Year 4

Welcome to Year 4

The Year 4 teachers are:
 

4A – Mr. Adkins
4W – Miss Westwood
4JE – Miss Edwards/Mrs. Wilson
 

The Learning Support Assistants supporting Year 4 in their learning are:

Mrs. Pugh

Mrs. MillsMrs. J. Williams
 

In the spring term, we have planned for a variety of engaging topics across the curriculum. Our curriculum pages set out the topics for each subject area for the year, but our focus topics for this half term are:

• English – A picture book, “Wolves” by Emily Gravett followed by the graphic novel “Mouse, Bird, Snake, Wolf” by David Almond

• Maths – Multiplication and Division. We encourage pupils to practise these at home through Sumdog or their planners (Children have also been given usernames and passwords for “Times Table Rockstars” (ttrockstars.com) to assist them with their fluent recall of times tables)

• States of Matter in Science

• Ancient Egypt in history. This will include a full day of activities on Friday 17^th January exploring elements of Ancient Egyptian culture and actual artefacts borrowed from the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. This will be complemented in Geography through our study of rivers, including The Nile

• We are using the “Purple Mash” website for computing. Children have been given their login details and access this at home if they wish to

Key dates

Bookfest – Friday 20^th March

“Gulp” Theatre Visit (in school) – 28^th February

Homework

Maths homework goes out on a Tuesday and is to be returned on a Friday. 

English homework goes out on a Thursday and is to be returned on a Monday.

In addition to this homework, we expect pupils to read regularly and add to their reading journal (in planners), as well as regular practice of multiplication/division facts and spellings to try and make this learning 'stick' in their long term memory.

PE

Year 4 PE is on a Tuesday with our sports coaches Premier Active and Sports Zone.
All children are expected to participate in PE lessons unless a valid reason has been given by parents/carers. Children must have a full PE kit in school at all times. No jewellery, including watches, should be worn during PE lessons. Hair must be tied back.

Music

Music this term will consist of ukulele lessons with Mr Reed, in preparation for a Christmas performance by all Year 4 pupils.

Children learning other instruments should be reminded to check the music timetable in school on the day of their lesson for any changes. Instruments (which must have names on) should be stored in the music room until they are needed for the lesson.

Library

Year 4 will visit the library every Wednesday morning. Children will write about their chosen book in their planner. Children can choose up to two books (one fiction and one non-fiction). 

Planners

We ask pupils to ensure they have their planners in school each day. We use the planner as an ongoing reading journal and to support learning in class. Once we have assessed pupils we will also highlight the spellings that your child can spell on the corresponding list in the back of their planner- this will be added to over the course of the year.

Music Lessons

Music lessons have started for the year. All pupils are asked to check the timetable and bring their labelled instruments in on the appropriate day. All instruments are now to be kept in the music room. 

In the autumn term, we have planned for a variety of engaging topics across the curriculum. Our curriculum pages set out the topics for each subject area for the year, but our focus topics for this half term are:

• Electricity in Science.

• 'The Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle' in history. This will include a viking workshop in school on Friday 22nd November

• This will be complemented by aspects of human geography, such as the impact of ‘Invaders’ and ‘settlers’ within Great Britain, during this period
• Other key dates
• Theatre visit to see The Snow Queen on Tuesday 3rd December (to complement the story "Ice Palace" in English).
• Christmas carol service on Friday 13th December (time to be confirmed).
• Class Christmas parties on Friday 20th December (pm).