Year 4

This term we will be working on the following topics:

 

English    

Our first focus text will be A Midsummer Night’s Dream, adapted by Andrew Matthews. While studying the text, we will learn how to collect evidence to justify our opinions about characters, and we will recall main events from a particular character’s viewpoint. We will also explore Leo and the Gorgon’s Curse by Joe Todd-Stanton. Through this text we will learn to use retrieval and inference to understand characters, and write using imagery and figurative language. 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 write a narrative using expanded noun phrases, fronted adverbials and correctly punctuated direct speech.

When reading, we will be exploring a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts and answering questions focusing on retrieval and inference.

 

Maths       

We will be using the Maths No Problem scheme to support our mathematical learning. We will be working on Length, Mass and Volume, Geometry, Area and Perimeter, and Position and Movement. Throughout these units, the children will be estimating and measuring mass, volume, length and perimeter. The children will draw on their multiplication knowledge to calculate area and learn the different types of angles and use this learning to classify triangles. 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  

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 (DT)    

During these lessons, the children will be designing and making a model car. 

 

Physical Education (PE)   

We will be developing team games skills and athletic skills as well as having weekly tennis lessons on Thursdays.

 

French      

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

 

Religious Education (RE)   

Through the key question of ‘Does the language of scripture matter?’ we will explore the ancient and translated languages of scripture and investigate its importance to many believers today. We will then consider ‘Just how important are our beliefs?’ by considering how actions and practices demonstrate the importance of beliefs and whether we can tell what a person believes from the outside.

 

Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE) / Relationships & Sex Education (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.

Reminders:

• 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.
• 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. 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. Swimming lessons are to continue and take place at the Eltham Centre. A swimming kit consists of close-fitting shorts, not board shorts, or a one-piece swimming costume, a towel, swimming cap and goggles. Children can also bring in a piece of fruit as a snack on their return walk to school. The snack needs to be in their swimming bag.
• Your child needs to bring in a filled water bottle every day.
• The weather is often cold at this time of year and the children will go out to play if there is light rain. It is important that your child has a waterproof coat, gloves, hat and a scarf.
• 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:  ecodd@gordon.greenwich.sch.uk and afaiers@gordon.greenwich.sch.uk.

 

Please see the school calendar and weekly newsletters for details of events for Year 4.