The Modern Year
Fourth graders are in the grammar stage of their liberal arts education. This stage is the foundation of all learning and as such we are very concerned with learning facts and information necessary for written expression and a well-trained mind.
Our study of Religion focuses on the biblical basis of our Faith in accord with Sacred Tradition. We memorize Scripture and Catechism passages, read hagiography, and prayerfully enjoy Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical liturgical music as to “let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly, as in all wisdom [we] teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in [our] hearts to God” (Col. 3:16).
Beginning with Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press and ending with the close of the Second World War, the fourth grade is concerned with the modern age. This period focus is clear in History, Art, Literature, Poetry, and even Mathematics.
In Arithmetic we seek mastery in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and order of operations. In Geometry we study polygons, perimeter, circles, parallel and perpendicular lines, angles, line graphs, and geometric solids. We also examine the lives and work of notable mathematicians such as Euler, Descartes, Newton, and brothers Bernoulli.
We learn English grammar directly, but also through the study of Latin. In the fourth grade, we study the first through fifth Latin declensions of nouns and adjectives and the first and second Latin conjugations of verbs which illuminates a child’s understanding of the mechanics of both languages. Our fourth graders’ English vocabulary grows as they deepen their Latin vocabulary and look to understand the roots of so many of our words.
Literature begins with an introduction to Shakespeare and continues into the twentieth century with the children classics The Cricket in Time Square, Lassie Come-Home, and Homer Price. Our love of language deepens through our understanding and memorization of beautiful poetry.
A survey of Physical Science, Life Science, Earth Science and Engineering constitutes our year in science.
Art divides itself into color theory and Art History. We begin in the fifteenth century with Jan Van Eyck and carry through to Mary Cassatt at the turn of the twentieth century.