Year 4 is all about encouraging the children to become more independent and to take greater responsibility. Mum and Dad can now relax, they no longer need to worry about remembering gym kit, book bag, reading record or homework book. Consequently as the children gain in confidence and in independence, there is more trust amongst the class as a whole. This helps develop a sense of fun too.
We work on a variety of things aside form the normal range of subjects. For example, we build models from junk; learn basic carpentry skills to build a model Viking house; paint in the style of famous artists; finally we write, illustrate and publish stories on the computer. This all culminates in the three day residential trip which takes place at the end of the summer term.
Visit us, talk to us and you will begin to understand what a special place The New School is.
Year 4 are currently working on a project to build Viking longhouses.
Take a look at their progress so far.
Each week we will add more photographs so that you can keep track of their progress.
Daily English lessons are based on guidelines set down in the English National Curriculum.
Areas of study
Comprehension & Composition: Authors; Play scripts; Characters; Structure and sequence; Common themes in poetry; Settings; Issues; Story writing; Stories from other cultures; Classic and modern poetry; Newspapers; Instructions; Poetry range of forms; Persuasive writing; Discursive writing; Presenting information; Information books.
Phonics, Spelling and Vocabulary: Spelling strategies; Dictionaries; Sounds; Word puzzles; Verb spellings; New words; Word endings; Transforming words; Compound words; Spelling revision.
Grammar and Punctuation: Parts of speech; Commas in sentences; Verbs; Adverbs; Apostrophes; Adjectives; Sentences; Punctuation marks; Grammar revision.
Reading: Each child's reading will be monitored once a week and progress recorded. The reading record book should be updated at home when reading is done out of school. Every morning the children should give their reading record to the teacher.
Daily maths lessons are based on a combination of the published schemes, Ginn-Abacus and Longman Primary Maths, which follow the guidelines set down in the English National Framework for Numeracy. Throughout the Maths programme great emphasis is placed on mental maths and this is also reflected in the weekly maths test at the end of the week.
Areas of study
Place value and ordering: Estimation and approximation; decimals; using numbers.
Addition and subtraction: Addition of HTU; addition problems; subtraction of HTU.
Multiplication and division: Multiplication 6s, 7s; division facts and inverses; multiplication of TU and division of TU; problems.
Fractions: Equivalent fractions.
Making sense of problems: Money.
Handling data: Interpreting data; databases; bar-line graphs; charts and diagrams; line graphs; bar charts; pictograms; interpreting and drawing line graphs.
Shape and Space: Shape patterns; properties of 2D and 3D shapes; line patterns; patterns everywhere.
Measures: Area; length; time; weight; capacity; angles; volume.
Ourselves: Focuses on 'moving and growing', including an understanding of the functions of the skeleton in humans and how it works with muscles to produce movement. The position of the main organs of the body is introduced in the context of the skeleton's protective role.
Electricity: Focuses on 'circuits and conduction', including introducing ideas about the generation of electricity. Children explore materials that do and do not conduct electricity and how these can be used in making switches. They also start to explore more complex circuits, investigating changing the numbers of batteries and bulbs in a circuit.
Forces and motion: Focuses on 'friction'. The children investigate friction between surfaces and the effect it has on movement. They explore water resistance and air resistance and consider the importance of streamlining.
Materials: Focuses on 'warm liquids and cool solids', exploring the properties of solids and liquids. This includes investigating solids that dissolve in water and the thermal insulation properties of materials. The children then apply their knowledge of the different properties of materials to sort different mixtures.
Environmental Issues: Improving our environment; Pollution; Water; Conservation; Settlement.
Map skills: Map work; using compasses; locating places using grid references; measuring on maps and plans; using a scale.
Topic: How and where we spend our time?
Who am I? Where do I fit into my family? What can I tell you about my family? What mood are you in? Is it fair?.
Are you eating a healthy diet? Is this recipe good for you? Food hygiene and bacteria; What's on a label?.
Waste: Is it biodegradable? Recycling; Packaging; Our local environment; Water.
Gymnastics: Counter balance and counter tension; sequencing; safety.
Sports: Hockey; volleyball; netball; basketball; short tennis.
Dance: BBC - Time to Move.
Year 4 go to the gymnasium once a week. Your child will need a labelled P.E. kit in a bag which they should bring to school on a Monday and take home on a Friday. It is very important that they have a change of clothes and suitable footwear. In the gym children will either go barefoot or wear appropriate footwear for gymnastics (scarpette da ginnastica, not trainers) and will need trainers for sport activities on the sports pitch. In the interest of safety it is better that jewellery is not worn on a sports day or must be removed before the lesson.
Skills: Drawing to fit a design outline; drawing 2D and 3D forms; drawing from different angles; selecting brush size and use; complementary colours; painting for a purpose; collage using natural and man-made objects.
Knowledge and Understanding: Art from other cultures including Aboriginal art.
Study of artists: Van Gogh, Mondrian and Matisse.
Topics: A self-portrait; Investigating pattern; What is sculpture?
Year 4 will receive a 45 minute music lesson as a class and a further 40 minute singing lesson (with Year 3, 5 and 6) from a specialist music teacher.
This will include:
Singing (including part-singing). Improving listening and identification skills. An in-depth study of the instruments of the orchestra. Further work on the concepts of tempo, dynamics, rhythm and pulse. Producing a class CD.
Homework is set on a Wednesday and should be handed in on Monday. Each week your child will be given a set of spellings (to learn by Friday), 10 sentences to write (using each of the spelling words), an English task and a Maths task.
Each week your child will be given a set of spellings on Wednesday to learn at home and they will be tested on Friday. Also on Friday the children will be given a maths test aimed at improving their mental ability/strategies and their quick recall of basic number facts. This will usually be based on the mental activities studied during the week.