Welcome to Year 4!
In 4J, Miss Jan is the class teacher, and Miss Petch and Ms Johnson are the teaching assistants.
In 4B, Miss Bancroft is the class teacher, and Mrs Ashby is the teaching assistant. Mrs Stevens is the Year 3 and 4 phase leader.
Times Tables and the MTC!
In line with the National Curriculum, children in Year 4 are expected to fluently recall multiplication and division facts for multiplication tables up to 12 × 12, which is essential for future success in mathematics. To demonstrate that they are able to do this, they are required to complete a statutory test called the 'Multiplication Tables Check (MTC)'. This online test takes place during the Summer Term of Year 4 and children are required to answer a set of 25 timed questions. They have 6 seconds to answer each question.
At Brushwood, we have created our own Times Tables Sequence which children begin in Year 3 - see overview in 'Useful Resources' tab below. We ask that children regularly practise the times tables that they are learning at home, as well as having the opportunity to learn and rehearse in school.
Autumn Term Learning
English
This term, we will be studying the following books: 'The Tin Forest' by Helen Ward; T'he Pebble in my Pocket' by Meredith Hooper; 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' by C.S.Lewis and 'Leon and the Place Between' by Angela McAllister. We will be practising various writing skills based around these books, such as character descriptions, diary entries, informal letter and poems, as well as engaging in drama. Grammar, spelling and punctuation will also be embedded in these lessons. Pupils will practise their handwriting regularly and will be expected to present their work as neatly as they can, following cursive, joined up font.
Pupils will read independently on a daily basis and complete Accelerated Reader quizzes. Guided Reading sessions will involve whole-class and group reading and will be linked to these books: 'The Adventures of Odysseus' and 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'.
It is vital that pupils read at home each day, and we ask parents to spend time reading with their child before signing their home reading diary.
Maths
This term, we will be focusing on place value, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, perimeter and area. We will be using a variety of resources, such as base 10 and counters, to consolidate children's understanding. We will also be practising our Times Tables on a daily basis; this term we will be focusing on 3, 6, 9 and 12 times tables.
Science
This term, we will be studying sound and electricity. The children will explore how our ears work, learn about different pitch and volume, and carry out many investigations to understand the medium of sound. During the second half term, the children will be studying electricity. They will be learning about famous scientists, how to stay safe when using electricity, as well as using equipment to complete a circuit with a lightbulb.
History
In History lessons, we will be discussing the topic 'How have children's lives changed?'. The children will learn how children’s spare time, health and work have changed. They will explore work in more detail, learning about a day in the life of a working child in Tudor and Victorian times and the significance of Lord Shaftesbury in changing the lives of children.
Geography
In Geography lessons, we will explore volcanoes. We will focus on why volcanoes happen, when they occur and why people live near volcanoes. We will also study the layers of the Earth and learn about how mountains are formed.
Art & DT
In the Autumn Term in DT, we will be focusing on our cooking skills and learning about nutrition. The children will think about recipes and experiment with adapting an existing recipe before making it. In Art the children will be focusing on understanding proportion, tone and texture through a variety of drawing projects.
RE
This term, we will be learning about the world and its existence. The children will study the creation from the point of view of Christians, Hindus and Muslims, and will also explore the scientific explanations about the world.
PE
In the Autumn term, year 4 will be beginning weekly swimming lessons and the local leisure centre. They will develop their confidence and water safety.
PSHE
During the Autumn term, the children will explore the topic 'Families and relationships' focusing on healthy friendships, respect and stereotypes.
French
The children will start the term by writing conversations using greetings. They will create their own superheroes, using je suis, j'ai and je peux and learn to place colours after the objects they describe. They will practise asking about other families, and describe their own, learning how to say "my", what family members are called and how old they are, including revision of numbers up to 100!
Music
In the Autumn term, the children will continue learning to play cornets.
Spring Term Learning
English
This term, we will be reading ‘Arthur and the Golden Rope’, a fiction book by Joe Todd-Stanton and ‘Kensuke's Kingdom’, by Michael Morpurgo, which we will study in depth to produce writing for different purposes, including newspaper reports, narratives and poetry. In addition, pupils will regularly practise their handwriting and will be expected to present their work as neatly as they can, using cursive, joined-up font.
During Guided Reading lessons, we will continue to study: ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ by Michael Morpurgo and ‘The Girl Who Stole an Elephant’ by Nizrana Farook. Whole-class and group reading will focus on developing fluency and comprehension skills and children will be encouraged to read aloud in class and will hear adults reading.
Pupils will read independently on a daily basis and complete Accelerated Reader quizzes. It is vital that pupils read at home each day, and we ask parents to spend time reading with their child before signing their home reading diary.
Maths
We will begin the term by continuing with our learning about multiplication and division, including written methods. We will then move onto the length and perimeter of shapes, including rectangles, rectilinear shapes and polygons. During the second half of the term, we will be learning about fractions, starting by thinking about whole numbers, then moving onto mixed numbers, improper fractions and equivalent fractions. Lastly, we will learn about decimals. We will represent tenths as decimals and hundredths.
Science
Our topic is States of Matter. The children will explore solids, liquids and gases and research their properties. They will carry out investigations involving states of matter and learn about reversible and irreversible changes.
History
This term, we will consider the question: ‘What changed in Britain after the Anglo-Saxon invasion?’. We will investigate the Roman invasion, before moving on to look at how, where and why the Anglo-Saxons arrived here and the reasons they decided to stay. In studying how we know about these historical periods, we will examine what was discovered at Sutton Hoo.
Geography
We are looking forward to studying the question: ‘Why are rainforests important to us?’ after half term. We will be developing an understanding of biomes, ecosystems and tropics, mapping features of the Amazon rainforest and learning about its layers, investigating how communities use the Amazon’s resources and discussing the global human impact on the region.
Art & DT
Autumn A:
We will be designing a personalised pencil case, starting with a template, then measuring, marking and cutting fabric accurately. Children will stitch the case and incorporate a fastening into the final product.
Autumn B:
We will be focusing on paint and mixed media. We will learn about tints and shades, create a composition and explore how colour can be used to show light and dark and three dimensions.
RE
Our big question this term is: ‘Why are sacred texts and holy books so important?’
PE
The children will also be continuing weekly swimming lessons at the Leisure Centre.
PSHE
The children will continue learning about health and wellbeing. Following this, we will be learning about safety and the changing body.
French
This term, the children will learn about the vocabulary of objects and everything involved in the classroom.
Music
In Music, the children will be continuing learning how to play simple music using a cornet. We will then move on to learning body and tuned percussion.
Trips - Hazard Alley
During this term, year 4 will visit Hazard Alley in Milton Keynes. The children will follow an interactive tour, led by specialist guides, during which they will encounter 12 hazardous scenarios in perfect safety. They will learn to identify everyday hazards and develop safe strategies to deal with potential emergencies, changing their behaviour to keep themselves and others safe.
Summer Term Learning
English
During the first half of the term, we will be reading, 'The Iron Man' and will be linking our writing to this text. We will be drawing images, focusing on the vocabulary choices and writing an alternative ending to the story. Following on from this, we will be reading, 'Viking at School'. We will be planning and rehearsing a debate as well as writing a set of instructions. During the second half-term, we will be focusing on non-fiction with, 'Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World'. We will look at examples of biographies and then create our own. We will then move onto reading, 'Journey to Jo'Burg' and will explore the historical links and origins.
Maths
During the first half-term, we will be learning about decimals and linking this with money. The children will be thinking about the value of coins and notes, making different amounts of money as well as problem-solving. We will then move onto learning about time. In the second half of the term, we will be learning about the position of shapes, as well as position and direction.
We will also continue our learning of timetables up to 12 x 12, finding different ways of learning them during Maths lessons as well as practising on TTRS.
Science
This term, we will be learning about ‘Animals including Humans’ where we will be discovering the digestive system, teeth and food chains. We will also develop our understanding of ‘Living things and their Habitats’. The children will continue to learn through curiosity and investigations.
History
Our History topic is ‘How did the Maya’s achievements impact their society?’ The children will be learning about the Ancient Maya and their fascinating civilisation and discover some of their amazing inventions, including how they first made chocolate from cocoa beans. They will also explore the impressive buildings and temples they built and learn about their religion and the many gods they believed in.
Geography
In Geography, we will be looking at ‘What are rivers and how are they used?’ We will be exploring their different features and discovering how they are formed, before going on a field trip to the River Chess in our local area to investigate a river environment.
Art & DT
Summer A
In D&T, the children will be making a slingshot car. They will carefully think about the design to make sure it is suitable for the project. Over the course of a few weeks, they will make a functioning car chassis with panels. In order to test their car's effectiveness, they will conduct a trial at the end of the topic.
Summer B
In Art, the children will be focussing their learning around 'Sculptures and 3D'. They will begin by using familiar shapes to create simple 3D drawings, then move on to creating soap sculptures inspired by a design. Finally, they will explore different ways of joining materials to create a 3D outcome.
RE
This term, the children will be learning about Worship, thinking about how and where some people talk to God.
PE
PE lessons will be focussed on athletics and cricket.
PSHE
This term, the children will be exploring the theme of Citizenship and Economic Wellbeing. They will focus on understanding rights and responsibilities within their environment and across the world. They will also develop their knowledge of money.
French
In French, the children will be learning about ‘My Home’ and ‘Goldilocks’. They will continue to develop their language skills.
Music
The children will explore Japanese festival music and performance, linking their learning to the rhythm and structure of haiku poetry. They will also learn how musicians use changes in pitch, tempo and dynamics to create different moods and effects in their performances.
