Subject

Topics

Literacy

Writing

By the end of Class 4, children will be able to write confidently across a range of genres whilst applying their creativity and grammatical knowledge. We will be learning the remaining grammatical features and consolidating those we have learnt so far this year. This half term will first be reading & writing poetry and then moving onto creating holiday brochures for trips to Europe.  Other books we read for pleasure will link to our European region of study: Italy.

Guided Reading

The children will work in small groups to read and discuss an age-appropriate novel; this will support their vocabulary and comprehension skills.  Children will complete a carousel of activities throughout the week, that will include post and pre reading tasks, a teacher led session, spelling, and independent reading.

Spelling

In class, children will be tested weekly on either Year 4 or Year 5 words.  Most weeks, the spellings will follow a spelling rule that has been taught but sometimes they will be taken from the statutory lists which do not.  Spellings will be included as part of the weekly homework.

Maths

We will be following the White Rose Maths Hub scheme of work.  This half term we will cover geometry: properties of shape, geometry: position and direction and measurement: volume.  Each Friday we do something a little different to promote mathematical thinking, e.g., a link up with a STEM ambassador.

Children will continue to practise times tables during lessons and specific times tables will be given for homework.  A secure knowledge of times tables (up to 12 x 12) is required by the end of Year 4.

Science

This half term our science topic is all about life cycles.

Children will be taught to:

  • describe the differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect, and a bird.
  • describe the life process of reproduction in some plants and animals.

Children will study and raise questions about their local environment throughout the year. They should observe life-cycle changes in a variety of living things, for example, plants in the vegetable garden or flower border, and animals in the local environment.

Topic (History, Geography, Art and DT)

Geography

The Owls will consolidate what they have learnt in geography this year by applying what they know to Europe initially and then a study of Italy.  We have chosen Italy because it will give the children good case study opportunities to revisit volcanoes and coastlines.

D&T

The class will learn about food and what constitutes a healthy diet and learn about food from a different culture.  In a link to our topic work, the children will design, make, sample and evaluate Italian food in a local restaurant.

P.E.

PE lessons will focus on striking and fielding skills so that the children are ready to play games of rounders and cricket.

R.E.

The learners will cover a unit of work exploring ‘what will make our town or city more respectful?’

P.S.H.E.

During PSHE lessons there will be discussions and advice given about growing and changing.  In preparation for adolescence, we will cover the following areas:

  • Changing feelings/emotions
  • Understanding body parts
  • Changes to expect.
  • Teenage emotions
  • Stereotypes

Computing

Children will continue to learn how to program but develop their understanding further using physical devices, e.g. BBC Micro bits.