Year 4 - Miss Humble

Welcome to Year 4!

Some important reminders:

PE is on a Friday and the children can wear their school PE kit all day.
Football with Arj is on a Wednesday lunchtime. Please bring football kits to school to change into. ⚽️👟
Water bottles should be brought in to school every day.
Please remember to bring in reading books and home school diaries every day. 📖📘

Summer 1

This term the children will be reading 'The Kapok Tree' where we will journey deep into the rain forests of Brazil to learn about a man who exhausts himself trying to chop down a giant Kapok tree. While he sleeps, the forest's residents, including a child from the Yanomamo tribe whispers in his ear about the importance of trees and how "all living things depend on one another".

Tennis with the LTA

This term, Year 4 were lucky enough to be offered tennis coaching with the LTA who's vision is 'Tennis opened up' and their mission to transform communities through tennis. The children began by throwing the ball into the air and catching it without touching the ground. We then moved onto forehand and backhand techniques and had a go at trying some challenging trick shots before moving onto some partner work. The children thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and realised the importance of not giving up when they find something challenging.

Sculpture

In Art this term we are looking at the artist Linda Lopez and her artwork using clay. We will look at different shapes created by Linda Lopez and use small amounts of clay to join small layers together. We will then evaluate our designs and choose the most effective way to mould our creation.

Spring 2

⚡️ Electricity ⚡️

In Science this term we are learning all about electricity. We will learn about how to work safely with electricity and discuss potential hazards in our homes. We are going to identify and name parts of a circuit before designing one of our own in Design and Technology. This will be linked to this terms English book 'The Wild Robot' where the children will create their own light box resembling a crate from the story. We will then add a switch to turn a light on and off.

✨🌎 Geography 🌎✨

In Geography this term we are learning all about South America. The children will learn about the differences between the Northern and Southern hemisphere and where South America is located on a world map. We will also look at continents that sit within each hemisphere and identify differences in physical features, population and pollution. Finally, the children will be able to locate a number of South American countries and understand which countries border each other.

This term in PE it is football!

Science Week - Andy's Animals

During our annual school science week the children had the opportunity to work with Andy and his amazing animals. Andy introduced us to a variety of different creatures and taught us about their habitats and what the animals eat. The children thoroughly enjoyed learning about the different animals and having the opportunity to hold them.

Light box and simple circuits

In Science and DT we have learned and discussed how to work safely with electricity and discussed potential hazards in our homes, We identified and named parts of a circuit and then made our own simple circuits. We then added in a switch to turn the light on and off. We predicted and tested out whether a bulb would work in a variety of different circuits too. We then constructed a decorative light box out of card with a design based on 'The Wild Robot' and created a permanent circuit to fit inside.

Centre of Life 'Powering the future' workshop

Spring 1

This half term we will be having fun learning all about life in Ancient Greece. The children will engage in interesting and exciting activities and reading our class book Leo and the Gorgon's curse. We will be studying Greek life, their achievements and their influence on the Western world. The children will even have the opportunity to take part in 'Groovy Greek Day' where we will have a taste of what life would be like living in Ancient Greece.

🇬🇷 Groovy Greek Day 🇬🇷

To celebrate the end of our topic on Ancient Greece, Y4 had a special Groovy Greek Day. The children were invited to come into school dressed as Ancient Greeks and all outfits were fabulous. We started our day by researching the Greek alphabet and creating our own name plaques using letters and symbols. We then made beautiful green and gold olive wreath crowns to wear throughout the day. Throughout the afternoon, we looked at Greek pottery and designed and coloured our own vase. The children also enjoyed our Greek taster session trying out food that they would have had in Ancient Greek times. Overall, the children had a fantastic day.

Art

This half term Year 4 have been looking at the artist Robert Delauney. We have experimented with warm and cool colours to create vibrant and detailed drawings and had a go at replicating his style in the form of Poseidon's Temple, linking in with our topic on Ancient Greece.

Guided Reading

In Guided Reading, Year 4 have been looking at Rap poetry. The children have read a range of rap poems focusing on pace, expression, rhythm and vocabulary. The children have discussed similarities and differences between different rap poems as well as which poems they prefer and why. We have identified the meaning of different poems and where a poet has used sound effects or rhyming patterns to support with understanding the meaning.

Computing

In Computing this half term we are creating E books. We will be designing our very own E book all about Ancient Greece! We will be designing a eye catching front cover as well as pages on Greek Gods, food, clothing, number system and famous monuments. This will link in with our English and History lessons this half term.

Science

In Science this term, Year 4 are learning about the different types of human teeth and the special functions they each have. We will also be looking at how to look after our teeth and what happens when we drink fizzy pop! As well as this, we will also be looking at different parts of our digestive system and the process of swallowing food.

Autumn 2

Design and Technology

In Design and Technology this term, the children have been researching the types of food Arctic explorers eat. We have discussed the nutritional value and how their diets may be different to ours. We have designed posters on some popular Arctic foods including Pemmican and Expedition cake, thinking about how and where the ingredients are grown as well as researching the food and nutritional elements. As well as this, we had a go at making our very own Sledging Biscuits which Arctic explorers still eat today, eaten by people who are working away from bases in the Arctic as a dietry staple.

Dodgeball 🏐

The children had a brilliant time at Sunderland Tennis Centre competing in a Year 4 dodgeball festival. The children worked really hard as four seperate teams to score points against other schools.

Science 🧪

Year 4 have thoroughly enjoyed our Science topic on States of Matter. This half term we are continuing to experiment with solids, liquids and gases and began by experimenting with making our own butter! We experimented with cream in a bottle and made observations based on what happened when we shook it. The children loved watching the cream gradually turn form.

Arctic Day ❄️

This half term the children have taken part in Arctic Day! The children had a brilliant time learning about what life would be like in the Arctic. The children had the chance to try on clothing which would protect them in the cold conditions as well as cooking and tasting some rationed food! The workshop provided the children with a strong understanding of life in the Arctic which will support them in Science, DT, English and Geography this half term!

Autumn 1

Year 4 had a fantastic visit to St Aidan's Church earlier this month where Father David taught us all about Baptism in the Christian Church, this linked in with our recent RE lessons on the topic of Baptism. The children learnt about the importance of the Holy Water and its purpose in the ceremony. The children also had the opportunity to hold the christening shell and candle, as well as witnessing a christening take place... of a minion that is. After watching the ceremony the children were able to take a look around the church and have the opportunity to speak to Father David about any questions they had.

Science 🧪

In science this half term we have been discussing the three states of matter and asking 'is it a solid, liquid or gas?'. We have completed research and carried out experiments in order to know which materials are solids, liquids or gases. We have been able to describe the properties of each state and can show the difference between the particles. We recently completed an experiment to see whether or not the size of an ice cube impacts how fast it melts and recorded our findings in our workbooks.

Dance 💃

This half term the children will be focusing on Dance during P.E. They will work with partners, in groups and as a class to create dances using movement patterns to structure the dance phrases. They will refine, repeat and remember dance phrases and dances.

Planting bulbs 🌱

The children had a lovely afternoon planting bulbs in our fabulous new courtyard. The children could each plant their own bulb using our new gardening tools. We are so excited to watch them grow and see what colour plants emerge from the soil!

🚒 Fire Safety visit 🚒

Year 4 had the opportunity to be involved in an educational visit from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue service! We have been taught how to hazard spot at home in order to stay safe and avoid danger!

⭐️ Goals ⭐️

The children in Year 4 have had a fabulous time designing their upcoming goals for the year ahead. The children have decided on goals for English and Maths as well as a goal for their behaviour around school. Well done Y4EH!

🍁 Autumn 1 🍁

In Year 4 this term the children will be learning all about the Mayan civilization. We will cover this topic in both English and History. The children will be reading the Rain Player book which will provide inspiration and ideas for their writing.

In Science we will be learning all about different states of matter and the children will learn to group materials based on whether they are solids, liquids or gases. In RE we will learn all about baptism and the Holy Trinity and in Art we will be introduced to the artists Quentin Blake and Petra Palmeri.