Year 4
English Overviews
We're currently revising our English curriculum content for 2021-2022 to ensure it meets the needs of our children. Class teachers will be able to provide you with more information if you'd like it, just send them a message or call the office. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Reading Overview

Hold a Sentence
Writing Overview

Hold a Sentence
Mathematics Overview & Support
We are proud to work with the Maths Hub for 2020-2022 to develop a matery approach when teaching mathematics.
Topics & Overviews
Ancient Civilisations
Topic Description
In the Ancient Civilisations project, your child will learn about three of the earliest civilisations in the world; ancient Sumer, ancient Egypt and the Indus Valley civilisation. They will study the ancient Sumerian and ancient Egyptian civilisation in detail, to discover how crucial factors like water sources and farming helped them to develop and thrive. They will find out about important inventions and the growth of cities. They will also study the lives of different people in society, including the roles of kings and pharaohs. The children will reflect on their learning by identifying the similarities and differences between the two civilisations, before studying the Indus Valley civilisation independently. They will explore sources of evidence about the location of the Indus Valley, cities and trade, and note the reasons why historians know less about the Indus Valley than other ancient civilisations. The children will then compare all three civilisations, before learning about the causes and consequences of each civilisationβs decline. They will also consider whether or not these civilisations left a lasting legacy.


Topic Overview
Knowledge Organiser
Playlist!
Topic Description
Ssh β¦ Whatβs that noise? Is it a bash, a crash, a shake or a hum?
This half term, weβll listen to a live musical performance, picking out the different sounds and techniques. Roger McGoughβs poem, The Sound Collector, will inspire us to go on a sound walk around school. Weβll investigate the volume of sounds and make vibrations using different equipment. Our toes will be tapping along to all kinds of music, and weβll be listening to song lyrics to get lots of ideas to write our own. Weβll create artwork that represents jazz music, and look at famous, jazz-influenced art. Weβll find out how our ear works, how sound travels and learn about pitch. In D&T, weβll investigate how musical instruments work and enjoy making our own. Weβll share our favourite music and explore how music is used in everyday life. As a challenge, weβll create an uplifting celebration song.
Itβs time for our encore! Weβll write information leaflets about pop stars and invite you to a performance to show off our musical and dancing skills.


Topic Overview
Knowledge Organiser
Misty Mountain, Winding River
Topic Description
In the Misty Mountain, Winding River project, your child will learn about the characteristics and physical processes of rivers, including how they shape the landscape over time, their significance around the world and the impact of flooding. They will learn how to use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and a key to locate and plot geographical places and features on a map, as well as how contour lines are used to show the topography of an area. They will have the opportunity to learn about the stages of the water cycle and about mountains and their different formations, studying mountain ranges in the United Kingdom and around the world. They will also learn about habitats and how human and natural influences can have an impact on the environment.


Topic Overview
Knowledge Organiser
Burps, Bottoms and Bile
Topic Description
Open wide β letβs look inside! Weβre on a voyage of discovery to investigate the busy world inside your body.
This half term, weβll visit a dentist and ask lots of questions. Weβll find out about different dental procedures and learn new scientific vocabulary. At school, weβll use this information to write toothy fact files. There will be lots of investigating as we learn about our different teeth, how to brush them and how sugary drinks affect them. Weβll examine the amount of sugar in different foods and create images of ourselves with healthy and unhealthy teeth. Weβll write a story describing the journey a piece of food takes through the digestive system. In science, weβll learn about the organs involved in digestion and make our own wearable digestive systems in D&T. Weβll learn about digestion in different animals and handle a range of digestive organs.
At the end of the project, weβll write persuasive texts to convince people to eat healthily and share these with you. Weβll use what weβve learned to play a scientific game and create healthy snack packs for our friends. Weβll also write to our digestive systems, promising to keep them healthy.


Topic Overview
Knowledge Organiser
Blue Abyss
Topic Description
Grab your wetsuit! Weβre going on a deep sea adventure.
This half term, weβll visit an aquarium to gain an insight into the ocean world. Weβll sketch different creatures and create clay sculptures of our favourite. Writing poems inspired by our favourite sea creatures will help us to develop a rich vocabulary. Using maps, globes and atlases, weβll identify the worldβs oceans and seas. Weβll also find different ways of grouping living things. Diving back into the 1800s, weβll learn all about the HMS Challenger. Weβll research Jacques Cousteau and write biographies about his exciting explorations. As a challenge, weβll create model submarines using recycled materials and program an onscreen submarine. Weβll study Antony Gormleyβs Another Place sculpture and write reviews. After locating the Great Barrier Reef on a map, weβll learn about the risks it faces.
At the end of the ILP, weβll listen to the soothing sounds of whale song and write ballads about whales. Weβll invite you to visit our βOceans art galleryβ and deliver workshops about sustainability.


Topic Overview
Knowledge Organiser
Invasion
Topic Description
In the Invasion project, your child will explore the effects of the Roman withdrawal and the chronology and geography of subsequent invasions. They will study the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings in detail, examining their reasons for invading, their settlements and their everyday life. Your child will also look at monasteries and the Anglo-Saxon legacy. They will consider how we know about life in this period and investigate the Sutton Hoo ship burial. They will learn about Athelstan, an Anglo-Saxon king, and what happened after his death, before ending the project by learning about the Norman invasion of 1066.
New Topic for 2021-22 -
watch this space for more information ...

Topic Overview
Knowledge Organiser
Religious Education - Love To Celebrate!
We look at six celebrations from across the major religions of the world
Sikhism
Vaisakhi
Spring 2
Sikhs usually celebrate Vaisakhi on the 13th and 14th April. It is the most important festival day for Sikhs because, in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa. The Khalsa are ordained Sikhs who make promises to wear the Five Ks and follow the Sikh religion faithfully. To become part of the Khalsa, Sikhs drink a sugary liquid called amrit and have it sprinkled onto their eyes and hair. Some Sikhs choose to take amrit during Vaisakhi.
Sikhs might also take part in a Nagar Kirtan during Vaisakhi, where the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is driven through the streets accompanied by many members of the local Sikh community. Free food, called langar, is provided and dancing and martial arts demonstrations are enjoyed.
Vaisakhi is also a New Year and harvest festival in the Punjab.
Islaam
Eid ul-Adha
Summer 2
Eid ul-Adha, also known as the Greater Eid, is the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar. It commemorates the Prophet Ibrahimβs willingness to sacrifice his son when Allah ordered him to.
Muslims believe that Allah appeared to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son Ismaβil as an act of obedience. The devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son. As Ibrahim was about to kill his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a ram to sacrifice instead.
Eid ul-Adha is celebrated at the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Christianity
Holy Week and Easter
Spring 1
Holy Week is the last week of Lent. It starts with Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. During Holy Week, the story of Jesus' last supper and trial are commemorated. Good Friday is a day of mourning in many Christian churches as Jesus' crucifixion is remembered.
Easter Sunday is the day when Christians remember the resurrection of Jesus with church services, candles, acclamations, great food and Easter eggs.
Buddhism
Kathina
Autumn 2
Kathina is a celebration held in October or November after Vassa, the Rains Retreat, which is sometimes known as the Buddhists Lent. Buddhist monks stay in a vihara or monastery during the rainy season in Asian countries and spend time studying the Dharma (Buddha's teaching) and meditating.
During Kathina, members of the local community give a new robe to the monks who have completed the Rains Retreat. The monks then decide which of them will receive the robe. Many Buddhists believe that giving a new robe is merit-making and will earn them good karma in their next life.
The story of Kathina can be found in ancient Buddhist scriptures. The ceremony is named after the sewing frame that monks and nuns would use to create new robes.
Judaism
Shabbat
Summer 1
Shabbat (Sabbath) is the Jewish day of rest. Jews believe God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Shabbat begins at sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday. During Shabbat, families spend time together, rest, eat special meals and attend the synagogue. However, there are many things to prepare before Shabbat arrives and rules to follow to make sure that Shabbat is truly a day of rest.
Hinduism
Janmashtami
Autumn 1
The festival of Janmashtami celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna and falls in August or September. Krishna is one of the Hindu faith's most popular gods.
The festival lasts for two days. Worshippers may sing songs, tell stories of Krishna's life, dance, rock his cradle and wait for midnight to arrive to mark his birth. Some Hindus fast during the day of Janmashtami and only eat after midnight.
P.S.H.E - Personal Social Health Education (Including Relationships & Sex Education)
We follow six key themes in P.S.H.E. that are taught at the same time across the school, below is the specific theme covered.
Being Me In My World
Being part of a class team
Being a school citizen
Rights, responsibilities and democracy (school council)
Rewards and consequences
Group decision-making
Having a voice
What motivates behaviour
Celebrating Difference
Challenging assumptions
Judging by appearance
Accepting self and others
Understanding influences
Understanding bullying
Problem-solving
Identifying how special and
unique everyone is
First impressions
Dreams & Goals
Hopes and dreams
Overcoming disappointment
Creating new, realistic dreams
Achieving goals
Working in a group
Celebrating contributions
Resilience
Positive attitudes
Healthy Me
Healthier friendships
Group dynamics
Smoking
Alcohol
Assertiveness
Peer pressure
Celebrating inner strength
Relationships
Jealousy
Love and loss
Memories of loved ones
Getting on and Falling Out
Girlfriends and boyfriends
Showing appreciation to people and animals
Changing Me
Being unique
Having a baby
Girls and puberty
Confidence in change
Accepting change
Preparing for transition
Environmental change
Topic Overview
Knowledge Organiser