4th Grade Arts

Drama: Students continue to expand on their solid foundation of stage skills. This is the first year they can participate in the Fall Play and Spring Musical. They refine and delve more deeply into key performance components like maintaining blocking and body discipline, sensory awareness and spatial perception as a member of an ensemble, risk taking in pursuit of character, rudimentary script analysis, and cold reads. These areas of focus support both the student dedicated to taking to the stage and the student who uses these skills to become a more engaged reader or effective team member.

Art: In the beginning of the year, 4th graders learn about what makes a good silhouette and start to explore creating their own silhouettes. They also practice creating parallel lines that are equidistant. After studying Aaron Douglas’s work, which is informed by his concepts of past, present, and future as an African American, students reflect on their own perspectives of past, present, and future and make a drawing using intersecting circles, color mixing, and contouring lines. In conjunction with a multidisciplinary project studying trickster tales from around the world, 4th graders make a helmet mask representing a chosen character that they then use to act out in drama class. Additionally, students create a self-portrait using charcoal and watercolor, inspired by artist Ee Hung Lew.

Music: Fourth grade music at Mark Day is about inspiring creativity, teamwork, and a lifelong love for music that builds upon the foundational music skills and literacy students have cultivated during their time in lower school. In 4th grade, students delve deeper into their ability to read and write rhythms and melodies, particularly on the treble staff. They learn to interpret these musical elements on a variety of instruments, offering many different access points for individual student learning styles. Additionally, students gain an understanding of different chord families, their construction, and the emotions they evoke in music. Students explore the world of music through active listening to a diverse range of musical genres and participate in various group activities and interactive games, fostering teamwork and creativity. Students continue to hone their skills on familiar classroom instruments like the ukulele and xylophone, allowing them to express their musical talents. In 4th grade, they are introduced to basic techniques and rhythms on the Tubano, a hand drum originating from West Africa. 

A highlight of 4th grade music is the chance for students to shine as a class ensemble. They participate in Mark Day School's Middle Division Music Showcases during the winter and spring seasons. These showcases provide invaluable performing experience, encouraging students to perform as a cohesive group, and put their musical knowledge and teamwork skills into action in front of the Mark Day School community.