Return to Classes

Year 4

Mr Brittin (Class Teachers)

Mrs Angus, Mrs Fairhead, Mrs Gourlay and Mrs Read (Support Staff)

Spring 2024

Year 4 started the new year excited about the new and interesting things we will be exploring this term. 

Our History topic is the Mayans and the children have identified where the Mayans fit in our history and where their ruins were found. The children are already full of questions and are all curious to know what was discovered in those ruins in Mesoamerica. 

In English, the children have been using the book from our reading lesson ‘Fly Eagle Fly’ to retell the African tale from the eagle’s perspective.  They have included lots of thoughts, feelings and excellent descriptions. Later on this term, we will be exploring how character and setting descriptions are used in fantasy stories.  We will also read the book, ‘Leon and the Place Between’ and the children will rewrite a section in which they are creating their own magical, mysterious ‘Place Between’. 

In Maths this term, Year 4 have begun focusing on multiplication and division. Here we have worked hard using informal and formal methods of multiplication, multiplying 3-digit numbers by 1 digit. We will be moving on to finding the area and perimeter of lots of different shapes including rectilinear shapes and other regular and irregular polygons.  Alongside our Maths lessons, Year 4 are working hard to learn their times tables and it is clear they enjoy the challenge of quick-fire questions throughout the day. 

In PE, we have been focusing on Gymnastics and invasion games.  In Gymnastics, the children have been practising a range of balances, rolls and jumps to create a routine.  To practise invasion games, the children have been practising their netball skills and have been looking at how they pass the ball as well as using all of the space around them to keep the game moving. 

For our Art lessons, the children have been learning all about Still Life.  They have studied the work of famous still life artists as well as using lots of different materials to create their own Still Life pieces.  The children are very excited to start their new DT project in which they will explore how different structures are made, eventually building their own mini green houses. 

In Computing, the children have been exploring how they can create music using software.  They have used garage band to compose their music, investigating the different techniques options and techniques they can use to change their sounds. 

In Science, Year 4 have been learning all about living things and their habitats.  They have explored how animals adapt to their surroundings in order to survive.  They have also learned all about food webs and how all of the different organisms in a habitat work together to keep life going. 

In PSHE, the children have been exploring their dreams and ambitions.  The children have shared what they hope for the future, but we have also explored disappointment and frustration and how we can approach these feelings.  

Autumn 2023

It’s been a fantastic start to the school year in Year 4, the children have returned from their summer break with an incredible burst of energy for learning. I am thrilled to witness the class’ ongoing growth and enthusiasm for each subject and how quickly they’ve adapted to our rules and routines in this already busy half term. 

In our English lessons, their passion for Roman myths has truly shone. We’ve delved into these captivating tales during our reading sessions, identified key features, and even plotted our own mythological adventures where our heroic protagonists take on formidable beasts. 

In our Maths lessons, our focus has centred on mastering our place value knowledge and extending our understanding of it up to 10,000. We’ve honed our estimating and comparison skills, and tackled the intriguing challenge of working out 1, 10, 100, and 1000 more or less to given amounts.  

History has transported us back to the intriguing era of the Anglo-Saxons. Through rigorous analysis of historical sources, we’ve unravelled their origins and the reasons behind their invasion and settling in England following the decline of Roman Britain. The children have also embraced their roles as archaeologists, drawing conclusions from fascinating archaeological discoveries at Sutton Hoo. I look forward to what this topic brings!  

In Science, we’ve embarked on an exploration of the states of matter. The children have eagerly sorted items into the categories of solids, liquids, and gases, and excitement is growing as we prepare for an upcoming investigation with the focus on gases in fizzy drinks.  

Art has also played a prominent role in our curriculum as we delve into the works of the renowned artist/ architect Antoni Gaudi. Through research and exploration, we’ve uncovered the essence of Gaudi’s unique designs and translated our findings into creative mood board research pages that reflect his artistic brilliance.  

Summer 2023

Year 4 returned after the Easter break, as always, excited and ready to learn all about their new topics.

In English, the children have been exploring explanation texts.  They have designed their own helpful inventions and used chronological steps to explain how they work.  Year 4 will continue their English lessons, exploring traditional African tales, poems and writing their own play scripts.

In Maths, Year 4 have been learning about decimals.  We have used our prior knowledge of place value to partition, order and round decimals.  This links with our work on money, before we learn all about time.  We finish the year learning about shape and position and direction.

In Science, we have been exploring electricity.  The children have been able to identify the different parts of a circuit and used these to find out how to light up a bulb.  They have enjoyed the challenge of working out how to make the bulb more or less bright.

Our topic for the first half term has been Italy.  The children have loved learning all about the country, its regions and cities.  They have particularly enjoyed researching significant landmarks in the country and have made some fantastic leaflets using their knowledge.  In the second half term, Year 4 will be learning all about the Vikings settling in England.  The children are really looking forward to finding out about their journeys, invasion and how they changed the country.

In DT, we have been learning about seasonal food.  We have learnt about the different foods that are in season at different times and even got to try some of them.  The children particularly enjoyed tasting the rhubarb!  In Art, we will be continuing our work on sculpture.  Year 4 will explore how artists are inspired by the natural world around them and use this to make their own sculptures inspired by birds’ nests.

In PE, the children have been continuing their work on ball games, with a focus on rounders and cricket.  They have really enjoyed having the chance to have a go at all of the different positions, practising their bowling, batting and fielding skills.

In RE, Year 4 have been learning all about things that are important to different religions.  They have explored sacred items and texts and considered why these things are so important to members of different religions.

In PSHE, we have been discussing the relationships we have with our friends and family and how these can change over time.  We’ve explored the emotions we might experience when these relationships change and how we can deal with them.  It has been fantastic to see Year 4’s respectful and mature attitude to these discussions in our lessons.

Year 4 should be so proud of all their work this term and we are all really excited to see what the final term of our time in Year 4 brings.

 

 

 

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