Spring 1

Our learning in Year 4 will build upon prior knowledge and learning as well as delving into and exploring new topics and skills.

English

Our focus this term is on a finding tale. This will be based on a text called Adventure at Sandy Cove. We will then use Talk 4 Writing to learn, unpick and understand the features used within this text type before then planning our own narrative based on our class text – Dead Man’s Cove by Lauren St John

Grammar

Many grammatical terms and features will be taught through our English lessons, but pupils will also take part in separate grammar lessons. Pupils will start by recapping basic punctuation before moving onto apostrophes and subordinate clauses. We will also use these grammar lessons to recap our previous terms learning, which was focused on fronted adverbials and word classes.

omission   fronted adverbials    determiners    nouns   adjectives    inverted commas   apostrophes    pronouns     possession     subordinate     conjunctions    FANBOYS   contractions 

Guided Reading

Pupils will continue with their work on reading for inference which was introduced last year and continued last half-term. Pupils will focus on inference and visualisation, both of which will support the pupils’ ability to unpick and relate to a text. This approach enables pupils to gain a deeper understanding of what they are reading and helps pupils to learn strategies to support them in becoming good and confident readers. In addition to this, our focus will be on retrieval and ensuring that the evidence used from the text is accurate and specific to the question.

Vocabulary

fluency    infer     relate     specific     accurate   relevant   evidence      point     explanation     argument    retrieval  

Maths

Initially, pupils will focus on multiplication and division. The first focus is on multiplying and dividing by 10,100 and 1000. Pupils will then move on to using the formal methods of short and long multiplication. Within division, we will look not only at the division facts related to our times tables but also at how we can split numbers in order to divide more easily. We looked into this at the end of last half-term, so again it will be about embedding this learning and using it to reason and problem solve.  

Once pupils have become confident with multiplication and division, we will move on to length and perimeter.

Every week pupils will complete a Number and Lightning and skills for this will be taught in addition to their daily Math’s lesson. Pupils who are already competent in various areas will further embed their understanding through a range of reasoning and problem-solving activities.

Times tables will be a huge focus in class as we prepare for the multiplication check in May. 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 and have the ability to do this via TTRS or Hit the button.

Vocabulary

Multiplication      division     share      divide     multiply    split    remainder     length    unit      perimeter     area     polygon

Other Subjects

Science

Science this term will all be focused on sound. Pupils will learn how sounds are created and how we hear them. Pupils will look at how sound waves vary depending on the pitch of the sound being produced.

Vocabulary

pitch    waves    frequency   vibration   particles    source    travel    dissipate    volume   sound  

Computing

We will be following Kapow for our Computing this term and will be focusing on programming and using Scratch. Within this topic, pupils will be looking at different variables and using these to create their own codes.

Vocabulary

Code      variables    code block   conditioning   direction    icon   project    stage   variable    tinker    orientation    programmer     feature    decompose

PSHE and RSE

During this half-term we will be continuing our focus on Health and Wellbeing. We will look at emotions and how we can cope with these as well as focusing in on the things that make us happy.

Vocabulary

Emotions      negative emotions    positive emotions    feelings    physical health      mental health    anger    frustration     anxious    grateful     jealous    sad     tired     hungry

Religion and World Views.

Our topic within RE is Just How Important are our Beliefs? Within these lessons we will be looking at the different ceremonies that take place as part of Christianity and the role that key people play within these. In addition to this, we will look at the clothing that is worn in different religions and the reasons for this, the traditions that are followed and also the reasons behind fasting and specific diets.

Vocabulary

Amritdhari        Aqiqah         baptism       Bar Mitzvah       Bat Mitzva           Brit Bat         Brit Milah            Comfirmation         fast        Khalsa     Namakarana          naming ceremony      persecuted        sacrifice     Upanayana

PE

This half term, pupils will focus on Dance and Tough Rugby.

Dance - pupils will be focusing on the Hand Jive and will learn a range of iconic dance moves that will link together to form a routine. Pupils will choreograph their own motifs using taught combinations and those that they have created. Continuing on from last half term pupils will learn and use a range of choreographic devices such as cannon to enhance their dance routines.

Vocabulary

Dance    choreograph    beat    transition      rhythm    performance    rehearse     static    dynamic   counting    evaluate    improve   adapt    levels     speed    patterns    links    canon    gestures   sharp   smooth continuous    rigid   dynamics   cannon   choreography   motif

Touch rugby – pupils will learn various throwing and catching skills within this half-term as well as various tactics and strategies which can also be linked to other sports that they may encounter. Pupils will develop their team work and communication skills.

Vocabulary:

Rugby     try     tag    communication    pass    backwards     position    touch    out of bonds    pitch    strategy    tactics    touch    positioning     role   

History

We will be focusing in on the Roman Empire and how hard was it to invade and settle in Britain? We will look at our skills as histroians by thinking about cause and consequence,  making inferences from a variety of sources and evidence and evaluating Saxon rule of Britain.

Vocabulary

Province     governor    legion     rebel     frontier     forts     Gaul   Julius Caeser    Pompey     Foreign   Brutus   cause    consequence    evidence   source    evaluatio

Music

Music will be taught through a programme called Kapow and our topic is body and tuned percussion. We will look at the structure of music and will focus on the pitch, tempo and dynamics within a song. As we develop an understanding of the key vocabulary, we will explore the sounds that we can make both with our body and a range of instruments.

Vocabulary: 

Tempo    structure    dynamics   pitch   texture    percussion   tuned    un-tuned   composition   rhythm    melody    loops    layers

Art

Painting and Mixed Media: Light and Dark

We will be developing skills in colour mixing, focusing on using tints and shades to create a 3D effect. Experimenting with composition and applying painting techniques to a personal still life piece.

Vocabulary:

paint      media     Light    dark     technique    colour    mix    tints    shades