Summer 1 Term

This half term, Year 4 have worked incredibly hard and have achieved so much across the curriculum. It has been a busy and exciting few weeks, full of learning, discussion, creativity and hands-on experiences. The children should be very proud of everything they have accomplished.

One of the highlights of the half term was our lovely trip to Selbourne. During the visit, the children took part in a range of engaging activities to support their learning in geography and science. They created a river model using sticks and natural materials, which helped them to visualise the different parts of a river and understand how a river changes as it flows from source to mouth. The children also learnt about the upper, middle and lower courses of a river, and were able to identify key features such as meanders, erosion and deposition. In addition, they explored a real-life river environment, observing the water, plants and wildlife that live there. This gave them the opportunity to deepen their understanding of habitats and how living things are adapted to survive in different environments.

This trip linked brilliantly to our geography topic, where our big question is: What are rivers and how are they used? Throughout the half term, the children have developed their knowledge of rivers in the UK and around the world, considering why rivers are important to people, wildlife and the environment. We have discussed how rivers are used for transport, farming, industry, leisure and providing water, and the children have shown a growing awareness of how humans affect river environments and why it is important to protect them.

In English, we continued reading The Land of Roar and the children produced some fantastic pieces of writing inspired by the story. They really immersed themselves in the imaginative world of the novel and wrote with creativity and enthusiasm. In particular, the class enjoyed stepping into Arthur’s shoes and describing his adventures as he explored the magical world of Roar. Their descriptions were imaginative and detailed, and many children used ambitious vocabulary to bring their writing to life. We also wrote thoughtful diary entries from Arthur’s perspective, demonstrating a strong understanding of his feelings, experiences and changing emotions throughout the story. It has been wonderful to see the confidence and enjoyment the children have shown in their writing.

In maths, we have been working hard on our times tables, with a particular focus on speed, accuracy and recall in preparation for the MTC test in the first week back after half term. The children have shown great determination and perseverance, and it has been pleasing to see the progress many of them are making. Regular practice at home really does make a difference, so please encourage your child to use TTRS over the May break to keep their times table knowledge fresh. Even a few minutes each day will help build confidence and fluency ahead of the assessment.

Overall, Year 4 have had a very successful half term and we are extremely proud of their positive attitude, resilience and enthusiasm for learning. Thank you for your continued support at home.

Spring 2 Term

Year 4 have been working hard this term, and we are very proud of all their efforts.

They put on an amazing performance of The Bee Musical, and we are sure that everyone who watched it thought it was fantastic. 

Please continue to encourage your child to keep practising their times tables via Times Tables Rockstars (TTRS) at home. 

We hope Year 4 has a well deserved rest over the Easter break. We are all excited about our trip when we return next term which will be linked to our new Geography subject and will be a great experience for the children. 

Spring 1 Term

Year 4 have had a fantastic and very busy few weeks since returning after Christmas. We have packed so much learning in across the curriculum over the past six weeks.

In English, we have been exploring Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The children have loved immersing themselves in the story and have used their creativity to design their own original characters inspired by the famous children from the book. They have also imagined and described their own unique rooms inside Willy Wonka’s factory, using expanded noun phrases and vivid descriptions to bring their ideas to life.

In Reading, we enjoyed listening to and discussing “Chocolate Cake” by Michael Rosen, thinking about expression, humour and how the poem engages the audience. The children really enjoyed performing the poem out loud.

In Maths, we have been focusing on rounding numbers as well as continuing to build confidence using formal written methods for addition and subtraction. The children have shown great resilience when tackling more challenging calculations.

Pupils have been exploring metre and rhythm in music, creating and performing their own rhythmic patterns using percussion and body percussion.

In RE, we have been learning about Christian symbols and discussing why symbols are important in helping believers express their faith.

Our Geography lessons have explored where our food comes from around the world, helping the children understand how food travels from different countries to our tables.

In Art, we have been developing our skills using tints and shades to represent objects more realistically.

For PE, Year 4 have been enjoying dance using the theme of ‘spies’ to create a lively routine. Children have also practised samba inspired moves, building coordination, rhythm and confidence.

At home, please continue to support your child by encouraging them to practise their weekly spellings and regularly use Times Table Rock Stars to strengthen their times table knowledge. Little and often really makes a big difference.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support!