Spring 2

A fun and eventful half term! 

Year 4 had a fantastic time with their learning, including a fun trip to the Science Museum, where the children powered up their gaming experience by discovering how video games have developed over time. They explored the technology and engineering behind gaming, learning how it has evolved and shaped the way we play today. Alongside this, Year 4 became Visionaries for their PBL project, diving into how engineering can be used to solve problems. Their journey began in Roman times, where they explored Roman inventions and how these innovations improved lives. From there, the children researched and investigated local issues through discussions and surveys. Thanks to excellent collaboration and creative thinking, they developed solutions to these challenges. The children worked tirelessly, drafting and refining their ideas to ensure their inventions were well-structured and functional. It was amazing to watch the children confidently present their inventions to the Love South Chingford group.

In English, the children trained themselves to become newspaper reporters! They worked hard to learn the key features of a good newspaper report, with the help of Mabel, a writer for The Guardian newspaper. After the session, the children selected a topic to report on and created a list of questions for their interviews. Using their newfound journalistic skills, they turned the information they gathered into engaging newspaper reports. Great work, Year 4!

In Maths, Year 4 explored decimals, learning how they relate to fractions and how to use them in real-life contexts. They also focused on position, movement, and angles. The children developed a strong understanding of different types of angles and learned how to recognise and compare them. Additionally, they explored translating and reflecting shapes, applying their knowledge to locate and mark positions on a grid. The children had a lot of fun using coordinates to solve real-world problems during outdoor learning, where they worked in teams to navigate grids, plot positions, and complete challenges.

Year 4 also looked fantastic in their World Book Day costumes and Times Tables Rock Stars tfits, showcasing their enthusiasm for both reading and learning!

 

Sping 1

It has been a busy and exciting Spring term, full of fantastic learning opportunities! Both Year 4 classes were proud to welcome parents and carers to their assemblies, where they showcased their amazing work.

Our WE ARE Visionaries project has been progressing brilliantly. The children began by exploring the history of the Romans, investigating the many inventions, structures, and ideas they introduced. They then researched famous engineers and explored different mechanisms. A visit to a local pop-up repair shop provided a fascinating look inside various machines, inspiring them to examine and sketch gadgets in detail. Next term, they will continue their design and technology journey, identifying problems in the local community and developing creative solutions.

In English, the children have been immersed in narrative writing, crafting imaginative additional chapters for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Their colourful characters have found themselves in all sorts of hilarious misadventures!

In Maths, they began by mastering Roman numerals with the help of a catchy song. They revisited division before moving on to fractions and have been investigating capacity and volume through potion-making—some of which looked truly revolting! The children have also been working hard to improve their times tables, becoming increasingly speedy with the help of Times Tables Rock Stars.

We are incredibly proud of all their achievements this term and look forward to more exciting learning ahead!

Autumn 2

In English, the children learnt the key features of a persuasive letter, focusing on having strong argument with clear reasoning and emotional language. They applied their new knowledge to a creative and engaging challenge: writing a persuasive letter to the glue sticks in our class, who had gone on strike due to poor treatment! The Year 4 students pushed themselves to write fantastic letters that showcased their brilliant writing skills, using the persuasive techniques they had learnt. They carefully went through the stages of planning, drafting, and redrafting, refining their ideas and language before publishing their final letters.

Year 4 also developed their instructional writing skills as they explored and learnt about instruction texts. The children spent time examining various examples of instruction texts, following them carefully to understand the key features and structure involved. Through this process, they discovered the importance of keeping instructions short, clear, and easy to follow.  When writing their own instructional text, the children thought carefully about their audience, considering what information would be most helpful and how to present it in a way that was both clear and engaging. The children worked hard to ensure their instructions were effective and well-structured, and they should be incredibly proud of the fantastic job they did.

In Maths, Year 4 worked hard to strengthen their multiplication and division knowledge, starting with fluency questions to reinforce their basic skills before challenging themselves with more complex reasoning problems. This allowed them to build both confidence and a deeper understanding of these essential mathematical operations. The children moved on to learning about different units of measurement. They had a great time exploring measurement by using various tools, such as rulers and measuring tapes, to measure different objects in the classroom. As their knowledge grew, the children also learned how to convert between different units of measurement and compare the lengths of various objects. They worked hard to develop their skills in both converting and comparing measurements.

Year 4 continued their fantastic work on the "WE ARE Global Cultures" project. They explored various aspects of different countries, learning about their traditions, customs, and way of life. As part of this project, the children used GarageBand and iMovies to create engaging travel vlogs, showcasing everything they had learnt. They carefully planned and produced their vlogs, demonstrating a clear and thoughtful understanding of each country they focused on.

Year 4 also took a fascinating journey back in history to learn about the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. The children thoroughly enjoyed researching the invaders, discovering where they came from, and learning about the settlements they established. Using this knowledge, the children created detailed slideshow presentations. The children also explored the creative side of history by using clay to design and make Viking jewellery. They also designed and made their own Viking shields . Year 4 also studied the runes used by the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, learning to write their names and simple phrases using these ancient symbols.

During Black History Month, Year 4 students created some truly fantastic pieces of work that highlighted the achievements of black pioneers throughout history. They explored the lives and accomplishments of these remarkable individuals, gaining a deeper understanding of how they have shaped the world. The children learnt to celebrate the contributions of black figures who have often been overlooked. The children worked together to create detailed models that were proudly showcased during the Black History Month exhibition.

 

Autumn 1

It's been a great start to Year 4!  As well as developing their swimming skills, the children have been busy with some amazing learning.  To celebrate Black History Month, the children have been researching Black inventors and pioneers.  They are looking forward to exhibiting what they have discovered.

In our project, WE ARE Global Cultures, Year 4 have been actively engaged in exploration of countries from around the world. The children immersed themselves into various aspects such as music, art, cuisine, and wildlife. This has allowed the children to broaden their understanding of global cultures. To support their learning experience, the children had the opportunity to sample diverse foods, try on traditional clothing, and use the VR headsets to virtually visit different countries. Year 4 will continue this project into the next half-term as they work towards producing travel vlogs to showcase their learning. 

In Maths, Year 4 have actively engaged in enhancing their fluency and reasoning skills in place value, addition and subtraction. Throughout this learning journey, the children have explored and applied various strategies to tackle complex mathematical problems effectively. They used number lines, mental maths, and written methods to not only improve their ability to solve addition and subtraction questions but also develop a deeper understanding of the concepts. Year 4 have also worked hard on developing their understanding of both regular and irregular polygons. Through a variety of hands-on activities and interactive lessons, the children showed great understanding when applying their reasoning skills.  

In English, the children focused on writing explanation texts. Through exploring various examples of explanation texts, the children became familiar with their structure and key features.  With some inspiration from Wallace and Gromit's cracking contraptions, this empowered them to create their own incredible inventions, for which they developed detailed blueprints complete with clear labels. They were then able to effectively write their own explanation text including all the necessary features.  The children then focused on poetry exploring different types of poetry and figurative language. We visited the local woods to inspire some beautiful Autumn poems.