Welcome to Year 4
This area contains helpful information and reminders. It will also be updated regularly throughout the year with photos and updates about what we get up to as part of our learning journey.
Year 4 Staff
Our Class Teacher is Miss Dunn.
On weekends and during the school holidays, Miss Dunn enjoys nothing more than being outdoors and exploring new places, in all weathers! To relax, she loves reading, and her favourite genres are mysteries and thrillers. She is very much an animal person and worked in kennels and catteries when she was younger, before training to be a teacher! She has one very independent cat called Jenson, who she is convinced thinks he is actually a dog! Her family and friends are very important to her so one of her favourite things to do is spend time with them.
The teaching assistants that support our learning in our class are: Miss Airlie and Mrs Coxon.
Miss Airlie
Miss Airlie loves spending time with her family and friends, from walking along the Northumberland coast to paddle boarding in the lakes to simply enjoying a meal out. She also enjoys listening to music and relaxing in front of a good film, Harry Potter and the Hunger Games are her favourite film series.
Mrs Coxon
Mrs Coxon enjoys walking with her two sons and her two dogs Monty and Honey.
In class 4 we ask that you:
- Try your best
- Follow the instructions an adult gives you
- Be a kind friend to your classmates
Our Learning
You can find our more about our learning by visiting the Curriculum section of our website.
Click to view our Long term overview Year 4 21-22
Autumn 1:
Science: During this topic, we will be learning about the digestive system and the names and functions of our teeth as well as finding out about food chains and webs.
History: We will start our journey through time by looking at Ancient Greece.
Geography: We will be developing our knowledge of the world by learning about how the world is divided in to different areas, comparing other parts of the world with the UK and using maps to identify different places.
Art: Our first project is based on Durham miners. We will be creating artwork using charcoal and focussing on scale and light. During our second project, the children will be studying linear patterns in art as well as learning about Kandinsky and his work.
Computing: We will be learning about the internet and how it works.
Music: We will begin learning musical notation such as the names of the different notes as well as developing our listening skills and understanding of certain musical terms.
Autumn 2:
Science: This half term, we are learning about living things and their habitats. The children will find out how living things can be classified and the effects changes of habitat can have on animal and plant life.
History: We will be studying the Romans in our history lessons – finding out about the spread of the Roman Empire and the Roman invasions of Britain. We will also learn about Boudica, Emperor Hadrian and Hadrian’s wall.
Design and Technology: The children will be learning about strengthening structures in our DT topic ‘Let’s go fly a kite’
Art: In our art lessons, children will explore the use of printing and textiles in their artwork, taking inspiration from the work of Michael Brennand-Wood.
Computing: This half term, we are developing our programming skills using Turtle Logo.
Music: Our music topic this half term is ‘Rock and Roll’. The children will learn about the origins of Rock and Roll and will learn songs and dances, as well as beginning to play musical instruments such as the glockenspiel during their learning about this genre of music.
Spring 1:
Science: This half term, we are learning about states of matter. The children will be finding out about the properties of solids, liquids and gases, as well as learning about the processes by which materials change state.
History: We will be studying the Anglo-Saxons in history lessons this term. We will learn about who the Anglo-Saxons were, how they lived and about how Christianity was introduced to Britain.
Design and Technology: In DT lessons, we will be learning about cooking and nutrition in their topic ‘The Great Bread Bake-Off’. This half term, we will be exploring existing products and techniques, before beginning to design our own product.
Computing: This half term, we are developing our word processing skills.
Music: In our music lessons, we will be learning about changes in pitch, tempo and dynamiccs within our river-themed topic.
Spring 2:
Science: Children will begin this half term by continuing ther learning about states of matter. They will then move on to their next topic, where they will study electricity.
Geography: Our geography topic this half term links to our previous science learning about states of matter. We will be learning about the water cycle and water treatment, as well as the causes of flooding and possible ways to prevent it.
Art: During their paint unit of work, children will be exploring the work of Georgia O’Keefe and J.M.W Turner. They will be learning different techniques to paint on multi-shaped and textured surfaces as well as mixing and experimenting with the application of colours.
Computing: This half term, children will be planning, recording, combing and editing audio in their computing lessons.
Music: In their music lessons, children will be developing their composition skills to compose a classical piece of music in response to an animation.
PSHE: This half term, Class 4 are studying road safety, to develop their understanding of the Green Cross Code and how to stay safe when they are near to or are crossing the road.
Summer 1:
Science: Children will begin this half term by continuing their learning about electricity. They will then move on to their next topic, where they will study sound. Children will learn about how sound is produced and heard, what happens to sound as it travels and the correlation between instruments and the sounds they produce.
History: In our history lessons this half term, we will be learning about the ancient kingdom of Benin.
Design and Technology: Following on from their learning in science, children will be studying electrical systems in their design and technology lessons. Children will design, make and evaluate their own battery operated light systems.
Computing: This half term, children will be developing their programming skills using Scratch.
Music: In their music lessons, children are studying singing techniques and will build on their understanding of notation to read music.
PSHE: Class 4 are continuing to build on their learning about health and well-being in their PSHE lessons this half term.
Summer 2:
Science: Children will continue their learning about sound this half term. Children will learn about how sound is produced and heard, what happens to sound as it travels and the correlation between instruments and the sounds they produce.
Geography: In our history lessons this half term, we will be learning about the UK. The children will be exploring settlements, studying Durham as an early settlement and finding out about different types of land use.
Art: This half term, the children will be developing their drawing skills using a range of different mediums and techniques.
Computing: Children will be exploring weather systems in their computing lessons. We will find out about weather stations, satellites and forecasts.
Music: In their music lessons, children are studying Jazz, where they will learn to sing and perform a range of Jazz music.
PSHE: Class 4 are learning about economic well-being in their PSHE lessons, where they will think about responsible use of money and aspirations for their future careers.
Knowledge Mats
We use knowledge mats to help us with our topic with vocabulary and sticky knowledge that we want the children to remember.
Autumn term
Spring term 1
Maths – Multiplication and division
Music – Changes in pitch temp and dynamics
Spring term 2
Computing – Creating Media – Audio Editing
Summer term 1
PE
Class 4 have PE on Wednesdays and Fridays.
They should attend school in PE kits on these days.
This half term, Class 4 are developing their striking and fielding skills in rounders.
Homework
We should be reading as regularly as we can throughout the week (at least 3 times) and recording it in our reading records.
We also have a specific set of words to practise spelling each week and must make sure we understand what they mean and can use them in a sentence.
We also have a weekly times tables/ mental arithmetic test. This term, we will be given specific times tables to practise.
Children can access their spelling lists and reading questions on their e-schools page.
Children are to return their reading books to school and reading record each Friday.
Children also receive Maths homework each Friday, based on their learning in class. This is to be completed for the following Friday, when we review the homework together in class.
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