Year 4

Class Letter Spring Term 2012

3rd January 2012

Happy New Year! I hope that you have had an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas.

We are very fortunate to have Miss Bamber joining us this term. Miss Bamber is undertaking her final teaching placement in year 4 throughout the spring term. We now also have Miss Hill working with us in some of the afternoons. Miss Hill will be supporting and working with all the children in the class.

Dates for your diary: In March, Year 4 are planning to go on a school trip (date tbc)! We will be going to Lancaster to reinforce work done in History on the Romans and also to whet the children’s appetite for our Summer History topic – The Vikings. More details will be sent out nearer the time of the trip.

English

The topics we will cover throughout the term include; Information texts, Stories with Issues/Dilemmas, Explanation texts and Poetry. The class reader for this term is ‘The Butterfly Lion’ by Michael Morpurgo.  

Numeracy

We will continue to cover the topics of counting, partitioning and calculating; securing number facts and understanding shape; handling data and measuring; and problem solving.

Science

In science lessons we will be learning about circuits and conductors and then about the earth, sun and moon. The children will be carrying out a number of scientific investigations throughout the term.  

ICT

Children will be learning the basics of computer programming by modelling effects on screen and they will also learn how to collect and present different information on a computer, including charts and graphs.

Geography

In Geography, we will be finishing our topic linked to our History called ‘Village Settlers’. Following this, we embark on a case study of an Asian country, where we will be developing our key geographical skills and sense of scale through the use of maps, atlases and globes in the context of Asia.

Music

Mr Purves from the LMS will continue to teach guitar lessons every Friday. If you wish your child to be included in this, please contact the office. The cost is £20 per term, including guitar hire which the children can hake home to practice on from this term. Topics this term include Pentatonic Scales !

RE

In the first half term children will be learning about the role of the Church in the Christian religion and in the second half term there will be a focus on Jesus and the sacrifices he made.

Art

Children will be given the opportunity to develop a number of art skills including; line, texture, shape and colour mixing. They will be using paint and collage to create an image of a journey they have been on.

DT

The children will learn how to make torches in DT ! This will be taught alongside the Science topic of circuits and conductors.

PE

We will be doing both gymnastics and games this term. Please make sure your child has a full PE kit in school everyday. They must have suitable footwear to take part in PE lessons (pumps are acceptable, trainers are ideal).

PSHE

PSHE lessons will take two themes; ‘Me, my Family and Friends’ and ‘Me, my Community and my Environment’.

French

We will cover the topics of ‘I am the music man’ and ‘What’s the Weather like?’ during our weekly French lessons.

Homework

I will continue to send homework out on a Friday. Homework needs to be handed in no later than the following Wednesday. If you have any concerns or queries about the level or quantity of homework given, please do not hesitate to feedback on the homework sheet or make an appointment to see me. Homework is there to consolidate classwork and is therefore an essential ingredient in your child’s progress.

Thank you again for your support. It is a pleasure teaching your children and I hope they are enjoying it as much as I am!

Best Regards,

Mr Calvert.