Year 4 Curriculum Newsletter Spring 2016

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! At the start of a new term it is useful to know about each year group’s routines and curriculum information. Our main project during the Spring Term will be…

Chocolate

LITERACY – Where appropriate, Literacy is linked to our class project work. This allows us to establish meaningful contexts in which to develop oracy, reading and writing skills. Texts we will be using as part of our ‘Chocolate’ project include: ‘’Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’; ‘’The Chocolate Touch’; and a variety of Mayan and Aztec myths and legends. We will continue to develop the children’s narrative writing skills and exploring the language features associated with a range of non-fiction genres.

READING: The children will continue to be introduced to a range of reading material through individual books, group guided reading books and whole class shared texts. All children will take part in group guided reading sessions with the class teacher and/or another member of staff. Pupils are expected to read at home under the guidance of parents and can select from books in school and/or their own reading material.

SPELLINGS: Lists are taken from the Literacy Strategy and may also include class or project spellings.

Pupils will normally bring home spellings to learn on a Friday to be tested on the following Friday.

 

NUMERACY

We follow the teaching objectives outlined in the National Numeracy Strategy. Class lessons include mental maths activities followed by a main teaching activity. During the Spring Term the children will continue to develop their understanding of place value, time, written methods, fractions, decimals and percentages; alongside improving their application of shape, space and measures. Pupils are required to learn their tables on a regular basis. Pupil’s mental maths skills will usually be tested for speed and accuracy on a Friday.  A weekly times table test is also undertaken on a Friday.

SCIENCE

Our science curriculum during the Spring Term will be covered through our theme ‘Forces’. This topic will include learning about friction, air resistance and gravity. Throughout the topic, learning will take place through scientific investigation, enabling your child to develop scientific skills alongside knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts.

GEOGRAPHY – The children will be looking at the different locations and climates that cacao trees grow in.  They will look at the people and places in greater detail with a particular focus on Indonesia and Central and South America.  They will develop their mapping skills through location of these areas and develop a greater understanding of the equator and longitude and latitude.  They will also consider whether the percentage split of takings made from chocolate is fair and reflects the work of the various people at each point of the process.

ICT – Throughout our project the children will use Word and PowerPoint to plan, create, develop and combine information with a sense of purpose and awareness of audience. They will also learn how to use the internet for research, following safety guidelines & discussing issues relating to internet safety.

 

ART – The children will be investigating Aztec based art and design.  Following investigation the children will create their own Aztec inspired pieces.

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY – We will be turning to our culinary talents this term.  Using chocolate as a main ingredient, the children will have the opportunity to sample, design and create chocolate themed products.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – The children will explore the various religious books used by different religious communities.

HISTORY – During our project the children will be using their historical enquiry skills to find out about the Aztecs.  They will plot their history through time and consider the bizarre, frightening and ingenious lifestyle that the Aztecs led.

ESDGC/PSE – Children will be encouraged to empathise with others’ feelings and experiences; understand that there is value both in the similarities and the differences between aspects of life in different countries and understand that the behaviour of individuals has an effect on the lives of others.

MUSIC – We will be continuing to learn through exploring rhythmic patterns, melodies and scales with sound colours. This takes place through a varied programme of singing, performing listening and appraising a variety of music.

PE – P.E. lessons are on a Monday morning (outside) and a Thursday afternoon (inside). Janice from Gwent dragons will be continuing her tag rugby training every fortnight. I would be grateful if you would ensure that the children have appropriate kit in school on these days, in particular a warm kit for games outside during the winter months. The children will be reminded of the school health and safety policy of no jewellery being worn during these lessons.

PUPIL VOICE

At Glasllwch School we continue to adapt and improve our school curriculum to encompass the interests and experiences of the children.  We believe that asking pupils about what they would like to learn is fundamental to providing an engaging and inspiring curriculum. Please discuss with your child what they would like to learn about during our project.

HOMEWORK

In addition to learning spellings and practicing multiplication and division facts, we may ask for your support in helping your child with the above projects in different ways. The homework for this term will focus on preparation for the national tests in May. Your child will be sent home with test style questions that they can access online and comprehension style activities.

It is important that we continue to work in partnership in order for your child to flourish and reach his or her potential. If you have any questions concerning your child’s education, do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Miss Jenkins

(Year 4 Teacher)

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