Welcome to 4th Grade at Highland Park Elementary!

Fourth grade is an exciting and engaging time for students here at Highland Park Elementary. The IB Primary Years Program (PYP) focuses on educating the whole child. We work at developing strong academic skills as well as teaching and modeling attitudes that build the profile of a student prepared to contribute to an international community. This profile that has been developed by the International Baccalaureate Program is the core of our student expectations and helps to create a positive and supportive school and classroom community. You can find the profiles described on our website.

Our curriculum is based on an inquiry approach to learning. Each grade level organizes the curriculum based on six organized themes and units of inquiry.

Our Six Fourth Grade Organizing Themes and Units of Inquiry Are:

Where We Are In Place And Time

Central idea: Immigration meets a variety of needs.   
Focus: Social Studies and Language Arts

How We Organize Ourselves

Central idea: People adapt to their geographic environment. 
Focus: Social Studies and Geography

Sharing The Planet 

Central Idea:  Access to water varies world wide.  
Focus: Science and Language Arts

How The World Works 

Central Idea: Electricity impacts society. 
Focus: Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts

Who We Are 

Central Idea: We have rights and responsibilities in our community.
Focus: Social Studies

How We Express Ourselves

Central idea: People express themselves in many ways.

Focus: Social Studies and Language arts