Year 4

Welcome to Year 4!

Get in touch year4@parkspringprimary.co.uk

4A

Teacher: Miss Derbyshire

4B

Teacher: Miss Topping

Year 4 teaching assistants: Miss Turner & Miss Hirst

Important dates

Reading at home: Reading records and levelled reading books will be sent home on a Monday and returned the following Monday

Home learning: A home learning sheet – containing a maths and literacy activity – will be sent home every Monday and is due back the following Monday.

Multiplication tables: Year 4 will complete a statutory online times table check at the end of Year 4. By this point, children are expected to know their times tables up to 12 x 12.

Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check Info

PE: Our PE days are Tuesday and Friday (come in PE kit). We have swimming on a Tuesday (classes attend alternate half terms: 4b will attend Autumn 1 and Autumn 2 term then 4a will attend Spring 1 and Spring 2 term), each child will need a full swimming kit including a towel.

The expectation for Year 4 is as follows:

Complete home learning sheet
Read 4 x per week and have reading record signed by an adult each week
30 minutes on TTRS
Lexia (if provided) 60 minutes per week

Please email your class teacher for any passwords needed.

Useful links

TT Rockstars.
Hit the button (multiplication game)
Maths Frame (very similar to the MTC – Multiplication Check)
Click here for Microsoft Teams

2024/2025

What are we learning about this year?

Year Group 4 Curriculum Maps (LTP and topic themes)

Spring 2

Our author of the half term is David Walliams and our writing stimulus text is Escape From Pompeii.

What are we learning this half term?

In Science we are learning about the digestive system.

Science- digestive system

In Geography we are learning about mountains.

Y4GeogrpahyMountainsMTP

Week 1

Year 4 had a fantastic week with lots of exciting learning. In science, we learned about teeth and their functions, making models using plasticine. In reading, we started a new text called The Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo. We used our retrieval and inference skills to explore the first two chapters and began to think like a reader by asking lots of insightful questions about what we have read.

Week 2

Year 4 celebrated World Book Day this week and enjoyed dressing up as book characters or in pjs for a bedtime story. In maths we began our measurement topic, learning how to convert between units of measure as well as how to calculate the perimeter of a rectilinear shape. In writing we focused on how to build description through similes, ready to create our own setting descriptions in the coming weeks.

Week 3

This week, Year 4 explored the impact that different drinks can have on our teeth and the importance of dental hygiene as part of our Science topic. We conducted an experiment where we placed four eggs into four different liquids – water, cola, vinegar and orange juice – and made predictions about which one would harm the egg (tooth) the most. We are excited to see if our predictions are correct next week!

In writing, we began to write our final setting descriptions, applying the skills we have learned to an extended piece of writing. We have worked incredibly hard on our use of similes and expanded noun phrases to add description and detail to sentences.

Week 4

Year 4 have enjoyed discovering the results of the egg science experiment from week 3. We learned that orange juice and cola have very high sugar levels, which impacts negatively on teeth if not cared for correctly.

In Maths, Year 4 have started their new fractions unit and have used physical resources to add fractions within one whole.

4a have also made the most of the nicer weather, developing teamwork and resilience skills through Commando Joe challenges. This week, they had to rescue animals from swamps deep within the jungle using only sticks. They had to think carefully about strategy, listen to differing ideas and opinions and work as a team to complete the mission. Luckily, all animals were safely recovered!

Spring 1 term

Week 6

Year 4 have had a fantastic week final week of the Spring 1 term. In Geography, we have continued our topic, what makes the Earth angry and have learned all about earthquakes, what causes them and how infrastructure in countries where there is more tectonic activity is designed to withstand tremors. We then conducted our own experiment designing and making a building using spaghetti and marshmallows that would have to withstand an earthquake (or jelly shaking in a tray). We continued our volcano exploration in art and painted our final canvas pieces ready for display.

Week 5

Year 4 have had a fantastic week of learning. In Geography, we have continued our topic, what makes the Earth angry and have explored why and how a volcanic eruption happens. We then conducted our own experiment to see a volcanic eruption in action. We continued our volcano exploration in art and created some textured lava pieces using texture paste on canvas which will be ready for us to paint next week.

: Our volcanic eruption

: Our volcanic eruption

: Our volcanic eruption

: Our volcanic eruption

: Our volcanic eruption

: Our volcano art

: Our volcano art

: Our volcano art

: Our volcano art

In PSHE, Year 4 worked with our wonderful first aider, Miss Turner and leaned some essential first aid skills including the recovery position; how a defibrillator works; what CPR is and why and when we use it; and what to do and who to call in an emergency.

: Learning CPR

: Learning CPR

: Learning CPR

: Learning CPR

: Learning CPR

: Learning CPR

Week 4

In Geography, we have begun our new topic, “What makes the Earth angry?”. The children have learned about how volcanoes are formed and what the Earth is made from. They were really interested in this and produced some amazing sculptures representing the layers of the Earth.

Week 3

Year 4 had an amazing week, highlighted by a fantastic cooking day where they got hands-on in the classroom to make delicious chicken wraps! Year 4 learned about the importance of hygiene in food preparation, including washing their hands and keeping their workstations clean. The children learned how to carefully and securely hold a knife while cutting and slicing fresh vegetables, developing important kitchen skills. They also enjoyed a fun taste-testing session, exploring the flavours of their creations. It was a wonderful mix of learning, teamwork, and excitement, leaving everyone proud of their culinary achievements.

Week 2

Year 4 have started their gymnastics unit in P.E. this week where they learned three major gymnastic rolls: dolly roll, dish arch roll and a pike roll. We then worked in pairs to create a sequence combining our new skills. Take a look at some of our gymnastic sequence snap shots below – Olympics, here we come!

Week 1

Year 4’s Musical Debut with Mr. G!

Year 4 had an amazing time during their first music lesson with Mr. G, exploring the magic of xylophones and glockenspiels! They learned about the different keys and practiced playing a tune together, staying perfectly in time. It was a harmonious start to their musical journey—bravo, Year 4!

Spring 1

Our author of the term is David Walliams and our class reader is: Gangsta Granny by David Walliams and Who ate all the Bugs? by Matty Long

: Our Class Reader

: David Walliams’ books

: Our Science reader

: Who ate all the Bugs?

What’s on this term?

Our main focuses of learning this term are Science (What would happen if there were no flies and how can we help our world?), Geography (What makes the Earth angry? Earthquakes and Volcanoes ), Art (Volcano art) and PSHE (Keeping Safe: Managing Behaviour and Risk).

Science: What would happen if there were no flies and how can we help our world?

Science KO

Geography: What makes the Earth angry?

Y4 Volcanoes and Earthquakes KO

Art: Volcano art

Art KO Yr 4 Volcanos

PSHE: Keeping Safe, Managing Behaviour and Risk

Keeping safe, managing behaviour and risk

Autumn 2 term

Week 7

This week in Year 4, we have been completing our instructions on ‘How to steal Christmas’ and writing them up in our best handwriting. We have had lots of fun presenting them to the adults and Year 5 classes in school! Take a look at some of our neat write ups below:

Week 6

In Maths this week, we have delved deeper into multiplication, learning all about factors and multiples! We have had lots of fun creating factor bugs to demonstrate our understanding of factor pairs of a given product. We have started a new piece of writing in English, which is persuasive instructions on how to be like the Grinch and steal Christmas. In music, we have continued to learn about music through colour and have explored the work of artist Wassily Kandinsky and his links between creating art and seeing colour through music. Take a look at some of our factor bugs below:

Week 5

In Science this week, the children learnt about human impact on habitats, species and eco-systems. They learnt about a range of environmental dangers and the impact these are having on endangered species. They chose four environmental dangers all caused by human actions and wrote about the impact they are having on habitats and the species that inhabit that area. The children loved this and found it very interesting. Some of the children even came up with solutions and ways that we can better protect our planet and safeguard endangered species.

Week 4

This week, in Year 4, we finished our James and the Giant Peach diaries in English. The children really showcased their imaginative writing skills. We have also started our Geography topic looking at cities and counties in the UK. In Science, we have been using our questioning skills to create our own classification keys to classify vertebrates and invertebrates. We had lots of fun this week tying our reading for pleasure with Science and read ‘Little people, big dreams, David Attenborough’ together. The children wanted learn more about Sir David Attenborough and his life’s work and conducted their own research into the Science naturalist. Another successful week in Year 4.

Week 3

This week, our Year 4 children have produced some wonderful writing in English, all about our class reader, James and the Giant Peach. We have focusing on using subordinating conjunctions and fronted adverbials in our diary entries written from the perspective of James. In science, we have been using classification keys and identifying key characteristics to classify invertebrates. We finished our week by rehearsing our class song ready for the Park Spring Christmas sing-a-long!

Take a look at some of Year 4’s wonderful diary entries below:

Week 2

We have had another busy but great week in Year 4! This week has been anti-bullying week, Remembrance Day and Children In Need. For anti-bullying week this year, we have focused on respect and how it’s okay to be different. We role played a range of scenarios demonstrating respectful ways to handle situations. For Remembrance Day, we looked at the life of local WW1 soldier and cricketer, Major William Booth. We then went on to look at information on the PDSA website about the Dickin medal for gallantry, awarded to animals who have served and shown unbelievable bravery in the face of war. There are some really beautiful stories that the children researched and created information texts about. We rounded up our week by getting our moves on in our PE dance unit; we created freeze frames demonstrating a range of synchronised balances and experimented with different ways to move and transition between each balance. Take a look at 4b’s week below:

Week 1

What a fantastic start to our second term! On Monday, we had an exciting visit from D-Side Dave who came in to talk to our children about keeping safe online. Our Year 4’s are enjoying starting their new, exciting topics. This term we are focusing on ‘Why classification is critical to our world’ and have begun using classification keys to classify leaves using their main characteristics. In Literacy, we have been reading James and the Giant Peach: children have explored James’ awful aunts and have used powerful adjectives and adverbials to create diary entries from the perspective of James.

Autumn 2

Our author of the term is Roald Dahl and our class reader is: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl.

What’s on this term?

Our main focuses of learning this term are Science (Why is classification critical and how can we hep our world?), Geography (Where would you rather live? Comparing UK settlements ), Music (Composing with colour) and PSHE (Physical health and wellbeing).

Science: Why is classification critical and how can we hep our world?

Y4 HT1 living things and their habitats

Geography: Where would you rather live? Comparing UK settlements

Y4 Counties KO

Music: Composing with colour

SUM_KO_Composing_with_colour (1)

PSHE: Physical health and wellbeing

Physical health and wellbeing

Autumn 1 term

Week 8

What a fantastic last week of the half term! Our Year 4 children have produced some wonderful finished comic strips in English, all about the Ancient Greeks, focusing on fronted adverbials. We also celebrated Black History Month by looking at how the Olympics has changed for the better and learning about the history of discrimination and racism in sport. Year 4 created fact files all about inspirational famous black athletes that have overcome challenges to succeed. Take a look at some of our work below:

Week 7

This week, Year 4 have enjoyed their design and technology drop down day. They ended their Greek art topic by creating Greek god, hero and beast mechanisms. They produced some amazing moving mechanisms and will hopefully be bringing them home this week.