Year 4

Spring 1

                                                              Why do people live near volcanoes? 

This half term, we’re diving deep into the incredible forces that shape our planet! We’ll start by uncovering the four layers of the Earth—crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core—and discover fascinating facts about each one. From there, we’ll explore how mighty mountains are formed, looking at real examples like the Himalayas in Asia, and learn how tectonic plates create these towering landscapes. Our volcano studies will take us inside shield and composite volcanoes, revealing how they form, how they’re classified, and the dramatic effects they can have—both good and bad—on nearby communities. We’ll also investigate earthquakes: what causes them, where they happen, and the impact they can have on people’s lives. To finish, we’ll become rock detectives, observing, recording, and mapping different rock types to uncover their origins. It’s going to be an exciting journey through the dynamic Earth!

Spring 2

                                                             Why did the Romans invade and settle in Britain?

Next half term, we’ll step back in time to uncover the fascinating world of Ancient Rome and its impact on Britain. We’ll explore what mattered most to people in Roman society and learn key terms like ‘empire’, ‘invasion’, and ‘settlement’. Students will investigate why the Romans invaded Britain and how the Celts responded to this dramatic change. We’ll discover the secrets behind the Roman army’s success—its clever structure, strict discipline, and advanced equipment—and use real artefacts to piece together the lives of Roman soldiers stationed here. Finally, we’ll look at the lasting legacy of Rome, ranking the ways it changed Britain and understanding why those influences are still important today.

Spring 1

Volcanoes

DKfindout!

DKfindout! Volcanoes teaches kids everything they would want to know about the explosive world of volcanoes. With beautiful photography and lively illustrations, the DKfindout! series will satisfy any child who is eager to learn and acquire facts - and keep them coming back for more!​
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DKfindout! Volcanoes is packed with fun facts for kids. Discover what the biggest volcano in the solar system is, and which type of lava is the stickiest. Covering key knowledge, such as the structure of a volcano, and fast facts, such as "how hot is lava?" kids will love finding out about volcanoes.
 

How we read in our guided reading lessons:

Spring 1

Escape from Pompeii by Christina Balit 

Travel back in time to view the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the Roman Empire.

Join Tranio, the son of an actor, and his friend Livia, the baker's daughter, in witnessing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. Tranio, like most Roman boys, likes to watch whatever is going on: tradesmen selling their goods, ships unloading their exotic cargoes, politicians making speeches in the forum. But one hot August day a very different scene unfolds. The ground begins to shake, the sky to darken. People run gasping for air. Heading for the harbour, Tranio and his friend Livia hide on a boat and witness one of the most terrifying moments in recorded history-the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of their beloved city, Pompeii.

In this unit, children will write a historical narrative from a character’s point of view, rewriting the story through the eyes of one of the children.

Spring Term

This term, we will look at multiplication and division, measurement, fractions and decimals. We will make timestables our main focus, using Times Table Rockstars and timestables.co.uk to practise regularly and undertake a practice Multiplication Tables Check (MTC)  practice test approximately three times a week. Further information about the statutory MTC can be found on the government website.

We will look ahead to the Times Table Check that takes place towards the end of the year. Check out www.timestables.co.uk for some fantastic games to aid learning as well as TTRS and www.topmarks.co.uk. 

PE - PE is on Mondays and Tuesdays. On these days, children should wear school PE kit with jewellery removed. Earring studs that are not removed will be covered with microporous tape.

Coats & outdoor shoes- please can you send your child in with a coat every day as we will be learning in and out of the classroom in both rain and shine. Outdoor shoes are particularly important as the with our current wet and muddy weather. It is not safe for children to spend time in school without their shoes on, regardless of how wet they are. It is imperative that all belongings, including coats, are clearly named.

Water bottles - children should bring a water bottle in with them each morning so that they can access a drink during the day.

Reading - in Key Stage 2, reading continues to be something that children should be doing regularly so that they are able to build their fluency and comprehension. Please can you record in your child's reading diary each time that they read so that we can monitor their progress more accurately.

Bookbags -  Please bring in books/book bags every day. These will be kept in your child's drawer or on their peg. Where possible, please avoid sending your child in with very large back packs as we struggle to fit them all in the cloakroom