Maths

This half-term our maths units will be: 7 Times Table and Understanding and Manipulating Multiplicative Relationships. In Year 4 we follow the NCETM Curriculum Map. More information on this can be found here: NCETM Curriculum Map

Pupils will also undertake Mastering Number sessions five times a week with their class teacher. These sessions focus on developing fluency in multiplication and division facts, and a confidence and flexibility with number.

Our focus times table this half-term is the 9 times table.

Writing

After the fun of Christmas, Year 4 delve into the fantasy of Winter's Child, a 'what-if' fantasy story about what could happen if winter were to go on forever. The children flex their literary muscles as they create their own sequel to the story: Summer's Child. The children then go on to explore the garden of The Selfish Giant and use their expanding vocabulary to conjure images of what it might be like to see the giant's wondrous garden for themselves!

Spelling

Children have daily spelling lessons focussing on a different spelling rule each week.

Reading

Year 4 read Phillip Pullman's wonderful story, The Firework Maker's Daughter. They follow the journey of Lila as she overcomes a series of dangerous, and sometimes comical, obstacles, again looking at how different vocabulary can leave clues as to how a character might sound or feel.

History

The Tudor topic involves an exciting residential trip to Hooke Court where the children will spend three days learning about how the Tudors lived. They will be learning to cook and write like a Tudor as well as learning to weave and will have a go at making a candle. During the lessons in school, they will be focussing on the monarchy at the time, how the Tudors came to power and the wives of Henry VIII.

Science

Our focus is on states of matter and how we can change solids, liquids and gases by heating and cooling them. We then use this knowledge to investigate the water cycle.

Art

Children will be using watercolours to create warm and cold effects. They will be learning about texture using different resources such as salt, cling film and wax. They will finish off their topic by creating a Tudor portrait.

Religion & Worldviews

Our R&W topic this term is Islam. Children will aim to answer the question 'What is the best way for a Muslim to lead a good life?'

PSHE

In PSHE Year 4 will learn about what it means to be part of a community within school and outside of school. No matter what, we want children to feel a sense of belonging and importance and to learn how they might be able to help people who feel lost or alone and show compassion.

We will also be looking at our digital footprint and how to stay safe online, ensuring we do not share personal information with anyone and that anything we post on social media can stay online forever and potentially be used in a negative way. 

We also cover basic first aid and what to do in emergencies. 

PE

This term our PE days are Monday and Wednesday. On these days, children should come to school wearing their PE kit.

On Mondays the children will have Swimming lessons. Please bring a swim kit. The other PE topic this half-term is Gymnastics.

Computing

The focus this half-term is Programming A: Repetition in Shapes. Learners will create programs by planning, modifying, and testing commands to create shapes and patterns. They will use Logo, a text-based programming language. This unit is the first of the two programming units in Year 4, and looks at repetition and loops within programming.

Music

Brass First Access. This term is all about playing a brass instrument together! All students will be able to take home either a trumpet or a cornet to practise the skills we are learning in music each week. Making a buzz, having the correct mouth shapes, breathing techniques and using the valves in different combinations are just some of the skills they will need to master.