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 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.

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.

What will we be learning this half-term?

English

This half term we will study a book by award winning author Shaun Tan called 'The Lost Thing'. The children will focus on utlising a variety of grammatical and linguistic techniques to continue the narrative. These will include, portmantaeu words, higher level adverbials of time, reported speech and repetition for effect. 

Maths

This term, we will be continuing our knowledge of values less than 1 by moving on from fractions to decimals. Children will gain a depth of place value 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 fiction unit in our shared reading studying a text called 'The Mysteries of Harris Burdick', an intruiging and thought provocing picture book. Children will explore the idea of creating narrative through inference within the pictures and have opportunity to uncover the purpose and meaning behind this and to make links between their main character within their literacy model text. 

Science

This term, the children will be learning about Living things and Their Habitats and will have opportunity to take part in practial experiements whereby they will explore observing, measuring and conducting live fieldwork to get hands on with nature. They will also have opportunity to plan and carry out their own experiments. 

Art

In art this half term, children will have the opportunity to design and make a clay tile inspired by the work of Gaudi. 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 whilst exploring their medium of clay and the tools which go alongside. 

History

In history this half term, we will be exploring the question 'How has crime and punishment changed over time?'. Children will explore how crimes and punishments have canged over time and uncover the reasons behind this. They will learn about the suffragette movement, the development of a police force and the introduction of the 'bloody code' introduced in the 1800s. 

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

Mrs. Miller 4M

4m@ashburymeadow.manchester.sch.uk