1. Year 4 Curriculum Newsletter – Term 3
Discovery
Over the next term, we will be learning about Local History connected to Castles. We will also be learning about ‘The Active Planet.’
RE & PSHE
In R.E we will be looking at the miracles of Jesus and asking what they teach Christians today.
In PSHE we will be looking at, poverty and charity and how these things affect society.
Literacy
Our Literacy this term will be linked to our Discovery topic: Castles and The Active Planet.
The children will be learning through the genres of :
Non-chronological reports – Linked to Castles.
Poetry – linked to fire and volcanoes.
Explanation texts - linked to how the earth’s plates work.
It is important to continue to hear your child read and to discuss the text.
For those reluctant readers, encouraging reading of magazines, newspapers and comics is important.
Please also practise spellings with your child every week.
Through discovery we will be learning:
In Local History we will be learning about:
What is a castle.
What they were used for.
What local castles do we have around here.
In Geography, we’ll be finding out:
• About how the Earth is formed.
• What a volcanic island is and where they are in the world.
• What causes an earthquake.
• How earthquakes can be measured.
In Technology, we’ll be finding out:
• What makes buildings strong.
• About protective clothing and equipment.
• About how to put together a survival kit.
In Art, we’ll be finding out: 
• About hot and cold colours.
• About using different materials and techniques to represent a volcano.
Year 4 Curriculum Newsletter – Term 3
Spring 2015
Important information to support learning:
Please practise spellings - given and tested on Wednesdays.
Please support homework - given on a Friday and to be handed in by Tuesday at the latest.
Please practise times tables which are tested on a Thursday.
Please read at least 3 days a week with your child.
Please make sure children bring in PE Kit and appropriate art shirts.
Please ensure Home-Link Books are kept up to date and in school every day.
Numeracy
This term we will investigating place value and ordering numbers. We will also be reviewing the four operations of:
Addition
Subtraction
Multiplication
Division
We will be concentrating on developing the children’s skills of solving real-life problems using these operations.
To help support your child, you could involve them in real-life problems such as using money in shops, measuring while baking and reading time and calculating duration of TV programmes.
Circle Time
Children will be learning about respect and what it means within our school and society.
Computing
In computing, the children will be making short films using movie maker. PE
In PE, we will be learning about the rules and skills of Rugby and about developing teamwork. In gymnastics, we will be focusing on balancing and stretching.
Class Assemblies am
Badgers (Mr W): Tuesday 17th March
Dragonflies (Mr S): Tuesday 24th March
Forces:
In Science, we’ll be finding out:
• How a ball flies through the air
• How different objects fall
• What gravity is and how it pulls on objects
• How air resistance affects moving objects
• How water pushes up on floating objects
• Why some objects float and others sink
In Technology, we’ll be finding out:
How to make a sailing boat or flying paper plane 
In Music, we’ll be finding out:
• How to play our homemade instruments
In International, we’ll be finding out:
• About sound and light pollution