Year 4

AUTUMN TERM Learning

English

This term, Year 4 will explore the inspiring theme of ‘Taking Courage,’ discovering how bravery takes many forms both in real life and in fiction. Through Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition in Shackleton's Journey, pupils will learn about resilience, perseverance, and leadership against extreme odds. Reading The Lion and the Unicorn, examines emotional bravery and strength through the eyes of a WWII evacuee. Zombierella brings a playful twist, showing how taking courage also means having the self-confidence to embrace who you are. We will step through the wardrobe into Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to discover the moral courage required to stand up for what is right. We will also have daily whole class reading, a weekly spelling test and taught handwriting and spelling sessions to support your child’s literary development.

Maths

In the autumn term, we will be using the NCETM scheme to help deliver our maths mastery curriculum. We will be reviewing column addition and column subtraction and using them in a range of real-life contexts.  We will learn to recognise the value of a digit within in a four-digit number. We will learn how to round to the closest 10, 100 and 1000 and how to order numbers from smallest to largest. We will then learn to add and subtract four-digit numbers and how to use the inverse equation to check work. After this, we will be learning about perimeter and calculating the perimeter of different regular and irregular shapes.  We will also be developing strategies to improve the recall of our 3, 6 and 9 times tables.

Science

We will begin the term learning about Animals: Digestion and Food, where we will describe the function of key organs in the digestive system. We will also identify types of human teeth and investigate factors that impact our dental health. 

After half term, we will move onto Energy: Electricity and Circuits. Here we will explore appliances that use electricity and safely build circuits.   

Computing

In Computing, Year 4 will explore Computing Systems: Connecting Networks to discover how digital devices and the internet share information safely. They will then build their coding skills in Programming 1: Further Coding with Scratch, using variables and loops to design and debug their own interactive games.

Geography

Autumn 1
This half term, we will be answering the question, ‘Why are rainforests important to us?’  We will  be developing an understanding of biomes, ecosystems and tropics; mapping features of the Amazon rainforest and learning about its layers; investigating how communities in Manaus use the Amazon’s resources; discussing the global human impact on the Amazon; and carrying out fieldwork to compare and contrast two types of forest.

History

Autumn 2
After half term, we will be answering the question, ‘How have children’s lives changed?’  We will be investigating the changes in children’s lives through time. Year 4 will learn how children’s spare time, health and work have changed. We will also explore the most crucial change – work – in more detail, learning about a day in the life of a working child and the significance of Lord Shaftesbury and his impact.

Art & Design

Autumn 1
This half term we will be exploring Drawing: exploring tone, texture and proportion. Children will develop their sketching skills, experiment with different grades of pencil and learn how to show depth and form through shading.

Design & Technology

Autumn 2
After half term, Children will be exploring Mechanical systems: making a slingshot car. They will investigate how mechanisms create movement, design their own vehicle and test it, evaluating the effectiveness of their design.

PSHE

My healthy self: understanding how healthy choices, including exercise, nutrition and hydration, support physical and mental wellbeing. Pupils identify strategies for developing a growth mindset and consider how kindness and helping others can positively affect their own wellbeing and that of others. Connecting with others: Pupils develop strategies for building trust and resolving friendship challenges, practise responding to bullying and learn how stereotypes can negatively affect people and communities.

Music

WCET: Woodwind The children will learn to play the flute/saxophone/clarinet and will be introduced to correct posture, instrument hold and technique. They will develop an understanding of open melodies and learn how to read simple musical notation. Children will perform as part of a whole-class ensemble as well as perform with increasing accuracy and expression.
Objective focus to play simple melodies on their instrument
To read simple notation and rhythms
To demonstrate correct instrument hold and technique.

PE

PE will be taught by both our specialist sports coaches and class teachers. We will begin with units focussing on tag rugby and netball.  After half term, we will move onto our tag rugby and ball skills units.
Year 4 will have PE on Monday and Tuesdays – if there is any change we will endeavour to let you know through class dojo as soon as we can.
Please make sure your child comes to school wearing appropriate PE kit for the weather on both days.

Spanish

In autumn 2, year 4 will continue with fortnightly Spanish lessons building on what they studied last year. This will include writing the date in Spanish/birthdays (Cuando es tu cumpleaños?), talking and writing about how they feel, (Como te sientes hoy?) and learning the vocabulary around weather and seasons. We will continue to learn numbers, about the Euro, and further expressions for likes and dislikes. 

RE

In Autumn 1, children will answer the question ‘Are all religions equal?’ Children will explore the origins of religions as well as the geographical and historical links between religions. They will investigate Sikh and Baha’i beliefs and practices that reflect unity and equality. In Autumn 2, children will build on their enquiry about the place of scripture in Year 3. Children will look at different ways scriptures are used and what this shows about the value placed on them.

Trips and Special Events

21st September – Meet the teacher
24th – 25th September: Rootd Residential

All trips will be communicated with you as they are confirmed.

Reminders

Encourage your child to spend some time each day reading (independently or with an adult) and completing activities on Doodle Maths. These activities should be at a suitable level for your child to complete independently, but please speak to a member of the Year 4 team if you are concerned that they are not at an appropriate level.   Children should be practicing on Times Tables Rockstars at least 4 times a week. 
Each week, we will complete a spelling test – the spellings have already been sent out so please continue to practice these with your child.