themes.

Click here to learn more about keyboarding practice at WHPS.

Handwriting:

Students are introduced to the cursive alphabet in the fall of Grade 3 through Fundations. They continue to learn, review, and practice the cursive alphabet throughout the year in Grade 4.

Visual Arts: The visual arts curriculum provides a sequential and meaningful focus on skills and concepts while emphasizing art production, art history, aesthetics and art criticism. Your child will engage in inquiry, exploration and development of visual literacy skills, technique and expression of personal style through child-centered experiences.

Physical Education: The department strives to help children create healthy, active lifestyles through a balance of activities in a positive, responsible and cooperative environment. Your child will engage in activities that include the movement areas of body management, use of manipulatives, educational gymnastics, dance, fitness and adventure/cooperative education.

Music: The study of music fosters artistic development, critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and the pursuit of life-long learning. Through performing and responding to music, your child will develop individual skills, realize a sense of belonging, and establish connections to the community.

Library-Media: The library-media department provides instruction, resources and services necessary for students to become lifelong learners in a global community. Your child will engage in weekly sessions with the library-media specialist to develop a flexible set of skills throughout their elementary experience to prepare them to be independent knowledge-seekers, critical thinkers, and creative-problem-solvers.

World Language: The world language department enables students to communicate effectively in the target language, and develop an understanding of the cultures of the speakers of that language.

Computer Science

Early Childhood (PreK)

QUEST(Gifted and Talented)

Additional information on the district website (whps.org):

Elementary Handbook

Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Office

Information and Technology Services: Tech Tips for Families and Staff

West Hartford Cares Crisis and Community Resources

Handwriting Practice Videos