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Year 4 Learning Journeys

Year 4 continues our Key Stage 2 journey, developing Independence as we go!

AUTUMN 1 "How to Train Your Dragon"

                                                          

Haddock the Third is a smallish Viking with a longish name. Hiccup's father is chief of the Hairy Hooligan tribe, meaning Hiccup is the Hope and the Heir to the Hairy Hooligan throne - but most of the time Hiccup feels like a very ordinary boy, finding it hard to be a Hero.

Geography –looking at how the horrific invasions of the Vikings helped to shape our country. We use our mapping skills to look at our local area and further afield to examine evidence left behind by these historic figures.

History – We will investigate the impact the pillaging and plundering Vikings had on the unsuspecting villagers of the United Kingdom. Our journey begins at Lindisfarne and ends with the Battle of Hastings.

Science –

We will begin to use dichotomous keys to sort plants and animals into classification groups. Children will use computer programmes to create branching databases.

PSHE – looking at what it takes to be a leader, involving democracy.

AUTUMN 2 "Cinderella"

                                                   

Kind-hearted and beautiful Cinderella, sees her world turned upside after the death of her mother. When her father remarries, her evil stepmother and hideous stepsisters are not what they seem! Things deteriorate when Cinderella is left to serve the family as a maid. A neglected Cinderella does not stand much chance of attending the King’s Royal Ball until her Fairy Godmother appears.

Science – Ever wondered why we have so many different teeth? We will be looking at the different functions of our teeth.

RE/ PHSE - Our ‘Book of Deeds’ brings us to our discussion about morals and how there is an agreement between man and God.

Geography– Like a Fairy Godmother who can transport herself anywhere in the world, we are exploring further afield where we will encounter volcanoes!

English – We will be putting ourselves into Cinderella’s shoes!!  The children will be keeping a diary about Cinderella’s daily life and the gruelling chores she is left to undertake.

SPRING 1 "Aquila"

                                                    

Aquila has been found by boys bunking off a geography field trip. They have no idea where it came from or what it does. But Geoff's discovered that when you sit in it these little coloured lights come on, and if you push one of the big blue ones. . . WHOOSH!

History – Our characters, Geoff and Tom, have the opportunity to travel back to the Roman Empire. We will be learning about the Roman Invasion of the United Kingdom and investigating its long-lasting Legacy.

Art  -We will start our term by creating a beautiful display of Roman mosaics

Science/ Music – Imagine the sound of a UFO coming closer! We will be investigating pitch, volume, and how sound travels. We will listen to the Space Odyssey by Richard Strauss and create our own musical piece based on space.

English -  We will be writing a newspaper report. Children will learn how to use the 5 W’s to provide their audience with the full scope of the story covered. Children will also learn how to incorporate reported speech in their writing.

SPRING 2 "Cat Burglar"

                                                     

Scarlet thinks she has it all figured out. She and her dad are on a mission to return stolen treasures to their rightful owners. But when they take an ancient Aztec bracelet, her world turns upside down. Dad goes missing, and mysterious powers erupt inside Scarlet.

English – Could you navigate your way through a maze following someone else's instructions? We will be learning how to write detailed instructions with a focus on incorporating prepositional noun phrases.

Science – Our environments need to be looked after to ensure they stay a haven for all and not pose a danger for living things. We will be looking at lifecycles and investigating how we can keep our habitats safe.

Art- We turn to creative side and design and make some terrifying Aztec masks to be used during our Aztec ceremony.

SUMMER 1 "Frank Einstein"

                                                   

Frank Einstein loves to tinker, build and take things apart. He loves to observe, hypothesise, experiment and invent. Frank Einstein is a kid genius who loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination and definitely unusual.#

 Science – we will become budding electricians (without electrocuting ourselves!) Conducting electrical circuits with switches and lights. Do you think you could use this knowledge to create your own robot?

ICT- Spreadsheets.

Children will learn how to create a database and input data.

DT – Behind the scenes of robotics, are cogs and levers. What can we create?

SUMMER 2 "Twitch"

                                                          

Non-fiction meets delightful narrative in this gripping story bursting with fascinating facts about birds and the intriguing world of birdwatching. Twitch loves birds, especially his family of pigeons. He wants to be a true ‘twitcher;’ spending his summer holiday in his den in Aves Wood Nature Reserve, however an escaped prisoner and a school bully get in the way and suddenly, his quiet nature reserve is full of police, mystery, and excitement. 

English -  Like Twitch, pupils will be using books, magazines, and the internet to research a variety of birds; learning about their habitats, diet, and migratory habits. Children will then create a detailed non-chronological report to inspire future, budding ‘Twitchers.’ 

Geography -  Pupils will learn why some birds migrate and others do not. Using maps, pupils will track birds' migratory routes and consider the migratory techniques employed by birds. Finally, pupils will consider the human impact on birds and learn about sustainable initiatives, such as rewilding, to ensure our bird populations continue to be protected and thrive. 

DT - Bird Hides and Bird Feeders.  

Pupils will have the opportunity to explore the school’s amazing outdoor area to plan where to build an effective bird hide. Using their planning questions, pupils will design and then build their own model bird hides. 

Pupils will also learn how used plastic bottles, and other recyclable materials can be turned into bird feeders before designing their own, for our forest school and outdoor learning areas. 

PSHRE - Pupils will begin to understand why it is important to: recognise and respect different family types; the importance of trust and honesty in a positive healthy relationship; identify risks in playful ‘dares’ and online challenges and explain why we should never participate in activities that make us feel pressured or at risk.