Year 4
2023 - 2024
The Year 4 Team
Mrs Dawes - Class Teacher (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday AM)
Mrs Hall - Class Teacher (Wednesday PM, Thursday and Friday)
Mrs Taylor- Teaching Assistant
Autumn Term
This term in Science we will be learning about LIVING THINGS AND THEIR HABITATS
In this unit the children will explore a variety of ways to identify, sort, group and classify living things. They will learn how animals are split into 'vertebrates' and 'invertebrates' and begin to consider the differences between living things within these classifications. They will use and create classification keys to group, identify and name living things from the local habitat and beyond. This unit also introduces the children to the idea that environments are subject to human-made and natural changes, and that these changes can have a significant impact on living things. Throughout the unit the children work scientifically by gathering, recording and presenting information in different ways.
During the second half term, the children will study a unit called 'Sound'.
This ‘Sound’ unit will teach the children about how vibrations cause sounds and how sounds travel, as well as how sounds can change pitch and loudness. The children will learn about how sounds are made, carrying out demonstrations of vibrations, and completing a sound survey of their school. They will work in groups to create a human model of the way particles pass sound vibrations on, and write and star in their own documentary explaining how sound travels. The children will work in a hands-on way to explore pitch, and will use their understanding of how high and low sounds are made to create their own set of pan pipes. They will have the opportunity to make a string telephone, and will use this to investigate how sounds change over distance and through different materials. The children will work scientifically and collaboratively to investigate the best material for soundproofing, in the context of making a music studio quieter. Finally, they will demonstrate their learning from the whole unit by designing and creating their own musical instrument that will play high, low, loud and quiet sounds.
In Geography, we will be looking at a unit of work called 'Somewhere to settle'.
In this unit, the children will head back in time to find out how the towns and cities of the UK first developed. The children will learn about the needs and requirements early settlers had when choosing a place to build a home. They will look at place names around the UK to see how the Anglo-Saxons, Romans and Vikings all left their mark. Through use of digital and paper maps, children will investigate land use in different sized settlements and the ways in which settlements are linked together. At the end of the unit, the children will draw together all their learning about settlements to design their own new settlement!
During the second half term in their History lessons, the children will be completing a unit called 'Stone Age to Iron Age'
In this unit about the Stone Age to the Iron Age, children will learn that prehistory is the time before written records began and that we know about this time from the sources of evidence left behind that have been studied by archaeologists. They will learn that prehistoric times went through a series of ages, during which early Britons made huge technological advances for the time and left a lasting mark on the British landscape. Children will also explore key substantive concepts such as settlement, migration, tribe and technology. When learning about the Stone Age, children will learn how prehistoric people migrated to Britain and eventually settled here after the last ice age. They will learn about how early humans survived as hunter-gatherers, living a nomadic life – in order to eke out an existence – and they will begin to consider the evidence that tells us this. The lessons use a range of archaeological evidence to look in more detail at the lives of prehistoric people. This includes the changes and developments that occurred in the Stone Age, the technological advances in tools, the establishment of permanent settlements like Skara Brae and the growth of agriculture. By learning about the Bronze Age, children will recognise the end of the Stone Age and explore how metals were first used, measuring the impact of this advance. Children will investigate the building of tombs and monuments, such as the world-famous Stonehenge and consider the expertise early Britons had in building and engineering. When learning about Skara Brae and Stonehenge, there will be opportunities for children to undertake their own independent research. The unit will conclude with a look at the Iron Age, the uses for this new, stronger metal (iron) and its impact on the way of life of people called Celts. Studying the Stone Age to Iron Age will assist children: in identifying the significant changes that took place in prehistoric Britain; in using archaeological sources of evidence; and in helping them to develop the skills to ask and answer historical questions. By the end of the unit, children will have travelled through thousands of years of prehistory, which they will learn eventually came to an end in Britain with the conquest by the Romans in AD 43.
In English we will looking at a variety of genre ranging from 'Space Explorers' through to 'Haiku Poetry'.
Throughout all units, relevant grammar will be taught to support the children's understanding
In Maths the children will work in their Power Maths books, focussing on place value in 4 digit numbers, addition and subtractions, area and multiplication and division
Please encourage your child to work hard to develop their times table knowledge as they will be completing a statutory on line assessment at the end of this year. Children will need to have developed a fast recall of all times table facts up to 12x12.
PE kits and days
We have two hours of PE a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays. The lessons are taught by our sports coach, Mr Wolfe. It is very important that your child comes to school in a suitable outdoor kit with trainers.
Homework
Alongside spellings, English and maths homework will be set every Friday to be completed by the following Thursday.
Homework and spellings will be uploaded to Showbie for the children to complete.
Times Tables Rock Stars is a wonderful maths resource for your child to learn and practice their times tables to improve fluency and speed. The fun online resource is incredibly effective and highly recommended. It has been thoroughly enjoyed by many pupils throughout the school! Your child has already been given their login details but if you need them again please let me know and I will be happy to help.
Things we need
A bottle of water (no juice please in case of sticky spillages!).
A healthy snack for break.
Fridays are 'treat days' so your child can bring in a snack of their choice. Alternatively, £1 can be sent in a labelled envelope for our weekly tuck shop.
A book bag with reading book and reading record.
Celebrating success!
Year 4 is full of amazing children and we want to celebrate every success and achievement during this year both inside and outside of school. We would love to hear about all the amazing things your child does, so please do tell us!
...and finally...
As a team, we are always here for you. If you need to discuss anything, please let us know. You can see me in the morning or after school, or send an email to: year4@boothwood.leics.sch.uk
If you would like a longer meeting please make an appointment so we can discuss your queries without feeling rushed. If you need any other information please do not hesitate to ask.
Many thanks for your continued support
