Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had another exciting and engaging week in Year 4, and we are looking forward to all the learning opportunities that next week will bring!

In English, we will be exploring the theme of wishes, linking to our new book Winter’s Child. The children will be discussing what wishes mean, why people make them, and how they are represented in stories. This will encourage deeper thinking about themes and messages in literature. Alongside this, we will be developing our understanding of direct speech, learning how to punctuate it correctly, and ensuring it is used effectively within our writing. We will also be focusing on prepositions, identifying how they show position and movement within sentences and using them to add detail and clarity to our work.

In maths, we will be building on our knowledge of measurement by comparing different units, such as kilometres and metres, and identifying equivalent lengths. The children will also apply their learning to problem-solving, particularly when calculating the perimeter of rectangles and rectilinear shapes. To end the week, we have an exciting ‘Maths Day’ on Friday, where the children will take part in a range of fun, interactive maths-based activities to reinforce their learning in an enjoyable way.

In science this week, we have been investigating how solids melt into liquids, focusing on the heating and cooling process. The children have enjoyed observing changes in materials and discussing how temperature affects different substances. Next week, we will continue our exploration of states of matter by learning about the water cycle, examining how water moves through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. This will help the children understand the natural processes that shape our environment.

In RE, we have been deepening our understanding of Hindu beliefs and values. The children discussed the different Hindu gods and goddesses, recognising how each one represents different aspects of the supreme God, Brahman. We also reflected on our temple visit last term, recalling the symbols, statues, and rituals we saw, which helped to bring our learning to life.

For art, we have been developing our shading skills using pencil techniques. The children have learned how to create different tones by adjusting the pressure of their pencil, even using the white of the paper to show light and tints. This has helped them to make their drawings look more three-dimensional and realistic. We are very impressed with their progress and creativity!

It has been a fantastic week, and we are looking forward to another week full of learning. As always, thank you for your support at home.

Best wishes,

The Year 4 Team

Mrs Friedmann's Spelling Group

 

Use

Really

Suddenly

Pulled

Firstly

Secondly

Excited

Found

Find

Everybody

Mr Chanter's Spelling Group

 

outrageous

dangerous

enormous

hideous

length

height

weight

angrily

curiously

delicately

 Hello Everyone, 

I hope you have all had a wonderful week! Here is a summary of what the children have been learning this week, as well as a glimpse of what’s to come next week. 

English
This week in English, the children have been writing and editing their own narratives based on The Iron Man. Each day, they have focused on a different aspect of writing, such as using fronted adverbials, multi-clause sentences, and direct speech to enrich their paragraphs. Next week, the children will complete their narratives and will write blurbs summarising their stories. They will also design creative front covers to accompany their work. 

Maths
In maths, we have been exploring methods for multiplying and dividing 2- and 3-digit numbers by a 1-digit number. The children have been practising strategies such as partitioning and using formal written methods. Next week, we will begin a new topic: Length and Perimeter. The children will learn to measure and compare lengths using standard units, convert between units (e.g., centimetres to metres), and calculate the perimeter of various shapes.

Science
This week in science, we conducted an exciting fizzy drink experiment! The children explored the concept of gases having weight by measuring the mass of fizzy drinks before and after they went flat. This allowed us to calculate the weight of the carbon dioxide that had escaped. Next week, we will investigate the effects of heating and cooling. The children will learn about how changes in temperature can cause materials to change state, exploring concepts such as melting, freezing, and evaporation through hands-on experiments. 

Computing
Our computing lessons this week focused on the topic of “Repetition on Shape.”** The children were introduced to programming in Logo, a text-based programming language. They learned to input commands to control a screen turtle, enabling them to draw shapes and patterns. Next week, the children will build on this knowledge by programming algorithms to create their initials, practising their ability to plan, sequence, and debug their code. 

PSHE
In PSHE, we began our new topic, “Dreams and Goals.” The children enjoyed listening to 'Salt in His Shoes', a story about Michael Jordan’s perseverance and determination to achieve his dreams. We used this as a springboard to reflect on our own aspirations and discuss how our dreams might vary from one another. 

Geography 
This week, the children explored the concept of responsible trading. They discussed the importance of fair trade and how it ensures better working conditions, fair wages, and sustainable practices. Next week, we will answer the question, “How do we get our chocolate?” by following the journey of a cocoa bean from its origins on a farm to the chocolate we enjoy. This will help the children understand global supply chains and the roles of producers and consumers. 

Geography Project
As part of our geography topic, I would like the children to research where the ingredients for their favourite meal come from and present this information any way they wish (this could be in the form of a poster or PowerPoint). We will be sharing these projects on Friday 14th February. 

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I look forward to seeing you next week! 

Best wishes, 

Mr Chanter 

Mr Chanter's Group

 

Courageous

Tremendous

Dangerous

Mountainous

Eagerly

Reluctantly

Thoughtfully

Persuasion

Intrusion

Explosion

Mrs Friedmann's Group

 

Safely

Happily

Quickly

Shouldn’t

Were

Where

Over

Other

Couldn’t

Wouldn’t

 Hi Everyone,

I hope you’ve all had a great week! It was wonderful to see so many of you at our class assembly this morning. Your support really meant a lot to the children, and it made the event extra special for them.

This week in English, we’ve been diving into some creative writing! The children have been busy planning their own stories inspired by The Iron Man. They’ve been crafting unique characters, each with their own special traits, and using expanded noun phrases and similes to describe them. These descriptions will be used in their narratives, which they’ll start writing next week. We’ll also be focusing on important writing techniques like fronted adverbials and multi-clause sentences, helping them to create more detailed and engaging stories.

In maths, our focus has been on multiplying and dividing by 10 and 100. The children have also explored the relationship between multiplication and division, which has helped them understand these concepts more deeply. Next week, we’ll take this further by learning how to multiply and divide 2- and 3-digit numbers by a 1-digit number. This will give them the skills to handle more complex problems, building their confidence and problem-solving abilities.

In science, we’ve been exploring the three states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. The children have been learning about the unique characteristics of each state and discussing real-life examples. Next week, we’ll be focusing more on gases, exploring their properties through experiments and discussions. This hands-on approach will help the children see the differences between gases, liquids, and solids in a fun and interactive way.

Our geography lessons this week have been all about understanding where our food comes from. We looked at the types of biomes where different foods grow and discussed the concept of ‘food miles’—how far food travels from where it’s grown to our plates. This led to some great conversations about how food transportation can impact the environment. Next week, we’ll be learning about responsible trade, exploring what it means to trade fairly and sustainably, and how our choices can make a positive difference for both people and the planet.

In computing, we’re starting an exciting new topic called “Repetition on Shape.” This is the first of our programming units for the year. The children will be using Logo, a text-based programming language, to create shapes and patterns. They’ll learn how to plan, modify, and test their commands, gaining a better understanding of repetition and loops in coding. It’s a great way to build their programming skills while having fun with creative designs.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend, and I look forward to seeing everyone next week!

Take care,

Mr Chanter

Mrs Friedmann's Spelling Group

Would

Wood

Were

We’re

Thought

Through

Threw

Over

Other

Mr Chanter's Spelling Group

explosion

invasion

persuasion

collision

decision

corrosion

erosion

exclusion

intrusion

conclusion

Welcome back everyone!
We hope you all had a relaxing and fun break filled with special moments. It’s so great to see everyone back, feeling refreshed and ready for a new term. A new year means new adventures, and we’re excited to get started!

A huge thank you again for the amazing gifts you gave us before the holidays. Your kindness really warmed our hearts. Sorry about the delay in my last blog post—it didn’t upload until our first day back! But I want to say again how much we appreciate your generosity. You all are the best!

The kids have settled back in nicely, and it’s been lovely hearing all about their Christmas break. They’ve shared some wonderful stories, and it’s been a cheerful start to the term.

This week, we dove back into The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. The latest chapters were super exciting, with The Iron Man facing off against the 'Space-Bat-Angel-Dragon' to save Earth. The kids have been describing the emotions of the characters using lots of expressive adjectives. Next week, they’ll get creative by coming up with their own versions of the Iron Man and writing some fun stories inspired by him.

In maths, we’ve been working on factors and factor pairs, plus multiplying numbers by 10. The kids have been really into it! Next week, we’ll move on to multiplying and dividing numbers by 10 and 100—it’s going to be a great way to build on their skills.

We’re about to kick off our new science topic, 'States of Matter.' It’s going to be all about solids, liquids, and gases. The kids will learn how these states change under different conditions and get to do some cool experiments to see it all in action. It’s going to be a lot of fun and super interesting!

Just a quick reminder: starting next week, the kids will need to bring these kits on these days:

• Monday: PE kits

• Wednesday: Swimming gear

• Friday: Football kits

Please make sure they have the right gear so they can fully enjoy our PE sessions.

We’re really looking forward to our class assembly on Friday 17th December at 9am in the main hall. The kids can’t wait to show you all the highlights from their learning this year. We hope you can make it—it’s going to be a great time!

Thanks for all your support, and we’re looking forward to a fantastic term ahead! 

Mrs Friedmann's Spelling Group

 

Happily

Quickly

Slowly

Loudly

Neatly

Kindly

Bravely

Gently

Safely

Softly

Mr Chanter's Spelling Group

1. Swiftly

2. Cheerfully

3. Cautiously

4. Gratefully

5. Carelessly

6. Eagerly

7. Thoughtfully

8. Joyfully

9. Proudly

10. Reluctantly

 Hi Everyone,

As we come to the end of the term, I just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Whether you’ve got exciting plans lined up or are looking forward to some relaxing time at home with good TV, I hope you have a fantastic couple of weeks.

On behalf of the entire Year 4 team, I’d also like to say a huge thank you for the very generous Christmas gifts we’ve received. Your kindness and thoughtfulness are really appreciated, and it means so much to us all.

I’d also like to take this chance to say thank you personally for making me feel so welcome during my first term at the school. It’s been lovely getting to know you all, and I really feel at home here.

Looking ahead to the start of the new term, here’s a quick reminder about when the children will need their sports kits:

First Week Back: PE kits on Wednesday and Friday.

From Week Two Onwards:

Monday: PE kits

Wednesday: Swimming gear

Friday: Football kits

If you have any questions, just let me know.

Thank you again for your support this term. Have a wonderful Christmas break, and I’ll see you in the New Year!

Best wishes,