Dear Parents,

Welcome to Year 4 – I hope you all had a wonderful and restful summer.

We’re excited to begin an exciting year of learning with your children. This term they’ll explore new topics, develop key skills and enjoy plenty of opportunities to grow and succeed. Below you’ll find an overview of the curriculum content for the term ahead.

Year 4

English

The Baker by the Sea by Paula White

Children will develop their writing by completing a job application and planning, drafting, editing and publishing a tourist brochure. Along the way, they will learn how to write for different purposes and audiences.

Shackleton’s Journey by William Grill

Children will use Shackleton’s Journey as inspiration for a range of writing outcomes. They will apply for expedition roles, write interviews in role, compose both formal and informal letters and finally plan, draft, edit and publish a newspaper report about Shackleton’s famous Antarctic adventure.

Maths

Review of column addition and subtraction

• Develop understanding of column addition and subtraction by identifying key parts (addends, sum, minuend, subtrahend) and correctly setting out calculations using place value.
• Add 2- and 3-digit numbers using column addition, including regrouping in the ones and tens columns.
• Subtract 2- and 3-digit numbers using column subtraction, including exchanging across place values.
• Apply knowledge of column methods to solve problems, check accuracy and evaluate the efficiency of different strategies.

Numbers to 10,000

• Develop understanding of thousands and four-digit numbers by composing, decomposing, comparing and ordering them.
• Round four-digit numbers to the nearest ten, hundred and thousand.
• Add and subtract four-digit numbers using column methods and efficient mental strategies.
• Apply knowledge of place value, calculation and measure conversions to solve problems.

Perimeter

• Understand regular polygons and the concept of perimeter as the distance around a 2D shape.
• Measure and calculate perimeter in units of length by adding side lengths or using multiplication for rectangles and regular polygons.
• Recognise that different shapes can have the same perimeter.
• Use perimeter to find unknown side lengths or calculate side lengths of regular polygons when the perimeter is known.

3, 6, 9 times tables

• Represent and recall multiplication facts for the 3-, 6- and 9-times tables through counting and exploring patterns.
• Explain relationships between multiples of 3, 6 and 9, including links with the 5- and 10-times tables.
• Use knowledge of times tables and their connections to solve a variety of problems.
• Apply and use divisibility rules for 3 and 6 to check and reason about numbers.

Science

Classifying Organisms

• Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways.
• Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment.
• Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.

Food and Digestion

• Describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans.
• Identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions.
• Construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.

History

Ancient Maya

• Understand that the Maya civilisation flourished in Mesoamerica, living in city-states ruled by kings and that descendants still live in Central America today.
• Explore Maya religion, including their many gods, sacrifices and the temples and pyramids built in their honour.
• Learn about features of Maya cities such as plazas, ball courts and observatories.
• Discover Maya achievements, including their number system with zero and their hieroglyphic writing.

Geography

South America and Brazil

• Learn how lines of longitude and latitude, along with the Equator and Prime Meridian, are used to locate places and divide the Earth into hemispheres.
• Explore South America’s geography, including its 12 countries, Brazil as the largest and the Andes Mountains stretching across the western coast.
• Discover Brazil’s regions and landscapes, such as the Amazon rainforest, Cerrado and Mata Atlantica and learn about indigenous Kayapo communities.
• Understand life in Rio de Janeiro, from favelas to wealthy tourist areas and how cities can have contrasting living conditions.

RE

What kind of world did Jesus want?

• Learn about the concept of the Gospel and the life and teaching of Jesus.
• Explore the calling of the first disciples and how Christians today try to follow Jesus.
• Find out how Jesus’ actions towards others set an example for Christians today.
• Learn about the parable of the Good Samaritan and the importance of charity in Christian life.

What was the impact of Pentecost?

• Learn about the events of Pentecost from the Bible and retell the story in their own words.
• Consider what Pentecost meant for the first Christians and what it means for Christians today.
• Make links between the story in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God.
• Explore how Christians show their beliefs about the Holy Spirit through worship and the way they live.

Art and DT

Storytelling through Drawing

• Explore and respond to the work of illustrators and graphic novelists, including Laura Carlin, using sketchbooks to record ideas and generate creative responses.
• Develop drawing skills through observation, experimenting with line, shape, colour and a range of materials and techniques.
• Illustrate a poem or an event in history by creating narrative artwork that uses composition, sequencing, mark making and text to show movement and atmosphere.

Soups

• Learn about different ingredients, including beans, lentils, herbs, spices and mushrooms and how they add flavour to food.
• Understand nutrition, including food intolerances such as gluten and dairy.
• Practise safe use of kitchen equipment (hobs, blenders, processors) and follow good food hygiene, from cleaning surfaces to washing up correctly.
• Develop cooking skills such as chopping, crushing, measuring, sautéing, simmering and boiling.

Music

Mamma Mia!

• Learn about ABBA’s music, including key features of pop and a song from memory.
• Develop listening skills by copying back rhythms and simple melodies.
• Perform with clarity and accuracy, understanding how music communicates feelings, thoughts and ideas.
• Play instrumental parts and follow directions from a musical leader when performing together.

French

Je me presente

• Recall greetings, numbers to 20, saying their name, age and where they live.
• Ask and answer simple questions in French, such as how someone is feeling.
• Learn about subject pronouns (je, tu), gender agreement and silent letters.
• Develop pronunciation skills, including the alphabet and key sounds such as ch, ou, on and oi.

La famille

• Learn how to talk about family members, including their names and ages and count up to at least 70 (possibly 100).
• Use possessive adjectives mon, ma and mes to describe family relationships.

PE

Netball

• Apply passing and moving skills to keep possession, creating space and developing simple tactics in mini games.
• Develop shooting skills by refining technique and understanding where and why to shoot from different court positions.
• Use the footwork rule effectively to improve speed, control and fluidity of movement.

Gymnastics

• Learn how to perform bridge balances safely and with correct technique, applying extension and flow to movements.
• Explore different ways of moving into, out of, over and under bridge balances, using coordination, control and apparatus.
• Combine balances and movements to create individual and pair sequences that use different levels, connection points and travel.

Computing

The Internet

• Understand the internet as a network of networks and why it needs to be kept secure.
• Learn that the World Wide Web is part of the internet and explore what users can access, add and create.
• Investigate who owns online content and what this means for sharing and creating work.
• Evaluate online content for honesty, accuracy and reliability and understand the consequences of false information.

Audio Production

• Identify input and output devices used for digital sound, such as microphones, speakers and headphones.

• Learn about digital audio ownership and the copyright implications of copying others’ work.
• Use Audacity (or similar software) to record and edit a podcast, adding multiple tracks and saving audio files.

PSHE

Relationships

• Learn what makes a positive, healthy friendship both online and offline and how friendships support wellbeing.
• Recognise risks in online communication, including unsafe or uncomfortable friendships and know how to seek support.
• Develop strategies to respond to hurtful behaviour, manage pressure from others and understand when to share or keep information confidential.
• Show respect for similarities and differences between people and listen and respond respectfully to a wide range of views and backgrounds.