Year 4
Welcome to the Y4 Blog - For more detailed information about the current learning that is being covered in class, please see the Curriculum Learning Webs below.
Spring Term 2025
March 2025
It has been a busy few weeks at school with children engaging brilliantly in their learning and enjoying a wide range of opportunities.
A reminder that the Y4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) takes place in June 2025. More details will follow about this after the Easter holiday but the best way to continue to prepare your child is by ensuring they engage in Times Tables Rockstars outside of school. The children should be playing in line with the schedule below:
English & Guided Reading: Over the last few weeks, the children have been thoroughly enjoying reading and basing their writing on the text Monster Slayer. They are now starting to write their own versions of this story and we are seeing a range of rich and high-quality vocabulary coming through into the children’s writing. They are using devices such as similes effectively and considering how they can best write for effect. After the Easter holidays, we will be moving on to look at an exciting, longer text called The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
Maths: We have now worked through a larger unit of maths learning about fractions. We started by remembering that a fraction is an equal part of a whole and that we can used mixed numbers to count in fractions. We moved on to converting between mixed numbers and improper fractions and finally looked at how we can add and subtract a variety of fractions. We are now moving on to a unit of learning about decimals which will continue after the Easter holidays. The focus of the unit will be using decimals with up to two decimal places and ensuring the children have good knowledge of tenths and hundredths.
Curriculum: In Geography, we are learning why some earthquakes cause more damage than others. In Science, we are learning all about simple electrical circuits. In DT, we have enjoyed a unit all about designing scones. We know that when we design something it is important to know out product, user and purpose. We also recapped prior knowledge of the design cycle and new that we needed to conduct product research first so reluctantly spent a lesson tasting some scones that exist already and recording our findings. Now, we have enjoyed practising key baking skills in our cookery hive. Thank you for helping the children with your feedback.
February 2025
We are heading towards the end of Spring 1 half term and looking forward to our Anglo Saxon parent assembly where we will have the opportunity to share our learning. We had a fantastic time at Saxon Camp a few weeks ago and were very impressed with the children. They all did themselves proud. Here is what we have been learning...
English - We finished our Escape from Pompeii unit by writing our own disaster stories with a focus on building settings and character alongside making effective choices about using correctly punctuated speech. We have moved on to a text called Interview with a Tiger where the children are exploring writing in an interview text with questions and answers. They have also been considering how humour can be included to develop characters in preparation for writing their own interview with an animal.
Maths - In maths, we have reached the end of our Multiplication and Division methods unit. Children are now confident in using the short multiplication method to multiply both 2-digit and 3-digit numbers by a one-digit number. They have also looked at how they can use flexible partitioning of numbers to divide a 2 digit and 3-digit number. Please check the calculation policies for year 4 on the maths page if you want to see more about how these methods work. We have also completed a short unit of Length & Perimeter where the children have learnt the key fact of 1000m is equivalent to 1km and how to calculate the perimeter of a rectilinear shape.
Curriculum - The children have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Anglo Saxons in history and how their way of life was different to the Romans. We enjoyed Saxon Camp where we had the opportunity to be Anglo Saxons. In Art, our focus has been on pattern making through different materials. The children have looked at making patterns with charcoal, stamps, rollers and using tracing / symmetry. In Science, we have finished our unit of learning by creating our own food chains based on information about what different living things eat.
January 2025
Welcome back to the Spring term. Please see the Year 4 Spring Term 1 2025 curriculum web for detailed information about the curriculum content the children will cover this half term.
We are looking forward to our Saxon Camp residential that will take place on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th January 2025. Please remember to return your child's medical form on the day of the event or before. If you have any questions then please do speak to Mr Bisby or Mr Fisher.
English - We have started to look at a text called Escape from Pompeii which is a story about two children who escape from Pompeii during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The children have thought about how the characters change throughout the story and how the author uses effective verb choices to build the tension. They will now begin to use examples from the text of adverbial phrases for where, direct speech and possessive apostrophes before writing their own version of the narrative.
Maths - In maths, we have learnt to find factor pairs for any given number and are now moving on to learn the formal short multiplication method in expanded form. If you would like to see what this looks like then visit the maths page on our website and download the Y4 multiplication and division calculation policy. The children will use this to multiply 2-digit and 3-digit numbers by a 1- digit number. Knowledge of times tables is crucial to the ease of use with these methods and we are clearly seeing the children be more confident with the methods because they are confident with their times tables. Please continue to support them with TTRS at home.
Curriculum - - In history, we have started our unit of learning about the Anglo-Saxons. We now know why the Romans left Britain and can discuss how the Anglo-Saxon’s way of life was different to Romans. In science, we have been learning about food chains and how to interpret them. In RE, we are continuing to learn about Hinduism and what Hindus believe God is like.
Autumn Term 2024
November 2024
As we approach the end of Term, it’s a great time to pause and reflect on all that has happened while looking forward to the exciting weeks ahead. This term has been filled with growth, learning, and memorable moments for our students, and we want to share some highlights and upcoming events with you.
Celebrating Our Achievements
Over the past few months, students have dived into their studies with enthusiasm. From engaging science experiments to inspiring art projects, it has been heartwarming to see our children embrace their curiosity and creativity.
English
In English, we’ve been diving into the delightful world of letter writing, inspired by the book Ask Dr. K. Fisher, where animals write to Dr. K. Fisher with their problems, and he offers his sage advice. The children have enthusiastically researched their own animals and are now crafting letters asking for help with various humorous dilemmas. The classroom has been filled with laughter as they brainstorm creative and clever ideas!
Maths
In Maths, we’ve been focusing on mastering the column method for addition and subtraction. This can be quite tricky, requiring lots of concentration and logical thinking. The children have shown great determination and resilience, and their hard work is paying off. The TTRS battles have further motivated them to practice, and we’ve seen some students making excellent progress!
Science
Our Science lessons have centred around teeth and digestion. The highlight was our egg experiment, which illustrated tooth decay in a hands-on way. The children shared insightful ideas about the worst drinks for dental health, and they were surprised to learn that orange juice, often perceived as a healthy option, isn’t the best for their teeth! Next week, we’re excited to welcome a dentist who will help us revisit everything we’ve learned about dental health. Looking ahead, we’ll continue our exploration of animals and begin learning about classification, perfectly timed with our upcoming trip to Dartmoor Zoo!
Curriculum Highlights
In Geography, the children are wrapping up their study on hurricanes, enjoying the contrast between the weather and climate in the UK and the USA, along with map skills. In Religious Education, we are concluding our exploration of the Trinity, which has been a challenging yet rewarding concept to tackle. In Art, students are finishing their projects inspired by Giorgio Morandi’s still-life works, showcasing their skills in shade, tone, and color mixing.
October 2024
We hope to see as many of you as possible at our Times Tables Parent Information session on Monday 7th October in the Studio (3:20pm to 3:45pm) . This will provide you with essential information about how to help your child at home and ensure success in the Y4 Statutory Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). If you are unable to make it, a link to the infromation that will be shared can be foud below and on the maths page of our website.
Y3 & Y4 Parent Information Meeting Slides
As we step into October, we’re delighted to share the wonderful learning experiences the Year 4 children have been enjoying. It’s been a busy and productive time, with the children diving into new and exciting topics across all areas of the curriculum. Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve been up to!
English
In English, we have been working on writing our own versions of A River by Marc Martin. The children really embraced this challenge, focusing on using prepositions, adverbial phrases, and coordinating conjunctions to create vivid and imaginative scenes. This was their first extended piece of writing in Year 4, and we’re incredibly proud of the effort and creativity they put into it. Their writing was rich in detail, and it was wonderful to see how each child made the story their own! We are now moving on to look at a text called Ask Dr K Fisher about Animals by Claire Llewellyn. This focus of this text is letter writing.
Maths
In Maths, we’ve started learning about rounding numbers, with a focus on rounding to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000. We’ve also been exploring Roman numerals up to 100, which has been a fun and put a historical twist on our number learning! Additionally, we’ve continued developing our understanding of place value, a key foundation for many mathematical concepts we’ll encounter throughout the year.
Curriculum
In our Geography lessons, we introduced the term “peninsula” and learned what it means. The children had a lot of fun identifying different peninsulas, including Florida, on world maps and discussing their unique features. In Science, we’ve been learning more about our teeth. To bring our learning to life, we did a hands-on activity by eating a piece of apple to help the children understand the different jobs our teeth do. It was a great way to show how our incisors, canines, and molars all work together! In Religious Education, we’ve been learning about the Trinity and exploring what the concept of the Trinity means for Christians.
We want to thank you for your continued support. The children have worked so hard, and it’s been amazing to see their progress in just a few weeks.
September 2024
The children have made an excellent start to their time in Year 4 and we have been impressed with how they are already working hard. The school office have now provided information to parents/carers about our upcoming trip to Dartmoor Zoo. Thank you to those who have been able to offer their support on this trip. Please do let you child’s teacher know if you are to help.
A reminder that PE days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Please ensure that your child is meeting the expectation of playing 21 minutes a week on Times Tables Rock Starts in the Garage section of the program.
We will be holding a parent information evening on Monday 7th October 3:20pm-3:45pm about the teaching of times tables and how you can support your child to succeed in the statutory Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check. The school office will send a letter about this soon. Detailed information will be provided at the meeting and uploaded to our website for those unable to make it.
English – In English, we have been enjoying our unit of learning about the text A River by Marc Martin. We have explored preposition words and how these describe locations or directions. We have recapped the use of a wide range of co-ordinating conjunctions and how these can be used to join main clauses. Finally, we have neem looking at adverbial phrases that tell us when something happened. The children have planned their own version of a journey narrative and are ready to write this next week.
Maths - In maths, we have been working through a unit of Place Value with numbers up to 10,000 being introduced for the first time. The children have looked at how to partition these numbers into standard form (4123 = 4000+100+20+3) and non-standard form (4123=3000+1100+10+13). They have also worked with placing these numbers on number lines counting in various multiples. We will soon be moving on to rounding these 4-digit numbers to the nearest multiples of 10,100 and 1000.
Curriculum – In science, we have started to learn about the key parts of the digestive system and what they do. We watched a practical demonstration of food moving through the digestive system with everyday objects (such as tights for the small intestines) representing each part. In Geography we have started a unit of learning that compares an area of the USA with where we live. We have focused on the state of Florida and how many people visit the Disney parks while also considering what the sunshine state is like beyond this. In RE, we are learning about what Christians believe the Trinity is and how it is a key part of being a Christian. In art, we have started to take inspiration from the work of Giorgio Morandi and have completed some still life sketching with the focus being on shape and size.
Friday 6th September
Welcome back to a new year. The children have made a great start and thank you for your support in helping them to settle back into school.
Please see some key start of year information about Year 4 by clicking on the link below.
Current Curriculum Learning Web
Learning Webs 2024/2025
Autumn 1 Curriculum Learning Web - 2024
Autumn 2 Curriculum Learning Web - 2024
Learning Webs 2023/2024 - Previous Academic Year
Autumn 1 Learning Web - 2023
Autumn 2 Learning Web -2023
Spring 1 Learning Web - 2024
Spring 2 Learning Web - 2024
Summer 1 Learning Web - 2024
Summer 2 Learning Web - 2024
Y4 Home Learning
We will soon be posting spellings to practice at home. If you are looking for spellings to practice in the meantime, then please refer to the Y1/Y2 and the Y3/Y4 common exception spelling lists.
Maths home learning throughout the year will be to play Times Tables Rockstars. This is essential for success in the Y4 Multiplication Tables Check. Teachers will monitor each child's TTRS time and full details will be given on how often the children need to play for. To begin with, children need to play for at least 21 minutes a week (3 mins per day) in the garage section of the program.
Reading home learning is to read at least 5 times a week for 15 minutes. The children will need to record their reading in their reading diary which will be checked regularly by school staff. Some suggested reading books for Year 4 can be found below.
Year 1 and 2 Common Exception Spelling Words
The standard PE days for Year 4 children are Tuesdays & Wednesdays.
On PE days, children are now permitted to come to school in their PE kit and wear this all day. There is no longer a requirement for them to get changed in school.
Year 4 Saxon Camp - Thursday 16th and Friday 17th January 2025
Please find a link below to the information that was shared about our Year 4 residential at the parent meeting held on 11/11/24.
If you have any questions, concerns or queries you wish to discuss then please do not hesitate to come and see Mr Fisher or Mr Bisby. You can email, call or speak to us in person. The key message from the parent information evening is that our staff are very experienced in making adaptations to this type of event in order to enable all children to participate. If you have a specific request or adaptation that will be required, then please let us know so we can consider how best to ensure the event is inclusive for all. Throughout all planning, required adaptations to food allergies and intolerances will be planned for.
Further information will follow in December and we are very excited to be able to provide this opportunity to our children.