![](https://blogs.socsd.org/kmcbride/files/2013/10/crayons-1wb3n8b.jpg)
Students in 4th grade spend the first trimester working on creative thought and creative writing. Students are introduced to four areas of creative thinking – fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. Tasks, games, and stories get their creative juices flowing.
![](https://blogs.socsd.org/kmcbride/files/2013/10/polar_bear_with_a_rubiks_cube_by_jacxk101-d3gtpc9-14ocjzh.jpg)
Working together on challenging, seemingly impossible problems is the focus for the second trimester. Students are provided with a variety of opportunities to explore mathematical ideas in ways that promote their intellectual growth and expand their views of mathematics in their world.
![](https://blogs.socsd.org/kmcbride/files/2013/10/EngineeringStudentsRollercoaster-2ktlh9s.jpg)
Students explore topics of engineering and are involved with a variety of topics related to real-world learning. From potential and kinetic energy to applying, designing, constructing and testing models, students realize school is one wild ride.