3rd–4th Grades
Over the course of the school year, students explore seasonal themes and 3rd-4th grade curriculum through the overarching theme of Community & Kindness.
In our language arts studies, we create authentic readers and writers by reading both fiction and nonfiction, and participating in writing and reading workshops while honing grammar and spelling skills. In math, students get to know numbers through engaging and relevant math activities as well as systematic introduction and practice of grade-specific math concepts. Students who are ready for fifth-grade math integrate into our middle school classroom and students who need more support get what they need.
We learn about the Earth including ecosystems, energy, evolution, and living organisms through gardening, cooking, experiments, creating things, and closely observing nature. Throughout the year, our studies travel through our surrounding community and North Carolina’s history, economics, and governments with an emphasis on geography and culture. The arts will be integrated into the everyday curriculum as well as through school performances and field trips.
The students of the 3-4 class explore the curriculum through a variety of lesson formats: lectures, group projects, scientific inquiry, library and internet research, data collection and analysis, field trips, and visiting experts.
The small size of this classroom allows fluidity for students to be challenged at their individual levels of need. Students share the same experiences but are challenged to complete grade/ability-appropriate tasks and assignments based upon their individual needs as learners. Each learner is challenged to work at an optimal rate of personal academic challenge.
Learning Communication & Conflict Resolution
Joy and compassion are some of our main goals in the 3rd and 4th-grade classroom. Students learn conflict management by studying and using compassionate communication. Students learn about their own feelings and the feelings of other people using “I feel…” statements and reflective listening. Students are given space to develop their classroom community in community meetings, in which they learn to solve problems together.
Pursuing Their Passions
Students participate in weekly special classes, including music, art, and physical education. Following personal passions, using integrated learning and design thinking, students work together to research, collaborate and create a contribution to each of the Odyssey School Festivals. As the year progresses, the class chooses, designs, and implements a service-learning project.
Every year students choose a topic they are passionate about to study for their Independent Research Project. At once, this experience is fun and challenging. The students of the 3-4 class explore the curriculum through a variety of lesson formats: lectures, group projects, scientific inquiry, library and internet research, labs, data collection and analysis, field trips, and visiting experts.
The small size of this classroom allows fluidity for students to be challenged at their individual level of need. Students share the same experiences, but are challenged to complete grade/ability appropriate tasks and assignments based upon their individual needs as learners. Each learner is challenged to work at an optimal rate of personal academic challenge.
