Fourth Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Are you planning on homeschooling your child at the fourth grade level? Are you unsure about where to begin or what materials to use? One benefit of homeschooling is the freedom to choose materials that work for your children. No single curriculum is a perfect fit for every family or even every child. Within my own family, I have added and removed materials from my first child through my fourth child. In general, I use a variety of workbooks and other resources for my fourth grade homeschool curriculum. The following are the materials that I used with my first child and will use with my second, third, and fourth children. If you are interested in any of the materials, easily find copies on Amazon via my affiliate links.

I begin homeschooling my kiddos around age of three with homeschool preschool. After two years of preschool work, each child starts kindergarten around the age of 5. Upon completing the kindergarten work, first grade begins around age 6 a year later. Second grade homeschool then begins in another year around the age of 7 followed by third grade another year later around the age of 8. Fourth grade then begins at roughly the age of 9 followed by fifth grade around the age of 10. For each grade level, we do approximately 180 days of work. Most weeks we do school four days a week (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday). Field trip days count towards the total number of days for each grade. Each grade level requires approximately 42 weeks.

Of the many materials that I use with my fourth graders, the most important to me are Teach a Student to Spell: Level 4 and A Form-Function English Grammar: Level 4. The Teach a Student to Spell series is the follow-up workbook series to the Teach a Student to Read reading program, which strives to teach students accurate and complete information about the English spelling system. The Form-Function English Grammar series is the elementary series that builds up to A Form-Function Description of the Grammar of the Modern English Language, a textbook and workbook that provides a descriptive grammar that strives to provide an objective description of English as used without value judgements.

Originally published on May 14, 2020. Updated on August 3, 2024.

Reading

For our fourth grade reading curriculum, the focus involves enhancing comprehension skills, understanding various genres, and developing critical thinking. My kiddos explore a range of texts including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry to build their vocabulary and improve their ability to analyze and interpret meaning. Emphasis is placed on skills such as identifying main ideas, making inferences, and understanding context clues, which are crucial for deeper comprehension. Engaging with different types of writing also helps my fourth graders appreciate diverse perspectives and cultural contexts. The skills developed with the following materials not only support academic growth but also foster a lifelong love of reading and learning.

My children complete the first three levels of the McGraw-Hill Reading series during first, second, and third grade. I like the textbooks, but I could not find the higher grades of the series at a reasonable price. I therefore switched to Treasures from Macmillan/McGraw-Hill for fourth, fifth, and sixth grade. The 816-page Treasures: A Reading/Language Arts Program (Grade 4) textbook includes a variety of readings along with comprehension questions and other reflective activities. Each unit includes a writing section after the reading passages, so the textbook also counts towards our writing curriculum.

I also use Read & Understand Poetry, Grades 4-5 in fourth grade to focus on reading and understanding poetry. The workbook contains 27 poems with activity pages. The first follow-up activity for each poem emulates the format on standardized language arts tests. Other activities cover skills such as literal comprehension, sequence, word meaning, context clues and inferences, and main idea and details.

Grammar

Because of the many errors and problems in the grammar books for fourth grade currently available, I wrote my own fourth grade grammar workbook for my children. A Form-Function Grammar: Level 4 is the fourth workbook in the elementary series that builds up to A Form-Function Description of the Grammar of the Modern English Language, a textbook and workbook that provides a descriptive grammar that strives to provide an objective description of English as used without value judgements.

The goal of Level 4 is to reinforce the word classes (parts of speech, grammatical forms) of English taught in Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Level 4 includes nouns, determiners, pronouns, verbs, phrasal verbs, modal verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and interjections. Level 4 reinforces noun phrases, determiner phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases, verb phrases, and adverb clauses. Level 4 also introduces subject-verb agreement, simple subjects, complete subjects, infinitives, split infinitives, catenative verbs, transitive verbs, direct objects, indirect objects, quasi-modal verbs, relativizers, and adjective clauses.

Level 4 is recommended for ages 8 to 9 in third grade through fourth grade.

The answers to all the activities are located at the end of the workbook.

Writing

In fourth grade, developing strong writing skills become essential for effective communication and academic success. Our writing curriculum focuses on various writing forms such as letters, journal entries, opinion pieces, and informative writing, all of which helps my kiddos learn to express ideas clearly and logically. I place more emphasis on understanding and applying proper punctuation and grammar as well as organizing thoughts through structured prompts and real-world writing activities. The materials that I choose ensure that my children can articulate their ideas and arguments confidently, enhancing their overall literacy and critical thinking abilities.

For formal writing lessons, I use portions of the 112-page Grammar and Punctuation, Grade 3 workbook. The black-and-white workbook covers 25 grammatical and punctuation topics including apostrophes, commas, quotation marks, underlining, and italics that build on the topics learned in the third grade edition. Each section includes four pages of instruction and activities for a total of 25 instructional pages and 75 practice pages. As with the third grade workbook, I again use only the writing and punctuation portions because of errors in the grammar sections.

After finishing the first half of the workbook in third grade, my fourth graders continue the Weekly Real-World Writing, Grades 3-4. The workbook provides practice with real-world writing with activities that demonstrate thoughtful and effective writing strategies. We use the first half of the workbook in third grade and the second half in fourth grade. The real-world topics include letters, journal entries, product opinions, advertisements, directions, and interviews.

I additionally include the Writing Prompts Journal, Grades 3-4 in our fourth grade curriculum to encourage my children to write on their own. The journals includes 29 engaging prompts that cover narrative, opinion/argument, and informative writing as well as helpful tips, checklists for self-editing, and graphic organizers. The journal is available through the Lakeshore Learning website.

I also use the Opinion Writing printable workbook from Education.com as part of our fourth grade writing curriculum. The writing workbook teaches students to express their opinions and to support opinions with good evidence and facts. I have had a subscription to the website for years, and I highly recommend one for the available resources.

Spelling

Rather than using word lists for spelling, I introduced word study using Structured Word Inquiry in first grade. For my main resource, I use the InSight Words decks from Linguist-Educator Exchange.

I also created the Teach a Student to Spell: Level 4 workbook for spelling lessons as a follow up to Teach a Student to Read. Level 4 consists of 36 spelling lists of 12 words each. The spelling lists are based on the most common words in English and various sight word lists. The first goal of Level 4 is to teach more spellings of the most common English words and common free English bases. Each list reinforces the graphemes taught in Teach a Student to Read. Some complex words are also introduced. Related words are noted. The second goal of Level 4 is to teach more English prefixes, suffixes, and spelling rules. Words from Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 and additional words sometimes appear in Level 4 to reinforce spelling rules with prefixes and suffixes. The final six lists focus on bound bases.

Vocabulary

Expanding vocabulary in fourth grade is crucial for enhancing reading comprehension, writing clarity, and effective communication. As my kiddos encounter more complex texts and ideas, a robust vocabulary becomes essential for academic success. For continued vocabulary lessons for vocabulary expansion in fourth grade, I use 101 Lessons: Vocabulary Words in Context: Vocabulary Words in Context (Grades 3-5). The 112-page workbook includes 101 lessons that teach a total of over 500 vocabulary words. The lessons use a variety of activities to teach the words in context.

Math

Through our fourth grade math curriculum, my kiddos focus on mastering skills such as multiplication and division, fractions, decimals, geometry, and basic algebraic concepts. These foundational skills are crucial for problem-solving abilities, logical thinking, and the ability to work with abstract concepts. A strong understanding of math at the fourth grade level prepares my children for more advanced mathematical studies and practical real-world applications.

For fourth grade math lessons, I selected Singapore Math Level 4 (US Edition) as our main curriculum. I start using Singapore Math in first grade and continue until sixth grade. The two textbooks in Level 4 teach mathematical concepts, and the workbooks provide additional independent practice. The US Edition has been minimally modified from the original Singapore edition to teach American money and include American English spellings. The textbooks follow a unique pattern of moving from hands-on demonstrations to picture drawings (concrete examples with pictures) and finally to the abstract (numbers and symbols) in a natural, easy-to-understand progression. The program aims to teach children to learn to think mathematically rather than just being able to solve math problems. I also own the Singapore Primary Mathematics Answer Key, Levels 4A-6B.

In addition to the Singapore Math textbooks and workbooks, I also include Marvel Math Made Easy, Fourth Grade for additional practice. We are huge Marvel fans, so the themed workbook provides a fun addition to our math curriculum. The workbook includes a variety of math problems including multiplication tables, addition, and subtraction, symmetry, fractions, and money.

Science

Through our fourth grade science curriculum, my kiddos deepen their understanding of scientific concepts by engaging in more complex topics such as ecosystems, energy, the human body, and Earth science. Science skills encourage critical thinking, curiosity, and the ability to conduct experiments and analyze data, fostering a foundational knowledge for future scientific learning. I selected the 576-page textbook Scott Foresman Science and the accompanying workbook. (You can find copies of the workbook in PDF form online if you are willing to sign up for a free trial version of the sharing sites.) Each lesson includes questions at the end, and the workbook includes further questions for study. The textbook includes nineteen chapters. The end of the workbook includes additional activities to use with each chapter.

Social Studies

In fourth grade social studies, my kiddos delve into a deeper understanding of US regions, history, geography, and cultural diversity. Our materials focus on critical skills such as map reading, understanding historical timelines, and analyzing the impact of geography on communities. I additionally selected our curriculum to explore significant historical events and figures, which enhances the ability to think critically about the past and its influence on the present, skills that are essential for fostering a sense of identity, civic responsibility, and global awareness.

After finishing the third grade social studies textbook and workbook from the publisher, we move on to the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Our Country’s Regions Grade 4 textbook and the accompanying workbook. The 441-page hardback book covers various social studies topics such as community, geography, history, and culture. The accompanying workbook is essential for reinforcing the lessons in the textbook and covers vocabulary, writing, and other activities.

In addition to the textbooks and workbooks, I also use the workbook DK Workbooks: Geography, Fourth Grade for geography practice as part of our social studies curriculum. The 60-page workbook topics include map reading, compass directions, continents, countries and states, borders, bodies of water, and more. Geography skills help children understand the relationships between people, places, and environments, fostering a sense of global awareness and spatial thinking.

Additionally for fourth grade geography, we use The World Reference Maps & Forms Book from Evan-Moor. The workbook includes a total of 92 maps of the world, individual continents, Canada, United States, Mexico, and US regions along with activities for each map.

After completing the History Pockets: Life in Plymouth Colonies in third grade, we move on to History Pockets: Colonial America, Grades 4-6 and History Pockets: The American Revolution Grades 4-6. The reproducible activity books teach information about each time period complete with illustrations, arts and crafts projects, and writing activities. My children complete each section over one or two days with a culminating portfolio to show their study of time period in history.

Health/Life Skills

With our fourth grade health curriculum, my kiddos continue building on foundational knowledge by exploring more complex topics such as the human body, personal hygiene, nutrition, and emotional well-being. Our materials teach about the different systems of the body, the importance of healthy habits, and strategies for maintaining physical and mental health. Such skills are crucial for fostering a lifelong understanding of wellness, encouraging self-care, and developing a sense of responsibility for their own health and well-being.

For health lessons, I opt to continue using the same textbook series from first grade through sixth grade. In fourth grade, I use the 400-page Harcourt Health & Fitness: Grade 4 and the accompanying workbook. The accompanying workbook provides practice that reinforces the information from each lesson. Most of the worksheet pages cover two or three lessons per page.

In addition to the textbook and workbook, I also use The Body Book: Easy-to-Make Hands-on Models That Teach for additional learning about the human body, which is an essential part of health education. The easy-to-make manipulatives created with reproducible patterns and easy step-by-step instructions teach about the inner workings of the human body. We use the workbook to create models of the body after completing the main textbook and workbook.

Art

Learning about art history and specific art pieces and artists in fourth grade is crucial for understanding cultural heritage, developing critical thinking skills, and appreciating diverse perspectives and creative expressions. For art lessons, I continue using the 13 Children Should Know series of books. For fourth grade, I used 13 Art Materials Children Should Know, 13 Art Techniques Children Should Know, 13 Art Movements Children Should Know, and 13 Sculptures Children Should Know. We also used YouTube, trips to art museums, and other resources to learn more about various artists, artworks, and art styles.

Printable Schedule

Because I am a homeschooling mom of four children, I have created yearly schedules for each grade to help me keep track of the work that needs to be completed in each subject each week. Our schedules make sure that we complete all work in each subject in each grade in a timely manner. The schedules also help us spread out the work over the entire grade without cramming too much in at any one time. Our schedules are designed for four days of work for forty-two weeks a year. Feel free to use our Grade 4 Schedule in your own homeschool.

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