Welcome to Our Summer Term in Year 4
RE
In RE, we are continuing to follow the The Vine and Branches scheme. The Branches we will be exploring this term are ; To the Ends of the Earth and Dialogue and Encounter. This will include learning about the Early Church, the Church as an Apostolic Church, the Church in our world, the Communion of Saints and Mary as the Mother of our Church. Dialogue and Encounter explores the conversion of Saul, Paul’s mission and letters and the Catholic Church. We then learn about other faiths, where we explore the ‘Five Pillars’ of Islam and the Holy month of Ramadan.
English
This term we are exploring explanation texts and our Writing will be based around Berlie Doherty’s book, Blue John. Children will learn about the Blue John Mines in Castleton, whilst enjoying the story about an imaginary boy, Blue John, who lives in the caves there.
Maths
We are continuing our Maths curriculum using Maths No Problem, which encourages the children to develop their problem solving skills, as well as extend their mathematical vocabulary and understanding. This term our topics will be Decimals; Money; Mass, Volume & Length; Area of Figures; Geometry; Position & Movement; and Roman Numerals. We will also be continuing our daily morning maths task using ‘My Mini Maths’ and our weekly times tables tests.
Science
This term we will be focussing on the topic of Animals including Humans. The topic includes learning about teeth, how to take care of them and about their functions. We also learn about the digestive system. We will investigate how the functions of its system work together. We have a fun and messy investigation to see the system working in action. I am sure the children will enjoy.
Geography
Geography will continue to be taught by using the Oddizzi scheme. This term our Geography is ‘The Amazon’. We will be excited to learn about it, as we already know about the Amazon Rainforest from prior learning. We will explore how some humans adapted to life in the Amazon and how physical processes involving rivers, the water cycle and rainforests are linked to the Amazon.
History
We will enjoy learning about the Ancient Mayans in the Summer Term. Children will explore the impact and importance of cacao within their culture and traditions; The Mayan Creation Story; including Mayan gods and goddesses and Ancient Mayan beliefs. We also take an interesting look at how the Mayan people created inventions through their beliefs.
French
Our topics in French this term are French Food – Miam, Miam! Children will learn about French food, how to order food and the café culture in France.
The other topic is based on the Eurovision Song Contest, where children will have an opportunity to write an original French song and perform it.
Design Technology
We will learn how to make a torch including an electrical circuit and switch. We will use prior knowledge from our Electricity topic in science to help us. We are also making tortillas and guacamole using ingredients similar to the Ancient Mayans such as maize flour and avocados. We will also adapt a recipe and make a pavilion.
Art and Design
We continue to follow the Access to Art Curriculum and we will be exploring Sculpture, Structure Inventiveness and Determination.
Computing
Using the Purple Mash Scheme, we will learn about Logs and Animation, Effective Searching and Hardware Investigators.
Music
This term we are going to be continuing our brass lessons with Mr Conway on a Friday, where we will be learning to play new pieces of music.
PE
We will be continuing our weekly PE lessons with Terri from Tameside Sport where we will be learning some new skills. This term we will be taking part in Outdoor PE sessions and learning how to play Cricket and the rules within this game. We will be developing a deeper understanding of the conduct that is needed for different areas of this curriculum and working on our team skills.
PHSE
This term, we will explore ‘Living in the Wider World’, through ‘Tough Cookies’ We learn that, as children, we have rights and that they are universal and they are in place to protect us as children. These are known as, ‘The Rights of the Child,’ set out in the United Nations Declaration of Rights of the Child.