Year 4
Merlin
Class Teacher: Mrs S Bradford
Class Teaching Assistant: Miss K Johnson
Osprey
Class Teacher: Mrs L Marchant
Class Teaching Assistant:
Information
Reading
At Hollington Primary Academy we are passionate about our children reading and strive to foster a love of books. During this academic year, your child will be exposed to a broad range of books through the curriculum and end of day ‘Book Worms’ sessions. We actively encourage reading for pleasure so that our pupils can experience the awe and wonder books provided – transporting the reader to new exciting places and broadening their horizons. We know that reading for pleasure can have a major impact on children in their future lives and want to support them on their reading journey. As part of this, we expect every child to read at some point every day!
Home Learning
At Hollington Primary Academy we strongly believe in purposeful home learning that extends the children’s learning about their topic beyond the classroom.
Your child needs to select one task a week to complete and return their home learning books to their class every Thursday. Your child will also receive weekly spelling and times table activities to support their learning.
Physical Education
Merlin's PE day is on a Wednesday and Osprey's is on a Friday.
It is expected that the children have a complete named PE that remains in the academy each term. The correct academy PE kit is:
- Dark shorts
- Plain White T-Shirt
- Black Plimsolls/trainers
Please note: No jewellery is permitted during PE sessions. All must be removed or covered by tape provided by parents, failure to do so will result in your child missing the lesson.
Programmes of Study
Our broad and balanced curriculum is structured in six over-arching themes, one per term, across the academic year. Our programmes of study cover the National Curriculum, as well as knowledge and skills we, as an academy, feel are essential. Click on the tabs below to find out more information on each term's programmes of study and start exploring with your child at home!
Term
ONE
TWO
The Greek myths are among the greatest, most exciting stories ever told and feature some of the world's best loved heroes and heroines. In this book, you'll find the stories of Theseus, conqueror of the dreaded Minotaur, amongst other heroes and heroines. The book is set out in a dramatic cartoon style.
Super Start
Archaeological Dig
Fantastic Finish
Gallery of Sculptures inspired by Ancient Greek art.
Subjects
During the term, the children will be learning about the following:
English
In English this term, we will be writing our own myths based on stories from Greek mythology. We will also be learning how to write a set of instructions and the features needed for this type of text. We will continue to focus on a variety of suffixes and talk about the tricky spellings in words. In Reading, we are going to continue to use our reading strategies to talk about the books ‘The Ogress and the Snake’ and ‘The Iron Man’ as well as other texts.
Maths
This term we will be focusing on addition and subtraction and using manipulatives such as Base 10 and place value counters to support ourselves. We are reviewing the x2. x5. x10 and x3 times tables before moving on to x4, x6 and x8.
Science
This term, Year 4 will be studying ‘teeth’ in their Science lessons. They will look at the different types of human teeth and what they are used for.
PSHE
Over the term, Year 4 will be celebrating what makes us unique as well as discussing how to stay safe online.
History
In History, we will be finding out what legacies the Ancient Greeks have left us by examining artefacts and discussing the beginnings of democracy and the Olympic Games.
Design Technology
Computing
We are going to be learning about algorithms in Computing and how to create code to make our own programmes.
RE
In RE we are learning about how Christmas is celebrated around the world.
Languages
In French, we will be learning simple conversational phrases by asking and answering questions including the use of simple adjectives.
PE
In Year 4 this term, our PE focus is on dance with a James Bond theme. We will do this by sequencing our movements and including freeze frames, slides and rolls in true secret agent style.
Music
This term in Music, we will be working on pulse, rhythm and pitch when we study the music of the band Abba.
Medium Term Plan:
THREE
A small boy called Ivan lives in a land where the winter is dark and fearful. Starjik, King of Winter, steals Ivan's little brother and Ivan braves the bitter cold to find him.
Super Start
Extreme weather videos.
Fantastic Finish
Testing our homemade snow shoes.
Subjects
During the term, the children will be learning about the following:
English
In English this term, Year Four will be writing kennings poems before creating characterisations and producing informal letters based on the text, ‘Ice Palace’. We will recap on a range of uses for commas in our writing and make sure that we form and join letters correctly.
Maths
This term we will continue to focus on addition and subtraction, and working with larger numbers. We will continue to use manipulatives such as number lines, number squares, Base 10 and place value grids and place value counters to support our thinking. We will move on to look at calculating four digit numbers using the column method. We will recap on our 4 and 6 times tables.
Science
This term we will be looking at solids, liquids and gases and how to identify the properties of each. We will follow a raindrop through its journey within the water cycle.
PSHE
Over the term, Year Four will be developing their understanding of how, when and why they may need to ask for help as well as securing their knowledge of who they can go to for support. We will also be looking at what a healthy lifestyle might look like.
Geography
We will be recapping on what continents are, which countries make up the continent of Europe and the names of the capital cities in many of those countries. We will compare and contrast the UK and Russia and what is unique about the Russian climate. By the end of the term, we will know about different types of settlement and what attracts people to live where they are.
Design Technology
In Design and Technology, we will be using a success criteria to design and make a pair of snow shoes that are fit for purpose. We will use a range of joining techniques learnt before making them and evaluating our work.
Computing
Using our geography and science learning, we will be planning and presenting a news and weather report using data collected and various search technologies.
RE
Year Four will be learning about the significance of the epiphany and how and why Christians celebrate it today.
Languages
In French, we will be learning simple conversational phrases by asking and answering questions including the use of simple adjectives.
PE
In PE, our focus is on gymnastics. We will be putting together a sequence of elements with a partner and in groups.
Music
In music we will be reading and creating some musical notation which includes crotchets and quavers.
Medium Term Plan: Russia
FOUR
Find out about Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni tribe and how she led the Celts against the invading Romans
Super Start
A visit from a Celt.
Fantastic Finish
Trip to Hastings Museum.
Subjects
During the term, the children will be learning about the following:
English
In English this term, Year Four will be writing letters and non-chronological reports. We will be learning how to organise our writing into paragraphs and how to start our sentences in different ways. As we look at different genres we will identify the features that we would expect to see.
Maths
This term we will continue to focus on addition and subtraction with regrouping. We will continue to use manipulatives such as Base 10 and place value counters to support our thinking and working out. We will move on to look at calculating four digit numbers formally using the column method. We will recap on our 6 and times tables.
Science
In Science, we will be looking at what sound is and the parts of our body that are used to process sound and send information to our brains. We will also experiment with different types of sound and how and why it can change.
PSHE
Over the term, Year Four will be learning how the body changes through adolescence.
History
We will be looking at the Roman army’s invasion of Britain and how and where they settled in Britain and expanded the Roman Empire. We will be identifying the impact on our lives today and the evidence that still remains of their occupation.
Geography
We will be looking at the Roman army’s invasion of Britain and how and where they settled in Britain and expanded the Roman Empire. We will be identifying the impact on our lives today and the evidence that still remains of their occupation.
Computing
In computing, we will learn to understand how search engines work and identify how word order and key words affect search results online.
RE
Year Four will be talking about what they already know about Jesus and why he is so important to Christians. We will look at secondary evidence and identify the key events in Jesus’ life.
Languages
In French, we will be learning simple conversational phrases by asking and answering questions including the use of simple adjectives.
PE
In PE, our focus is on playing tennis. We will learn back hand and forehand shots. We will learn where to position ourselves when playing and how to receive and return balls.
Music
In music we will be reading and creating some musical notation which includes crotchets and quavers.
Medium Term Plan: The Romans
FIVE
Based on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, this story tells of Tranio, an actor's son, and his friend Livia, the baker's daughter as they witness the destruction of their beloved city, Pompeii.
Super Start
Volcanic eruption using a model.
Fantastic Finish
Children create their own volcano web pages.
Subjects
During the term, the children will be learning about the following:
English
In English this term, Year 4 will be writing diary entries based on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii as well as using personification to describe the volcano later in the term. We will continue to challenge the children to work towards achieving their pen licenses and to edit their work by checking and improving their vocabulary choices.
Maths
In Maths we continue to practice counting in steps of different sizes and relating this to multiplication facts. This will be followed by working on the inverse, division facts.
Science
In Science, we will be looking at what a complete electrical circuit looks like before creating our own. We will also be looking at the various components used in a circuit and the materials that will conduct electricity.
PSHE
In PSHE, we will discuss what democracy is and why and how to engage in meaningful debates. We will look at how and why society needs to set and abide by rules and how we all play an important role in our community.
Geography
In Geography, we will look at the relationship between mountains and volcanoes and how they are formed before looking at the inside workings of a volcano and the location of the World’s most active volcanoes.
Art
In Art, we will study the Japanese art called Ukiyo-e. We will begin by looking at an example called ‘The Great Wave’ by the artist Katsushika Hokusai.
Computing
In computing, we will learn about HTML code. What it is and how to write it to create our own web pages.
RE
In RE, we will study the key events of the Easter story and the significance of this on Christians today.
Languages
In French, we will be creating our own French songs ready for our own version of the Eurovision Song Contest.
PE
In PE, we will learn the techniques needed to play cricket. We will be learning the rules we need to follow when playing this traditional team game.
Music
In Music, we will learn how to perform and play songs involving singing and playing recorder.
Medium Term Plan: Volcanoes