Year 4 – Spring Term

Miss Potts

Castaway

Mathematics; Year 4 maths number group will start off this term by continuing to use and recite the times tables, revising and learning the 2-12 times tables. We will revise doubling and halving numbers before recognising, writing and using mixed fractions. 

We will then continue to develop basic multiplication and division skills, recognising, writing and matching fractions.

All Year 4 children will complete work in learning to recognise different polygons and how to create and read frequency tables.

How can you help? Practice the times tables with your child – they will be tested on a regular basis.

English; Our class targets for this term are to continue to improve our spelling (especially the high frequency words) by using different strategies such as looking for words within words, rhyming and spelling patterns, breaking down longer words into syllables etc. We also need to improve how we write in sentences, using capital letters and other important punctuation correctly. Therefore ‘skills’ lessons will concentrate on these areas. Children will study stories about imagined worlds, sci-fi and fantasy adventures. We will also look at classic and modern poetry and poetry from different cultures and times. For our Non-Fiction work, we will be studying the features of instruction texts, letters/emails and news reports

How can you help? We will be continuing with our Big Write literacy programme during the term. As last term, pupils will bring ‘talking homework’ home on a weekly basis. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some time together where you can talk around a subject the pupils will be writing about in their Big Write sessions. This programme was a great success last term with the pupils making good progress in their writing, we hope that with the pupils continued hard work and your support, their writing skills will continue to develop this term. Please also ensure that your child has learnt the weekly spellings and wherever and whenever possible, enjoy a book together.

Science;

Materials & Their Uses - We will investigate different materials, their properties and the different way in which they are used. 

Mixing Materials - We will investigate Solids, Liquids, Melting, Freezing and what happens when solids and liquids are mixed.

Scientific Enquiry - Making careful observations & suggesting explanations for observations; using scientific knowledge and understanding; planning and carrying out a fair test; making observations and measurements; recognising when to repeat measurements; presenting results in a variety of ways.

RE; This term we are considering why certain clothes are important within different religions. We will also learn about different festivals/ customs such as Holi, Eid ,Baisakhi and Easter.

History;There will be no specific teaching of History this term, however elements of the subject may be taught through topic work and other curriculum areas.

Geography; Our topic this term is a Geography - skills based topic – ‘Castaway’ - focussing on St Lucia, Iceland and Wales. Skills in Geography will therefore concentrate on locating these countries and asking what they are like. Using photographs, maps and other sources, such as the internet, we’ll find out what the landscape, climate, buildings, culture and plants are like in these countries.

During the term pupils will investigate the physical and human features of Iceland and St Lucia and will compare and contrast different aspects of these places with one another and with Wales.  

PE; Our P.E. days are Wednesdays (indoor- dance/gym) and Fridays (outdoor- games activities). The children will be learning some traditional dances!

It is very important that every pupil takes part in as much PE as possible. It is therefore important that they have the correct kit with them. Due to our changeable weather, pupils will need to ensure they have kit that can be used both indoor and outdoor every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Music; This term we will be following the ‘Music Express’ scheme of work, focussing on the unit - ‘Painting with sound’. This unit develops children’s ability to create, perform and analyse expressive compositions and extend their sound vocabulary.

Welsh; The Welsh topic this term is holidays in Spain (gwyliau yn Sbaen). Welsh folk-tales and traditional stories will be told, and Welsh cultural and historical information will be introduced to ensure the Curriculum Cymreig is addressed throughout the term.

ICT; This term the children will be learning about graphical modelling and simulations. We will be discussing how simulations help our everyday activities and designing a simulation using Presentation software. Children will be taught how to use animation, sound, complex transitions and hyperlinks using both Apple and Microsoft software.

Art; Work on this subject will revolve around our topic theme and will focus on the investigation of hot and cold colours with pupils learning to mix them more precisely. They will apply this knowledge to create a weaving to represent the contrast of hot and cold countries studied in Geography.They will learn more about painting techniques by studying the work of Henri Rousseau.

DT; Food - Smoothies – Pupils will investigate, design, make and evaluate smoothies inspired by the islands of St Lucia and Iceland!  

GENERAL INFORMATION

Homework Diary - Pupils will use this diary for their homework. It is also there for you to use as a way of contact with myself and will therefore need to be in school every day! If you write in the diary PLEASE remind your child that they will need to get it out of their bag and give it to me!

Homework - This will be sent home on a THURSDAY and pupils will, in the majority of cases, have a week to complete this work.  Pupils are expected to bring their homework in ON the due date!

Spellings - Pupils will have their spelling lesson and test on a Tuesday. Spellings will be sent home on a Tuesday in their Spelling books, however the weekly spellings will also be posted on the Y4 page on the schools website (stbridesprimary.org.uk)

Home Readers - the same system as last term will remain in operation.