Autumn Term 2024 

Maths

In Maths, we shall start off the term by revising our skills in number and place value, we will apply this when revising the written methods for the four rules of number. Problem solving is an important skill in the mastery curriculum; this involves the application of the children’s knowledge to a variety of everyday situations, rather than just being able to work out a page of sums. We will be working hard on building up a quick and accurate recall of all the times tables up to 12x12. Knowledge of the division facts will be extremely valuable when we apply this to other areas of the curriculum such as fractions and decimals. After exploring the four operations we will start work on length and perimeter. This year we are introducing Fluency Bee which is a program for developing the children's understanding and fluency of number. We shall continue to use Times Table Rock Stars to consolidate the children’s knowledge, which they really enjoy using.

English

At the start of this term, we will explore the book 'Alba the Hundred-Year-Old Fish' by Lara Hawthorne linking it to our geography topic of 'Planet Protectors'. Following this and still linking to our 'Planet Protectors' we will read the book 'The Ice Bear' by Jackie Morris. This will provide us with many extended reading, writing and drama opportunities. After half term, our literacy text is ‘Escape from Pompeii' by Christina Balit’ which is linked to our history topic ‘The Romans’. Throughout these books, we will be exploring a wide variety of genres including non-chronological reports, narratives, descriptions, diary entries and poetry. Our grammar work will focus on a review of the different word classes, and then find out more about pronouns, apostrophes and Standard English. Spellings will be focussing on the word families, prefixes, suffixes, root words, homophones and contractions. Alongside this, we will be doing weekly Text Detective sessions, comprehension activities and class reading.

Science

We will start the term off by learning all about animals including humans where we learn all about teeth, their functions and how to keep our teeth healthy. We will then investigate what the human digestive system is and how our food travels through our body. After half term we start learning how circuits work in our electricity topic. We will understand how to stay safe around electricity as well as how insulators and conductors work. Throughout the term we will be improving our Working Scientifically skills as well as developing our science enquiry knowledge. We have a fun term ahead.

Computing

In Year 4, we will be learning some exciting things in Computing. We will start off by learning about the internet and how we can stay safe on line. The children will apply their knowledge and understanding of networks, to appreciate the internet as a network of networks which need to be kept secure. In the second half term, we will be learning how to use data loggers so that we can use them in our science lessons this year. The children will understand what date is and how we can present it. We will use the data loggers to record sounds, light and temperature.

History

Our History topic this half term is the Romans. The children shall start off by finding out who the Romans were, where they came from and will be exploring their reasons for invasion. They will be investigating different interpretations of Boudicca and learning about her rebellion. Future studies will include investigating: Roman food, clothes, roads, the Roman army, Roman towns, villas and entertainment. The children will also be exploring life in Roman Britain and the legacy that they left behind.

Geography

In our Planet Protectors topic this term we will start off by learning all about the continents of the world and using our map skills to find out where they are located. We will then understand what the key environmental issues are that concern the planet and what we can do to make a difference in order to protect our planet.

PSHE

During the autumn term we will be exploring three modules:

Keeping/Staying Safe – Cycle Safety: We will identify strategies we can use to keep ourselves and others safe and recognise the impact and possible consequences of an accident or incident.

Keeping/ Staying Healthy – Healthy Living: We will explore what is meant by a balanced diet and plan a balanced meal. The children will become more familiar with nutritional information as well as describing different ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Growing and Changing – Relationships (Appropriate Touch): Children will identify the different types of relationships we can have and how and who to ask if we need support and how we can support our families. We will identify how relationships can be healthy or unhealthy.

Design Technology

In DT this term the children will be learning about the different kinds of fabric that are available, especially looking at how sustainable different fabrics can be. The children will then use this knowledge to design and make a small bag or pouch to meet a design brief. They will learn about different stitches and fastenings to secure their pouch. Children will then be able to evaluate their product suggesting things that worked well and ways they would like to improve next time.

RE

During the first half term, we will be studying the topic ‘Our Caring Giving World’ the pupils will be looking at different religious beliefs towards our planet and how they show care for it. We will be looking at how religious beliefs and practices promote a sense of giving and caring within the community. During the second half term will explore the question ‘What is the real meaning of Christmas?’ Children will explore the Christmas story, we will explore the importance of love, Christmas cards and commercialisation. At the end of the topic children will debate whether the true meaning of Christmas has been not.

PE

During this first term, the children will be working with our Sports Coach. He will be teaching fitness and fundamental skills and pupils will take part in many challenges and learning about the different components of fitness. Pupils will also be developing the fundamental skills of balancing, running, jumping, hopping and skipping. For outdoor PE sessions children will be

taking part in football and Tag Rugby. During football sessions pupils will be encouraged to persevere when developing key skills and principles such as defending, attacking, sending, receiving and dribbling a ball, building on their knowledge of tactics and how to work effectively as a team. In Tag Rugby sessions, pupils will learn to contribute to the game by helping to gain and keep possession of the ball whilst working as a team.

Music

This term the children will look at different songs in the genre of “Soul and Gospel”. They will use more notes on the treble clef and sing the songs as well as develop performances including instruments. They will use the songs to compose their own lyrics, as well as develop an understanding of the contexts of the song and music. Through listening work, the children will also widen their experience of instruments they can hear, and how they are played.

Art

As artists this term the children will be using our geography Planet Protectors topic as a basis for their work. They will look at the work of artist Melanie Hava and particularly her work inspired by the Australian coral reefs and use a variety of techniques including marbling to create their own reef pictures. They will also spend some time looking at the work of sculptors, Dale Chiuly and Michelle Reader and use these as inspiration for our own sculpture work. In the second part of the term the artwork will be linked to our Romans topic. The children will be enhancing their drawing skills and reminding themselves about the effects that different medium can produce. They will be drawing Boudicca from a historical description and a Roman soldier.