Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you all had a lovely half term break. We’ve had a busy and exciting week in Year 4, and I’m pleased to share with you what we’ve been learning.
In English, we’ve begun exploring the wonderfully imaginative and nonsensical poem The Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. The children have really enjoyed delving into this unusual poem, using their comprehension skills to interpret the possible meanings behind its invented words and characters. We’ve spent time analysing the language used, discussing how nonsense words can still carry meaning through context, and enriching our vocabulary in the process. We also looked at the poem’s historical background, learning how Victorian readers first reacted to this playful and puzzling piece of literature.
Next week, we’ll be using what we’ve learned to write our own nonsense poems in the style of The Jabberwocky. This will give the children the chance to apply their understanding of imaginative language and poetic structure, while developing their spoken English through performance. We’re looking forward to seeing their creativity shine!
In maths this week, we began our new topic: Time. The children have been revising how to read analogue clocks and are starting to learn how to convert between analogue and digital time formats. Next week, we’ll focus more on converting between 12-hour and 24-hour clocks, a vital skill for daily life.
We are also preparing for the national multiplication checks, which take place next week. The children have been practising regularly, and we will continue to support them in developing both their fluency and confidence with times tables.
In PSHE, we concluded our topic on Relationships by discussing friendships, the challenges that can sometimes arise, and how to resolve disagreements respectfully. The children showed maturity and insight during our discussions.
Next week, we begin our new topic, 'Changing Me', which is part of the statutory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum. As explained in the recent email, the lessons are carefully designed to be age-appropriate and supportive. They aim to help children understand the physical and emotional changes they will experience as they grow, while encouraging respectful and open attitudes. If you have any concerns or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
This half term in PE, we are focusing on summer sports including cricket, rounders, and tennis. The children are developing key skills such as hand-eye coordination, striking and fielding techniques, and learning the rules and tactics of each game. These sports not only build physical skills but also encourage teamwork, communication and strategic thinking.
Please remember that PE days this half term are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and children should come to school with their full PE kit on these days.
Looking ahead - we’re all very excited about Monday’s Sharing Assembly and I look forward to seeing many of you there. The children are eager to show off their wonderful work and achievements.
Wishing you a restful weekend,
