Year 4

Welcome to Year 4!

Welcome back Year 4!

I hope you have had a wonderful Easter break and that you are ready for an exciting and busy Summer term in Class 4. This term we will be continuing our topic ‘Ancient Egypt’. Below is a little bit of information about all the fantastic things we will be learning throughout the Summer Term.

Please download and view the topic web at the bottom of the page for more information.

Empowering English

In English this term, we will be exploring a variety of exciting

fiction and non-fiction texts! To begin, we will be writing a non-fiction newspaper report on ‘The Creature’. We will then be using the narrative ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, by Roald Dahl to inspire our writing.

After half term, we will continue to develop our narrative writing skills and focus on the book ‘Float’ and the narrative film ‘The Lost Thing’.

We will also practice our punctuation, grammar, spelling and handwriting.

There will be a focus on improving our reading comprehension skills using Book Talk sessions and our ‘Reading Rainbow’.

Our English targets this term will be:

I can carefully choose nouns and pronouns to avoid repetition
I can use fronted adverbials
I can use adverbs e.g. gently, mysteriously, yesterday, above
I can use prepositions e.g. behind, on, over, between
I can use inverted commas for direct speech
I can use the possessive apostrophe with plural nouns
I can create vivid images using similes, personification, alliteration or onomatopoeia
I can use expanded noun phrases

Marvellous Maths

In Maths, we will continue to develop our knowledge of the written methods we can use for multiplication and division. We will explore: Division with remainders, multiplying and dividing by 10 and 100, partitioning and multiplication and division in different contexts. After this, we will move onto learning about fractions, recognising equivalent fractions, counting up and down in hundredths and adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator. We will also focus on decimals and their relationship with fractions.

We will also be completing daily times tables practice in class and having a weekly test.

Our maths targets this term will be:

I can recall times tables facts for multiplication tables up to 12 x 12
I can use written methods of multiplication and division
I can recognise use factor pairs and commutativity in mental calculations
I can use place value, known and derived facts to multiply and divide mentally
I can recognise and show families of common equivalent fractions.
I can count up and down in hundredths
I can add and subtract fractions with the same denominator
I can recognise and write decimal equivalents of any number in the tenths or hundredths
I can round decimals with one decimal place to the nearest whole number

Sensational Science

In Science, we will be learning about ‘States of Matter’. We will learn to group materials together, according to whether they are solids, liquids or gases. We will explore how some materials state can change when they are heated or cooled. We will investigate, measure and record the temperature, at which the change happens in degrees Celsius. We will also look at the role evaporation and condensation has in the water cycle.

Hair-Raising History

Our topic this term is ‘Ancient Egypt’. During this topic, we will learn about both the History and the Geography of the Ancient Egyptians. Throughout the topic we will explore the importance of the River Nile, Egyptian farming and crop rotation. We will also learn about the Egyptian Pharaohs and the Egyptian way of life. Exploring the history of key people including Tutankhamun and Cleopatra. In addition, we will look into how and why the Egyptians built pyramids, the Egyptian Gods, mummification, hieroglyphics and the Egyptian way of life.

Many of our other subjects will link to our topic this term. In Art, we will have the opportunity to create more incredible masterpieces when exploring and creating our own Canopic Jars and looking at Egyptian architecture. In DT, we will be designing and creating our own jewellery based on Egyptian artefacts.

For more information, please see the Topic Web below.

Globe-Trotting Geography

In Geography, we will continue to focus on our topic ‘Rivers’. We will know, name and locate rivers in the UK and across the world. We will then consider why most cities are located by a river. Next, we will begin to look at mountain regions. We will learn where the mountain regions are in the UK and across the world. We will also learn about locality. We will investigate the differences between a village and a city and consider how localities can be changed and improved.

Pacey PE

There will be plenty of opportunities for sport during the Spring Term. Year 4 will have PE on a Wednesday and we ask that children wear their PE kit to school for the day.

Showbie

Showbie is a program which allows children to upload, save and share their work in class and at home whilst also receiving interactive feedback from their teacher. Everyone will be given a Showbie username and password and it is available on iPads, tablets and computers. We will be using this regularly within lessons and for homework each week.

Showbie has proven to be a valuable communication tool during the enforced school closure in order for children, parents/carers and teachers to keep in touch. The Showbie App includes a range of features which have been utilisied by all:

Messaging communication
Sharing / Uploading work
Instant feedback
Voice Notes
Video Uploads
Class Discussions (Key Stage 2)

From September, Walford will continue to use Showbie as a clear channel of communication between home and school.

I will continue to set and mark homework via the Showbie App on a weekly basis. Extra (optional) learning activities will be provided where appropriate in order to consolidate learning in school. Showbie will be used as the new home-school link for reading. Every child will have a reading folder in their assignments where all reading and comments can be recorded on a nightly basis.

There will also be a general communication folder where any important messages can be shared with class teachers. Class teachers will endeavour to respond to these messages as soon as possible. It is important to remember that children will also be able to see this, so anything of a sensitive nature should be dealt with via telephone or email.

As a result of these changes, your child will no longer bring home a Home-School Diary (KS2).

Helpful Homework

Homework is set on a Thursday and should be returned every Monday. Homework will be linked to the work that we are covering in class. Remember homework will be set and uploaded to Showbie. Paper copies can be provided if required.

Showbie will be used for you to record any learning that you complete at home, including:

Reading
Rimes table practise
Rpelling practise
Education City
Times Tables Rock Stars
MyOn

As you move through KS2, you should be encouraged to become more and more independent at recording the work completed on Showbie each evening. I will check Showbie every day to see what you have been doing.

Talk Homework will help you to prepare for your Big Write each week. This can be found on Showbie too. Please spend 5-10 minutes chatting with a family member at home in order to feel more confident about your written task the following day.

Other information

Remember to keep checking Twitter @WalfordPrimary for regular updates about what Class 4 have been up to.

IMPORTANT DATES

Tuesday, 20th April - Return to School

Monday 31st May to Friday 4th June - Half term

Tuesday 20^th July - End of Term

My door is always open so please feel free to arrange an appointment to come and see me if you wish to discuss anything about your child and their learning.

Miss Higgins!