Welcome to our class page! My name is Miss Patchett and I am the class teacher based in Lapwings full time. We also have Mrs White who covers my teacher time out of class (Wednesday morning).
On this page, I will outline what our Spring Term 1 curriculum looks like. If you have any questions about this or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me; my door is always open. Otherwise, please email: admin@starcross-primary.devon.sch.uk
Key information
- PE days are Tuesday and Friday. Please come in wearing your PE kit.
- Spelling homework is set on a Monday via Spelling Frame, to be completed by the Friday
- TTRS is to be completed at least three times a week as well as reading at least 4-5 times a week
Here is a weekly timetable for Year 4.
Reading
Our class story and guided reading focus on Mondays and Fridays will be Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson. The story begins in London, where Maia, an orphan, is living with her unkind relatives, the Carters. When she receives news that she is to live with distant relatives, the mysterious Mr. and Mrs. Murray, in the Amazon rainforest, she is both nervous and excited. Maia’s journey to Brazil is filled with anticipation as she imagines the exotic and unknown land that awaits her.
This will be followed by the Queen’s Nose by Dick King Smith where Uncle Ginger sets up a treasure-hunt for his niece Harmony, but the prize is just an old fifty-pence piece. It looks like any other coin. But is it? The coin is a magic one, and when you rub the Queen’s Nose your wishes come true . . . if you believe in magic, that is!
English
In English this term, we will be looking at ‘Fantasically Great Women Who Changed the World’ by Kate Pankhurst. We will be focusing on writing biographies using fronted adverbials, paragraphs to organise ideas around a theme, pronouns and using simple organisational devices to draft and write non-narrative material.
After this we will complete a poetry-based unit around the book ‘Poetry Pie’ by Roger McGough. Here we will focus on preparing poems and play scripts to read aloud and to perform, showing understanding through intonation, tone, volume and action, we will discuss words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and imagination and recognise some different forms of poetry (for example free verse, narrative poetry.
Maths
This half term in Maths, we will begin by looking at ‘Multiplication and Division’ before moving on to ‘Length and Perimeter.’ We use the White Rose Maths scheme for Maths lessons, as well as daily flashbacks to ensure that previous learning is embedded.
Science
Our Science unit this half term will be ‘States of Matter.’ This project teaches children about solids, liquids and gases and their characteristic properties. They observe how materials change state as they are heated and cooled, and learn key terminology associated with these processes.
History
Our History unit this term is a continuation of our Invasion unit, this time focusing on Vikings.
Geography
Our Geography project this half term is ‘Misty Mountain, Winding River.’ This project teaches children about the characteristics and features of rivers and mountain ranges around the world, including a detailed exploration of the ecosystems and processes that shape them and the land around them.
Computing
This unit is the first of the two programming units in Year 4, and looks at repetition and loops within programming. Pupils will create programs by planning, modifying, and testing commands to create shapes and patterns. They will use Logo, a text-based programming language.
Art
This half term, our Art unit will be ‘Vista.’ This project teaches children about the techniques that artists use when composing landscape images, such as colour and atmosphere.
PE
Lapwings PE days are: Tuesday and Friday. This half terms focus will be tag cricket and gymnastics with a focus on flight this time round.
French
In French this half term, we will be focusing on ‘Je me presente’ (presenting myself). In this unit pupils focus on asking questions as well as providing accurate replies. They will demonstrate a growing understanding of grammar to manipulate language and start to create sentences of their own using a range of personal details including name, age, where they live and nationality.
RW
In RW this half term, we will be looking at the key question ‘What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today?’ In this unit, pupils build on their understanding of Brahman and look at lived reality through examining Puja at home, worship in the mandir, and the festival of Diwali. Pupils will reflect on the idea of dharma through two stories which will sow seeds for examining this concept in more depth in Upper Key Stage 2.
PSHE
In PSHE, we use the scheme SCARF. This half term, we will be looking at ‘Keeping Safe’ focusing on danger, risk or hazard, road safety, the meaning of feeling safe or unsafe and checking labels to stay safe.
Music
In Music, our unit ‘Fanfare for the common man’ is a listening unit is based around the piece Fanfare for the common man by Aaron Copland. It provides the foundation for investigating how unique music is in creating dramatic effect and atmosphere, and is an excellent starting point for exploring the use of pitch, melody, texture, and timbre. We will also start preparing for our Ivy Trust Music Project.