Summer 1
Summer 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 meeting tale. This will be based on a text called Poppy, Waldo and the Giant. 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 – The Last Bear by Hannah Goldsmith.
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 work on selecting the appropriate choice of pronoun or noun within and across sentences to aid cohesion and avoid repetition. We will also use these grammar lessons to recap our previous terms’ learning, which was focused on fronted adverbials and word classes.
Vocabulary
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
This term, pupils will focus on decimals, the measurement of money and the measurement of time. We will be exploring tenths and hundredths as fractions, as decimals, on a place value chart and on a number line. We will learn how to divide 1 and 2 digit numbers by 10, before exploring hundredths as fractions, as decimals and on a place value chart. We will be moving on to developing our knowledge of comparing and ordering decimals.
Within measurement of money we will focus on using money as decimals convert between pound and pence as well as being able to estimate and calculate with money We will be using this knowledge to be able to solve problems with money.
We will end Summer 1 term with a focus on measurement of time, studying years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds. We will develop our knowledge of the 24 hour clock and how to convert to and from the 24 hour clock.
Every week pupils will complete a Number and Lightning and skills for this will be taught in addition to their daily Maths 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.
Vocabulary
add subtract tenths hundredths decimal place divide convert measurement time money calculate
Other Subjects
Science
Science this term will be focused on the Digestive System and Food Chains.
The children will build on their knowledge of animal groups, focusing on common carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. They will build on their prior knowledge to understand why humans have more than one type of tooth and the different layers of the teeth with a focus on the enamel, pulp and root. They learn the names of the four main types of teeth in the mouth. We will also be giving the children opportunities to look at their own teeth with mirrors to look at the different structures. We will focus our experiment on tooth decay and the impact of certain foods on our teeth.
Furthermore, we will be exploring the digestive system and the route food takes through the body, starting with the teeth. This introduces children to the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and rectum. Children will study and describe the route taken by food from when it is bitten to when it reaches the rectum. We will be creating a model of the digestive system to support their understanding of digestion.
Finally, children explore food chains and study the producer, consumers, prey and predators in a range of different food chains. We use this knowledge to create and draw food chains and explore the potential impact of human activity on food chains
Vocabulary
Carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, tooth, enamel, pulp, root, decay, oesophagus, digestion, food chain, producer, consumer, prey, predators
Computing
We will be continuing to follow Kapow for our Computing this term and will be looking at understanding that problems can be solved more easily using computational thinking. We will be looking at what different code blocks do and use this to create a simple game and draw shapes in Scratch.
Vocabulary
Code variables abstraction algorithm code computational thinking decomposition input logical reasoning output pattern recognition script sequence variable
PSHE and RSE
During this half-term we will focus on MyHappymind appreciate and economic wellbeing.
MyHappymind:
How children can develop an Attitude of Gratitude at home and school. How to create a Gratitude Domino Effect - when we notice what makes us feel good, we show more gratitude to others and then that makes them feel good and show more gratitude too. That the more time children think about gratitude, the stronger the Neural Pathways get and the easier it is to give gratitude. This is because of Neuroplasticity, and we need to make it a habit. How giving gratitude can help us get through tough times, and when we can see everything we are grateful for, it makes the problems we face a little easier to manage.
Vocabulary
Appreciate, Grateful, Thankful, Wheel of Gratitude, Gratitude Domino Effect, Yourself, Others, Experiences, Team H-A-P, Happy Breathing
Economic wellbeing will focus on:
- Identify and justify items they consider good value for money.
- Identify multiple factors that influence whether something is good value for money.
- Identify different ways to keep money safe.
- Identify a range of influences on job choices.
- Identify different reasons why people might change careers
- Suggest proactive steps that can be taken to challenge and overcome these stereotypes.
Vocabulary
Bank account bank statement career career satisfaction influence password perspective satisfaction security value for money
Religion and World Views.
In this half term we will look at ‘Does the language of scripture matter?’
We will be:
- Identifying similarities and differences within religions and worldviews.
- Exploring the ways diverse people and groups can work together for good.
- Recognising links with prior learning when encountering new content.
- Asking questions about how people show their faith and considering why they might have these questions.
- Using increasingly complex vocabulary and explaining its meaning to others.
- Presenting different views thoughtfully and creatively, using evidence from learning.
- Asking open questions and suggesting responses.
- Thinking about their own ideas about God in light of their learning, experiences and discussions.
- Finding out about Religion and worldviews through exploring stories or scriptures, debating and discussing, analysing texts, using first-hand accounts, interpreting historical sources, and interpreting art.
Vocabulary
Classical commentary culture dialect diaspora first language holy language linguist oral tradition transition translation written scripture
PE
This half term, pupils will focus on Rounders and Basketball.
Rounders- We will focus on developing our batting technique and starting to think about developing our tactics.
Basketball – We will focus on developing accuracy in our passing (chest, bounce and overhead) and shooting using the BEEF technique (Balance, Eyes, Elbows Follow-through), ball control, dribbling using our fingertips and spatial awareness alongside learning the tactics and rules of the game.
Basketball- we will focus on ball control, thinking about dribbling with fingertips. We will look at passing and how to execute chest, bounce and overhead passes to be able to move the ball effectively.
Vocabulary (rounders)
Stance, grip, bat, strike, bowler, fielding
Vocabulary (Basketball)
Dribble, Travelling, Double Dribble, Possession, Interception, Pivot, Rebound, Invasion Game, Chest Pass, Bounce Pass, Triple Threat, Marking, Balance, Accuracy, Follow-through.
History
We will be learning about how the achievements of the ancient Maya impacted their society and beyond. We will study artefacts and how these can be used to tell us about the past.
Vocabulary
Achievement, afterlife, ancient, civilisation, currency, decline, historian, settlement, trade
Music
Music will be taught through a programme called Kapow and our topic is ‘Samba and Carnival sounds instruments’. We will listen to the Samba and focus our learning on the sound ad celebrations.
Vocabulary
Carnival Ensemble Influenced percussion pulse Structure Texture Samba breaks tambourine cowbell
Art and Design
Every picture tells a story.
This unit of learning will enable the children to develop their ability to analyse, unpick and understand works of art. We will be using our inference skills to think about what subjects think or feel as well as predicting in a scene what might happen next.
They will have an opportunity to create their own photo collages and abstract art inspired by the work explored.
Vocabulary:
Abstract, narrative, prepatroy drawing, re-enact, story, painting, photographer, influential, David Hockney
Key dates:
Term start : 13th April 2026
Term end : 22nd May 2026
Science day : 14th April 2026
Touch rugby 4/5 : 24th April 10:15-12:30
Year 4 MTC checks week try it out and MH awareness week and SATS : 11th-15th May 2026
Year 4 assessments week 18th – 21st May 2026