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Core Knowledge
What Your Fourth Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good Fourth-Grade Education
Give your child a smart start with
What Your Fourth Grader Needs to Know
Ìý
How can you help your child at home? This book answers that important question and more, offering the specific shared knowledge that thousands of parents and teachers across the nation have agreed upon for American fourth graders. Featuring illustrations throughout, a bolder, easier-to-follow format, and a thoroughly updated curriculum, What Your Fourth Grader Needs to Know is designed for parents and teachers to enjoy with children. Hundreds of thousands of students have benefited from the Core Knowledge Series. This edition, featuring a new Introduction, gives today’s generation of fourth graders the advantage they need to make progress in schoolÌý and establish an approach to learning that will last a lifetime. Inside you’ll discover
Ìý
� Favorite poems —old and new, from the familiar classic “Paul Revere’s Ride� to Langston Hughes’s “Dreams�
� Literature —from around the world, including African and Chinese folktales, excerpts from beloved novels, and condensed versions of popular classics such as Gulliver’s Travels and “Rip Van Winkle�
� Learning about language —the basics of written English, including grammar, punctuation, parts of speech, synonyms and antonyms, plus an introduction to common English sayings and phrases
� World and American history and geography —explore world and American history, including creation of a constitutional government and early presidents and politics
� Visual arts —a broad spectrum of art from around the world, including African masks, Islamic architecture, Chinese calligraphy, and great American painters—featuring gorgeous reproductions
� Music —understanding and appreciating music, from the basics of musical notation to the orchestra, plus great composers and sing-along lyrics for such favorites as “Auld Lang Syne� and “Waltzing Matilda�
� Math —challenging lessons ranging from fractions and decimals to understanding graphs, making change, square roots, and the metric system
� Science —discover the wonders of the human body and its systems, learn about electricity, atoms, chemistry, geology, and meteorology, plus concise biographies of some of the great scientists of our time
What Your Fourth Grader Needs to Know
Ìý
How can you help your child at home? This book answers that important question and more, offering the specific shared knowledge that thousands of parents and teachers across the nation have agreed upon for American fourth graders. Featuring illustrations throughout, a bolder, easier-to-follow format, and a thoroughly updated curriculum, What Your Fourth Grader Needs to Know is designed for parents and teachers to enjoy with children. Hundreds of thousands of students have benefited from the Core Knowledge Series. This edition, featuring a new Introduction, gives today’s generation of fourth graders the advantage they need to make progress in schoolÌý and establish an approach to learning that will last a lifetime. Inside you’ll discover
Ìý
� Favorite poems —old and new, from the familiar classic “Paul Revere’s Ride� to Langston Hughes’s “Dreams�
� Literature —from around the world, including African and Chinese folktales, excerpts from beloved novels, and condensed versions of popular classics such as Gulliver’s Travels and “Rip Van Winkle�
� Learning about language —the basics of written English, including grammar, punctuation, parts of speech, synonyms and antonyms, plus an introduction to common English sayings and phrases
� World and American history and geography —explore world and American history, including creation of a constitutional government and early presidents and politics
� Visual arts —a broad spectrum of art from around the world, including African masks, Islamic architecture, Chinese calligraphy, and great American painters—featuring gorgeous reproductions
� Music —understanding and appreciating music, from the basics of musical notation to the orchestra, plus great composers and sing-along lyrics for such favorites as “Auld Lang Syne� and “Waltzing Matilda�
� Math —challenging lessons ranging from fractions and decimals to understanding graphs, making change, square roots, and the metric system
� Science —discover the wonders of the human body and its systems, learn about electricity, atoms, chemistry, geology, and meteorology, plus concise biographies of some of the great scientists of our time
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1992
77 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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March 1, 2021We read and enjoyed the Ethiopian tale, “The Fire on the Mountain� and Chinese tale, “The Wonderful Chuang Brocade.�
May 26, 2022
I was fooled by seeing E.D. Hirsch’s name on this book; he’s actually listed as an editor. There are 12 people listed as writers, and 17 as �Advisors on Multiculturalism�. That should have been a clue.
Hirsch’s 1984 �Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know� is one of the best books of its topic: sane, sensible and very well-informed. It had no obvious political ax to grind. His 1996 � Books to Build On: A Grade-by-Grade Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers (Core Knowledge Series)� is a solid collection that should please most classical teachers. It is based on his �Core Knowledge� curriculum (absolutely not part of the ‘Common Core�).
Even with �Books to Build on� there were hat tips to some fairly silly comments, but that was addressed to teachers and parents; �What Your Fourth Grader Needs to Know� should reasonably be a text book for children around nine or ten. I am much more careful with anything that has a political bias when it comes to children. They are such innocents.
I knew I was in trouble when I opened the book at random and found under �The Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table�:
Hirsch’s 1984 �Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know� is one of the best books of its topic: sane, sensible and very well-informed. It had no obvious political ax to grind. His 1996 � Books to Build On: A Grade-by-Grade Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers (Core Knowledge Series)� is a solid collection that should please most classical teachers. It is based on his �Core Knowledge� curriculum (absolutely not part of the ‘Common Core�).
Even with �Books to Build on� there were hat tips to some fairly silly comments, but that was addressed to teachers and parents; �What Your Fourth Grader Needs to Know� should reasonably be a text book for children around nine or ten. I am much more careful with anything that has a political bias when it comes to children. They are such innocents.
I knew I was in trouble when I opened the book at random and found under �The Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table�:
The most famous of these knights was King Arthur, thought to be the greatest British king of those long-ago days. To promote equality and unity, he seated his knights at an enormous round table.Quite apart from the implication that King Arthur was a real person (‘the greatest British king�), the Middle Ages in Europe (like elsewhere) weren’t big on equity. They were more into heroic mass slaughter.
January 8, 2022
This book is plain fascinating. I learned so much, especially about science. I kept asking myself how I never knew all this stuff as an educated woman with ample teaching experience.
I've heard teachings on several of the topics many times before, but the way these concepts are explained in this volume sheds new light.
The section about weather is extremely interesting. I don't know how such a reference book for kids can so easily encapsulate the essence of topics in ways that are so understandable yet sophisticated! I think that if high schoolers read this volume, they would probably do much better in their chemistry and other classes.
I got these books originally to study for my credentialing tests, and here I am, years later, reading for guilty pleasure! I have cases full of good adult-geared books to tackle, but I'm thinking I'll read the fifth grade book next instead.
I've heard teachings on several of the topics many times before, but the way these concepts are explained in this volume sheds new light.
The section about weather is extremely interesting. I don't know how such a reference book for kids can so easily encapsulate the essence of topics in ways that are so understandable yet sophisticated! I think that if high schoolers read this volume, they would probably do much better in their chemistry and other classes.
I got these books originally to study for my credentialing tests, and here I am, years later, reading for guilty pleasure! I have cases full of good adult-geared books to tackle, but I'm thinking I'll read the fifth grade book next instead.
June 1, 2018
I buy a grade-appropriate copy of this book every year. It’s like my life-line to degreed teachers and traditional classrooms. (It comforts me.) I’ve never yet figured out how to use it within the educational experience, but I can at least reference it out of curiosity. I have read the literature readings to my son most years, but I never use the common phrases or whatever they are. We did use it to do some review before taking the end of year tests, this year, and that was mildly helpful. (Note: Science and history will vary, obviously, as different schools break it down different. While many kids around here were doing local history and general science this year, I was teaching early world history and botany and zoology. It’ll all come out in the wash.)
March 13, 2018
Great resource
This is a great source of to keep pace with public education. As we enter the homeschool realm, we can keep up with the basics learned in a classroom. Also, if you are in school, this is a good way to keep up with what your child is learning and if her class is up to date on core curriculum. It also helps supplement if she needs further help understanding concepts because this book does a great job of overall explanation.
This is a great source of to keep pace with public education. As we enter the homeschool realm, we can keep up with the basics learned in a classroom. Also, if you are in school, this is a good way to keep up with what your child is learning and if her class is up to date on core curriculum. It also helps supplement if she needs further help understanding concepts because this book does a great job of overall explanation.
June 18, 2011
There was a time when my district wrestled with whole school reform (that appears to be another program that we spent a lot of money on that was abandoned). When it was first posited, we examined a lot of programs. The one that captured my fancy was Modern Red Schoolhouse. Hirsch's curriculum was the backbone of that.
I love this series. I wish we had adopted it. Hirsch's approach is through the classics. Yup, that's me!
This takes one through all the stories a fourth grader should be familiar with, mathematical concepts, science, history, etc. I find it fascinating.
I read Rip Van Winkle to my students because of this. I cover all of the mathematics. I try to present some of the history, but the reality is that my students don't have enough background to handle all it.
I love this series. I wish we had adopted it. Hirsch's approach is through the classics. Yup, that's me!
This takes one through all the stories a fourth grader should be familiar with, mathematical concepts, science, history, etc. I find it fascinating.
I read Rip Van Winkle to my students because of this. I cover all of the mathematics. I try to present some of the history, but the reality is that my students don't have enough background to handle all it.
August 3, 2012
I know that there is a lot of controversy in some arenas (especially the multicultural education world) about this book and other books by E. D. Hirsch and his Core Knowledge philosophy, but I feel Hirsch has done a fabulous job identifying knowledge that is valuable for everyone to know. Plus, this background knowledge will help improve literacy. I don't advocate that Esperanza be a "Core Knowledge" school, but I feel it would be extremely helpful for every teacher to be familiar with Hirsch's book for his/her grade level and adopt it where appropriate.
Not only is the knowledge in these books valuable for young learners, but I, as an adult, learn so much.
Not only is the knowledge in these books valuable for young learners, but I, as an adult, learn so much.
June 28, 2010
Each book in this series is good - I have read several now, and I haven't seen a difference in how much I liked or disliked them. But as always, my critique is the black and white pictures that accompany the text. I really wish that these books would be released in full color. I think that'd make all the difference in the world.
July 7, 2010
I LOVE this series of books! I use them for our summer "school" sessions at home. They are great preparation for the school year ahead. I recommend them whenever I can, and I'm willing to loan them. :)
August 16, 2011
This would be great for parents to use as an at-home supplement and it provides teachers with some ideas but it doesn't match state cores very well. The math section seemed to be the most accurate for the fourth grade level.
January 8, 2008
I use as reference book.
December 3, 2013
Great information as we transition to homeschooling!
October 28, 2016
Wasting the time with more useless information just to have a TV quiz show answering machine at home. It is nationalistic and written from the narrow perspective of the white colonialists.
November 1, 2008
Using this for basic knowledge.
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