Fourth Grade is designed for children who turn 9 on or before September 1 of the current school year. Fourth graders are presented with opportunities to learn God’s word while connecting biblical principles with real-life needs and deepen their Christian character. They use Purposeful Design Bible curriculum and study basic doctrines of the church that include the Bible as the infallible, authoritative, written Word of God, the Trinity, God Incarnate, Salvation, the Holy Spirit, Prayer, Evangelism, and Christ’s Return. They reflect on their own spiritual growth. Fourth Graders are fluent readers using both fiction and non-fiction texts to support comprehension. Fourth graders write multiple paragraphs for opinion, informational and narrative writing, with details found through research and their own experiences. Students’ skills in speaking, writing, visual and digital literacy, and research, while including biblical worldview themes that will increase the students’ sense of wonder at God’s gift of language are taught with BJU Press English, Reading, and Spelling curriculum. Sentence structure and grammar concepts include verb tense, subject-verb agreement, comparative adverbs and adjectives, and conjunctions. Vocabulary, spelling, and dictionary skills are strengthened. Math concepts include multi digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and solving word problems with mathematic reasoning using BJU Press curriculum. Fourth graders continue to perfect their cursive writing skills using the Handwriting Without Tears program. History is taught from a biblical perspective using BJU Press Heritage Studies from the founding of America through World War II. Science from BJU Press covers a spectrum of scientific fields including ecosystems, plants, insects, the eye, the digestive system, and principles of motion and energy though a biblical lens. Opportunities for art, geography, and physical education are offered while using the Bible to explore what God’s word teaches about our world. Teachers keep students engaged through small group projects, independent research, group instruction, and hands-on activities.
