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:
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:
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:
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:
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 20th 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!
Recommended Reading for 7-11 year olds
Here are some suggestions of great books to read in Year 4!
Ready, Steady, Read in Year 4:
I have attached some links below for ideas of other great reads!