Year 4 curriculum
In Year 4, the children follow different themes, each half term, which leads their learning through creativity lessons.
Autumn term 2020
Britain from the air- What can we learn from landmarks in Britain?
Britain during the Bronze Age & Iron Age
Literacy
- Brightstorm (Vashti Hardy)
- Throughout the half term, children will write for a range of purposes – including fiction and non-fiction and sometimes poetry
- Writing is linked to other subjects such as Science, Humanities and RE where applicable
- Grammar is taught in context, with children learning to extend their vocabulary, improve their understanding of sentence structure and explore a range of punctuation
- Spelling is taught and tested weekly
Mathematics
- The children will be given opportunities to develop their mathematical fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills through the mathematical themes and cross curricular activities:
- Number and place value
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
- Fractions and decimals
- Measurement
- Properties of shape
- Position and direction
- Statistics
Science
- Sound (vibrations, amplitude and pitch)
- Electricity (conductors & insulators, simple circuits and switch design)
Religious Education
- Understanding Christianity
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- What kind of world did Jesus want?
- What is the trinity?
History
- Study the Industrial Revolution, the building of canals in Birmingham, the use of canals as a means of moving resources and people around the country
- Understand what was made in Birmingham and how it was traded and transported
- Pupils will learn how to read historical maps
- Know the changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age
- Late Neolithis hunter-gatherers and early farmers, for example, Skara Brae
- Bronze Age technology and travel, for example, Stonehenge
- Iron Age – Hill forts, farming, art and culture
Geography
- Name and locate key UK countries and cities
- Use an atlas to locate different settlements and main human and physical characteristics of the UK
- Name and locate key topographical features and land use patterns on maps
- Understand how to use Ordnance Survey maps and identify key features and places
- Map features of locality using drone images
- Map skills
- Co-ordinates and Ordnance Survey maps
- Observe and record human and physical features during fieldwork
Computing
- Digital mapping using Google Earth
- Computer Science- coding
- Information Technology- effective searching, creating animation
- Online Safety (Privacy & security, online reputation, online bullying and online relationships)
Physical Education
- Gymnastic routines using a range of balances, rolls, jumps and movements using floor and apparatus
- Hockey
- Netball
- Real PE (coordination: footwork, static balancing, dynamic balancing)
Art, Design and Technology
- Re-create a landmark
- ‘Power’ through colour, texture, collage and shape
- Study of works by David Hockney (representing landscapes using colour)
- Children will make their own musical instrument (Science link)
Personal, Social and Health Education
- Being me in my world (Jigsaw)
- Taking care
French (Language Angels)
- Presenting myself
- Family
Music
- Charanga music
- developing pulse and rhythm
- musical notation
- composition
- Learning to play the ukulele
Spring term 2021
Greece Lightning- What is the legacy left by the Ancient Greeks?
Wild Water- How do rivers grow and change?
Literacy
- The Adventures of Odysseus (Hugh Lupton)
- Aesop’s Fables
- The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame)
- Throughout the half term, children will write for a range of purposes – including fiction and non-fiction and sometimes poetry
- Writing is linked to other subjects such as Science, Humanities and RE where applicable
- Grammar is taught in context, with children learning to extend their vocabulary, improve their understanding of sentence structure and explore a range of punctuation
- Spelling is taught and tested weekly
Mathematics
- The children will be given opportunities to develop their mathematical fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills through the mathematical themes and cross curricular activities:
- Number and place value
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
- Fractions and decimals
- Measurement
- Properties of shape
- Position and direction
- Statistics
Science
- States of matter (solids, liquids & gases and changes of state in the water cycle)
- Living things and their habitats (exploring and comparing habitats- spring)
Religious Education
- Islam: why is Mohammed called the messenger of God?
- Images in Faith
- Visit local places of worship to view images
- Salvation: why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’?
Geography
- Greece
- Children will locate Greece on a map of the world (considering continents and oceans) and consider it’s climate based on it’s location
- Children will use a range of maps and images including Ordinance Surveys, relief maps and online resources to identify the topographical features of modern-day Greece
- Water
- Children will learn about some of the major rivers of the world, how a river grows and changes, and its key features; terms: course, source, tributary, confluence, meander, ox bow lake, erosion, flood plain, mouth
- Children will use a variety of maps including ordinance survey and relief to understand how a river grows and changes
- They will be taught about the different uses of a river
- They will identify the human impact on rivers including the cause and effect of flooding and transport
- Children will learn about the water cycle including evaporation and condensation
History
- Greece
- Children will be taught about the impact that the Ancient Greeks had on our lives, including architecture, democracy, science and thinking, the Olympics and daily life
- Understand the key term ‘legacy’ and summarise the ways in which the Ancient Greeks changed how we live our lives today
- Water
- Children will look at how rivers have changed over time; why rivers and other bodies of water are and were important; look at canals and industry
Computing
- Microsoft Office skills: Word processing skills
- Online Safety (managing online information, Safer Internet Day- teaching objective according to the yearly theme, self-image & identity, copyright & ownership)
Physical Education
- Gymnastics – mirroring and matching and using large apparatus safely
- Football
- Tag-Rugby
- Real PE (dynamic balancing on a line, coordination: ball skills, sending & receiving, static balancing, counter balancing with a partner)
Art, Design and Technology
- Draw/ sketch Ancient Greek pots using observational drawing skills
- Use research to influence the design and decoration of a modern pot based on those found in Ancient Greece
- Water-themed Art
- Look at the paintings by Monet
- Print making
- Drawing from different perspectives
Personal, Social and Health Education
- Celebrating difference (Jigsaw)
- Dreams & goals (Jigsaw)
French (Language Angels)
- Habitats
- At the café
Music
- Charanga music
- Learning to play the ukulele
Summer term 2021
The World’s Kitchen- Where does our food come from?
Roman Rule- How did the Roman Empire influence life in Britain?
Literacy
- Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
- Escape From Pompeii (Christina Balit)
- Throughout the half term, children will write for a range of purposes – including fiction and non-fiction and sometimes poetry
- Writing is linked to other subjects such as Science, Humanities and RE where applicable
- Grammar is taught in context, with children learning to extend their vocabulary, improve their understanding of sentence structure and explore a range of punctuation
- Spelling is taught and tested weekly
Mathematics
- The children will be given opportunities to develop their mathematical fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills through the mathematical themes and cross curricular activities:
- Number and place value
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
- Fractions and decimals
- Measurement
- Properties of shape
- Position and direction
- Statistics
Science
- Animals including humans (digestive system, nutrition and food chains)
- Living things and their habitats (exploring and comparing habitats- summer)
Religious Education
- Pentecost: Kingdom of God: when Jesus left, what was the impact of the Pentecost?
- Hinduism: what does Dharma (duty) mean to many Hindus?
History
- Understand how food has changed over the last 100 years and explain the reasons for this
- Ancient Rome
- The Roman Empire and the power of its army
- The invasion of Claudius and the building of Hadrian’s Wall
- Romanisation of Britain
- Impact of Roman technology, culture and beliefs
Geography
- Name and locate the seven continents, five oceans and different countries on a world map, looking in detail at different geographical features identified through using a key
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Understand that the food we eat is made up of different ingredients that come from all around the world
- Ancient Rome, Pompeii (Volcanoes)
Computing
- Computer Science: LOGO
- Databases
- Online Safety (health, well-being and lifestyle)
- Use digital maps and online research to learn about the Roman invasion
Physical Education
- Athletics
- Rounders
- Real PE (agility: reaction/response, static balancing, ball chasing)
Personal, Social and Health Education
- Healthy me (Jigsaw)
- Relationships (Jigsaw)
- Changing me (Jigsaw)
Music
- Charanga music
- Learning to play the ukulele
French (Language Angels)
- The Romans
- Goldilocks
Art, Design and Technology
- Ceramic Mosaic patterns
- Make Boudica face masks
- Interpretative portrait of Boudica, applying what they know of her character
- Design and make an effective bridge (link to London Bridge)
- Cook South American food