Grade 4 Learning
“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”
— Margaret Mead
4th Grade: Expanding Perspectives, Creativity & Problem-Solving
Fourth grade is a year of exploration, creativity, and growing independence. Students strengthen their academic skills while learning to think critically, communicate effectively, and solve increasingly complex problems. Through engaging projects, collaborative learning, and hands-on experiences, students deepen their understanding of the world, their community, and themselves as capable, confident learners.
Explore the learning journey below to see what students will learn throughout Fourth Grade.
Grade 4 At-A-Glance
Learning That Builds Independence
Fourth grade encourages students to take ownership of their learning while developing the skills they'll use throughout their education. Whether they're conducting research, writing creatively, solving multi-step math problems, or exploring Wisconsin's history and natural resources, students are challenged to think critically, work collaboratively, and confidently share their ideas.
English Language Arts: Students strengthen their reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills through literature, informational texts, and engaging thematic units, while developing analytical, explanatory, and narrative writing abilities.
Math: Students build confidence in ratios, fractions, equations, rational numbers, and data analysis while applying mathematical reasoning to real-world problem-solving.
Science: Students investigate life science through inquiry-based learning as they explore living systems, populations, the microbiome, metabolism, and heredity.
Social Studies: Students expand their understanding of world geography by studying the physical and cultural characteristics of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
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Human Growth & Development
The West Bend School District believes that the family plays a critical role in human growth and development education for students. The schools support both parents/guardians and children in their efforts to develop an understanding of human sexuality and family. Instruction in Human Growth and Development is offered to students in grades 4 and 5 and at the secondary level in grades 8-12. Human Growth and Development instruction is guided by Wisconsin State Statute 118.019.
Grades 4 and 5 Human Growth and Development
At the 4th and 5th grade level, there is a three-day introductory unit on the changes students experience during puberty, including a review of behaviors needed to stay healthy; sleep, nutrition, personal hygiene, exercise, safety, grooming, and self-image. Additionally, a unit on the social, emotional, and physical changes that occur as one reaches puberty is presented to separate gender groups, which includes discussion on the structure and function of the reproductive systems and disease prevention, including AIDS, for their gender. Medical professionals participate in the lesson on how the body changes. Parents are invited to attend this session.
4th Grade Human Growth and Development
5th Grade Human Growth and Development
Parent Letters
Letters are sent to families of students in the 4th, 5th, and 8th grades from the school before the start of the unit.
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5th Grade |
Opt-Out
As a parent or guardian, you also have the option of removing your son/daughter from all or part of the Human Growth and Development instruction. If you choose to do so, please complete the appropriate opt-out form and have your student return the form to their teacher.