Koala (Year 4)
Autumn 2
English
In English this term, we will be reading a picture book called 'The Comet': when Nyla has to leave her home in the countryside to start life again in the city, all she can think about is everything she misses from before. So when a comet comes crashing through the city streets and starts to glow and grow, Nyla can't resist a chance to head somewhere that feels closer to what she had before... but what starts as an escape could be just the thing to make her finally feel at home.
Grammar topics will continue to be taught once a week as a discrete lesson (possessive pronouns, fronted adverbials, prepositions to express time and cause, plural and possessive -s, and commas)) and as starters five times a week. This term, we will be looking at concepts from year 3 and recapping these.
Finally, spellings will be taught three times a week both in the morning and after lunch, with all practising and testing completed within school.
Mathematics:
In mathematics this term, children will be working through the Addition and Subtraction, Area and Multiplication and Division units of White Rose Maths. This includes: efficient subtraction, estimate answers, checking strategies, what is areas?, counting squares, making shapes, comparing areas, multiples of 3, multiply and divide by 6, multiply and divide by 9, multiply and divide by 7, 11- and 12- times table and division facts, multiply by 1 and 0, divide a number by 1 and itself, multiply 3 numbers. In lessons, children will have the opportunity to practise the 'fluency' of each concept before moving onto reasoning and problem solving.
Each week, the class will get a chance to use Times Tables Rock Stars at school, as mental calculations are so important in all aspects of mathematics! Children can also use this website at home to develop their efficiency and accuracy in times tables.
Topic - History: Anglo Saxons;
Science: Animals, including Humans (the digestive system and teeth);
Computing: use of Scratch coding program;
D&T: Anglo Saxon houses;
RE: What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today?
PSHE: Celebrating Difference
French: Presenting Myself;
Music: Violins/ Charanga.
PE will take place twice a week: Monday with Mr Dickinson and Wednesday afternoons. Children need to wear their PE kits on these days. Forest School will take place regularly throughout the term: a list of dates will be made available as and when required.
Homework will be sent home on a Thursday to be returned to school the following Thursday to be marked as a whole class. The children should complete their work in their homework book. Homework will be arithmetic or calculations practice and reading comprehension. All homework is discussed with the children before they take it home. However, if your child is unsure what to do, please encourage them to ask the class teacher for help before it is due in.
The children should all be reading regularly at home, particularly if they are not confident readers. It is useful if children are discussing their reading with an adult to develop their comprehension and discussion skills and filling in their reading records with comments about what they are reading. The children are welcome to bring in a suitable reading book from home if they wish.
Meet the Teacher PPT
Autumn Term 1
I hope that you all had a relaxing and safe six weeks holiday and are ready for the new school term! I am really excited to be meeting and teaching you all :). This year, the children will have Mrs Walker and Mr Murray. On a Friday (either morning or afternoon - this will alternate each term), Mrs Regan will be teaching core topics, such as spellings, grammar and writing skills. We have so much to get through this year and will be starting as we mean to go on!
English:
In English this term, we will be reading a chapter book called 'The Boy at the Back of the Class': this book offers a child's perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn't always make sense.
Grammar topics will be taught once a week as a discrete lesson (singular and plural nouns; pronouns; standard English; compound words; adverbs to express time and cause) and as starters five times a week. This term, we will be looking at concepts from year 3 and recapping these.
Finally, spellings will be taught three times a week both in the morning and after lunch, with all practising and testing completed within school. We will be looking at the following spelling rules:
- words ending in -sure
- year 3 and 4 spelling words
- possessive apostrophe with singular proper nouns
- homophones.
Mathematics:
In mathematics this term, children will be working through the Place Value unit and Addition and Subtraction unit of White Rose Maths. This includes: representing numbers to 1000 and 10000; partitioning numbers; using number lines; Roman numerals; rounding to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000; add and subtracting four digit numbers; estimating numbers. In lessons, children will have the opportunity to practise the 'fluency' of each concept before moving onto reasoning and problem solving.
Each week, the class will get a chance to use Times Tables Rock Stars at school, as mental calculations are so important in all aspects of mathematics! Children can also use this website at home to develop their efficiency and accuracy in times tables.
Topic - Geography: Ancient Egyptians;
Science: States of Matter;
Computing: Computer Systems and Networks - the Internet
Art: Canopic jars and lids (children need to remember to bring in an old t-shirt or apron);
RE: How do people from religious and non-religious communities celebrate key festivals?
PSHE: Being Me (goals and aspirations);
French: Presenting Myself;
Music: Violins/ Charanga.
PE will take place twice a week: Monday with Mr Dickinson and Wednesday afternoons. Children need to wear their PE kits on these days. Forest School will take place regularly throughout the term: a list of dates will be made available as and when required.
Homework will be sent home on a Thursday to be returned to school the following Thursday to be marked as a whole class. The children should complete their work in their homework book. Homework will be arithmetic or calculations practice and reading comprehension. All homework is discussed with the children before they take it home. However, if your child is unsure what to do, please encourage them to ask the class teacher for help before it is due in.
The children should all be reading regularly at home, particularly if they are not confident readers. It is useful if children are discussing their reading with an adult to develop their comprehension and discussion skills and filling in their reading records with comments about what they are reading. The children are welcome to bring in a suitable reading book from home if they wish.
Mathematics
- https://ttrockstars.com/ - Remember to look in your home learning books if you cannot remember your login.
- http://www.snappymaths.com/year6/ - Range of different worksheets to complete.
- Maths at Home - Oxford Owl for Home
Reading
- https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/find-a-book/library-page/ A free e-book library for all primary age children.
- https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/ A free game for children who would benefit from additional practice of phonics, segmenting and blending. The children love it!
- Books for Year 4 children aged 8-9 | School Reading List A list of books recommended for 10 and 11-year-olds. If required, look at both the year 5 and year 7 lists for decreased or increased ability.
Writing and spellings, grammar and punctuation (GPS)
- https://www.pobble365.com/ - Fantastic resources for creative writing with questions relating to a daily image.
- https://www.literacyshed.com/home.html - A wide range of resources to complement creative writing.
Topic
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz0go1pTda8 Watch and join in with PE with Joe Wickes, the Body Coach, live on YouTube daily to help keep you active.
- https://explorify.wellcome.ac.uk/activities - Science experiments that can be completed at home, linked by topic. Why not try electricity or light experiments?
- https://www.stem.org.uk/ - A range of different activities to complete at home.