Welcome to Thames Class!
Our Teacher is Miss Fisher and our Teaching Assistant is Mrs Cordwell.
Our class reps are …
Our Topic this term is…
English
Maths
We will be following the White Rose scheme for maths. Our first unit is Place Value. We will be identifying the value of digits within numbers and using this to help us round numbers to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000.
Understanding Science and Technology
Science
In Science, our topic is Electricity. We will begin by learning about the different types of electricity and how they are generated as well as how we can stay safe with electricity. Then, we will move on to exploring circuits and having fun building our own complete and incomplete circuits using different components.
In Science our topic is Solids, Liquids and Gases. We will be comparing and grouping materials according to their state of matter and develop our understanding of technical drawings to support our ideas.
We will be investigating the processes of evaporation, melting and solidifying and begin to understand how these processes naturally happen within the water cycle.
Computing
In computing, we will look at networks and the internet. We will develop an understanding that the internet is a network of networks. We will explore who owns the content on webpages and evaluate online content to decide how honest, accurate or reliable it is.
DT
Spring – Our DT lessons this term are inspired by our topic: Riotous Royals! We will be exploring textiles and clothing as we begin to design our own outfit for a Horrible Histories video about Henry VIII. We will be developing our knowledge of the properties and uses of different fabrics as well as developing our skills in recognising which designs are “fit for purpose”.
Autumn – During Design and Technology lessons we will be creating a healthy soup recipe. We will develop our understanding about the importance of a healthy diet and be able to explain which seasonal vegetables are available at this time of year. We will then create a seasonal vegetable soup recipe and practise our food preparation skills.
Art and Culture
Art
Spring – Like DT, our Art this term is inspired by our topic: Riotous Royals. Our primary focus will be exploring the Bayeux Tapestry (which, did you know is not actually a tapestry? It’s actually an embroidery) and the different scenes that have been stitched into it. We will also begin got explore some of the different stitches used and then we will have a go at re-creating our own version of the tapestry!
In Art, we will explore sculptures through the work of Giacometti and create our own insect sculptures made out of tinfoil. We will explore the range of sculptures that surround our town. We will develop our sketching skills practising a variety of techniques including cross hatching, stippling and blending.
Music
In our first unit we will be exploring layers of a song. We will explore Amenhotep III’s funeral march. We will work in small groups to perform a section of the song using untuned percussion or our voices.
Understanding our Health and Well-Being
PSHE
Our first Jigsaw unit is called Being Me in My World. We will investigate hat teamwork feels like and who is in our school community. We will then explore the rights of a child. After talking about suitable rewards and consequences for my actions, we will examine who makes decisions and why.
PE
This term, we will continue the swimming sessions that started in the summer term of Year 3. Thames class will be swimming on Friday afternoons.
Our other PE unit for the first half of the Autumn term is Basketball. We will develop our skills so we can pass to a teammate using a variety of techniques appropriate to the game. We will play small games to help us control our dribbling under pressure, make tactical decisions about passing and shooting and defend one on one.
Understanding the World
History
Spring – This term, we are exploring some of the most influential English monarchs, starting with William the Conqueror all the way up to the late Queen Elizabeth II. We will be exploring significant events in English history such as the signing of the Magna Carter. We will also explore some of the different castles that have been built.
Check out this Horrible Histories song about ALL the Royals. It turns into a bit of a tongue twister but it’s so fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC6okzIKQvg (We all love Horrible Histories in Year 4)
Geography
In the Autumn Term, we used our knowledge of the water cycle to explore rivers. We used atlases to identify rivers on maps of the UK and also explored the different features of a river.
We have also explored the various Arctic animals in Earth’s two Polar Regions. Did you know that Penguins and Polar Bears cannot live together?
Our inspirational figure for this unit was Sir David Attenborough and we explored some of wondrous things he has found on his expeditions.
RE
Spring Term
Autumn Term
Spanish
Spring – This term, we are going to learn how to answer this question: ¿Dónde vives? (Where do you live?) We will be introduced to brand new vocabulary, such as the different places we could live as well as the different rooms we may have in our homes.
Autumn –
During Autumn Term, we explored La Familia and learned how to read and say the different things about our families, such as the nouns of each family member as well as how to say how many brothers and sisters.
In Spanish, we are continuing to develop our Spanish knowledge by learning how to introduce ourselves in Spanish. We will learn how to ask and respond to key phrases such as:
Home Learning
In line with the rest of the school, we encourage your child to spend time reading at home each evening. This can be recorded in their Reading Record by an adult or by the child.
As the Multiplication Test occurs at the end of Year 4, we encourage your child to spend 10 minutes each evening practising their skills by playing TTRockstars.
Each Friday, we set homework on Google Classroom. We post a selection of activities and ask that your child has a go at completing three different activities. They should spend no more than 20 minutes on each activity.
Water bottles
We ask that your child brings a named water bottle to school each day. These are kept by our sink so that your child has free access to them throughout the day. Your child can refill their bottle at one of the water fountains when they need to.
PE kits
We ask that your child has their PE kit in school each day of the week as our timetable is subject to change due to the weather and the availability of space. In line with our school uniform policy, they require a pair of plain blue jogging bottoms for the winter months as we may have our lesson outside
Peartree Spring Primary School
Hydean Way
Stevenage
Herts
SG2 9GG
© 2021 Peartree Spring Primary School
