Year 4
Welcome To Year 4
Staff
Teachers:
- Matt Blom, Teacher 4B
Teaching Assistants
- Caroline Duncan
- Ornella Power
- Shireen Baker
Summer 1 and 2 Overview 2022-23
We hope that you had a wonderful Easter break. We are really looking forward to a busy and exciting term with the children.
Curriculum Highlights
The curriculum map attached gives you an overview of the work that will be covered during the Summer Term. In geography, our topic this term is ‘Brazil’ where we will look at the amazing and diverse landscape of Brazil. We will research the many human and physical features of Brazil and take part in some Brazilian culture. In History, we will look at what life was like as a Tudor and how this has had an impact of life today. Our trip to Hampton Court will help bring this part of our history to life. In Science, we will investigate how sound is created and travels. We will consider how to change pitch and volume. We will also look at how the human body digests food including the role that our teeth play. In Art we will create our own illusions using digital images while also learning to sculpture using a bar of soap, and in DT we will adapt a recipe according to specific criteria.
Reading
Our goal is to create confident, fluent, independent readers. We prioritise reading at Nelson School and have very carefully chosen the texts your child will study this term. We focus on word reading to develop fluency and comprehension skills using a system called VIPERS. VIPERS stands for: vocabulary, infer, predict, explain, retrieve and sequence or summarise.
In Year 4, we will start by looking at The Firework Makers Daughter by Philip Pullman. We will also be reading Libba by Laura Veirs.
Updates and Reminders
Please note P.E. days for Year 4 will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Children should come to school wearing their P.E. kits and trainers on these days and will remain in these all day. A reminder that if children are wearing earrings these should only be studs and not hoops. Stud earrings will be covered with tape during PE lessons for safety. Long hair must be tied up at all times including during PE. In case children need to change out of their PE shoes due to wet weather, we would like them to bring a spare pair of shoes (these do not need to be school shoes) and socks in a labelled bag. These may be kept at school or brought in on PE days only.
Reading confidently helps children to access all areas of the curriculum and we encourage them to read for around 10-15 minutes per day. This could be reading the book we have sent home with your child or a book you choose to read to them. Anything which sparks their love for reading is valuable!
Children will also continue to be set weekly spelling homework for a spelling quiz the following week. This term the spellings will be bespoke to each child and focus on the Year 3/4 statutory words that your child needs to learn. Once they are secure with these words they will include words that are commonly misspelt and ambitious vocabulary that will help with creative writing.
The National Multiplication Check takes place in June. The children should practise their times tables every day for approximately 5 minutes. The Soundcheck module in Times Table Rockstars is an easy way to monitor which times tables your child needs to practise
In Year 4, we encourage children to reflect upon the concepts taught in class by producing work in a creative manner. Children will receive another home learning grid at the start of every half term which includes a range of activities to complete. Although the activities are optional, we do encourage the children to complete as many as they can. The home learning grid for the Summer terms will be sent home in their homework books.
Grittleton House
We are looking forward to our residential trip. Please return any consent forms as soon as possible. If you have any queries please ask us directly.
Morning Routine
The school gates open at 8.35am. Children can come straight into the classroom.
Snacks
Children may choose to bring their own fruit/vegetable snack which can be eaten during morning break. Please remember that we are a healthy and nut free school.
Medication
Please ensure that your child’s teacher has any relevant medication and that this medication is up-to-date.
Dates for the Diary
Hampton Court Palace 19.04.23
Class Photo 25.04.23
Grittleton House 03.5.23-05.05.23
National Multiplication Check June 2023
Sports Day 15.6.23
Year 4 assembly 16.6.23
We hope your child will find this term both exciting and rewarding. If you have any issues or concerns about your child do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards,
The Year 4 Team