Year 4 Curriculum

English

Over the year, the children are exposed to a range of fiction and non-fiction texts where they explore the language and features of the text type through carefully planned reading exercises, before producing their own written examples. Over the course of each half term, the children learn about narrative reading and writing, poetry and a non-fiction text. We also respond to a text using ideas from 'The Power of Reading' strategy. Alongside this, children are taught specific word level and sentence level skills. Here is a breakdown of the key text types we study each term.

Autumn Term

Power of Reading- Arthur and The Golden Rope, poetry - The Listeners, news reports, script writing and Power of Reading - Snow Queen.

Spring Term

Power of Reading- Leon and The Place Between, non-fiction writing, instruction writing, poetry, narrative writing and speaking and listening.

Summer Term

Roald Dahl - author study, Power of Reading- Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, persuasive writing, explanation texts and fables.

Maths

In Maths, we follow the National Curriculum, building upon their knowledge from Year 3. We teach Maths mastery at our school, where the aim is to create a deep understanding, confidence and competence in Maths. Each topic is covered for 2-3 weeks, allowing for full immersion into the topic.

The topics we cover are:

• place value

• reasoning about numbers

• written and mental strategies for the four operations

• fractions and decimals

• shape

• space

• measures including time and money.

Book study

Each term, the children study a different book in great detail. The school has a number of copies for the children to share and therefore the purchase of each book is optional, although your child may wish to have their own copy. Can we please ask that your child does not read the book prior to the lessons as this detracts from the enjoyment during class work.

Autumn term - Fintan Fedora - The World's Worst Explorer by Clive Goddard.

Spring term - The Girl Who Stole an Elephant by Nizrana Farook.

Summer term - The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson.

Science

In the Autumn term, children learn all about states of matter and electricity. The children learn about how materials change state when heated or cooled; the water cycle; electrical safety; how to create an electrical circuit and conductors and insulators.

In the Spring term, the children learn about digestion, teeth and sound. They will be exploring the inner workings of their body by recreating and describing the digestive system; naming and explaining teeth; and investigating the variables that can alter and affect sound

During the Summer term, the children will be learning about living things and their habitats, focusing primarily on food chains and environmental issues, before looking at plants and their growth.

Science lessons include regular experiments through which children develop a range of investigative skills and consolidate their understanding of relevant concepts.

We are lucky enough to have a wonderful nature area within our school grounds and each term the children go out to investigate features and changes to this habitat.

History and Geography

In lessons, the children develop skills related to both History and Geography. These include research skills, geographical enquiry, asking and answering questions to name just a few.

Each unit lasts a term and usually culminates in a special day where we celebrate all that has been learnt, inviting in speakers or performers. We also arrange visits based on the work being covered.

Autumn - Anglo-Saxons and Vikings

In the Autumn Term, we will be finding out what happened to Britain once the Romans left. We will discover the real reasons as to why the Saxons invaded and learn from the evidence they have left behind. We will find out about Alfred and uncover the mystery of the empty Saxon grave. Together we will learn why the Vikings gained such a bad reputation and how close they came to taking over the country. We will analyse evidence from excavations and share a range of sources in our study.

Spring - Early Islamic Civilisation

In Spring, we will not only be learning about this magnificent society in the Golden Age of Islam, but also comparing this society to what was happening at the same time in Britain at the time of the Vikings. We will look at why the civilisation grew so rapidly at the time, explaining how far it spread. We will spend time exploring the richness of the civilisation and the legacy.

Summer - Europe (Including map and fieldwork).

In the Summer Term, we will be learning about the geography of Europe. This will include map work, European climates, food and farming, and culture. We also look at volcanoes and rivers in Europe. The children will be developing their geographical skills using maps and learning key geographical vocabulary.

Computing

During the course of the year, the children will develop their computer fluency by using programmes such as Google Docs, Google Classroom and Google Slides and Google Sites. Within these programmes, children will be learning about how to create posters for a given purpose; post and display their work in a safe and secure way; and safely and constructively comment on each others' work. Additionally, the children will be programming their own games using a Microbit and finding out about how to stay safe on the internet and create strong passwords.

R.E.

Over the year, children learn about the practices and beliefs of different religions. Alongside this, there are whole school celebrations of special days and important people on a termly basis. In the Autumn Term, the children will be learning about the ‘Trinity’ and its importance for Christians and then focusing on Hindu beliefs about God. In the Spring Term, they will be learning about being a Sikh in Britain today and Jesus’ death and ‘Good Friday’. During the Summer, the students will study the impact of Pentecost and mark the significant events of life.

Music

Over the course of the year, the students will acquire an understanding and ability to control pitch, rhythm, pulse, tempo, phrase and timbre through studying a variety of different music styles ranging from Abba, through to rapping and classical. Children are also introduced to a range of percussion instruments and develop their ability to play these with increased rhythmic accuracy.

French

In French this year, we recap, and cover numbers up to to 31, describing people, hobbies, time and festivals and basic directions, weather and food.

P.E.

On the days when children have PE, they should come in wearing their school PE Kit, which they will wear for the whole day.

Currently, 4R have PE on Thursdays and Fridays, 4M have PE on Tuesdays and Fridays, 4HI have PE on Mondays and Thursdays.

In one PE session we cover exercise and movement, gymnastics, racket skills and dance where children have the opportunity to work individually, in pairs and also in small groups. PE is linked with Numeracy in the gymnastics sessions when children learn about symmetry and pattern. In the Spring Term the children learn the Cha Cha Cha, which leads to our Strictly Coombe Dancing Event.

In the other PE, we cover football, netball, rugby, tennis, athletics, striking and fielding and team work. Year 4 classes have swimming lessons during the Summer Term.

Art

Each term a new Art project is undertaken, focusing on the development, then application, of specific skills. In Autumn, the focus is on drawing skills, mark making and sculptures. During the Spring, children learn about printing in fashion and painting with colour. Finally, in Summer the children look at collage and creating their own compositions.

DT (Design and Technology)

Design and technology projects are undertaken in a week each term. This time is put aside to ensure that children are able to experience all the aspects of a 'design and make' project, starting with investigating products, planning and proposing a design criteria, through to the making and evaluating of a final product.

Autumn Term

Designing and making electric cards - building on the knowledge of electrical circuits from science lessons.

Spring Term

Food technology - we follow recipes involving seasonal produce and learn about seasonality.

Summer Term

Make a moving toy - using cam mechanisms

PSHE

In PSHE (personal, social, health education), we discuss and learn about how to be safe, about how to recognise and manage feelings, solve problems, interact positively with others, set and achieve goals and learn effectively. We learn about having a 'Growth Mindset' and methods to help us learn and manage anxiety. We learn about both physical health and mental wellbeing and how to have respectful relationships with others.

Assessments

We assess the children informally through observations, discussions and the work they produce on a daily basis. However, we do also carry out a range of formal assessments each year which go alongside the teacher assessments to track individual pupil progress and to ensure that every child is reaching their full potential. Details of your child's progress can be discussed in parent chats in October and February and in their summer reports. If you still have questions please do not hesitate to contact the school.