Subject  

Teaching and Learning  

Parental Involvement - We encourage parents to choose at least one activity for each subject to support your child in their learning.  

Maths

The children will be learning to recognise the value of each digit in a 3- or 4-digit number. We will learn to understand different number lines and use them to compare and order numbers. We will learn different strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems. We will develop our estimation skills and consider how best to check our answers. We will be learning our times tables, Year 3s will be learning their x3, x4 and x8 and year 4s will learn their x6, x7, x9, x11 and x12. We will also be learning the division facts for each times table.

Year 4 children will also learn about negative numbers; Roman numerals and how to measure the perimeter of a shape.

Your child can practise times tables on TT Rock-stars. Also test them when you’re in the car or walking to school. Little and often makes a big difference! There are lots of fun games and songs available online too.

English

The children will be reading a variety of high-quality texts that will spark their interest, starting with ‘The Selfish Giant’ by Oscar Wilde and ‘The Barnabus Project’ by The Fan Brothers. The texts will cover fiction and non-fiction. The children will be writing letters, legends, playscript, biographies and stories. They will learn to write for different audiences. The children will be taught age related spelling, grammar and punctuation discretely. 

Find ways for your children to write for a purpose e.g. write a letter to a friend or family member, write a shopping list or a story based on their favourite toy/film or book character.  

Reading

During guided reading sessions, the children will all read the same text and discuss the text using VIPERS skills (vocabulary, inference, prediction, explain, retrieve, summarise/sequence).  

Please listen to your child read at least 4 times per week. Children who read regularly at home make the most progress, not just in reading, but right across the curriculum. Please ask us if you need any support.  

Science

This half term Year 4s science topic is working scientifically. We will be focussing on each working scientifically aims to conduct experiments and develop our scientific skills.

Next half term our topic is Microbes. We will be learning about different types of microbes, hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, food hygiene, the immune system and antibiotics.

 This half term Year 3s topic is Forces and Magnets. We will be learning about how forces effect the world around us and the properties and uses of magnets.

Next half term our topic is States of Matter. We will be learning about solids, liquids and gases and how they freeze and melt. We will also be looking at the different stages of the water cycle.

Working Scientifically

We will be learning to:

ask relevant questions;
set up enquiries and choose equipment;
set up fair tests;
make careful observations and accurate measurements;
recognise when to use other sources of information to find answers;
record information in different formats;
identify, classify and look for patterns;
draw conclusions based on results.

Year 4: BBC Bitesize has some great opportunities for you and your child to explore how to develop your working scientifically skills. Try searching for: working scientifically on BBC Bitesize

Have a look at What are Microorganisms on BBC bitesize for lots of fascinating facts about microbes.

Year 3: Have a look at the website HowStuffWorks for magnets and magnetism to find out more information.

Have a look at BBC bitesize for states of matter to see examples of how solids, liquids and gases all act differently to each other.

Computing

We will be learning how to be safe online

In year 3, the children will be looking at touch typing and how to use all fingers on a keyboard to be effective typers. The children will also be looking at branching databases and creating their own using Purple Mash.

In year 4, the children will learn about the difference between the hardware and the software of a computer and using software on Purple Mash to make music.

Your child can access Purple Mash on a device a home. Please ask us if you do not have their log in. Purple Mash will be used for all computing lessons this term.

RE

This half term the children will be focusing on the question “What makes us human?” we will be learning about what it means to have a soul and what different people think makes humans special. We will explore what spirituality means and how this is explored in different worldviews and religions.

Next half term, we will focus on the questions “Why is water symbolic?” Where we will explore different religions and worldviews to see how they each use water within rituals and how this promotes their spirituality.

Find out more about different religions by visiting: BBC Bitesize

Art

The children will be learning how to create shades and tints when painting different objects. They will also be learning how to apply shades and tints to create shadows and a 3D effect.

Have a look at the following paintings and discuss how tints and shades are used in the paintings.

‘Mont Saint-Victoire’ by Paul Cezanne

‘Still life with cherries’ by Paul Cezanne

‘Nature morte’ by Clara Peeters

D&T

The children will be designing and making biscuits for a chosen target audience by exploring existing products, following recipes and evaluating ingredients.

Can you try versions of a product and home and think about ways to improve it and learn about cooking and nutrition on BBC Bitesize

Cooking and nutrition - Year 3 Design and Technology - BBC Bitesize

PSHE

Year 3

My Healthy Self

The children will be examining the connection between the mind and body by recognising and describing a wide range of emotions and feelings.

Connecting with Others

The children will recognise their own strengths, qualities and boundaries, they will develop self-worth and confidence in expressing themselves respectfully.

Year 4

My Healthy Self

Children will understand how healthy choices support both physical and mental wellbeing by exploring exercise, nutrition and hydration.

Connecting with others

Children will examine respectful and disrespectful behaviour by considering how actions and expectations can vary in different settings.

Year 3

Children can complete daily feelings check in at home; they could also discuss four positive qualities or strengths they have demonstrated at home/ at school.

Year 4

Parents and children can create a healthy habit tracker for a week e.g. Healthy food, exercise

History

This term the children will be looking at childhood and how this has changed over time. They will focus on the Tudors, Victorians and the modern day and look at the continuity and change of leisure time, work, school and illness across these three periods.

Ask family members about their childhood, what similarities and differences are there between each one and yours.

Be a History Detective!

Geography

This term the children will be learning all about Antarctica. They will identify the positions of lines of latitude and longitude, find out who might live in Antarctica and why and learn about Shackelton and his exploration.

Here are 3 videos you can watch:

Understanding latitude and longitude

The geography of Antarctica

Where is Antarctica?

PE

Outdoor Adventure Activities (OAA) -Children will develop problem solving skills through a range of challenges. They will develop communication skills, and their ability to work in a team.

Handball- Children will develop their understanding of the invasion game, developing their skills and tactics for moving the ball.

Children should bring their PE kit into school and their PE days which will be Wednesdays and Fridays.

Spend time outdoors playing games with friends

Music 

In music this term the children are learning about Greek Myths and will learn to sing, dance and play with an awareness of the pulse.

They will learn to improvise and perform simple patterns and melodies, maintaining a strong sense of pulse as well as to explore, select and combine sounds as a class and as a group. They will learn how sounds can be used to effect mood and the message of the piece.

They will learn to play a drone while maintaining a steady pulse and rehearse and refine compositions for a final performance.

They will then evaluate their own music and music from another era.

Enjoy listening to music and singing with your child at home or in the car. Developing a lifelong love of music is the first and most important step towards being a successful learner of music!

MFL

In French, we will be learning greetings, numbers and colours. In year 3, we will combine this with talking about different animals. Year 4 will be learning to count beyond 20 and will learn to talk about places in a town. 

Check out the Blabber Beasts videos on You Tube e.g.

Greetings

French Numbers to 10