| Year 4 |
Welcome to Elm and Oak Class
| Elm Class Staff |
| Teacher: Miss Eynon |
| Teaching Assistants: Mrs Godin, Mr Pusey & Miss Thomas |
| Teacher Planning, Preparation and Assessment time (PPA) is usually on a Thursday; Mrs Ashwell teaches the class during this time. |
|
PE Days Our PE days are Tuesday and Thursday Please ensure your child comes to school in their PE kit on these days |
| Oak Class Staff |
| Teacher: Mrs Catchpole (Monday - Wednesday) |
| Teacher: Mrs McCarthy (Thursday & Friday) |
| Teaching Assistants: Miss Thomas, Mrs Massie & Mrs Mayles |
| Teacher Planning, Preparation and Assessment time (PPA) is usually half a day on a Tuesday; Mrs Ashwell teachers the class during this time. |
|
Homework Homework is set on a Friday and due back in on a Wednesday Spellings - Test on a Monday |
Maths
We will begin 2025 by continuing our learning on multiplication and division. We will be multiplying and dividing by 10 and 100 before moving on to multiplying and dividing both 2 digit and 3 digit numbers by a 1 digit number! We will be focusing on solving word problems to strengthen our skills in applying our knowledge and skills.
We will then move on to explore length and perimeter. This will involve measuring and calculating the length and area of different types of shapes (both regular and irregular).
We will finish the spring term with some exciting learning on fractions and decimals! We will be partitioning, ordering, adding, subtracting, converting, finding equivalents and more!
Times Table learning
English
The children will be using their writing skills to write a new animal adventure story based on our reading of ‘Starbird’ by Sharon King-Chai and ‘Zeraffa Giraffa’ by Dianne Hoffman and Jane Ray. We will then move onto to writing a newspaper article based on real life mysteries. The children will practise writing quotes from eyewitnesses and ensuring they include all the facts. They will produce an article that we will publish and send around the school as a newspaper.
Science
We will begin the term by learning about the three states of matter (solids, liquids and gases). The children will use previous knowledge to help them identify solids, liquids and gases and then learn to describe their properties. They will discover that some materials change state when they are heated and cooled and they will learn the stages in the water cycle. In the second half of the Spring Term, the children will be learning about teeth and digestion. In this unit, the children will identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions and they will go onto explore the parts of the digestive system and the functions they have.
Guided Reading
This term, we will begin with a visual text based on the legend ‘Thor and the Giants’. We will also focus on some non-fiction texts based on the Vikings and our Science topics. We will also be reading the text ‘ The Barnabus Project’ by the Fan brothers which is an endearing picture book which deals with the issues of inclusion and resilience.
Please continue to read at home and record your reading in your reading diary.
We will visit the library once per week as a class where your child will be able to select a book to share with you at home. Please ensure these are returned for changing the next week.
Geography/History
In Spring 1 we will continue our journey through British history and move on to the Vikings! We will learn about who they were, why they came to Britain, how they changed Britain and finally how the Anglo-Saxon and Viking period came to an end in 1066.
In Spring 2 we will continue to develop our knowledge of maps and atlases by exploring the United Kingdom. We will learn to locate cities and counties, identify human and physical features and key topographical features like mountains and rivers.
Art and Design/DT
We will begin the term with our Art topic Light and dark using paint and mixed media. We will explore different painting techniques, compare paintings by artists according to elements such as texture or colour and practise creating tints and shades when colour mixing.
In Spring 2 we will move onto our DT topic in which we will explore moving books. We will work to create our own moving books using different mechanisms such as levers, flaps, springs, coils and wheels.
PSHE
The children will discuss what identity means and the range of identities that are found in Britain. They will go onto discuss and understand the meaning of racism, how this is seen in Britain and how they can challenge it. In Spring 2, the children will learn about money and why it is important to budget. They will learn about the terms loans, tax and interest.
Computing
This half term, we will continue with our E -safety unit. We will then move onto using search engines safely and effectively. We will look at how to answer questions and find reliable information sources.
French
The children will explore and read the story Goldilocks and Three Bears in French. They will learn to decode a text in French and to know they only have to understand the gist of the words to understand and follow. They will then move onto learning family. The children will learn to say who is in their family as well as their names and ages. They will also extend their knowledge of numbers in French up to 70.
RE
The children will be considering the question, ‘How is faith expressed in Hindu communities and traditions?’
Hinduism is the third most followed religion in the world and it is also the world’s oldest religion.
We will learn about:
- The wonderful Hindu cultures
- Describe and look at how Sikhs show their identity in dress, behaviour and values.
- Consider similarities and differences between this and other religions
PE
Our first units in PE are Dodgeball and Yoga. In Dodgeball, we will develop key skills such as throwing, dodging and catching and be able to apply simple tactics to outwit our opponents! In Yoga, we will develop our knowledge of mindfulness and body awareness through learning yoga poses and techniques. After half term, we will move on to Netball and Tennis. In Netball, we will develop attacking and defending skills starting with learning rules and principles such as the footwork rule, building up to playing a full game. In Tennis, we will develop racket and ball control and rallying techniques.
Music
This half term we are learning about melody and notation. The children will use their knowledge of notation and rhythm to begin to compose melodies. Skills will include:
Playing tuned percussion with increasing accuracy.
Accurately identifying notes which are higher/lower
Recognising the notes EGBDF and FACE on the musical stave.
Using notation e.g. minim, crotchet and semibreve and saying how many beats they represent.
Reading in KS2
In KS2, children are encouraged to become confident, expressive and passionate readers. Most children will move fairly quickly onto the broader range of books available in the Brown, Grey and Blue book bands. Your child may spend quite a while on each book band. This isn't because they are not progressing, it is rather an opportunity for your child to be exposed to a wide range of authors, genres and styles of writing at a level in which they can comprehend what they are reading. They will be asked to answer comprehension questions to show their understanding of what they have read and encouraged to discuss the books they have enjoyed from the book band and the ones they have disliked.
We aspire to make every child a passionate reader and need your help to do this!
We will try to read with your child as often as we can in school. This will be either 1:1 with an adult, or in a guided reading activity where the children will read in a group and discuss the text together. We will hear your child read aloud a minimum of once a week but encourage you to supplement this by reading with your child as often as possible at home.
If your child would like access to more books at home, perhaps you could use Oxford Reading Owl to read different books. Oxford Owl has many different books and you can download and read them all online for free.
Oxford Owl
For a recommended reading list, please visit:
Recommended reading list for KS2 children
Ways you can help at home
- Read with your child for 10 minutes every day.
- Support your child to complete the homework set each week.
- Ask your child questions about stories that they are reading to you, or about stories you are reading to them.
- Ask your child to tell you the time to help them to practise the skill of telling the time. To challenge your child, you could ask them to tell you the time on both an analogue and digital clock.
- Ask children to help you to count out money and ask for change.
- Encourage your child to write stories, recounts, shopping lists to help build their stamina for learning.
Websites to help...
Spelling Shed
If you have any questions please talk to any of the team in Year 4 and we will be happy to help you. You can also make an appointment at the school office. Look out for further messages about events in school through parent mail.
We thank you for your support this year.