Year 4 Summer 2 2014

1. Year 4 Summer 2 2014 Literacy We will start by finishing off our work on playscripts. We will then move on to looking at traditional poems, by exploring the poems of Robert Louis Stevenson and writing a class poem using rhyming couplets. We will revise verb tenses and learn about prepositions. Then we will explore the poem Windy Nights and learn it by heart and produce a class book containing poems written by the children. Once this has been completed, we will move onto writing adventure stories, based around the book ‘The Hedgehog’ by Dick King Smith. We also hope to study persuasive writing by the end of term, using advertising in magazines and on TV to help us.

2. Maths During this sunny half term, Year 4 will be learning: To locate position on a grid using coordinates and to recognise horizontal and vertical lines, to understand and use standard units of weight and read scales, to know relationship between different units of time and to read calendars, to organise and interpret data in Venn/Carroll diagrams, to add money amounts and estimate and check by approximating, to subtract money amounts by standard written method of decomposition, to know ×7 multiplication/division facts, develop ×7 from ×3/×4 facts, to use partitioning and informal methods to multiply TU by U, to multiply TU by U using standard methods, to divide TU by U (standard/informal methods) to understand division as repeated subtraction, to find fractions, quantities and shapes; relate fractions to division and to recognise decimal notation; equivalence between fractions and decimals (1/2s and 1/4s).

3. Science In Science this half term we will continue to learn about changes of state (the previous half term was taken up mainly by continuing with previous work on temperature!). We will be classifying solids, liquids and gases, describing similarities between solids and classifying different items. This will lead onto describing similarities between liquids, measuring accurately using volumes of liquid and using results to conclude. We will discover that some liquids flow quicker than others, and find ways to measure viscosity in different liquids. Then, explain how to turn water into ice, and ice to water. The state that ice melts when left in a room or held in the hand will be investigated, and we will describe what happens to metal or lava to turn it into a liquid. Next, we will separate mixtures of solids, and of solids and water, and learn about sieving, leading onto filtering. We will finish the topic by investigating dissolving. We will also explain why salt and sugar cannot be seen when dissolved in water.

4. Topic Moving on from local history, Year 4 will be studying War World I. We will start by teaching the children a general overview of WWI, where children will have the chance to show off what they already know. We will look at the key events of WWI, and show the children what it was like with videos and props. We will study what life in Britain was like both before and after WWI, and the effect it had on our country,

5. Music This final half term we will be exploring rhythmic patterns. We will be using songs such as: Lullaby Rhythms, Bouncy Jelly, Seven Square and Clean School Rap to help us. We will be drumming, singing and clapping rhythms as a whole class and in groups. Art/DT Continuing with Picasso, we will come to terms with each of his 4 era’s and focus on Cubism - drawing in a similar style using pastels. We will finish by drawing a still life picture using charcoal.

6. RE For the next half term, the children in Year 4 will be looking at ‘The Beliefs and Practises of Sikhism’. In this unit, children will learn: • Make observations and demonstrate some factual knowledge of the Sikh religion. • Retell some Sikh stories and suggest meaning. • Begin to reflect upon their own beliefs about God. • Describe the 5K’s and identify their meanings. • Describe some key features of the Sikh faith. • Suggest how Sikhs express their beliefs through service and worship.

7. ICT This half term, year 4 will be extending their understanding of sequencing software and programming. They will be using software called Isle Of Tune and Audacity to produce music for a chosen purpose. They will be required to organise short sound clips (samples) in order, in some cases with varying pitches, to create a rhythm and/or melody. The children will be exploring shared islands developed in the Isle Of Tune to evaluate and build on others work. They will then drag and drop elements onto their own interface to independently experiment with tools. They will create their own compositions and refine and develop them. Audacity allows children record and change sounds. They will explore how to amplify clips, change pitch, add echo filters and reverse tracks. These clips can be exported for them to use in other projects.

8. PE and games We will be doing netball for the rest of the school year. We will learn about passing, catching, position and team work. Fitness will also be improved! Developing the skills learnt, we will go on to play handball and benchball. This will require a smaller ball and more accuracy. In both sports, we will be playing inter class games and competitions. PSHE Running in line with our topic theme ‘World War I’, we will continue to look at right and wrong. We will also study peace and world leaders, and what it takes to be a good leader.

9. PE days are Monday and Friday. Please make sure you have the correct kit, labelled and in school all week. Earrings must be removed for PE.