Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies

Fourth grade marks a new beginning for students. The students are reorganized into two new classroom communities and begin fourth grade with teachers who will stay with them for the next two years.  The Math and Literacy programs at this level are designed to support students’ creativity and develop their fluency in math, reading, and writing. The Social Studies curriculum focuses on the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and the Age of Exploration. In Science, the main topics are animal and plant classification, water, and energy. As in all the grades, the main topics are integrated into all subject areas.  For example, while studying the Middle Ages, students may learn about geometry through an examination of stained glass techniques, create illuminated manuscripts in their Language Arts study, read poetry and songs from the time period, or reenact medieval daily life to gain firsthand knowledge of the political and economic dynamics of the era. Fourth grade students also conduct an integrated and often student-driven community service project.