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 how to multiply and divide a 2-digit number by a 1-digit number using their times table knowledge. They will be problem-solving using related calculations and scaling. The children will also be learning how to measure length using metres, centimetres and millimetres, along with comparing lengths and adding and subtracting lengths.  They will also be learning how to measure and calculate the perimeter of a shape. 

Year 4 children will also learn about multiplying and dividing 3-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers, fractions and decimals. 

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 pebble in my pocket’ by Meredith Hooper and “The great kapok tree” by Lynne Cherry.  The texts will cover poetry, fiction and non-fiction.  The children will be writing recounts, character descriptions and arguments for a discussion. They will learn to write for different audiences. The children will be taught age-related spelling, grammar and punctuation discretely.   

Writing activities 

 -  Write a character description for a Roman soldier. 

 -  Write a recount pretending to be someone from ancient Rome. ((Senator, gladiator, Boudica) 

 -  Write a letter with detailed arguments about why the Amazon rainforest shouldn’t be cut down. 

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 term our science topics will be ‘Teeth and Digestion’ and ‘Food and Nutrition’. In the first half term we will be learning about the digestive system and the organs that are used as well as looking at the different types of teeth, their functions and how to keep them healthy. In the second half term we will be looking at the different food groups and their use in the body as well as looking at food chains and food webs and how they affect the ecosystem. 

Have a look at the videos all about the science topics here: Digestion 
Teeth 
Food and Nutrition - Food chains  

Have a look at your teeth to spot the different types. If you have a pet at home, can you see their teeth as they eat? Do they have the same teeth types as you? 

Could you keep a food diary with your family to see the different types of food that you eat? 

Computing  

We will be learning how to keep safe in online relationships and to protect our self-image online. We will also be learning how to use different tools to create our own animation stories using purple mash 

Please use the different animation tools on purple mash to help you create your own animation story. 

RE  

This term the children will be focusing on the question “What makes religions equal?”  and “ What happens if we do wrong?” 

They will explore the teachings from different religions, including the ba'ha religion, whilst looking at how equality and harmony are shown within these religions and the world. 

To learn more about the ba'ha religion, watch the video below. 

Bing Videos 

Art  

The children will be developing their drawing skills. They will do this through recognising shapes in an object, learning to shade to show dimension and learning how to use digital media techniques to improve their drawing skills, which will lead them to create a digital piece inspired by botanicals.  

Please have a look at the BBC Bitesize page How can you make digital art? To explore how digital art differs to art on paper and how you can go about making it. 

Children can also look at Bing Videos to understand shading techniques further.

D&T  

The children will be learning how to sew cushions. They will be learning techniques such as running stitch, cross-stitch and appliqué, which they will use to make their own cushion. 

Please have a look at How can fabrics be joined together? to read more into using running stitch and other techniques used in sewing. 

PSHE  

Health and Well-being  

The children will be learning about how to stay healthy and how our diet affects our bodies and our teeth, develop a growth mindset and consider how we can increase our happiness.  

Safety and the Changing Body 
The children will be learning about being kind and staying safe online; learning how to identify and deal with cyberbullying; understanding the difference between secrets and surprises; learning how to treat bites and stings and considering who influences our choices. In Year 3, children will learn about road safety and how to call the emergency services and in Year 4 think about how our bodies change as we go through puberty. 

Create a happiness journal for the week. Every day, write down one thing that you are proud of, one thing that made you happy and one thing you are looking forward to.  

History  

This term the children will be looking at the Romans and how their invasion of Britain affected life there. We will look at the causes of the invasion, the responses by native Britons as well as the legacy of the Roman Empire.  

Have a look at these videos all about Roman Britain. 

Nearby, in St Albans in the Verulamium museum, there is lots of information all about the Romans. 

Geography  

This term the children will be learning all about rainforests. They will learn where different rainforests are in the world, the climate of a rainforest and the different layers of a rainforest. The children will also be taking part in local fieldwork by sketching the local park and collecting data on how it is used. 

Here are 2 videos you can watch:  

Rainforest animals. 

Amazon Rainforest.

PE  

This term the children will be learning gymnastics and handball. Children should bring their PE kit into school and their PE days, which will be Wednesdays and Fridays.  

Practise some handball drills using this handball video. 

Music   

In the 1st half of the spring term, the children will be learning about the history and features of Calypso music, performing a Calypso-style song with voices and tuned percussion in multiple parts and playing from staff notation. 

In the 2nd half of the spring term, the children will be exploring the Rainforest through music and be introduced to new musical terms. They will be exploring body percussion as well as percussion instruments. 

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 how to name fruits and pets and how to talk about these topics. In Year 3, we will learn the names of different fruits and whether we like the fruits or not. In Year 4, we will be learning how to say the names of different pets and how to say if we do or do not have those animals.  

Check out the Blabber Beasts videos on YouTube e.g.  

Pets. 

Food names.