Welcome to Year 4!
Victory Class
Teachers: Mrs Wright
Teaching Assistant: Miss Newman
Enterprise Class
Teacher: Miss Brobbey
Teaching Assistant: Miss Jimenez
Term 2: Magnificent Mountains
Our topic this term is Magnificent Mountains and our big question is "Why are mountains important"? This term we will be locating and exploring the main mountain ranges of the world and the UK as well as investigating the different ways in which mountains are formed and considering the impact humans are having on mountain environments.
Our English learning for this term:
Reading:
Alongside continuing our VIPERS questions work, using non-fiction texts linked to Roman Britain and reading a variety of poetry, we will be continuing to read the book ‘Romans on the Rampage’ by Jeremy Strong. This is a book about a Roman boy called Perilus who dreams of becoming a chariot racer. After, we will be focusing on non-information texts on mountains.
Writing:
As well as continuing work on spelling and punctuation/grammar skills, we will be writing -
setting descriptions (to entertain) – using powerful vocabulary and similes/metaphors to describe a mountain landscape setting;
diary entries (to inform) – studying the 1953 expedition of Edmund Hillary to be the first to scale Mount Everest and writing diary entries based on the journey;
explanations (to inform) – explaining how mountains are formed using conjunctions to link ideas and relative clauses to add detail to sentences.
Maths
This term, we will continue to focus on different aspects of number. We will start by revising how to subtract in columns, using exchanging, then look at how to calculate the area of simple shapes. Following that, we will move on to multiplication and division, focussing on multiplying/dividing by 3,6, 9, 11 and 12 as well as looking at the effects on a number of multiplying/ dividing by 0 and 1.
Topic Web
Term 1 : Romans Rule
Our topic this term is about Roman rule in Britain and our big question is “What did the Romans do for us?” The children will be learning about the Roman invasion and the influence that the Romans have had on British life. We will have a Roman workshop to enhance our learning on this topic.
PE
Our PE takes place at school on Wednesday mornings. We will build our basic hand-eye skills linked to popular sports, such as hockey. We will be outside as often as possible, so please make sure that your child comes in to school in the correct kit. Please also ensure that long hair is tied back, and that earrings are removed.
Every Thursday this term, we will walk to the new Cozenton swimming facilities to develop our water skills. Please come dressed in an appropriate swimming costume, with a spare change of clothing, towel and optional goggles in a bag to carry.
Our English learning for this term:
Reading:
Alongside continuing our VIPERS questions work, using non-fiction texts linked to Roman Britain and reading a variety of poetry, we will be reading the book ‘Romans on the Rampage’ by Jeremy Strong. This is a book about a Roman boy called Perilus who dreams of becoming a chariot racer.
Writing:
As well as continuing work on spelling and punctuation/grammar skills, we will be writing -
Poetry to entertain – Using ‘The Sound Collector’ by Roger McGough as inspiration, we will write our own ‘collector’ poems, using extended noun phrases to add detail to our ideas.
Speeches to persuade – Having studied Boudicca as part of our Roman Britain topic, we will be writing our versions of speeches she may have made to inspire her tribe in their battle against the Romans
Myths to entertain – We will be writing our own retelling of the story of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.
Maths
Our Maths topics this term will focus on different aspects of number, starting with place value of numbers up to 4-digit numbers, rounding to the nearest 10, 100 and 1,000 then progressing through negative numbers and on to Roman numerals.
Following that, we will use these numbers to revise and move forward with our understanding of addition and subtraction.
Topic Web
Home Learning
Your child’s weekly home learning will consist of:
• Daily reading (to be recorded in Reading Records)
• Times table practice (KS2 use the Times Table Rock Stars website)
• Spellings/Phonics (to be practised at home)
We will celebrate pupil success in completing these tasks both in class and across the school and as such boost the profile of these activities in our school community.
Spellings
As well as practising the Year 3 and 4 statutory spellings, we investigate the Year 4 spelling curriculum using a variety of resources and strategies.
Spellings will be set on a Friday and tested the following Friday. You all have logins to access Spelling Shed and the term's list of spellings will be sent home copy.
Websites:
Timestables
We will be using the Computing Suite to practised to practise your multiplication facts, particularly on Times Tables Rockstars. There will be a focus for the Multiplication Times Tables Check but you can do this at home too, using a keyboard if possible, on TTRS Soundcheck or timestables.co.uk MTC practice page.
Different Times Table challenges/games will be set weekly on the TT Rockstars website.
With the national Year 4 Multiplication Times tables Check (MTC) a major assessment in Year 4, we will
be focussing on learning our multiplication and division facts up to 12 x 12 by heart so keep
practising at home as well as school, starting by revising those that should already be known by
the end of Year 3.
There are links on this page to Times Tables Rock Stars as well as other sites we may be
using to practise online. We are also keen for you to share ideas for practising offline too so,
if you have a method that works for you, let your teacher or TA know so you can teach it to your class!
There is a link for parents to explain more about the MTC below.roun
Websites:
- https://www.theschoolrun.com/year-4-multiplication-tables-check-mtc-explained
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multiplication-tables-check-information-for-parents
- Times Tables Rock Stars
- Timestables.co.uk - MTC practice page
- Times Tables Games
- Learn your times tables
- Hit the Button
Practise times tables, number bonds and much more!
Other Useful Website Links
- The School Run
- Duolingo - practise your Spanish or any other language you are interested in!
- https://www.oddizzi.com/ - Learn more about all aspects of our world Geography. Ask your class teacher for our year 4 username and password.