--- title: "What a 4-year-old learns" description: "43 topics are written for age 4, across 3 subjects." canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/age/4 source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/age/4.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # What a 4-year-old learns 43 topics are written for age 4, across 3 subjects. Topics are placed by what they need, not by school year, so this is a starting point rather than a syllabus. Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/age/4 ## English - [Building sentences](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/building-sentences-mt_N8CpN1EJrP): Understand that words combine to make sentences — a sentence expresses a complete thought; produce and expand complete sentences in speech and writing - [Spaces between words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spaces-between-words-mt_of2GggtxFl): Separate words with spaces in writing; understand that spaces mark word boundaries in print - [Sitting, pencil grip and lowercase letters](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/sitting-pencil-grip-and-lowercase-letters-mt_WBfj79OqXz): Sit correctly at a table holding a pencil comfortably and correctly; form lower-case letters in the correct direction starting and finishing in the right place - [Blending Sounds to Read Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/blending-sounds-to-read-words-mt__KHQttMde3): Apply phonic knowledge to blend sounds in unfamiliar words containing taught grapheme-phoneme correspondences; respond speedily to graphemes for all 40+ phonemes - [Consonant Digraphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/consonant-digraphs-mt_9-OHslmt1g): Read and spell words containing consonant digraphs and less common consonant spellings (ch, sh, th, ck, tch, ng, ph, wh, k for /k/) - [Knowing all letters](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/knowing-all-letters-mt_frDIaXzWbx): Recognise and name all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet; name the letters in order and use letter names to distinguish between alternative spellings - [Onsets & Rimes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/onsets-and-rimes-mt_PvU3eoikev): Blend and segment onsets and rimes in single-syllable words; isolate and pronounce individual phonemes (initial, medial, final) in CVC words; add or substitute phonemes to make new words - [Rhyming words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/rhyming-words-mt_4GiE83rJF_): Recognise and produce rhyming words; join in with predictable phrases and rhymes in stories and poems; learn to appreciate and recite poems by heart - [Single Letter Sounds](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/single-letter-sounds-mt_F978c32kDr): Know the primary sound for each consonant and the short and long sounds for the five major vowels; respond speedily to single-letter graphemes - [Understanding print](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/understanding-print-mt_1KCwbGvm1F): Demonstrate understanding that print carries meaning, follows left-to-right top-to-bottom directionality, and is organised page by page in books - [Vowel Digraphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/vowel-digraphs-mt_BtMbZibZUj): Read and spell words containing common vowel digraphs (ai, ay, ee, ea, oa, oe, oo, oi, oy) including where a digraph can represent more than one sound - [Syllables](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/syllables-mt_UvNrOXny1i): Count, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words; divide written words into syllables as an aid to reading and spelling - [Predicting what happens next](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/predicting-what-happens-next-mt_8-POYyg7GJ): Predict what might happen next in a story based on what has been read so far; discuss the significance of titles and events - [Asking Questions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/asking-questions-mt_f8n4txtLej): Ask relevant questions to extend understanding; ask and answer questions to seek help, get information, or clarify something not understood - [Describing Aloud](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/describing-aloud-mt_4A7FYmvVhA): Describe familiar people, places, things, and events with detail; speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly; give well-structured descriptions and explanations - [Exploring Ideas Through Talk](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/exploring-ideas-through-talk-mt_n6GhzDPllD): Use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining, and exploring ideas; use strategies to build vocabulary through talk - [Expressing & Justifying Opinions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/expressing-and-justifying-opinions-mt_S0hzjAeLSK): Articulate and justify answers, arguments, and opinions; participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, and debates - [Group discussions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/group-discussions-mt_wwdRhPyz6s): Participate actively in collaborative conversations staying on topic; continue a conversation through multiple exchanges; maintain attention in discussions - [Listening and responding](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/listening-and-responding-mt_mB7DVai-Uf): Listen and respond appropriately to adults and peers; follow agreed-upon rules for discussion such as listening to others and taking turns speaking - [Phonics Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/phonics-vocabulary-mt_EqXlZfB4jp): Know and use the vocabulary of phonics and word structure — phoneme, grapheme, GPC (grapheme-phoneme correspondence), blend, segment, digraph, CVC, vowel, consonant, syllable, root word, suffix, prefix, and homophone — and understand that these words describe the building blocks that phonics instruction is built on - [Segmenting words into sounds](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/segmenting-words-into-sounds-mt_BhYJZUsErp): Segment spoken words into phonemes and spell CVC and simple phonetically regular words by writing a letter or letters for each sound ## Mathematics - [Addition and subtraction word problems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-and-subtraction-word-problems-mt_yJmvUCCym7): Solve addition and subtraction word problems within 10 using objects or drawings - [Addition as combining or putting together two groups](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-as-combining-or-putting-together-two-groups-mt_OvyoRo47K-): Understand addition as combining or putting together two groups to find the total - [Number bonds to 10](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/number-bonds-to-10-mt_e8CZ7E5qW7): Find the number that makes 10 when added to a given number from 1 to 9 (number bonds to 10) - [Numbers up to 10 into pairs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/numbers-up-to-10-into-pairs-mt_7XcCG43ZZW): Decompose numbers up to 10 into pairs in more than one way (part-part-whole) - [Representing Addition and Subtraction](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/representing-addition-and-subtraction-mt_PgsHGYJMH-): Represent addition and subtraction using objects, drawings, and mental images - [Subtraction as taking away or separating](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/subtraction-as-taking-away-or-separating-mt_zuKAX6lcYR): Understand subtraction as taking away or separating from a group to find how many remain - [Comparing groups: more or fewer](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-groups-more-or-fewer-mt__h7hvT4tEb): Compare two groups of objects to determine which has more, fewer, or whether they are equal, using matching and counting strategies - [How Many in Total?](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/how-many-in-total-mt_dmNvjroCPT): Cardinality principle: the last number said when counting a set tells how many objects are in the set, regardless of arrangement or order counted - [One More Each Time](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/one-more-each-time-mt_sYpKWbq5ra): Each successive counting number represents a quantity that is one larger than the previous number - [One-to-one counting](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/one-to-one-counting-mt_WcfaSfVT33): One-to-one correspondence when counting objects: each object is paired with exactly one number name - [Showing numbers many ways](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/showing-numbers-many-ways-mt_pAcaehday5): Represent numbers using objects, pictorial representations, and the number line - [2-D shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/2-d-shapes-mt_KJeEeTutJI): Recognise and name common 2-D shapes (circles, triangles, rectangles including squares) - [3-D shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/3-d-shapes-mt_Qcp2d_kuta): Recognise and name common 3-D shapes (cubes, cuboids, pyramids, spheres, cylinders, cones) - [Positional Language](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/positional-language-mt_qeZYF6HZ4o): Describe the position of objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to - [Comparing Capacity](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-capacity-mt_zkFbMLpu3U): Compare and describe capacity and volume using language such as full, empty, more than, less than, half full - [Comparing durations](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-durations-mt_TcG90kS8nu): Use comparative language for time: quicker, slower, earlier, later - [Comparing Lengths & Heights](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-lengths-and-heights-mt_uhuxX8sg9f): Compare two objects directly by length or height and describe the difference using language such as long, short, tall, longer, shorter, taller, double, half - [Measurable attributes of objects](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/measurable-attributes-of-objects-mt_NtJYlJdUe9): Describe and identify measurable attributes of objects such as length, height, weight, and capacity; use comparative language (longer, shorter, heavier, lighter, more, less) - [Comparing mass and weight](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-mass-and-weight-mt_-P1kdZhHbL): Compare two objects directly by mass or weight and describe the difference using language such as heavy, light, heavier than, lighter than - [Ordering Events in Time](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/ordering-events-in-time-mt_-vvVxpOHG2): Sequence events in chronological order using language such as before, after, next, first, today, yesterday, tomorrow, morning, afternoon, evening - [Division as equal sharing](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/division-as-equal-sharing-mt_LpSuPgL31x): Understand division as sharing equally into groups or as grouping (how many groups of a given size can be made) ## Personal & Social Development - [Who I Am: Self-Concept and Strengths](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/who-i-am-self-concept-and-strengths-mt_j8rBUMPEuD): Describe who you are: your name, family, likes and dislikes, things you are good at and things you find hard — and notice that you are growing and can already do things you couldn't do before