If you don’t know where you’re going, how can you expect to get where you want to go?
If you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.
Begin with the end in mind.
If you want to hit a goal, you need a plan to get there.
You’ve heard them dozens, hundreds, even thousands of times. These phrases and many more like them.
And even though you might hate the sound of them, be annoyed when people say them, feel like they’re trite and not worth hearing, they do contain a whole lot of truth!
You need to know where you’re going before you start out.
It’s like when you leave to take a road trip. You need to know your destination to set off in the right direction. Oh, the exact pattern of roads you take might change along the way. There might be construction that you’ll need to take a detour around or something might catch your eye and you take a little side trip.
But if you have reservations at a condo in Colorado and you live in Tennessee, you know you need to be heading west to get where you’re going. You wouldn’t start your drive heading east into North Carolina because that wouldn’t get you where you want to end up!
It’s the same way when it comes to choosing your homeschooling curriculum. You need to have an idea of where you’re going before you can start planning the exact roads you’re going to take.
Which begs the question…where are you going?
Determining the Subjects
As you travel this journey of choosing your homeschool curriculum, one of the first things you need to know is what subjects your child should be learning at each grade level.
No matter which approach to homeschooling curriculum you’ve chosen, knowing what general subjects your child should be learning at any given grade level will serve you well. You see, as you homeschool, you as the parent are responsible for guiding your child’s learning journey. In other words, you’re the one with the map on the road trip. And how can you guide your child if you’re not clear on what they should be learning?
This big concept of what subjects you should be teaching your children applies to any approach to homeschooling. (If you’re not sure what the approaches to homeschooling curriculum are, check out this post.)
So today, we’re going to dive into the world of Fourth and Fifth Grade to take a look at the subjects you should be covering in these upper elementary years.
Now the goal here is not to dive into a specific curriculum or give curriculum recommendations or reviews, but to give you a general idea of the subjects you should be covering and what those subject might look like. This will allow you to create the framework of your curriculum plan. And one you have the framework, it becomes easier to fill in the details because you know which details you’re looking for!
Keep in mind that every child is different! Every child is at a different learning level and even learns different subjects at different speeds. So, remember: these are general subjects you should be teaching your children, not a written-in-stone law of what your homeschool must look like.
Creating the Lists By Grade
Over the years, I’ve looked at LOTS of subject lists for each grade and what you see below are the subject lists I’ve compiled from comparing lots of information.
Now, as you look at these lists, you’ll find a lot of repetition. For example, math shows up as a subject at every grade level. That’s to be expected! You don’t just learn math in 1st Grade and then never take another math class. You start learning math at the simple addition level, then you move on to subtraction. Next comes multiple-digit addition and subtraction and on it goes. Each year, you build on the math concepts you’ve learned as you continue to add to and expand your knowledge of math. So similarities are to be expected in these subjects lists as each year takes your child deeper in their study of a particular subject.
Let’s take a step back and break it down one step at a time. Remember, that’s the number one principle to creating your homeschooling plan: Give yourself time and take it one step at a time.
Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade always struck me as a breath of fresh air. At this point, your child has a lot of the foundational concepts under their belt – concepts like how to read and a good foundation to build on in math. They have been working on spelling words for a while, so when it comes to creative writing, they are more confident and can focus more on the storytelling than how to form a particular letter.
On the other hand, they’re not in Fifth Grade yet, so thoughts of Middle School haven’t started to invade their thought process yet. In short, Fourth Grade is a fun year!
Bible
Whether you choose a formal lesson plan or choose to read different Bible passages together or choose a different approach entirely, when faith is the cornerstone of your family, make sure this is reflected in your homeschool.
Children have a great capacity for memorization – especially when they are challenged to learn and memorize new things. So, challenging your children to memorize verses! (You can even challenge yourself and work on memorizing the verses with them.)
Reading/Language Arts
By this point, your child should have a firm grasp of knowing how to read. However, you should continue to encourage them to read – both out loud and silently – to help them continue to build their comfort and proficiency in reading and in their reading comprehension.
You could do this by giving them a set amount of time they need to read each day. Or you could give them a specific book to read by a certain time. You could even assign them a book report to do once they finish their book. (But before you assign a book report, check out this post on creative book reports.)
And don’t forget to keep reading out loud to your child! Introduce them to books they can enjoy and understand, but ones that might be a bit beyond their reading level just yet. Show them by example how books living, vibrant stories to be enjoyed.
Handwriting/Journal Writing
Continue having your child practice their handwriting. This might feel a bit tedious in Fourth Grade and your child may or may not need to continue practicing their printing. If your child is proficient at printing, teach them cursive or even calligraphy. Teaching printing, cursive, or calligraphy can be as simple as writing a phrase your child likes on handwriting paper and having them copy it or you could use a set curriculum.
In Fourth Grade, I highly recommend adding in journal writing. Now, don’t make more of this than you need to! It’s simply having your child write 3-8 sentences about something. (Set the number of sentences based on your individual child.) Be sure to give them a question to answer or something to tell you in their writing. The big idea is to help them use their creativity and learn how to tell stories on paper.
Spelling
By this point, your child should be working on learning spelling words. Personally, I find that working your way through a curriculum with the spelling words already created for you is much easier than trying to come up with a list of words each week – as well as making sure you don’t repeat the words!
Grammar (optional)
When it comes to teaching grammar, you will find opinions all over the map. Some people believe that it should be taught as young as Second Grade, others believe that it should be taught only in Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade, and still others thing that you shouldn’t tough grammar with a 10-foot pole until High School.
This is precisely why this subject is optional in Fourth Grade. Personally, I believe that when you start teaching your child a basic understanding of grammar in fourth grade, it will serve as a solid foundation as they begin to write more and more assignments (think book reports and science reports and even creative writing).
There are a lot of nuances in grammar and I believe these nuances should wait until the Middle School years, but you can begin to set the foundation in Fourth Grade. Again, this subject is optional at this stage, so make your decision based on your child. (Stay tuned for more of my options on grammar…but if you can’t wait, check out Jr. Analytical Grammar.)
Math
This subject is pretty self-explanatory. Your child needs to be learning math – starting from where they are and building on the knowledge they already have. No matter what math curriculum you choose to use, make sure your child has mastered the lesson before moving on to the next one – no matter how long it may take!
Science
An elementary science curriculum will typically present a simple lesson, then have some activities or experiments to help reinforce what you’ve learned. Using a set science curriculum allows you to follow a train of thought from the start of the year to the end of the year.
History
As you continue to teach your child about history, consider the approach you want to use. You can study history by looking at a certain time period or group of people (think Colonial Times or the Middle Ages) or by taking a big picture timeline approach to all of history. No matter what approach you choose, make sure you’re meeting your child where they are at in their learning journey.
Geography
The big idea in teaching your child geography in elementary school is to give them an appreciation of the world around them in a fun way. You could do this by studying the different states in the United States or taking a look at different countries through interactive and interesting ways. The big idea is to explore the world – or even our own country – and show your child how incredible, diverse, and unique it is. (If you’re looking for more ways to do this, check out this post.)
Typing
In our day and age of computers, typing is a skill that has pretty much become essential. Thankfully, this is a lot easier than it looks! In fact, there are a lot of free options created just for kids that will teach them how to type properly. The key is making sure your child takes 5-10 minutes to do their typing lesson!
Art & Music (optional)
As your child continues to grow, teach them about art and music. This could be as simple as reading an age-appropriate book about a painter’s life, looking at paintings they have done, and then painting your own picture using that same style. Or you could find a more formal curriculum to use.
This could be learning about classical and modern composers, reading books about their life and then listening to music they have written. It could even include piano or guitar lessons!
No matter what you choose, don’t discount learning about music and art! Play music in the background as you learn, visit art museums, the possibilities to open your child’s eyes to the wonders of the fine arts are endless – and can be a lot of fun!
Foreign Language (optional)
Learning a foreign language is one of those subjects that is in great debate. Some say that you should start teaching your child a second (or even third!) language from the time they learn to talk. Some say you should start in kindergarten. Others say you should start in Third or Fourth Grade. And still others say you should wait until High School.
Now, if you are bilingual or even trilingual, this will be much easier and more natural for your family. However, if you’re like my family who is working on learning a second language, this will take a bit more planning.
Whether this is an informal conversation or whether it is a tutored lesson or whether you start learning the basics with a free online program, stop and consider whether you should add learning a foreign language into your Fourth Grader’s curriculum plan.
PE (optional)
Let’s face it, most kids don’t need an excuse to run around and play! While some families choose to give their children a more formal PE class, many families just make sure their children are enjoying time outside running, playing, and riding their bikes. How it looks in your family will be unique to your family!
Fifth Grade
Fifth Grade can look extremely similar to Fourth Grade. In fact, in some respects, it can be hard to tell them apart! You’ll notice that this list of subjects for Fifth Grade is almost identical to the list of subjects for Fourth Grade – although the assumption is that your child is growing deeper in their understanding of each subject than the year before.
Bible
Whether you choose a formal lesson plan or choose to read different Bible passages together or choose a different approach entirely, when faith is the cornerstone of your family, make sure this is reflected in your homeschool.
And don’t forget to have them work on memorizing verses!
Reading/Language Arts
By this point, your child should have a firm grasp of knowing how to read. However, you should continue to encourage them to read – both out loud and silently – to help them continue to build their comfort and proficiency in reading and in their reading comprehension.
You could do this by giving them a set amount of time they need to read each day. Or you could give them a specific book to read by a certain time. You could even assign them a book report to do once they finish their book. (But before you assign a book report, check out this post on creative book reports.)
And don’t forget to keep reading out loud to your child! Introduce them to books they can enjoy and understand, but ones that might be a bit beyond their reading level just yet. Show them by example how books living, vibrant stories to be enjoyed.
Handwriting/Journal Writing
At this point, your child should be doing very well with their printing. If you are teaching your child cursive or calligraphy, continue to have them practice these styles of handwriting. This can be as simple as writing a phrase your child likes on handwriting paper and having them copy it or you could use a set curriculum.
Continue to have your child write in a journal while still keeping it fun. You could choose a set number of sentences or even have them write 1-2 paragraphs about a topic each time they make a journal entry. Again, the big idea is to help them use their creativity and learn how to tell stories on paper.
Spelling
By this point, your child has been working on spelling words for some time. Personally, I find that working your way through a curriculum with the spelling words already created for you is much easier than trying to come up with a list of words each week – as well as making sure you don’t repeat the words! You may even find that your child might finish their spelling curriculum in their Fifth Grade year.
Grammar (optional)
Just as in Fourth Grade, grammar is an optional subject in Fifth Grade. Personally, I find that teaching the basics of grammar (nouns, verbs, etc.) in Fourth Grade and focusing on the mechanics of grammar (capitalization, punctuation, etc.) in Fifth Grade is a wonderful mix that sets your child up for success as they enter Middle School.
Again, this subject is optional at this stage, so make your decision based on your child. (Stay tuned for more of my options on grammar…but if you can’t wait, check out Jr. Analytical Grammar.)
Math
This subject is pretty self-explanatory. Your child needs to be learning math – starting from where they are and building on the knowledge they already have. No matter what math curriculum you choose to use, make sure your child has mastered the lesson before moving on to the next one – no matter how long it may take!
Science
An elementary science curriculum will typically present a lesson, then have some activities or experiments to help reinforce what you’ve learned. Using a set science curriculum allows you to follow a train of thought from the start of the year to the end of the year.
History
As you continue to teach your child about history, consider the approach you want to use. You can study history by looking at a certain time period or group of people (think Colonial Times or the Middle Ages) or by taking a big picture timeline approach to all of history. No matter what approach you choose, make sure you’re meeting your child where they are at in their learning journey.
Geography
The big idea in teaching your child geography in elementary school is to give them an appreciation of the world around them in a fun way. You could do this by studying the different states in the United States or taking a look at different countries through interactive and interesting ways. The big idea is to explore the world – or even our own country – and show your child how incredible, diverse, and unique it is. (If you’re looking for more ways to do this, check out this post.)
Typing
In our day and age of computers, typing is a skill that has pretty much become essential. Thankfully, this is a lot easier than it looks! In fact, there are a lot of free options created just for kids that will teach them how to type properly. The key is making sure your child takes 5-10 minutes to do their typing lesson!
Art & Music (optional)
As your child continues to grow, teach them about art and music. This could be as simple as reading an age-appropriate book about a painter’s life, looking at paintings they have done, and then painting your own picture using that same style. Or you could find a more formal curriculum to use.
This could be learning about classical and modern composers, reading books about their life and then listening to music they have written. It could even include piano or guitar lessons!
No matter what you choose, don’t discount learning about music and art! Play music in the background as you learn, visit art museums, the possibilities to open your child’s eyes to the wonders of the fine arts are endless – and can be a lot of fun!
Foreign Language (optional)
Learning a foreign language is one of those subjects that is in great debate. Some say that you should start teaching your child a second (or even third!) language from the time they learn to talk. Some say you should start in kindergarten. Others say you should start in Third or Fourth Grade. And still others say you should wait until High School.
Now, if you are bilingual or even trilingual, this will be much easier and more natural for your family. However, if you’re like my family who is working on learning a second language, this will take a bit more planning.
Whether this is an informal conversation or whether it is a tutored lesson or whether you start learning the basics with a free online program, stop and consider whether you should add learning a foreign language into your Fifth Grader’s curriculum plan.
PE (optional)
Let’s face it, most kids don’t need an excuse to run around and play! While some families choose to give their children a more formal PE class, many families just make sure their children are enjoying time outside running, playing, and riding their bikes. How it looks in your family will be unique to your family!
Building on the Foundation
As you understand the subjects you should cover in the upper elementary years and work to set your curriculum, be sure to remember something very important:
Continue to build on what you’ve learned.
Learning is a process! In fact, no matter how long we are on this earth, we are all learning new things each and every day, building on the knowledge we have gained in the past.
The same thing is true for your child as they journey through the upper elementary years. They are building and expanding their knowledge, building on the foundation that was built in first, second, and third grade.
But no matter how old your child gets, make it your goal to make learning fun, interactive, and encouraging. After all, when you enjoy learning, it makes you want to keep on learning!
Additional Resources:
- How To Get Started Choosing Your Homeschool Curriculum
- Subjects to Teach Your Child in Preschool and Kindergarten
- Subjects to Teach Your Child in First, Second, and Third Grade
- Subjects to Teach Your Child in Middle School
- Creative Book Reports: Leave the Bland and Boring Behind
- How To Teach World Geography in a Fun, Exciting Way
Elizabeth Tatham, founder of Inspiration in the Everyday, is a homeschooling momma of 5 who loves helping other homeschooling mommas create a unique homeschooling adventure your kids will love…without the overwhelm! Join in on the journey with 7 simple steps to make your homeschooling day go faster, easier, and with less tears here.