Blog
Are you fed up with asking the question 'How was school today?' and getting the response 'fine'?
Our new weekly blogs will give you more information about what your child is doing in school. This will mean that you can ask meaningful questions to find out about their learning.
Term 6 Overview
The theme for term 6 is 'My Marvellous Medway'. The focus will be on looking into the history of out local area and understanding how it has changed over the years. In literacy the book that we will be reading is 'Stig of the Dump'. This book was written by the author Clive King who went to school in Rochester. Within this topic we will explore Austin's Butterfly, which is a a short film exampling how to use peer assessment to make improvements to work. As part of this topic, we aim to take local trips to experience the area and how it has developed over time.
Week commencing 5th July 2021
During this week in year 4, the children will be preparing for sports week event. They will practise the games that we will play as well as racing to see who will compete in the relays and sprints. During literacy lessons there will be a focus on performing their playscripts in groups, using their speaking and listening skills. Numeracy will have a time focus this week, converting between digital and analogue and recognising how many minutes are in an hour or day etc. During our topic afternoons we will continue to focus on the geography of Medway and looking at similarities and differences in the years gone by.
Week commencing 12th July 2021
This week is sorts week! The children will take part in various different sporing activities, including a class sports day and completing daily miles. In literacy we will be looking at creating book reviews, learning how to write one effectively using given features. In maths lessons we will continue to learn about time, using our knowledge from last week to interpret timetables and convert between 12 and 24 hour clocks.
Week commencing 28th June 2021
The children in year 4 this week will carry out their term 6 assessments. These tests will be in reading and maths. there will be opportunities for some revision sessions to take place prior to the assessments to allow the children to revisit some of the strategies that have learnt over the year. In addition to testing this week all of the children across the school will take part in their RSE (Relationships and Sex Education lessons). These lessons are all available for parents to view on the website under curriculum-PSHE- RSE. If you have any questions related to these lessons, please speak to Mrs Marie or your child's class teacher.
Week commencing 21st June 2021
During literacy this week we will be exploring playscripts, looking at the layout and features. The children will begin to learn how to write playscripts ready to create their own at the end of this term. In numeracy will have a focus on geometry, looking at coordinates as well as position and direction. As part of our topic afternoons we will begin to explore the local area by taking a walk across the lines. In addition, we will begin our artwork which will focus on drawing the monument using peer critiquing techniques to improve and upstage weekly drawings. In PE will we practise different sports day activities, preparing for our year group sports day.
Week commencing 14th June 2021
This week in year 4 we will be looking a new book in literacy. This is a picture book called 'Journey', where children will be able to consider the inferences from the pictures that they are seeing. In numeracy we will move on to converting measures and the children will use their knowledge to answer reasoning style questions. In our topic afternoons we will begin to learn about electricity in science. As well as this, there will be a key focus on our local area for geography, linking it to @My Marvellous Medway'.
Week commencing 8th June 2021
During the first week in term 6 we will begin to look at the local area in detail. This will involve looking at different maps, pictures and exploring the area on foot. In literacy the children will begin to read 'Stig of the Dump'. Numeracy will have a focus on statistics, where children will begin to look at and interpret different types of graphs. The science topic for term 6 is electricity, children will begin to learn the key vocabulary in order to support their learning. During PE we will begin to practise our multi skills, preparing for a class sports activity.
Term 4 & 5 overview
The theme for terms 4 and 5 is ‘The Tudors’. This will mainly focus on gaining an overview of the significance of the Tudor period within the wider narrative of world history, as well as, study some of the significant people, places and events from this period and to explore how we know about them today. Within this topic we will have a geography focus on mountains and rivers for children to compare and explore differences across the world. We will continue to take exercise daily until PE lessons resume. In Term 4 we will undertake science week, where children will learn about farming and will have the opportunity to plant and grow their own vegetables that will be used in term 6 to make tartlets. In our Rights Respecting Schools lessons, the children will learn about their human rights, as well as identifying differences from children from previous ages.
Week commencing 24th May 2021
This week is the last week of term 5 and as such it will be very busy! During our literacy lessons the children will be completing and editing their diary entries, using their skills to upstage their writing. In numeracy we will begin converting fractions to decimals and move on to answering word problems related to fractions and decimals. Our final week of topic work will be completing scientific investigations into sound and how it travels. In addition to this, children will have their reward time to celebrate their hard work throughout the term.
Week commencing 17th May 2021
This week in year 4 the children will be completing a diary entry based on the Tudors in their literacy lessons. During numeracy, we will focus on looking at decimal equivalents to fractions and moving towards some word problems towards the end of the week. Our topic afternoons will continue with a science based theme, learning about how we hear sound and how it travels. The children will have opportunities to reflect on the experiments that they have previously carried out. In preparation for the MTC tests that will be carried out in June, we will have a huge focus on learning and practising times tables. We may even set some extra home-learning activities to support them in the preparation for this test!
Week commencing 10th May 2021
During literacy this week the children will be developing their history knowledge by linking their literacy work to topic work. They will be looking at Tudor clothing, food and childhood. During maths lessons we will continue with the fraction work with a focus on fractions of shapes and amounts. During our topic afternoons we will begin our science topic on sound, as well as taking part in a whole school arts week event. Well-being Wednesday will continue with an arts masterclass and PE.
Week commencing 3rd May 2021
After a nice long bank holiday weekend the children in year 4 will return on Tuesday and begin to carry out their their assessments in both literacy and numeracy. We will have time to revise some of the areas that we have taught so far this year before undertaking the tests. In addition to this, all of the children will complete the national 'Big Ask' survey to determine their views on school since returning after Lockdown and what they enjoy whilst they at school. Topic lessons will continue in the afternoons with RE, history and French lessons being taught.
Week commencing 26th April 2021
This week we are continuing to learn about the Tudors in our history topic lessons. In Literacy this theme continues with the children writing their own biographies on Henry VIII. During numeracy we will look at fractions in more detail, recognising 1tenths and hundredths before moving on to adding and subtracting fractions with he same denominator. For PE the children will develop their balls skills in football, working in teams to control the ball accurately when passing. On Thursday we will complete the next First Aid lesson where we will look at how to treat bites and stings.
Week commencing 19th April 2021
During our first week in term 5 we will be continuing our topic on The Tudors looking into the life of King Henry VIII. In literacy the children will learn about the Life of King Henry VIII, including his 6 wives and his children. There will be opportunities for role playing key events and making vocabulary cards to support future learning. In computing we will be learning how to use coding on the Purple Mash app. Numeracy lessons will begin to focus on fractions, starting with the introduction of equivalent fractions and learning how to use a fraction wall.
Week commencing 29th March 2021
In year 4 this week the children will complete their character descriptions and edit their work, ready to be displayed in the classroom. The focus for numeracy will be perimeter and area, where children will learn how to calculate using all of the skills they were practising last week. During our topic afternoons we will continue to learn about mountains in geography, whilst paying particular attention to the continents they are located in. There will be an opportunity to complete the live art class on Wednesday afternoon, as well as, establishing new IT skills in their Purple Mash lesson.
Week commencing 22nd March 2021
This week in year 4 the children will write their own character description, using all of the vocabulary they have been gathering over the past week. This work will then be used to create classroom displays. In numeracy, the focus will be on using formal methods for both multiplication and division calculations. During our topic afternoons we will develop our geography skills, looking at rivers and mountains. In PSHE, we will have a focus on wellbeing and how to keep healthy. PE will continue to be completing the daily mile whilst walking the perimeter of the school grounds.
Week commencing 15th March 2021
This week in year 4 the children will be writing character descriptions in their literacy lessons, with an emphasis on using higher kevel vocabulary. In numeracy the focus will be on using and applying skills in addition sand subtraction calculations. For our active breaks we will continue to take daily exercise by walking the daily mile around the perimeter of the school building. This week we will begin to look at the life of a Tudor in our history lessons as well as taking part in the whole school hope project for art.
Week commencing 8th March 2021
This week we are excited to welcome back the children to school!
In literacy the children will continue their learning on William Shakespeare, this will develop over the term as they consider the different plays and stories that he wrote. In numeracy we will look back at place value to ensure that the children are ready to move on with their new learning for the rest of the term. We are going to have a whole week of science lessons for our topic afternoons as this is science week. The Children will have the opportunity to explore farming and planting whilst developing ;logos and creating a tartlet they would like to make later in the year. PE will continue to be a daily mile until normal lessons resume!
Term 3 overview
The theme for term 3 is 'Spain'. This will be a Design and Technology focused term, with children being able to explore cultures and traditions within another country. There will be opportunities for children to undertake research within topic afternoons and for them to present their findings how they choose. In addition, children will be designing their own tapas dish, which they will create at the end of them term. The literacy focus for this term is based on a story called 'Ferdinand the Bull', which is a story set in Spain. The SEAL topic is 'Going for Goals where we will consider what new year's goals we can set ourselves that are both manageable and achievable. As with every term we will continue to consider what it means to be a Rights Respecting school and focus on identified articles within our learning.
Week commencing 4th January 2021
This week in year 4, we will begin our term 3 topic on Spain. Children will be using their geography skills and new online map resource to locate Spain on a map and to identify different regions and the capital city, as well as learning which continent Spain is in. In literacy we will begin our new story 'Ferdinand the Bull', this story will enable the children to understand different cultures and traditions. In numeracy the focus will be perimeter and area, where children will use their number operation skills to solve problems. Our SEAL topic this term is 'Going for Goals', this week we will reflect on what we need to achieve and improve and how we are going to do that working both independently and collaboratively.
Term 1 & 2 overview
The theme for terms 1 and 2 is ‘Ancient Egypt’. This will mainly focus on gaining an overview of the significance of the Ancient Egyptian period within the wider narrative of world history as well as study some of the significant people, places and events from this period and to explore how we know about them today. Our Art lessons will link to the topic through learning about Canopic jars and creating our own using clay. We hope to have a school visit to Kent Life where we can experience what life was like as an Ancient Egyptian. In our science lessons, children will look at states of matter. In Rights Respecting Schools lessons, the children will learn about their human rights, as well as identifying differences from children from previous ages. Due to the current situation we are encouraging physical activity everyday so we will have short PE skill sessions after lunch, pupils will need a change of shoes every day.
Week commencing 7th December 2020
This week we are going to be writing persuasive letters in literacy. In numeracy, the children will be leaning how to measure perimeters and applying their skills by carrying out investigations. We will be having a science based week during out topic afternoons, where children will be learning about classification keys and what makes a good habitat. Wednesday is Christmas dinner day! Staff and children will enjoy a festive treat. On Friday the whole school will take part in Christmas jumper day, in order to raise money for 'Save the Children'.
Week commencing 30th November 2020
It is winter wonderland week! We are having 'A Christmas Carol' themed week and continuing with our learning about the story in literacy. In numeracy, we will be carrying out investigations using our number operation skills. The children will be making their own Christingles as part of their RE learning about the importance of light in Christianity. On Friday we would like to celebrate our Winter Wonderland week by allowing the children to pay £1 to wear their pyjamas to school.
Week commencing 23rd November 2020
This week in year 4 the children will begin to use formal methods to work out division calculation in numeracy. They will apply their skills towards the end of the week by solving one and two-step word problems. In literacy we will continue t read different versions of 'The Christmas Carol' with children making comparisons between the books. During the DT lessons next week children will be making their own levers on a design of their choice. We will also begin our science learning on 'Living things and their Habitats'.
Week commencing 16th November 2020
This week in literacy year 4 the children will continue to read 'A Christmas Carol', summarising the text and answering inference style questions. During numeracy there will be a focus on using formal methods for multiplication calculations. During the afternoon children will continue to learn new skills in hockey on Tuesday afternoon. In addition, they will make levers in DT and learn about animals and their habitats in science.
Week commencing 9th November 2020
This week in year 4, the children will begin to read 'A Christmas Carol' in literacy. In numeracy there is a focus on using formal methods for division calculations, in addition to this, the children will complete an arithmetic and reasoning test. We will begin a new topic in science ' Living things and their Habitats' where children will learn about classification and what animals need to survive. As part of our SEAL this term, we will think about what makes a good friend and how we can work together to ensure our feelings are not hurt and ways to be kind.
Week commencing 2nd November 2020
During the first week in term 2 the children will be carrying out their reading and grammar tests during their literacy lessons. In numeracy, the children will develop their multiplication skills, using formal column methods. As part of our history topic there will be a focus on Egyptian Gods. Weather permitting, we hope to learn hockey skills in PE on a Tuesday afternoon. In addition, year 4 will begin French lessons using Language Angels.
Week commencing 19th October 2020
This week in year 4 we will be completing our story writing in literacy before editing them and preparing final pieces of work to be displayed in the classroom. In numeracy we will be working on measurements with a focus on length. Children will write up their understanding from science this term, using key vocabulary they have learnt. During our topic afternoons we will focus on Sikhism in RE and complete our unit on PSHE. On Thursday there will be an opportunity for children to create a still life drawing of our beautiful Harvest display.
Week commencing 12th October 2020
This week in year 4 the children are writing their own adventure stories in literacy, they will use their own planning and consider both problems and resolutions to their story. During numeracy the children will be applying the skills they have been learning in addition and subtraction, in order to estimate the answers to questions. During our topic afternoons we will plan a fair test in science, thinking about the melting point of chocolate as well as looking at where Egypt is located in geography. In Art there will be time spent painting Canopic jars ready for displaying around the school.
Week commencing 5th October 2020
This week the children in year 4 will start to write character descriptions in their literacy lessons, this will support them when they write their own story towards the end of term 1. During numeracy we will have a focus of subtraction, we will look at using both mental strategies as well as formal written methods, leading on to word problems and reasoning questions. As part of our topic learning, children will learn about mummification and continue their science lessons on states of matter.
Week commencing 28th September 2020
This week year 4 will be taking part in an exciting outdoor Egyptian themed day, where they will experience an archaeological challenge as well as a pyramid challenge. In numeracy we will begin our addition learning, using the column method strategy and applying our learning through word problems. During the literacy lessons the children we continue reading 'Shrinking Violet' in preparation for writing their own version of the story. Across the topic afternoons we will begin to create the Canopic jars that have been designed, as well as this the children will continue their learning about the Ancient Egyptians.
Week commencing 21st September 2020
This week in year 4 we will begin a full timetable, ensuring that throughout the week we are continuing with our well-being check ins. The literacy focus will be continuing on reading the story 'Shrinking Violet'. Children will answer questions based on the text as well as thinking about how the author writes. In numeracy we will continue our place value, with a focus on numbers up to 1000. The children will begin to design a Canopic jar in art and design as well as continue their history learning on Ancient Egyptians. Throughout the week we will take part in our daily exercise activities walking around the school grounds.
Week commencing 14th September 2020
This week in year 4, the children will begin literacy lessons. They will be reading ‘Shrinking Violet’, which is a text linked to their topic of ‘The Egyptians. In numeracy, the focus for the week will be recognising place value and rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000. In addition to this, the children will begin reading activities with a scientific focus on materials, as well as starting their science lessons on ‘States of Matter’. We will continue to take part in our daily exercise activities walking around the school grounds.
Week commencing 7th September 2020
This week Year 4 pupils are continuing to get to know their new classes and recapping the expectations of behaviour and learning at school. This week the children will be writing their aspirations for the year, thinking about what they would like to achieve and how they will do it. In numeracy, the children will be focusing on number and place value.
