Serving Preschool Through 8th Grade in the San Francisco East Bay Since 1962
As part of this process, we focus on the whole child by teaching study skills, effective interpersonal communication, appropriate risk-taking, goal-setting, and resiliency in the face of challenges.

Did you know?

Seven Hills 4th graders develop their collaboration and historical empathy by re-enacting the California Gold Rush and experiencing life as a sailor in 1906 on an overnight experience aboard the cargo ship Balclutha.

Fourth Grade

Moving from the south side of campus to the North Wing marks a huge developmental milestone for our fourth grade students—new space, new teachers, and increasing student responsibility and autonomy. Our 4th graders demonstrate mastery of the academic skills introduced to this point, become confident with their opinions and emerging independence, and build agency to support their own learning. As part of this process, fourth grade teachers focus on a growth mindset and strengthening students’ resilience in the face of challenges, self-awareness and empathy for others, independent study habits, effective interpersonal communication skills, appropriate risk-taking, and academic and personal goal-setting.

Students’ thinking is deepened so they can make connections with curriculum and individually extend their explorations. Our inquiry-based academic program consists of an integrated, standards-based curriculum that focuses on California and promotes cultural competency and global citizenship. Students will experience a diverse group of authors, engage in critical thinking through both large and small group discussions, and develop classroom teamwork and collaboration.

CURRICULUM

Language Arts
READING Units of Study:
  • Reading fictional text
  • Character study, inference, and interpretation
  • Cross-text synthesis, close reading, comparing and evaluating sources
  • Supporting a position with reasons and evidence
  • Reading analytically, synthesizing complicated narratives, comparing/contrasting themes
  • Incorporating nonfiction research into reading
WRITING Units of Study:
  • The Arc of a Story: Writing Realistic Fiction
  • Bullets & Boxes: Personal and Persuasive Essays
  • Bringing History to Life
  • The Literary Essay: Writing About Fiction

Math
  • Multiplication With 2-digit Numbers
  • Factors and Prime Numbers
  • Using Data to Compare
  • Linear Measurement
  • Polygons, Angles, Symmetry, and Area
  • Adding and Subtracting With Numbers to 1,000,000
  • Fractions and Decimals
  • Representing and Analyzing Patterns

Social Studies
  • Continents, Oceans, Longitude, Latitude
  • Geography and Mapping Skills
  • Early Californians
  • Missions and Ranchos
  • Gold Rush and Immigration (including the Seven Hills tradition of a Gold Rush Day simulation!)
  • Democracy and Government

Science
  • Carrying Out Investigations
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data
  • Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
  • Supporting Scientific Arguments With Evidence
  • Life Science: Living Organism's Structure and Survival
  • Physical Science: Concepts of Energy
  • Earth Science: Causes of Change in Earth's Surface