NOTE: This is a compilation of skills and facts a child should be able to complete and understand at the end of fourth grade. The list of skill sets here will be learned during the fourth grade year.

Language Arts

Art

• Study visual arts like painting, ceramics, sculpture and photography
• Learn of different cultures and time periods
• Learn more about famous artists and styles
• Study and create landscapes, portraits, sculptures, and collages
• Explore various art materials like pastels, clay, watercolors, or papier-mâché
• Learn principles of art like color, line, shape, texture, and space

Music

• Learn and develop understanding of pitch, melody and rhythm
• Sing, play instruments, and explore creative movement
• Sing traditional and folk songs from around the world
• Continue to learn about famous musicians
• Develop recognition of musical notation
• Practice drawing treble clef symbol, staff and other musical symbols
• Learn about various musical styles like jazz, classical, Caribbean, and Latin, march and a ballad

Reading

• Uses specific examples from the text to explain characters’ motivations, main events, central themes, or ideas about a text.
• Uses the context of a text to determine the meaning of a word
• Understands and can explain the differences between narrative prose, drama, and poetry
• Identifies and refers to the different parts of poems and plays, such as a verses, setting, and characters.
• Interprets and connects information from illustrations, graphs, charts, or other sources related to the text.
• Identifies, compares, an contrasts different perspectives from which texts are written (for example, first and third person)
• Uses previous knowledge to read unfamiliar multi-syllable words
• Reads grade-level texts with accurate comprehension, pacing, and expression

Spelling

• Learn about suffixes like -ed, -ing, -tion and inflections used with them
• Learn about prefixes like a-, ex-, in-, and un-
• Work on finding their own spelling mistakes and fixing them
• Work on challenging words
• Continue to reinforce phonics and spelling rules learned

Writing & Grammar

• Writes opinion pieces that express a point of view; have an introduction, a conclusion, reasons, and facts to support the opinion; and group together related ideas
• Writes informative/explanatory pieces that present information on a topic, uses facts and details, and group together related topics; provides introductions and conclusions in these pieces
• Writes narrative pieces that use specific details, descriptions, and dialogue to convey a real event; incudes an introduction and conclusion in each piece
• Plans, revises, and edits their writing
• Types with a beginner’s accuracy and ability
• Completes research projects by taking notes, organizing them, and presenting them; lists the texts and resources used
• Writes for both long (over weeks) and shorter (one sitting) periods of time

Mathematics

Decimals

• Compare fractions to decimal numbers
• Adding and subtracting decimals
• Write the a decimal number in number format when hearing it read (read: eleven and forty-three hundredths, and the child write: 11.43)
• Rounding decimals to the nearest whole
• Comparing two decimal numbers using greater than, less than or equal to signs

Estimations

• Mental math and estimations continue to be mastered

Factors & Multiples

• List factors of a given number (ex: factors of 10 are: 1, 2, 5, 10)
• List multiples of a given number (ex: multiples of 4 are: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20…)

Fractions

• Add and subtract fractions with like denominators
• Compare fractions to decimal numbers
• Find basic fractions (Find 1/2 of 20, find 4/5 of 20, etc..)
• Change improper fractions to mixed numbers
• Change mixed numbers to improper fractions
• Add and subtract mixed numbers

Geometry

• Learning formula (area = length x width)
• Learn about points, lines, shapes, and figures
• Learn about faces and edges in regards to 2D and 3D shapes
• Learn about tessellations
• Be able to draw each geometric figure: point, line, line segment, ray, right angle, obtuse angle, acute angle, parallel lines, perpendicular lines, vertical line, horizontal line, diaganle line
• Find the perimeter and area of 2D shapes
• Find the volume of 3D shapes

Graphs

• Use of coordinate graphs

Measurements

• Using both metric and standard units to measure length, weight, capacity, and temperature with tools like rulers, thermometers, measuring cups, and scales
• Know common measurement conversions
• Measure line segments to the nearest quarter inch

Numbers & Counting

• Learn real world applications of math
• Read and write whole numbers
• Compare up to nine-digit numbers using symbols for greater than, less than, and equal to
• Order close numbers from least to greatest up to the millions (4,658,232 and 4,658,232 and 4,655, 232)
• Can write numbers in expanded form and written form

Operations: Addition & Subtraction

• Multi-digit adding and subtracting with regrouping

Operations: Multiplication & Division

• Mastered multiplication facts up to 12 x 12
• Multiply three-digit or four-digit numbers by two-digit numbers
• Dividing four-digit numbers by one-digit or two-digit numbers

Operations: Order of Operations

• Memorize the order of operations
• Use the order of operations to solve an expression

Place Value

• Understand place value into the millions

Rounding

• Round whole numbers to the nearest hundred-millions place
• Rounding decimals to the nearest whole

Time

• Tell the time to the minute
• Know how to find elapsed time

Other Suggested Subjects

Geography & Social Studies

• Learn the countries 5 regions (Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, and West)
• Physical characteristics like canyons, cliffs, deserts, mountains, lakes, etc.)
• Learn the regions’ cultures like customs, food, and arts
• Study maps- learn about elevation or a climate map, and learn how to interpret a map using legend, scale, compass rose, and key
• Learn about current issues and events going on around the world

History

• History of child’s home state
• Learn basics of democracy- starting with local, state, and national government
• Introduction to U.S. History, building a foundation
• Learn more of Native Americans and early settlers

Science

• Life science- the structure and behavior of living organisms
• Classify plants and animals according to their characteristics
• Life cycles of animals and plants
• Earth science and its solar system- why the sun produces light, how the moon reflects light from the sun
• The moon’s phases and constellations
• Earths relative position and the planets
• Name the planets in the solar system and characteristics of each
• Introduction to weather like classifying clouds and how they’re formed
• Physical science- study of nature and properties of energy and matter
• Magnetism and static electricity, electrical circuits
• Learn about conducting scientific experiments and investigations

Social Development & Behavior

• Ability to understand others opinions and points of view increase
• Ability to use and understand more complex language
• Influence of peers is higher in this age range
• Able to handle more responsibilities in home, school, and with peers
• More aware of social circles and cliques
• Able to read others facial expressions and body language better
• Able to show empathy better
• Read more about the development of fourth-graders

Additional Resources & Sources:

Check out government standards for your state

TGTB has LA placement and a math placement test. While it does go along with their curriculum, it also can help you identify where your child needs more work. You can also learn more about TGTB.

Sources: Scholastic, Math Genie, Great Schools