Welcome to Year 4!

Year 4 is taught by Ms Candlish, with Mrs Rolfe teaching on Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Mrs Liana-Stellmach supports the class throughout the week.

Our PE days for Term 5 are Monday (Up & Under: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds - outdoors) and Wednesday (tennis, outdoors). Please come to school wearing your school PE kit on these days, bringing school shoes in a separate bag to change into indoors. It is very useful to also have a spare change of clothes on wet or muddy days - this can be kept on your peg in the cloakroom. 

Our drop everything and read day is Monday. Parents are invited to come into Year 4 and read with their child until the register is taken just before 9am.

This term's Forest School session will be held on Thursday 18th April. Please ensure that wellies and a coat are brought into school on that day (whatever the weather) and come dressed in comfortable, sensible clothes, with long sleeves and trousers. 

Our topic for terms 5 and 6 is Ancient Civilisations. This project teaches children about the history of three of the world’s first ancient civilisations: this term we're learning about ancient Sumer. Throughout the summer term, children will learn about the rise, life, achievements and eventual end of each civilisation.

The topic will also flow through our wider curriculum as we explore:

• In English, we will be covering Tales of Fear, focusing on story openings and endings and persuasive writing.
• In DT we'll learn about simple machines, including wheels, axles, inclined planes, pulleys and levers, exploring how they helped ancient builders to lift and move heavy loads.
• In Art, we'll learn about the features of Islamic art and make geometric patterns and motifs using a range of mediums. 
• In Science we'll learn about electrical appliances and safety. Pupils will construct simple series circuits and name their parts and functions, including switches, wires and cells. They investigate electrical conductors and insulators and identify common features of conductors.

• In Computing, we cover the iPropramme unit, developing computational thinking and programming skills to investigate angles and navigate mazes.
• In RE, our Buddhism topic asks: What is the best way for a Buddhist to lead a good life? 
• PSHE looks at ‘Healthy Me’ - led by Up & Under sports coaching.
• Music learning for this term is focused around one song: Blackbird. 
• MfL – we’ll be taking our French learning outside to recap on sharing information about ourselves with friends.

In Maths, we will continue to follow the White Rose Maths scheme. In term 5, we will be covering the following areas:

Decimals

• Step 1 Make a whole with tenths
• Step 2 Make a whole with hundredths
• Step 3 Partition decimals
• Step 4 Flexibly partition decimals
• Step 5 Compare decimals
• Step 6 Order decimals
• Step 7 Round to the nearest whole number
• Step 8 Halves and quarters as decimals

Money

• Step 1 Write money using decimals
• Step 2 Convert between pounds and pence
• Step 3 Compare amounts of money
• Step 4 Estimate with money
• Step 5 Calculate with money
• Step 6 Solve problems with money

Time

• Step 1 Years, months, weeks and days
• Step 2 Hours, minutes and seconds
• Step 3 Convert between analogue and digital times
• Step 4 Convert to the 24 hour clock
• Step 5 Convert from the 24 hour clock

If you wish to follow White Rose at home, you can see the yearly overview, small steps and individual lesson resources here.

For more information about each topic, pupils will be able to access knowledge organsiers in class. 

Useful links to support spelling at home:

BBC Bitesize

TT Rockstars

Multiplication Tables Check - 2023 - Timestables.co.uk

Practise times tables with Sumdog
 

White Rose Maths Workbooks

Kindle versions (Free)

Workbooks for all year groups

Homework

Homework is set on Thursdays and is due on Tuesday each week. It is completed online (please ask if you need another copy of your login details). 

Reading – pupils read a ‘scheme’ book (or novel if free-reader) with an adult at least five times a week. Please complete the reading record form your child brings home on Thursdays and ensure it is returned on Tuesdays.

DoodleMaths – pupils will be set activities to complete, based on in-class learning that week.

By the end of Year 4, pupils are expected to know all times tables up to 12x12. Please practice times tables on DoodleMaths regularly!

Spelling Shed - children will have access to Spelling Shed’s online platform where weekly spelling lists, set by the class teacher, can be found as well as games and activities to learn the spellings learnt in class. There will be a spelling test every Tuesday.

Library books and scheme reading books will be changed on Wednesdays.

Reading at home challenge:

Please tell us what you're reading at the moment!

https://padlet.com/naomiboyce1/jz4s6rzuiaactf2z