Term 1

The Fireflies have had a brilliant start to the first term in Year 4 and I am incredibly proud of how they have coped with the transition and welcomed me into the classroom. Thank you Fireflies!

This term in Science, we will be learning about Grouping and Classifying Living Things. The children will explore how scientists sort and classify animals and plants based on their characteristics.

Our learning will include:

• Grouping animals, including vertebrates (animals with backbones) and invertebrates (animals without backbones)

• Using classification keys to help identify and sort different types of animals

• Grouping and identifying plants based on their features

• Creating and using classification keys for plants

Through hands-on activities and investigations, children will develop their understanding of how living things are organised in the natural world.

This term in RE, we will be focusing on the Bible. The children will be learning how the Bible is made up of the Old and New Testaments, and exploring some of the key stories found within.

We will reflect on what these stories teach us and discuss how the Bible can guide us in our daily lives. Through our learning, we will think about the importance of the Bible and how it can help us grow closer to God.

In Maths this term, we will be focusing on Place Value of numbers up to 10,000. This is a key area of learning that helps build a strong foundation for all other areas of maths.

Children will be learning to:

• Partition numbers in different ways

• Compare and order numbers up to 10,000

• Use a number line to represent and understand number size and position

• Round numbers to the nearest 10, 100, or 1,000

We will also revisit and consolidate our understanding of Roman Numerals, helping children recognise and use them in a variety of contexts.

This term in English, our SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) focus will include:

• Capital letters and full stops

• Identifying and using different word classes

• Writing speech correctly

• Using fronted adverbials to improve sentence structure

Children will also be developing their vocabulary by using thesauruses to find synonyms and antonyms, helping to make their writing more varied and interesting.

Our writing will be inspired by the class text Ice Trap, and children will explore a range of writing styles, including:

• A letter

• A setting description

• A narrative

• A biography

Towards the end of the term, we will also be learning about Sir William Tull and writing a biography based on his life and achievements.

In Geography, Year 4 have been looking at Biomes with a focus on the Amazon rainforest. The children will have the opportunity to conduct their own surveys which will be represented in the form of tables and graphs.