Year 4

This term we will be working on the following topics:

English   

Our first focus text will Who Let The Gods Out?, written by Maz Evans. While studying the text, we will learn about Greek mythology and will be using this to re-tell myths. We will also explore The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Through this text we will be writing a short script for a role play about overcoming language barriers or making new friends, linking this to the UNCRC Articles 2, 7 and 22. We will consolidate how to use a variety of sentence openers and plan a piece of narrative using the third person. Our third text will be Varjak Paw by S F Said. We will consolidate how to effectively use apostrophes to mark possession, and structure sentences using comparative conjunctions. We will be writing a newspaper report, and we will be focusing on using headlines, quotes, and third-person reporting language, maintaining past tense and chronological order and using paragraphs and conjunctions to link ideas. When reading, we will be exploring a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts and answering questions focusing on retrieval and inference.

    

Maths           

Using the NCETM framework, we will be learning how to divide with remainders, consolidating how to tell the time, coordinates and symmetry and 2-D shapes. The children will also use their knowledge of coordinates to describe the position of shapes and figures following translation. They will apply their knowledge to word problems.

 

Science       

We will be studying Changing State this term. The children will be learning about the different properties of solids, liquids and gases and that some materials can exist as both a solid and a liquid. The children will also be learning about the processes of evaporation, condensation, melting and freezing.

 

History         

In our What did the Ancient Greeks ever do for us? topic, we will be describing the features of Ancient Greece, identifying the key periods in the Ancient Greek civilisation, and researching Greek gods. We will be comparing Athens and Sparta and understanding philosophy and the different types of democracy, as well as the Greeks’ legacies and impact. 

 

Geography         

In Geography, we will be asking: Are All Settlements the Same? We will be locating, describing and comparing cities and towns in the UK. We will be using an OS map to notice different land uses, to follow a route and discuss reasons for the location of human and physical features. We will compare regions of the UK to New Delhi.

 

Art & Design               

We will explore how Every Picture Tells a Story. The children will develop the ability to analyse, unpick and understand works of art, using inference to suggest what different subjects may be thinking or feeling. The children will also be predicting what might be happening in a scene and what could happen next.

 

Music            

In Music this term, Year 4 will continue with their First Access instrumental sessions and will be able to choose a preferred instrument. They will focus on either the violin or the trombone to further develop their playing technique. They will read notation and will play as an ensemble in unison, improvise and perform as a group to each other.

 

Computing  

The children will develop their understanding of repetition and loops within programming. They will create programs by planning, modifying, and testing commands to create shapes and patterns. They will also explore the concept of repetition in programming using the Scratch environment. The children will look at the differences between count-controlled and infinite loops, and use their knowledge to modify existing animations and games using repetition. 

 

Design Technology                  

During these lessons, the children will be designing and building Greek temples.

 

Physical Education                   

We will be developing team game skills and athletic skills as well as having weekly tennis lessons.

                       

French                  

We will be learning key vocabulary, grammar and phrases through the following topics: Portraits and The Eurovision Song Contest.

                       

Religious Education                 

In RE, we will be looking at Islam and Muslims in Britain, exploring core values and beliefs and learning the history and social science about Muslims in Britain. This will be supported by interpreting census data, learning about important festivals and discussing similarities and differences between other Abrahamic religions that we have studied.

 

PSHE/RSE  

Physical and mental health – The children will identify a wide range of factors that help them maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally. They will explore what good physical health means, how to recognise early signs of physical illness and learn that common illnesses can be quickly and easily treated with the right care, e.g. visiting the doctor when necessary.

Growing and changing – The children will consider how to identify external genitalia and reproductive organs and learn about the physical and emotional changes during puberty. They will discuss the challenges of puberty with a trusted adult.

Keeping safe – The children will understand the importance of taking medicine correctly and using household products safely. They will recognise what is meant by a ‘drug’ and that drugs are common to everyday life (e.g. cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vaping, alcohol and medicines). Children will also consider the effects on health and wellbeing and learn that all drugs, including medicines, may have side effects. The children will identify some of the risks associated with drugs common to everyday life and understand that for some people, using drugs can become a habit which is difficult to break. They will also learn how to ask for help or advice.

• Your child should read to an adult for 15 minutes three times a week and independently every day. It is also important that an adult reads to your child regularly. Please talk to your child about the book and check their understanding by asking questions about events and the characters’ actions. Please also explain new or unfamiliar vocabulary. Their book-bag should come into school every day with their reading diary.
• In order to help develop the children's confidence when articulating their ideas and communicating with others, we will be spending time in class discussing weekly 'Let's Talk' tasks.  These can be found in the weekly newsletter and Google Classroom. Please spend time at home in discussion with the children so that they are ready to share their thoughts and ideas in class each week.
• Your child will have PE on Mondays and Fridays. They should wear their PE kit to school. Please make sure your child has an outdoor PE kit consisting of jogging bottoms and a sweatshirt.
• Your child needs to bring in a filled water bottle every day.
• We are a Healthy School. Please do not put sweets or chocolate bars in your child’s packed lunch. Please do not send in sweets or other treats when it is your child’s birthday. If you want to celebrate your child’s birthday with their classmates, you could buy the class a book, send in a healthy snack such as boxes of raisins or buy stationery such as a pencil, but due to the impact on the environment, we ask you not to send in plastic toys.
• If your child is absent from school, please contact the school office: 020 8850 5486 and leave a message detailing why your child is absent. If your child has had an upset stomach, they can return to school when they are better. Please try to book medical appointments outside the school day and note that family holidays will not be authorised.
• If you have any questions or wish to raise a concern, please contact the class teacher in the first instance.

Please see the school calendar and weekly newsletters for information about events for Year 4.