In fourth grade, students embark on a journey to strengthen foundational math skills while beginning to explore more complex concepts. Students will strengthen their understanding of whole numbers, place value, fractions, decimals, geometry, measurement, and all four operations. Emphasis is placed on developing computational fluency, problem-solving strategies, and the ability to interpret and represent mathematical ideas in multiple ways. A central feature of this course is hands-on exploration. Students engage with visual models, manipulatives, and interactive activities—such as bar models, area models, graphs, and measurement tools—to deepen conceptual understanding and make abstract ideas tangible. Real-world applications, including money, time, and data interpretation, help students see the relevance of math in everyday life.

Textbook: Math Mammoth Grade 5

Miller (2023)

• The four operations: order of operations, equations, review of the four operations, partial products, multiplication algorithm, review of long division, 2-digit divisor, long division and repeated subtraction, divisibility and factors, primes and finding factors, prime factorization.

• Large numbers and the calculator: exponents and powers, place value system, multiplying by powers of ten, adding and subtracting large numbers, rounding, when to use the calculator.

• Problem solving: balance problems and equations, problem solving with bar models.

• Decimals, part 1: tenths and hundredths review, thousandths, decimals on a number line, add and subtract decimals, comparing and rounding decimals, multiply a decimal by a whole number, divide decimals by whole numbers.

• Graphing: the coordinate grid, number patterns on the coordinate grid, line graphs, double and triple line graphs, average (mean).

• Decimals, part 2: multiply and divide by powers of ten, multiply decimals by decimals, multiplication as scaling, dividing decimals, the metric system, divide decimals by decimals, converting between customary units of measurement, problem solving.

• Add and subtract fractions: fraction terminology, review mixed numbers, adding and subtracting mixed numbers, equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting unlike fractions, finding the least common denominator, word problems, measuring in inches, line plots.

• Multiply and divide fractions: simplifying fractions, multiply fractions by whole numbers, multiply fractions by fractions, fraction multiplication and area, simplifying before multiplying, multiply mixed numbers, multiplications as scaling, fractions are divisions, dividing fractions by sharing divisions and fitting the divisor.

• Geometry: angles review, polygons, classifying quadrilaterals, classifying triangles, volume of rectangular prisms, volume is additive, area and perimeter problems, star polygons.

Textbook: Mathematics: Structure and Method Course 1

Dolciani et al. (1992)

• Operations with whole numbers: review of the four operations, expressions, properties of addition/multiplication, distributive property, order of operations, problem solving models and applications.

• Using variables: writing mathematical expressions/equations/inequalities, solving equations and inequalities, problem solving with mathematical expressions.

• The decimal system: exponents and powers of ten, the decimal system, comparing decimals, rounding, decimals with the four operations, multiplying or dividing by a power of ten, problem-solving using estimation.

• Geometry: points/lines/planes, measuring segments, angles and angle measure, triangles, polygons, circles, congruent figures, geometric constructions.

• Number theory: finding factors and multiples, tests for divisibility, squares and square roots, prime and composite numbers, greatest common factor, least common multiple.

• Fractions: the concept of a fraction, equivalent fractions, fractions and mixed numbers, comparing fractions, fractions to decimals, decimals to fractions.

• Operations with fractions: fractions and mixed numbers with the four operations, ratios, proportions, problem solving using proportions, scale drawing.

• Solving equations: equations and variables, equations and the four operations, decimal and fraction equations, word sentences and equations, problem solving by writing equations model.

• Percent: percents and fractions, percents and decimals, computing with percents, percent increase/decrease, discount.

• Areas and volumes: areas of rectangles/parallelograms/triangles/trapezoids, volumes and surface areas of rectangular prisms.

• Integers and graphs: negative numbers, adding/subtracting integers, products with one or more negative factors, quotients of integers, solving equations, the coordinate plane, graphs of ordered pairs, graphs of equations.

• Statistics: picturing numerical data, pictographs, circle graphs, mean/median/mode/range, stem-and-leaf plots, box-and-whisker plots, histograms.

Dolciani et al. (1992)

• Introduction to algebra: expressions and equations, order of operations, exponents and powers of ten, the decimal system, properties of real numbers, inverse operations, solving and checking word problems.

• Positive and negative numbers: integers, decimals on the number line, adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing positive and negative numbers, using positive exponents, negative integers as exponents.

• Rational numbers: factors and divisibility, prime and composite numbers, positive and negative fractions, equivalent fractions, least common denominator, fractions and mixed numbers with the four operations, fractions and decimals.

• Solving equations: equations with the four operations, decimal and fraction equations, combined operations, writing expressions for word phrases, word sentences and equations, writing equations for word problems, solving word problems.

• Geometric figures: points/lines/planes, measuring segments, angles and angle measure, triangles, polygons, circles, congruent figures, geometric constructions.

• Ratio, proportion, and percent: ratios, rates, proportions, solving problems with proportions, scale drawing, percents and fractions, percents and decimals, computing with percents.

• Percents and problem solving: percent increase/decrease, percents and proportions, simple interest, percents and problem solving.

• Equations and inequalities: equations-variable on one side and variable on both sides, equations in problem solving, writing inequalities, equivalent inequalities, solving inequalities, inequalities in problem solving.

• The coordinate plane: equation in the coordinate plane, equations in two variables, graphing equations, graphing systems of equations, using graphs to solve problems, graphing inequalities.

• Areas and volume: areas of rectangles/parallelograms/triangles/trapezoids/circles, using symmetry to find areas, volumes and surface areas of prisms/cylinders/pyramids/cones/spheres, mass and density.

• Applying algebra to right triangles: square roots, approximating square roots, the Pythagorean Theorem, similar triangles, special right triangles.

• Statistics and probability: pictographs/circle graphs, mean/median/range, frequency distributions, histograms, combinations, probability of an event.

Dolciani et al. (2000)

The course introduces students to variables, algebraic expressions, equations, inequalities, functions, and all their multiple representations. In this class, students will develop the ability to explore and solve real-world application problems, demonstrate the appropriate use of graphing calculators, and communicate mathematical ideas clearly.

This course lays the foundation for mathematical literacy that will help students be successful in every subsequent course in mathematics. Topics will include: an introduction to algebra, working with real numbers, solving equations and problems, polynomials, factoring polynomials, fractions, applying fractions, introduction to functions, systems of linear equations, inequalities, rational and irrational numbers, and quadratic functions.

Textbook: Algebra and Trigonometry: Structure and Method Book 2

Dolciani et al. (2000)

This is an honors second-year algebra course and features more demanding methods and problems that will prepare students for advanced mathematics in high school and college. The topics, studied at a fast pace, include the language of algebra, solving equations and inequalities, linear equations and systems, function notation and properties of functions, polynomials and factoring, rational expressions, quadratic functions, conic sections, complex number systems, radicals, exponents and arithmetic, and geometric progressions and series.

To be successful mathematicians, students will learn to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them, reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct viable arguments, and critique the reasoning of others. In addition they should demonstrate an ability to model with mathematics, use appropriate tools strategically, and attend with precision. Also, students will be able to look for and make use of structure and look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

English Language Arts - Writing

Curriculum Resource:

Structure and Style for Students: Level A
Additional materials may include:
Grammar Fix-It! (IEW)
Read-aloud novels and independent reading books
Vocabulary and spelling practice through daily language activities

Topics & Skills Covered:

Reading and Writing

Note-taking from key word outlines
Retelling narratives and writing summaries
Writing across various genres: narrative, expository, persuasive, and creative
Use of stylistic techniques (e.g., strong verbs, quality adjectives, sentence openers)
Editing and revising written work
Daily independent reading and regular read-alouds
Reading comprehension strategies (main idea, inference, context clues)
Exposure to a variety of genres including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and informational texts
Discussions and responses to literature

Grammar and Mechanics

Grammar instruction integrated through IEW’s Fix-It! Grammar program
Parts of speech, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure
Speaking and Listening

Oral presentations of written work
Narration, summarizing, and discussion
Listening comprehension activities

Materials and Resources:

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) – Structure and Style for Students: Level A
Fix-It! Grammar (IEW) 

Selected novels and read-alouds (e.g., see reading list below)
Library books, audiobooks, and other supplemental texts
Assessment / Method of Evaluation:

Progress will be evaluated through

Writing samples and completed assignments
Reading logs and discussions
End-of-year narrative progress report

English Language Arts - Reading Lab

Students will have time each day dedicated to independent reading in our Reading Lab.  Our goal is to help foster a love for reading, build vocabulary, and strengthen understanding and critical thinking.

Students will:

• Engage in leveled reading tailored to their current abilities 

• Practice comprehension strategies such as summarizing, inferencing, and predicting

• Build vocabulary through context clues and direct instruction

• Participate in fluency practice and interactive reading tasks

• Use reading journals to reflect on and respond to texts and:

  • Respond personally to what they read

  • Record key details, character traits, themes, and vocabulary

  • Practice summarizing and expressing opinions

  • Track progress and reflect on reading goals

Reading List to choose from:

Classic Literature & Timeless Stories

• Charlotte's Web – E.B. White

• The Boxcar Children (Book 1) – Gertrude Chandler Warner

• The Mouse and the Motorcycle – Beverly Cleary

• Mr. Popper's Penguins – Richard and Florence Atwater

• The Hundred Dresses – Eleanor Estes

• Sarah, Plain and Tall – Patricia MacLachlan

• Because of Winn-Dixie – Kate DiCamillo

Adventure & Historical Fiction

• The Sign of the Beaver – Elizabeth George Speare

• Stone Fox – John Reynolds Gardiner

• The Courage of Sarah Noble – Alice Dalgliesh

• Island of the Blue Dolphins – Scott O'Dell

• Frindle – Andrew Clements

• Indian in the Cupboard – Lynne Reid Banks

Fantasy & Imaginative Fiction

• The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis

• James and the Giant Peach – Roald Dahl

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl

• How to Train Your Dragon (Book 1) – Cressida Cowell

Humor & Realistic Fiction

• Ramona Quimby, Age 8 – Beverly Cleary

• Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing – Judy Blume

• Sideways Stories from Wayside School – Louis Sachar

• Clementine – Sara Pennypacker

• The Year of the Dog – Grace Lin

Diverse & Inclusive Voices

• Save Me a Seat – Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan

• Rickshaw Girl – Mitali Perkins

• El Deafo – Cece Bell (graphic novel memoir)

• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon – Grace Lin

• Juana & Lucas – Juana Medina

Nonfiction & Biography

• Who Was Harriet Tubman? – Yona Zeldis McDonough

• What Was the Great Depression? – Janet B. Pascal

• Magic Tree House Fact Trackers (companion to fiction series) – Mary Pope Osborne

• National Geographic Kids Readers (series by level)

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Readers Edition) – William Kamkwamba

Coursework is designed to facilitate mastery of the Common Core State Standards and to help students become better readers, writers, speakers, and thinkers. We’ll improve grammar and punctuation, advance vocabulary, sharpen public speaking skills, and have a great time learning together. 

Students will learn how to write a narrative, literary analysis, creative writing pieces, and formal emails. Along the way, we’ll enjoy great pieces of classic literature, including pieces by James Hurst, Edgar Allen Poe, Guy de Maupassant, Amy Tan, and Langston Hughes.  

Four main teaching methods and strategies are used in order to reach and engage all learners.  

1.  Direct Instruction – This is the traditional method of teaching, consisting of direct lecturing or vertical teaching.  This consists of repetitive practice, didactic questioning, drill and demonstration.  This method is used when introducing new ideas, literary terms, punctuation and grammar terms, new vocabulary, and rubric instructions.

2.  Interactive Instruction – This is the strategy used for the majority of the lessons, where the learning environment promotes interactions and discussion.  Students engage in discussion and peer-editing exercises in groups of two or more.  Students are encouraged to express thoughts and ideas freely.

3. Experiential Learning – this strategy incorporates the idea of how to think rather than what to think, and emphasis is placed on the process of learning rather than the product of learning.  The purpose is to connect what is learned in the classroom to student experience.  This encourages students to make connections with what they have learned in the past to new contexts.

4. Independent Study – Students are encouraged and assigned to work independently on essays, reflect on readings, and complete assignments outside of class.

Short stories (first half of term):  

• “Thank you Ma’am” by Langston Hughes

• “The Cask of Amontillado,” by Edgar Allan Poe

• “The Rules of the Game” by Amy Tan

• “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst

• “The Gift of the Magi” by O.Henry

• “The Necklace” by Guy de Mauppasant

• “The Pie” by Gary Soto

• “Feather Pillow” by Horacio Quiroga 

• “The Witness for the Prosecution” by Agatha Christie 

• “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing 

• “The Storyteller” by Saki 

• “Daughter of Invention” by Julia Alvarez 

Lesson plans, activities, and other materials collected from educational resources online, including teacherspayteachers.com.

In-class discussion, check for understanding, individual meetings, and written assignments, including:

• Personal Narrative

• Literary Analysis of “The Necklace” 

• Completion of “Rules of the Game”

• Original story following same format of “The Gift of the Magi”

2nd half of term:

Literary Analysis questions for short stories 

“Micro Fiction” – 2 sentence stories in the drama, romance, horror, and sci-fi genres 

Final short story project – showing understanding of the elements of the short story – setting, point of view, plot, character development, and theme. 

Author biography 

Creative writing exercises (different point of view, story continuation, different choice by protagonist) 

Additional assessments include: 

Punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary exercises, literary term practice and application.

Social Studies lessons will be oriented around an understanding of societies and cultures, why and how we create them, and what elements come together to form them and help them function.  Students will discuss new concepts as a group, then put their understanding into practice through role-play games, developing narratives, illustrations, and individual projects.  Our goal is to develop a baseline understanding of systems of government, why and how they’re used, and the various “pros and cons” of different systems.  In addition, we’ll address other factors which can influence a culture, such as climate, geography, resources, etc. Lessons will be oriented toward a cumulative project in the latter weeks of the semester, wherein students will put their knowledge to the test by developing their own countries and deciding how to support and govern its people.

Topics will also include: 

U.S. geography: states, regions, major rivers/mountains, map skillsMassachusetts history: Indigenous peoples, Pilgrims and Puritans, colonial life, American RevolutionCivics: branches of government, how laws are made, basic rights/responsibilitiesU.S. symbols & holidays: Constitution, flag, Fourth of July, MLK Jr. Day, etc.Economics basics: needs/wants, supply/demand, bartering and moneyCultures & communities: how people live in different regions of the U.S.

Books and Read-Alouds:

If You Lived in Colonial Times by Ann McGovern

Who Was Paul Revere? / Who Was George Washington? seriesThe American Revolution for Kids by Janis HerbertA Kid’s Guide to the American Revolution by Kathleen KrullCan’t You Make Them Behave, King George? by Jean FritzLong Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela (excerpted for cultural studies)Wampanoag Children of the Woodlands (Native American studies)

Activities & Tools

Map work: labeling states, capitals, landformsTimeline creation: major U.S. and MA eventsVirtual museum tours: Smithsonian, Plimoth Patuxet, Old Sturbridge VillageRole-play / simulations: colonial life, town meetingsSimple civics projects: writing a law, voting in a mock election

Supplemental Websites & Tools

iCivics.org – Free, interactive games and lessons about governmentMassachusetts Kids Page – https://www.mass.gov/kidsNational Geographic Kids – geography, cultures, mapsLibrary of Congress – primary source collections and kid-friendly U.S. history contentDucksters.com – Simplified articles on historical topics

Nature Studies: An Immersive Field Experience

This class is a hands-on, field-based exploration designed to cultivate a deep and lasting connection to the natural world. Students will move beyond basic identification to engage in authentic scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and creative expression. We'll utilize the local landscape as our classroom, focusing on detailed observation, data collection, and investigation of ecological systems.

Classes will be conducted outdoors as often as possible, transforming students into field scientists. We'll use scientific tools and methods to search for clues about animal behavior, analyze plant communities, and document the intricate seasonal changes that define our local environment. Students will be challenged to ask complex questions, form hypotheses, and develop their own investigations. We'll also integrate art, writing, and photography to encourage a personal and reflective connection to our discoveries, bridging the gap between scientific observation and creative interpretation.

Key areas of study will include:

• Ecological Systems: Investigating the relationships between organisms and their environment, exploring concepts like food webs, succession, and biodiversity.

• Biodiversity and Taxonomy: Learning to identify and classify plants, animals, and fungi, understanding their roles within specific ecosystems.

• Scientific Field Methods: Using tools like field guides, quadrats, and observational techniques to collect and analyze data.

• Environmental Stewardship: Examining the impact of human activity on local ecosystems and developing a sense of responsibility for conservation.

• Nature Journaling & Documentation: Refining skills in detailed observation through drawing, photography, and scientific writing.

Through this course, students will develop a strong foundation in scientific methodology, cultivate an appreciation for biodiversity, and become informed and engaged stewards of the natural world.

Through engaging, inquiry-based instruction, activities and projects, this course will provide middle school students with the information necessary to understand the workings of our planet and the life upon it. Environmental science is especially crucial today as we search for solutions to the environmental problems facing society. This field encompasses all branches of science, including conservation ecology, weather, astronomy, human anatomy, physics, chemistry, and modern technology.

In this course, students will first learn to make observations and use the scientific method to design and perform experiments. Throughout the year students will be exposed to facts, details, and experiences which will allow them to develop a respect for how everything on Earth is interrelated. We will focus on many of Earth’s amazing living organisms and the places they inhabit. We will also learn how each tiny element in the environment has a role to play in the great tapestry that is our planet.

This rigorous, algebra-based high school course is designed to provide students with an engaging honors-level curriculum that emphasizes abstract reasoning and applications of physics concepts to real-world scenarios. Topics are examined in greater detail than general physics and provide a solid foundation for college-level coursework. Course components include 1-D kinematics, vectors, projectile motion, Newton’s laws, uniform circular motion and universal gravitation, energy, momentum, electrical forces and charges, circuits, and waves and sound.

Throughout the course, students participate in a variety of interactive and hands-on laboratory activities that enhance concept knowledge and develop scientific process skills, including scientific research and technical writing.

The Geography of Food will bring students through the biggest ideas of Geography: Do climate and topography determine a civilization’s growth, history, and development? In what ways does access to resources affect the development of societies and communities? How can geography affect culture? And lucky for us, we get to do it through the lens of food. Beginning with our own food traditions, we will explore the ways in which American cuisine is world cuisine. From there, we will figure out where foods originated and how they came to be eaten across the world.

As we explore the origins of food through project-based learning (and lots of cooking), we will look at the interconnection of food and culture. In the latter part of the year, we will bring a focus to the world as a whole and the Earth as our home as we begin to ask ourselves about our food future in our global community. We will explore climate change, population growth, and the amazing people behind our future food solutions. Much of the learning will take place inside the classroom, with smaller assignments given weekly when appropriate.

Throughout the year, students will be expected to do several projects that require research but can produce a range of projects from a poster to a meal. The class will end with a capstone project related to any of the topics discussed in class. Much of the work for the capstone will be done in class, but some parental support may be needed. 

Our Computer Literacy classes will focus on two key goals; First, familiarizing students with the safe and effective use of essential functions of their devices, and the use of academic softwares such as powerpoint, docs, excell, etc., and second, educating students on matters of online safety, including protection of personal information, avoiding harmful individuals and situations, recognizing false or biased information, and more.  Students will be encouraged to utilize what they learn in presentations and projects, in addition to aiding them in assignments throughout their other classes as well, emphasizing that a thorough understanding of the technology at hand can enhance and aid them in their academic work.  While we will discuss AI generative technology in order to foster understanding, note that no use of AI generated writing,  images, or other media will be used in this class.

Resources will include some or all of the following:

Learning.com – Digital literacy curriculum with interactive modules for grades K–12.
Code.org – Offers free, beginner-friendly coding and computer science lessons.
Common Sense Education – Excellent digital citizenship and media literacy resources.
Google Applied Digital Skills – Free video-based curriculum for real-world digital tasks.
Computer Applications for the Digital Age by Cengage
Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive) or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Scratch (beginner coding)
Tinkercad (for basic 3D design, if incorporating STEM)

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