Fourth graders at Moses Brown undertake two intensive studies in Language Arts: interpreting characters in fiction and writing persuasively. The entire class reads Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo and investigates two central characters in powerful opposition to one another.  As they work to interpret and inhabit these characters, they realize that no details in the book...

At every step of the way, children use a variety of problem-solving strategies so they’ll have something else to try if their main approach doesn’t work.  This builds both confidence and resilience, and they always explain their work.  This can reveal hidden errors and strengths that might have gone unrecognized in the wake of an...

At Moses Brown, fourth grade students delve into world religions, immigration, and the continent of Africa. These units challenge our students to become globally and socially aware as articulate citizens of the United States and the world. Children become familiar with the history, customs, and cultures of six major world religions–Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism,...

Fourth Grade scientists are ready to wrestle with more abstract concepts–as long as they’re relevant. This developmental stage is notable for emotional intensity and the growing importance of peer relationships.  In science, students collaborate in pairs or groups, deepening friendships with a variety of classmates. Whether they are designing a six-foot anatomically correct flower to...

Today’s fourth graders were born around the same time that Apple first released the iPhone. In addition to reading, writing and arithmetic, today’s students need to learn how to create digital products, not just consume them.  Coding introduces kids to the process of computational thinking, in which students break a problem down and express a...

Fourth graders study Spanish in half groups for 45 minutes twice a week.  They use a visual curriculum that allows them to speak entirely in full sentences from the beginning of the year as they “read” strings of pictographs that they have learned as vocabulary items. These are kept in a picture dictionary binder for...

Fourth grade musicians at Moses Brown build musical independence through creative projects both alone and in groups. If they choose, they can also sing in an extra-curricular chorus, play in a beginner string ensemble, advanced string ensemble, or wind ensemble, and perform in the annual Lower School musical. Children frequently perform their original work for...