Welcome back to school and the start of an exciting year. I hope everyone had a lovely and restful summer break and enjoyed the warm weather. It’s great to see everyone back in school and the children so enthusiastic and excited about their learning this term. I’m really excited for what is already looking to be a fantastic year!
Reminders
Please make sure all belongings (water bottles, jumpers and PE kits) are named to avoid missing items.
Mrs Taplin
History
Our theme for both of these terms will be the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. Our key questions are ‘What happened when the Romans left Britain?’ and ‘Did the Vikings deserve their reputation?’ We will begin by with the Anglo-Saxons settlement in Britain and what life was like once the Romans left. Following on from this after half term, we will be looking at Viking invasions, finishing with the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Whole class reading
Our whole class reading book this term is Ted Hughes’s ‘The Iron Man’. These sessions give the class an opportunity to read a book together, practice reading aloud with expression, and answer comprehension style questions.
Maths
We will start the year by learning about place value and number, which are the building blocks of maths. After half term, we will be looking at calculating with the four operations. We will also be having a big focus on times tables throughout the year, which children should be practicing at home regularly. This will prepare year 4s for the Multiplication Tables Check in the summer.
RE
This term we will be considering the questions, ‘What does it mean if God is holy and loving?’ and ‘Was Jesus the Messiah?’.
Art
Before half term, we will be working on our drawing skills, with a particular focus on making some brilliant harvest artwork to decorate the church with at the harvest festival. After half term we will be working on sculpture.
Music
In term 1, we will be learning about the Leonard Bernstein’s – ‘Mambo’ from Symphonic Dances from ‘West Side Story’. This will involve listening, responding and creating compositions inspired by the song. After half term we will be starting our yearly recorder lessons. More information about this will be provided nearer the time. We will also be continuing our regular singing sessions with Mrs Bayman each week.
Computing
In Computing this term, we will be learning about computer networks and the internet and video production.
English
Before half term, we will be looking at the famous Old English poem, Beowulf, which is an Anglo-Saxon story. The children will be looking at various different versions of the story, including the Michael Morpurgo novel, which is going to inspire them to produce some amazing writing. After half term, we will be focusing on the text ‘Viking Boy’. This is a great story which links in nicely with our theme, as it looks at different aspects of Viking life and culture. We will also be doing handwriting practice and encouraging those who still need to earn their pen licences.
Spelling
During these terms, we will be using Superhero Spellings. This approach has 3 stages: learn, build and show. The children will be given opportunities to practice the words for the rule throughout the week, before completing dictation sentences on Fridays. These will be stuck in the back of homework books for the children to refer to if needed. The children will be split into year groups during these spelling sessions.
Science
In term 1, we will be learning about forces including gravity, air, and water resistance before moving onto learning about earth and space in term 2.
PSHE
PSHE lessons will be taught using the Jigsaw scheme of work. In the first term we will be looking at the piece ‘Being Me in My World.’ After half term our topic will be ‘Celebrating differences’.
PE
In term 1 we will be having our regular PE lessons with Bright Sparks, learning about invasion games, such as football. In our other PE lessons, we will be working on our tennis skills before moving onto tag rugby in term 2. PE sessions will take place on Mondays and Tuesdays. Full PE kit is expected and we will be outside.
DT
This term we will looking at pneumatic systems in DT.
MFL
We will begin the year by recapping any French learnt in year 3 before moving onto places in town after half term.
Homework
The children will be sent home with a homework menu for the term. Each week the children will select one task to complete. This is sent out on Wednesdays to be handed back in on a Monday.
Spelling
Each week, the children will be working on a different spelling rule and receive 10 spelling words. A list of these can be found stuck into homework books for the children to practise at home.
These will also be worked on in class and at the end of the week the children will complete dictation sentences including these 10 words.
Dictation sentences will be stuck into the back of homework books each week in order to see progress and any words/spelling rules that may need to be worked on further.
Reading
Reading is required every night which is to be shown in their reading records. Please bring completed reading records in for reading certificates.
Times tables
Don’t forget to keep practicing times tables at home whenever you can. We have a leader board for studio speed/Rockstar status up in the classroom which is updated weekly.
If you need your TT Rockstars login, just send me an email.
Key Dates
Thursday 24th September – Uckfield College PE
Friday 25th September – European Day of Languages
Friday 25th September – In School Poetry Recital
Tuesday 29th September – Harvest Festival and KS2 Hike
Monday 19th & Wednesday 21st October – Parent Consultations
Friday 23rd October – Last day of Term 1
Monday 2nd November – First day of Term 2 & School Photos
Friday 13th November – Children in Need Crazy Catwalk
Monday 16th November – Odd Socks Day
Thursday 19th November – Uckfield College PE
Friday 20th November – INSET Day
Friday 27th November – Takeover Day
Friday 4th December – Senior Citizen Christmas Party & Late Night Shopping Singing
Wednesday 9th December – Open the Book Donkey Walk
Tuesday 15th December – Christmas Jumper Day, School Christmas Lunch & KS2 Carol Concert
Thursday 17th December – KS2 Christmas Party
Friday 18th December – Last Day of Term 2 and Cup Assembly
