Home Classes Welcome to year 4 - elm and poplar classes

Welcome to Year 4 - Elm and Poplar Classes

Teachers:

Miss Straw

Teacher: Elm Class

Miss Gardner

Teacher: Poplar Class

TAs:

Mrs Bateman

TA:

Ms Perry

TA:

Mrs Hale

TA:

Additional teachers: Mr Davies (Sport), Mrs Wilhelm (Art) and the Sandown Outdoor Learning Team

In Year 4, we are keen for the children to become independent learners, and to edit and improve their work with increasing confidence as the year goes on. Our main focus is on Times Tables knowledge and their corresponding division facts up to 12 x 12. Children who are demonstrating Times Table fluency are invited to earn their Times Tables badge, which is awarded by Mr Lindsay.

We have a rich curriculum with many creative opportunities. We will be using a variety of ways to make learning interesting and fun for the children. These will include the use of ICT, ART and specialist teachers to enhance and embed learning cross-curricularly.

Some of the topics children will enjoy in Year 4 include:

The Romans
The Greeks
Mountains
Sustainability
States of Matter
Electricity
Habitats
Perspective drawing
The works of John Constable

We aim to arrange Parent Consultation meetings twice a year to set your child’s targets and discuss progress. If you would like to speak to us at any other time, please feel free to message us on Class Dojo.

Please remember:

•your child needs a clear, re-usable plastic bottle filled with water for use in the classroom

•PE kit must be named with appropriate footwear

•School dinners are now cashless for non-free school meal children. Please see the office for further information if you have not set this up.

•Book bags, Book Club and Home Link books must be brought to school daily.

English

In term 1, within our English lessons the children were reading How to Train Your Dragon. The children were able to crawl into a deep, dark cave that was constructed in the classroom so that they could use their senses to support them in writing a descriptive piece about a cave.

Within term 2, the children studied one of the fantastic tales of Robin Hood. From this, the children created another descriptive piece of writing all about Sherwood Forest.

Science

Within science, the children focused on Ecosystems and The Human Digestive system. They began by researching various ecosystems and what lives within them. After this they developed their learning by exploring the different food changes and food webs that exist within their chosen ecosystem. Finally, the children learnt about their teeth names, their functions and how to keep them teeth clean and healthy.

During term 2, our new topic ‘sound’. This project taught the children how sound is made and how sound travels as vibrations through a medium to the ear. They learnt about pitch, volume and found out how both can be changed through their own experiments that they planned, conducted and evaluated.

PE

For PE, the children have been learning gymnastics. They have focused on what skills are needed to perform a good gymnastics routine. They learnt about balance, strength and creativity in their movements such as rolls and jumps. Then, the children had the opportunity this term to work on their creativity skills within PE as they took part in dance! The children created their own routine that incorporated a jump, a spin and a rotation.

Maths

Starting off term 1 and 2, the children learnt Roman Numerals and can now put this into practice every day. After this, the children move onto developing their knowledge on Addition and Subtraction. The children revisited learning from Year 3 of renaming and then applied this to word problems! Alongside this, the children have been practicing their times tables daily to ensure they are fluent in all of their multiplication and division facts 1-12 so that they can achieve their times tables badge!

DT

This term we explored Fresh Food and Good Food. The children had the opportunity to learn about how to keep food fresh, packaging, transportation and even got to experience a food tasting! Once they had tasted a variety of healthy snacks, they then got to make it themselves!

History

For history in term 1 and 2, the children’s topic was Invasion. Within this unit of work the children studied the Vikings, the Anglo Saxon’s, the Normans and even the fantastic battle for 1066. The children had the opportunity to research these different time periods through various mediums and present their learning in engaging ways throughout the term.

PSHE

In term 1, the PSHE focus this term is ‘Being Me in My World’ where the children explored who is in the school community, how they support us and how we play a part in school life. As well as this, the children have developed their leadership skills and learnt about working as a team and how to manage others. Within term 2, the children explored ‘Celebrating Differences’ where we heavily focused on our British values and how important these are when we live in a diverse community. The children have discussed the term bullying and how to spot it as well as what to do if it happens to them. Additionally, the children learnt about the importance of not making assumptions based on someone’s ages, gender, race or physical appearance.

Parental Engagement

Parents were invited into school this term for a Times Tables Party! During this, information was given explaining the National Times Tables test that takes place in June as well as how they can achieve their times tables badge. Once discussing this, parents had the opportunity to play time tables games with their child as well as have a go at sitting a quiz that mirrored the National Times Table Test!

TERM 3

Although Term 3 has been a short one and flown by, we have still managed to fit many exciting things in.

English

Our story for English this term has been The Legend of Robin Hood. The children began the term by having an adventure in the woods to gain inspiration to then write their own setting description for Sherwood Forest. After this, the children learnt about the features and purpose of Information Texts. Once being taught this, the children had the opportunity to research, write and create their own information pack about Rivers, linking to our Geography learning this term. After this, the children read The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. The children absolutely loved this book and have been using their book club reading skills within lessons to make creative predictions using the text for support, summaries and clarified new vocabulary. The children began by creating a news report about the return of the iron Man and the distress the farmers found themselves in due to their machinery being eaten or going missing. After this, the children had the opportunity to explore poems about the Iron Man as well as create their own.

Maths

This term the children have explored decimals and their relationship with fractions. Their decimal learning then supported them in their understanding of money and how to add and subtract amounts. The children are continuing to work hard to achieve their Times Tables badge and prepare for their national Multiplication Check that is in June.

RE

We have continued our learning about Hinduism, exploring how Hindu’s express their faith within their own home as well as their place of worship. The children were taught about a Puja and what the items on the plate represents. The children then had the opportunity to create their own Puja.

Music

This term in music the children have been learning to play the recorder. We began by finding out that a recorder is a part of the wind family and that it is split into 3 parts. The children filled their Music floor books with other important information about how to play the recorder such as the correct blowing technique. So far, the children have learnt the notes B, A and G and can play the songs Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Maths

In Maths this term, we have continued our learning on multiplication and division and used our knowledge to improve our fluency and answer column method questions. As well as this, the children have moved onto learning about fractions, where they have learnt about equivalent fractions and mixed fractions. The children are continuing to work hard to achieve their Times Tables badge and prepare for their national Multiplication Check that is in June.

PSHE

This term in PSHE we have been focussing on our topic of Relationships. Within this unit of work we have been exploring the feelings of jealously and how to manage them, emotions surrounding losing something special or someone special as well as the essential skill of staying positive.

Science

This term we began our new topic States of Matter. The children were taught that all matter comes in one of three states with some unusual material containing characteristics of more than one. They then explored particle theory and explored how states can transform from a solid to a liquid to a gas. Within this unit, the children had the opportunity to conduct multiple experiments exploring the states of matter, their temperature and melting/boiling points.

PE

This term, the classes have had the opportunity to take part in swimming lessons at Summer Fields Leisure Centre. They were taught a variety of front and back strokes as well as diving skills and life guard safety.

Art

After this, the next project teaches children about the historical and cultural portrayal of animals in art. They study the visual qualities of animals through sketching, printmaking and clay modelling.

DT

This project taught the children about home furnishings and the significant designer William Morris. They learnt many techniques for decorating fabric, including block printing, hemming and embroidery. This unit of work allowed the children to put into practise their essential skills of staying positive and creativity.

Geography

This project taught the children about the characteristics and features of rivers and mountain ranges around the world, including a detailed exploration of the ecosystems and processes that shape them and the land around them.

English

The children began this term by reading the beautifully illustrated book The Mousehole Cat by Antonio Barker. The children loved this story and the adventure that Mowzer and Old Tom went on to save their village. The children had the opportunity to write their own setting description of a stormy sea as well aswriting their on Cinqain poem. After this, the children began reading the story…..

Science

This project taught the children about electrical appliances and safety. They construct simple series circuits and name their parts and functions, including switches, wires and cells. They investigated electrical conductors and insulators and identified common features of conductors. It also taught the children about programmable devices. They combined their learning to design and make a nightlight.

Art

This project was called ‘Statues, Statuettes and Figurines’. It taught the children about the 3-D representation of the human form, including statues, statuettes and figurines. They studied examples from ancient civilisations, and used their clay skills to create a Sumer-style figurine. After this, the children moved onto learning about Islamic Art. This project teaches children about the features of Islamic art. They make geometric patterns and motifs on paper, with fabric and in clay. They use their learning to create a high relief clay tile, decorated with geometric patterns.

DT

This project taught the children about simple machines, including wheels, axles, inclined planes, pulleys and levers, exploring how they helped ancient builders to lift and move heavy loads. The children learnt about the 6 different types of machinery and were able to put their learning into practise by creating their own.

History

This project teaches children about the history of three of the world’s first ancient civilisations: ancient Sumer, ancient Egypt and the Indus Valley civilisation. Children will learn about the rise, life, achievements and eventual end of each civilisation. The children have watched a variety of videos about the civilisations, written fact files and acted out important events.