Welcome to Year 4
Our Class Teachers are Miss Capper and Mrs Sumser
Year 4 – Spring 1
Rivers
KEY QUESTIONS
- What is the journey of a river and does it ever change?
- Are rivers important to humans and animals?
- Is there a reason why rivers flood and do they flood in certain area more than others?
- Why are some areas of the world without access to clean water?
- Are humans causing damage to rivers?
Geography
This half term, Year 4 will be diving into the fascinating topic of rivers and discovering why they are so important to the world around us. They will begin by exploring what a river is, learning how it forms, and understanding the journey it takes from its source to its mouth. Along the way, the children will identify the key features of a river, such as meanders, waterfalls, and estuaries, and label them on diagrams to help us picture the complete course of a river.
As the children learn more, they will take a closer look at rivers both near and far. They will also name some of the rivers in their local area and the UK, before exploring famous rivers across the globe, including the world’s longest rivers.
The children will explore how humans use rivers in many different ways, such as for transport, farming, and providing drinking water. In some parts of the world, rivers are essential for survival, and they will learn why this is the case. The children will also think about how rivers shape the land, changing from steep and fast in the upper stages to wide and slow as they reach the mouth.
As Year 4 journey through the topic, they will also consider why protecting rivers is so important and finally they will explore where water is stored in the natural world, such as in rivers, lakes, and glaciers, and learn how it is used in their daily lives.
Science
This half term, the children are going to uncover the mysteries of solids, liquids, and gases. What makes a solid hold its shape? Why do liquids flow, and how do gases spread out?
The children will also explore how materials can change state when they are heated or cooled, learning about key temperatures like water freezing at 0°C or boiling at 100°C. They will discover how these changes, such as melting and freezing, are reversible and how evaporation and condensation are key parts of the water cycle.
As they dive deeper, Year 4 will find out how temperature affects evaporation and examine what happens to particles in solids, liquids, and gases.
This science topic will be taught throughout the spring term.
CLASS NOVEL and PATHWAYS TO WRITE TEXT
This half term, the children will be diving into the exciting story of Escape from Pompeii by Christina Balit. Through this book, they will explore the dramatic events that unfolded in Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted. To bring the story to life, Year 4 will take part in engaging drama activities to understand the thoughts and emotions of the characters. The children will use their senses to enhance their writing, making it vivid and immersive.
During the half term, pupils will write a variety of texts, including setting descriptions, letters, and diaries, building up to their final piece—a retelling of the story from the perspective of one of the main characters. Alongside this, the children will develop key grammar skills. They will revisit fronted adverbials to structure their writing effectively, work on expanding their vocabulary to make it rich and varied, and practice using speech punctuation accurately to bring dialogue to life.
This promises to be an exciting and creative half term, filled with opportunities to develop imagination and improve writing skills!
To complement their learning, they will also enjoy listening to Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins
Children’s Rights and SDGs
This half term, the children will be exploring important topics that connect to Children’s Rights and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The children will focus on Article 15 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which highlights every child’s right to join groups and make friends. Through discussions and activities, they will explore what this means for us in school, in their communities, and around the world, and why it is important for every child to feel included and connected.
The children will also learn about SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, which aims to ensure that everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Pupils will investigate how clean water affects health, education, and well-being, and think about ways they can contribute to protecting water resources and supporting global efforts.
These topics will help us think about fairness, responsibility, and how The children can play a part in making the world a better place.
PSHE
This term in PSHE, Year 4 pupils will be developing important knowledge and skills to support their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Firstly, they will explore ways to feel calm and relaxed, describing places or strategies that help them manage their emotions when they feel worried or overwhelmed.
Pupils will reflect on making mistakes, recognising how mistakes can make us feel and understanding that they are a normal part of learning. They will discuss what can be learned from mistakes and how these experiences help us grow.
Children will also identify their personal strengths, thinking about what they are good at and how they can use these strengths to support their learning and relationships at school.
As part of emotional wellbeing, pupils will describe what makes them happy and consider how they can work towards these things as personal goals.
They will develop an understanding that some things are within our control and others are not, helping them build resilience and cope with challenges more positively.
Children will explore the wide range of emotions that people experience and learn that all feelings are valid. They will also be introduced to mental health, understanding what it means and recognising that sometimes people may need help and support, and that it is okay to ask for this.
Please check their Curriculum map for more information.
Remember to check Seesaw for posts about their learning, as well as announcements, homework and additional information.
Miss Capper and Mrs Sumser