Once upon a time, in a 4th - grade classroom, there was a quest to find a missing library book. A group of students, led by the class bookworm, searched everywhere. They finally found it under the teacher's desk. It had fallen there when the teacher was tidying up.
One possible theme could be friendship. In a 4th grade quest, like looking for a lost item in the school, friends work together, support each other, and strengthen their bond through the process.
One common theme is growth. The characters in 4th grade quest short stories usually grow and learn during their quests. For instance, in 'James and the Giant Peach', James becomes more confident and resourceful as he goes on his adventure. Family can also be a theme. In 'Because of Winn - Dixie', Opal's relationship with her father is an important part of her quest to learn about her mother. And of course, there's the theme of good versus evil. In 'The Fantastic Mr. Fox', Mr. Fox is the good character fighting against the evil farmers.
Well, considering it's a 4th - grade story about Hercules' quest, it could involve Hercules going on a journey. Maybe he has to complete certain tasks. It could be a simplified version of the traditional Hercules tales, focusing on lessons like courage and perseverance that are relevant for 4th graders.
One common element is a group of kids. Usually, it's the 4th graders themselves. Another is a goal like finding something valuable or helping someone. For example, finding a lost pet or a hidden treasure.
One popular 4th grade quest short story is 'The Magic Tree House' series. These stories often take the main characters, Jack and Annie, on various quests through time and different places. Another could be 'Charlotte's Web', which is about a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a spider, Charlotte, and the quest to save Wilbur from being slaughtered. There's also 'The Fantastic Mr. Fox' where Mr. Fox has a quest to outwit the mean farmers.
Hercules is surely one of the main characters. Depending on how the story is written, there could be a wise old man or woman who gives Hercules advice. And there may be some villains or obstacles in the form of mythical creatures. For instance, a centaur could be causing trouble and Hercules has to deal with it. Also, there might be ordinary people in the village or town that Hercules is trying to protect.
Once upon a time in 4th grade, there was a boy named Tom. His class was on a quest to find a hidden treasure in the schoolyard. They had a map with clues. Tom led his group. They found the first clue under a big oak tree. It said to look near the old fountain. After searching, they found the next clue which led them to the library. Finally, they found the treasure box full of books in the attic of the library. It was an exciting quest for all of them.
In 6th grade, a girl named Lily discovered she could turn invisible. This happened when she was hiding from a mean classmate. At first, she was scared of this new power. But then, she realized she could use it to do good. She would spy on the school janitor who was suspected of stealing. She found evidence and returned the stolen items. Lily became the invisible hero of the 6th grade.