Autumn 1
Hello and welcome to Year 4, we are looking forward to an exciting year ahead. Our learning in Year 4 will build upon prior knowledge as well as delving into and exploring new topics and skills.
English
Our first topic in Year 4 is going to be focused on a narrative with the final outcome being for pupils to write their own story. This will be delivered through Talk For Writing so they will imitate the text orally as well as analysing and modelling the text type before then applying it to their independent piece. The model text we will be using is called Zelda Claw which is written by Pie Corbett. We will be focusing on creating a realistic setting as well as the opening and ending of our stories.
Our text for enjoyment will be Varjak Paw by S.F Said which looks at themes around rebellion, courage, family and exploration.
Grammar
Many grammatical terms and features will be taught through our English lessons, but pupils will also take part in separate grammar lessons as well as completing a Grammar and Lightning each week. Pupils will start by recapping prior learning - looking at things such as word classes, sentence structures and punctuation, before delving into new areas such as fronted adverbials and noun phrases. Grammar and Lightning is designed to embed key concepts and vocabulary that are needed to reach the expected standard by the end of Year 4.
Below are some links which you may find useful:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/spelling-and-grammar
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zhrrd2p
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=vocabulary
Vocabulary:
Adjectives
Verbs
Nouns
Adverbs
Phrases
Noun phrases
Compound
Complex
Perspective
Emotional language
Tenses
Punctuation
Fronted adverbials
Guided Reading
Pupils will continue with their work on Reading for Inference. Pupils will look at and annotate texts with background knowledge and links that they can make to either themselves or other books that they have read. As a class we will then discuss our opinions and ideas. This approach enables the pupils to gain a deeper understanding of what they are reading by allowing them to familiarise themselves with plots and characters. In addition to this, pupils will look at different question types and be able to pick out and understand key vocabulary within them to ensure they have a solid understanding of what they are being asked to do.
Vocabulary:
Background knowledge
Links
Pace
Familiar
Text to text
Annotate
Below are some links which you may find useful:
https://www.education.com/games/reading/
Maths
We will start off with a focus on place value as this underpins all Mathematics. Pupils will look at and work with numbers up to 10,000 - ordering, comparing, partitioning, rounding, representing and identifying different place values. After this, we will move onto addition and subtraction using 4-digit numbers. Alongside using the column method, pupils will have to reason and problem-solve using all the above.
Every week pupils will complete a Number and Lightning and skills for this will be taught in addition to their daily Maths lessons. Pupils who are already competent in certain areas, will further embed their understanding. These skills will be taught in small groups to ensure a confident understanding is achieved by all pupils.
Time Tables will be a huge focus in class, with daily teaching and practice. It is imperative that pupils are able to recall all multiplication and division facts up to 12 x 12 in order to access all the curriculum. Pupils should also work on their times table at home. Pupils will be required to sit the Multiplication Check later on in the year.
Vocabulary:
Ones
Tens
Hundred
Thousand
Ten thousand
Place value
Digit
Integer
More than
Less than
Equals
Below are some links which you may find useful:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
https://www.timestables.co.uk/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z826n39
Science
Our topic for this term is Grouping and Classifying Living Things. Within this, pupils will distinguish between various animals and plants based on a selection of criteria, such as vertebrates and invertebrates. They will be able to identify what all living things need to stay alive and finally, they will learn to read, interpret and create their own classification keys.
Vocabulary:
Animals
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Flowering
Plants
Spikes
Respiration
Data
Conclusions
Computing
We will be following Kapow for our Computing this term and will be focusing on collaborative learning. This includes different ways in which you can work with others using the computer. Through this unit, pupils will be introduced to Google Forms, Power Points, Word and Shared Spreadsheets. This unit will provide pupils with the skills and knowledge to complete the remaining units across the year.
Vocabulary:
Collaborate
Comment
Edit
Insert
Link
Presentation
Software
Speadsheet
PSHE and RSE
After an initial introductory lesson where rules and expectations will be established, pupils will focus on families and relationships. This unit will look at manners, respecting others, healthy friendships, social behaviours, bullying, gender and disability stereotypes, different types of families and coping with change/ loss.
Vocabulary:
Authority
Bereavement
Bullying
Bystander
Manners
Permission
Respect
Stereotypes
Acts of Kindness
RE
Our question this term for RE is Are all Religions Equal? Within this topic we will be looking at how religions are connected and how people have different views of God. In addition, we will look at why it is important for all religions to respect one another and how we can ensure that we live in harmony.
Vocabulary:
Religion
Harmony
God
Belief
Respect
Opinions
Equality
Origin
Acceptance
PE
Pupils will take part in two PE lessons each week. One lesson will be focused on Boccia (indoor) and the other on Netball.
Boccia- Pupils will be able to use the correct technique. They will focus on landing their ball close to the Jack by altering the amount of power given depending on the distance. We will look at tactics to try and knock their opponents ball out of the way and create barriers to block others. Pupils will then move onto being able to evaluate and modify their performance based on previous moves.
Vocabulary:
Jack
Court line
Shot type
Knock on
Knock off
Ricochet
Pace and space
Block
Margin of error
Netball- Pupils will be able to pass successfully using chest and shoulder passes over varying distances. We will be studying how to perform and receive a bounce pass effectively as well as how to pivot and shoot with increasing accuracy.
Vocabulary:
Chest pass
Shoulder pass
Bounce pass
Pivot
Shoot
Attack
Direction
Man mark
Interception
Art and Design:
In Art, we will be looking at a range of Art and Design Skills. Pupils will use various techniques such as painting, sketching, sculpting, modelling and carving to create various pieces of artwork. In addition to this, the pupils will focus in on the work of Paul Cézanne.
Vocabulary:
Dimensions
Sketch
Proportion
Detail
Outline
Abstract
Hatching
Shading
Contrast
Sculpture
Languages
In Latin we will be studying the origins of English. We will we studying the history of English word order vs word ending and the myth of Achillies.
Key Dates
3rd September- Children return to school.
19th September- Jeans for Genes day.
20th October- Individual photos.
23rd October- Halloween disco.
24th October- Halloween lunch and last day.