HomeClasses
Welcome to year 4 - elm and poplar classes
Welcome to Year 4 - Elm and Poplar Classes
Teachers:
Miss Puttick
Teacher: Elm Class
• Looking forward to teaching in year 4
• I love keeping active
• I love reading
• I love spending time with my family and friends
• I have a gorgeous puppy called Millie.
• I am teaching myself the ukulele.
Mrs Moss
Teacher: Poplar Class
Hello, my name is Mrs Moss and I am currently a teacher in Year 4. During the summer I got married! I started my Sandown journey 8 years ago as a Teaching Assistant and after completing a BA Honours Degree in Primary Education, I am now a teacher. Away from work I am kept extremely busy caring for my horse Buzz. Together we enjoy jumping, hacks in the forest and beach rides. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family, exploring new places.
TAs:
Miss Felstead
TA:
Mrs Bateman
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.
TERM 1
During English this term, our class text has been Escape from Pompeii. The children began the term by writing a diary entry from the perspective of the main character. The children had to make sure that in their writing they had a variety of fronted adverbials, expanded noun phrases and exciting adjectives. After this, the class then had to write a persuasive article that convinced nervous travellers to holiday in Pompeii.
Within science this term, the children have been focussing 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. After that, the children have been focussing on the topic of ‘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.
Our focus for History is all about the Rotten Romans! The children began exploring when in history the Roman era was and how different life was back then whilst getting to dress up themselves! Using a map, the children also discovered what countries formed the Roman Empire before they invaded Britain. After this, they explored the reasons why the Roman invaded Britain and decided for themselves what they felt the most important reasons were. After this unit, the children having been learning all about life in Britain after the Roman withdrawal. To start with, the children learned all about what caused the Roman army to withdraw from Britain and what the consequences were of this. The children then went onto learn about Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions up to the Norman Conquest. The children got to look at a range of historical artefacts and secondary sources to ask and answer questions about the past.
For PE, the children have been learning gymnastics. They have focussed 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. As well as this, many children in Year 4 successfully made it onto the cross country team and took part in the event at Sandown.
In Re this term, Year 4 have been studying the religion Hinduism and looking at the enquiry question ‘What do Hindus believe God is like?’ The children started off by reflecting on what God is like to believers and observing links between the story of Svetaketu and what Hindus believe about Brahman. The children then got to explore photos of different deities and discuss what they believed each photo said about God.
Maths has been an exciting one this term! Starting off the term we linked our maths learning to our History. The children learnt Roman Numerals and can now put this into practise 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 practising their times tables daily to ensure they are fluent so that they can achieve their times tables badge! In Maths this term, we have been perfecting our times tables! By the end of Year 4, all children need to be fluent in their multiplication and division facts up to 12x12. The children have been introduced to all of their multiplication and division facts now and have been taught to use their known facts to work out unknown facts e.g. to calculate 9x6, we know that 10x6=60 subtract 6 makes 54 so 9x6=54. Next term, we will be progressing onto multiplying 3 single digit numbers together and multiplying single digit numbers by 2-digit numbers.
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. Next, the children celebrated our differences and mastering the skill of ‘speaking’. 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.
The 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.
