Welcome to Year 4!

Welcome to Year 4! We are so excited to work with you this year and are looking forward to all of the amazing learning that we will share together.

This term, our theme is Journey to Another World, and we’ll be exploring a variety of exciting topics that will transport us to new places and experiences!

In math, we’ll tackle real-world challenges by converting measurements, calculating perimeters, and presenting data in clear and creative ways through bar charts and time graphs.

In history, we’ll travel back in time to Ancient Egypt, uncovering the fascinating culture, achievements, and daily lives of this incredible civilization. For geography, we’ll journey to Spain, discovering its cities, landmarks, and unique location in relation to the rest of the world.

In science, we’ll explore the worlds of sound and electricity—learning how pitch connects to the objects that produce it and experimenting with circuits to make discoveries about energy.

Our art lessons will take inspiration from Ancient Egypt as we create clay models and explore line, tone, and texture. In DT, we’ll dive into designing and building products using electrical systems, incorporating switches, bulbs, and motors.

In music, we’ll journey into the world of rhythm and composition through the unit Stop!, developing our appreciation of music and enhancing our singing and creative skills.

For RE, we’ll reflect on what it means to follow different faiths in today’s world, exploring Hinduism and Christianity. In PSHE, we’ll discuss belonging to a community and delve into topics like money and work, preparing for real-world journeys of our own.

Finally, in computing, we’ll explore programming to create shapes using loops and investigate how data is collected and logged over time.

It’s going to be an incredible term full of discovery and creativity as we take a Journey to Another World! We can’t wait to see the children immerse themselves in these exciting learning adventures.

In English, we’re diving into the wonderful story of The Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo. It’s a heartfelt tale about a boy and his extraordinary friendship with a white lion cub. The book takes us from the sweeping African plains to the quiet countryside of England, and it’s packed with moments to spark our imagination and creativity.

Our main focus this term will be on writing newspaper reports, with the aim of creating a brilliant article by the end of the unit. Along the way, we’ll also try our hand at some shorter pieces, including:

• Setting descriptions of the stunning places in the story
• Instructions for key events
• Arguments where we’ll tackle some of the big questions the book raises
• Informal letters from the perspectives of the characters
• Q&A sessions, where we’ll get to ask and answer all sorts of interesting questions

This unit will help us improve our writing skills while having fun exploring a fantastic story. We’re excited to see where our imaginations will take us!

P.E
Our PE days this term are Tuesday (outdoor PE) and Thursday (Swimming).

On Tuesdays, children should arrive at school wearing their PE kit, which consists of black joggers or shorts, a plain white T-shirt, and a green school jumper. Please ensure they wear trainers suitable for physical activity.

On Thursdays, we will have swimming lessons, which are part of the British National Curriculum and a vital life skill. A member of staff will be in the water at all times to ensure the children’s safety. Unless there is a valid reason, which must be shared with the school as soon as possible, all children must participate.

Please ensure your child brings the following items on Thursdays:

Girls:
One-piece swimsuit (no bikinis or tankinis)
Tight-fitting T-shirt (optional)
Goggles (optional)
Swimming cap (optional) — long hair must be tied back
Towel

Boys:
Above-knee swimming trunks
Tight-fitting T-shirt (optional)
Goggles (optional)
Towel

In addition, please send your child to school every day with a water bottle and their reading book.

Should you need to contact us, please use ClassDojo first. You may also reach us via email at:

Mrs Thompson (Bushby Class) - hthompson@widdenprimary.co.uk

Mr Bennett (Morpurgo Class) - mbennett@widdenprimary.co.uk

Thank you for your support.