Welcome to the Summer Term!

We hope this message finds you well and that you and your children enjoyed a fantastic Easter break! As we gear up for an exciting summer term, we're thrilled to share some of the delightful activities and learning opportunities we have planned for the children.

We have lots of exciting activities lined up for this term! As we celebrate Earth Day, we will engage in fun and educational projects that highlight the importance of caring for our planet. Students will have the opportunity to learn about sustainability through hands-on activities and discussions.

Additionally, we are thrilled to announce our annual Sports Day! This event promises to be filled with friendly competition, teamwork, and plenty of fun. We encourage everyone to participate and cheer on their classmates. Let’s make this term memorable with these wonderful events and more!

Meet the Year 4 team

Miss LM (Le Masurier) will teach 4KLM.

Miss Prothero will teach 4GL.

Miss Rich will teach 4GL Monday mornings and  Miss Mathews will teach 4GL every Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs Claughton will also teach 4KLM every Thursday morning.

Our teaching assistants are Miss Phippen and Mrs Bishop.

Underpinning all our learning and time together is our school values, they are also linked to our Dojo rewards. We will learn about and celebrate examples of each value daily.

Our value for this term is... unity

Reading

Reading is a priority at Salisbury Road, therefore we will be practising our reading skills 5x a week using VIPERS to help us. In the classroom, we will use a mixture of choral, echo and ping pong reading, this will enable us to become confident, fluent readers.

Please remember to read at home four times a week to an adult. It is also really important that you record your reading in your reading record so your teacher can see how much you are reading at home. If you have read four times in a week, you will earn a raffle ticket for the reading raffle and have the chance to win a brand new book!

English

English – Summer Term Learning

In Summer Term 1, we will delve into the fascinating world of information texts! Our journey will help us understand the genre and identify the key features that make these texts informative and engaging. We’ll explore the specific language used, such as descriptive adjectives and factual statements, which bring our topics to life.

To make our learning even more exciting, we will connect this to our previous studies on the Amazon rainforest. Each student will choose one animal to research in depth, focusing on its appearance, diet, and habitat. By crafting our own information texts, we will not only enhance our writing skills but also deepen our understanding of these incredible creatures. Let’s embark on this adventure together and discover the wonders of the animal kingdom!

In Summer Term 2, we will embark on an exciting journey into the realm of fantasy writing! Our main character will discover a magical portal that leads to a wondrous world filled with adventure. We will begin with a captivating build-up, where our character receives a mysterious warning not to venture too far. This sets the stage for a thrilling problem when they choose to ignore the advice, leading to unexpected challenges.

As the story unfolds, our character will face obstacles but ultimately find their way back to the portal just in time for a heartwarming resolution. To wrap up the term, we will explore the beauty of language through writing cinquain poems, allowing us to express our thoughts and feelings in a creative format. Get ready for a term filled with imagination and storytelling!

Maths

This term we will be looking at the place value of numbers up to 10,000, estimation of numbers, fractions, multiples of numbers, written methods for multiplication and division as well as beginning to look at shape and angles.

Please don't forget to keep practising your times tables - these are VERY important! If you get your sheet signed for going onto TTRS 4 times-a-week, you will earn a raffle ticket for a wonderful prize.

Challenge yourself to beat your classmates on TTRS.

Science

This Term in Physics: Electricity

we will dive into the fascinating world of Physics, focusing on Electricity and simple series circuits. We will explore how various electrical appliances—like toasters, kettles, fans, phones, and games—serve important purposes and rely on electricity to function.

It’s essential to remember that we should always turn off electrical appliances when they are not in use to save energy and stay safe. We will learn about complete circuits and incomplete circuits, understanding how switches work to control the flow of electricity. Additionally, we will discuss conductors and insulators, discovering which materials allow electricity to pass through and which do not.

Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of electricity!

In summer term 2 chemistry: Properties of materials

This term, we will embark on an exciting journey to explore the physical and chemical properties of materials. We’ll start by diving into physical properties, which are fascinating characteristics that help us understand how materials behave.

We will investigate properties such as electrical conductivity, which tells us how well a material can conduct electricity, and melting and boiling points, which indicate the temperatures at which substances change states. Additionally, we’ll look at thermal conductivity, the ability of a material to conduct heat, and whether materials are malleable or hard/soft. We’ll also discuss how some materials are windproof and magnetic.

As we explore these properties, we’ll also consider an important question: Are all chemicals safe? This will encourage us to think critically about some of the materials we encounter every day. Let’s get ready for an engaging term ahead!

Geography: understanding earthquakes and human settlements

In our geography lessons, we will explore the fascinating world of earthquakes and their impact on human settlements. First, we’ll discuss what an earthquake is and the science behind why they occur. Understanding the tectonic plates and their movements will help us grasp the causes of these natural events.

Next, we will learn how we measure earthquakes using tools like the Richter scale, which helps us understand their strength. Our focus will then shift to the significant earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, examining the devastating effects they had on communities and infrastructure.

Finally, we will discuss ways to reduce the impact of earthquakes, including building regulations and emergency preparedness. By the end of our lessons, you will have a deeper understanding of how geography shapes human experiences in the face of natural disasters.

History

In our history lessons, we will delve into the fascinating local history of Plymouth, focusing on the Mayflower and its journey in the 1600s. We will discover how the Mayflower passengers, seeking a new life, were welcomed by the indigenous Wampanoag people upon their arrival. This relationship was complex, marked by both cooperation and challenges, and it’s essential to remember this as we learn about their shared history.

The Mayflower Steps serve as a poignant monument, reminding us of the significant events that shaped Plymouth and its people. As we explore these historical sites, we will also uncover other monuments throughout Plymouth that celebrate its rich heritage.

Homework

Homework will be given to the children every Tuesday and will either consolidate their learning in school or extend their learning further. It will be expected back to school on the following Monday. 

Sometimes, the homework may need to be completed via teams and other times it may be on paper or be a project to complete. 

If you ever have any concerns about your child's homework, please speak to their class teacher. 

Year 4 Spelling

Children will receive weekly spellings with their test taking place on a Monday. 

Each week, they will have six spellings which follow the current rule they are learning and the other four words will comprise from the statutory list from the national curriculum. 

We will teach the children strategies which will help them to learn their spellings. 

** For the children having phonics sessions, they will be given a list of spellings by their phonics teacher each week**

PE

4KLM and 4GL will have PE on a Wednesday afternoon. However, this occasionally may change so please ensure they have their PE kit in school every day.