Year 4 2023 - 2024

Welcome to Year 4!

The teachers in Year 4 are Miss Darbyshire (4D) and Miss Miller (4M). The teaching assistants are Mr Foster, Miss Finch and Miss Edith. We are very much looking forward to having you all in school, we hope you are excited for all you will continue to learn in Year 4.

What will we be learning this half-term?

English

This half term we will study a 'rags to riches' tale based on Egyptian Cinderella by Shirely Climo. The children will focus on character development in their fictional writing with a focus on simile to create comparative descriptions. For our non fiction writing children will have the opportunity to write an intructional text on 'How to mummify a body' linked to our history topic on Ancient Egypt. 

Maths

This term, we will be focusing on multiplication beginning with our 6s, 7s and 9s, and moving on to other multiplication tabled up to 12x12. Children will gain a depth of multiplicative understanding using both mental and formal written methods within their maths lessons. Children will also be taking part in the NCTEM mastering number scheme as part of our maths lessons to again consolidate and increase understanding of multipications in preparation for our Y4 multiplication check. 

Reading

This half term,we will be beginning with a poetry unit in our shared reading studying a poem called 'The River' children will explore the idea of personifcation within the poem and have opportunity to uncover the purpose and meaning behind this and to make links between their knowledge about the river Nile gained in history. 

Science

This term, the children will be learning about electricy and will have opportunity to take part in practial experiements whereby they will explore conductive and non-conductive materials. They will also have opportunity to create a working circuit 

DT

In DT this half term, children will have the opportunity to design and make a toasted sandiwch suitable to take on a school trip. Children will follow the design , plan , make and evaluate structure to their lessons and have opportunity to take part in group work to practise and share their ideas.

History

In history this half term, we will be exploring the question 'How much did the ancient Egyptians acheive?'. Children will explore the success of the ancient Egyptian civilisation through farming, trade and engineering developments. Children will also study the Egyptian's belief in the afterlife and the burial process, linking this to the burial and lives of key Pharaoh. We will also compare the sucess of the Ancient Egyptian civilisation with other major ancient societies such as the Sumer, Shang and Indus Valley civilisations. 

Home Reading

Children will be given a reading book to use for reading at home. The books should be returned to school once the children have read them, at which point your child will receive a new book to read. We expect children to be reading at least 3 times a week at home to an adult. Children will also be given a reading record to record when they have read to an adult at home. Reading records will be checked to ensure they are being used effectively.

P.E. and Swimming

Children will take part in weekly P.E. lessons. P.E. will take place on Tuesdays. Children are to come to school in their PE kits, ready for PE. This PE kit is to consist of a white top, black trousers/shorts/leggings and appropriate trainers.

Children will take part in weekly swimming lessons. Swimming lessons will take place on Mondays starting on 11^th September. Children must come to school ‘swimming ready’ with their swimwear on underneath their uniforms. Children must bring underwear and a towel in their swimming bag. Please refer to our swimming information letter, which can be downloaded on this website page, for details about the sessions and what your child needs to wear.

Homework

Children will be expected and encouraged to follow our Year 4 homework timetable to support their learning at home. As part of the Wider Curriculum, children will be encouraged to spend time reading and learning the information within their Knowledge Organizers. Children will be set work on Google Classroom connected to their learning of the Knowledge Organizers.

Spellings

Children will be given spellings at the start of each week. These must be practised during the week, ready for our spelling test on Friday.

Times tables

By the end of Year 4, children need to know all the times table facts for the 1-12 times tables. At the end of the year, children will take part in the Year 4 National Times Table Check which tests their knowledge of the times table facts for 1-12 times tables.

This assessment will take place during a two-week period beginning the week of June 3^rd 2024.

We will practise regularly in school but it is crucial that children are practising their times tables at home daily for rapid recall. To support them with this, please make sure your child is regularly practising on Times Table Rockstars. In order to support your child further, we will have a weekly focus on a particular multiplication group which will then be tested and their progress monitored.

If you have any questions or need any help or support, please come and speak to us at the end of the day or email at the following class email addresses.

Miss Darbyshire 4D
4d@ashburymeadow.manchester.sch.uk

Miss Miller 4M

4m@ashburymeadow.manchester.sch.uk