Autumn Term

Maths

At St Thomas' we follow Power Maths, White Rose Edition. The children make fantastic progress through this scheme, taking small steps to ensure Mastery of each Unit before we move on.

We are starting with Place Value, up to Thousands, using base ten and place value counters as support. This unit builds on previous learning in Year 3 about place value within 1,000. This previous learning introduced children to the concept of counting in 10s, comparing numbers, ordering numbers and using a number line to 1,000. Children will continue to use these previously learnt skills and apply them when working with 4-digit numbers. We then move on to Addition and Subtraction. In this unit, they will move on to comparing 4-digit numbers and ordering numbers to 10,000. This prepares them for tackling addition and subtraction of 4-digit numbers in the next unit, including numbers where exchanges are needed in more than one column. Just before Christmas we will focus on Area before Starting on Multiplication and Division.

In June the children will take the MTC - Multiplication Checks. This is an online test where children have six seconds per question, 25 questions, based on their mental knowledge of the times tables.

English

In English this term, children will have a range of opportunities to write in a variety of genres and different view points. Children will explore their drama skills to immerse themselves in their character and plot, while having great fun in the process!

Children will model a detailed writing process in their own writes, beginning with analysis of the genre, followed by exploring the grammatical skills that will add to the genre's effect, then moving on to a detailed writing experience, including drafting, editing and publishing their writing.

A large part of our writing will include the exploration of language, encouraging the children to develop a depth of language that adds to effect and meaning in both fictional and non-fiction writing.

Reading is essential to the writing process. We will have regular opportunities to read for pleasure, read for understanding - through comprehension, and read for fluency via our PALS reading process.

Autumn Term.pptx

Learning and Growing as the People of God:

In the first half term, RE will have a focus on the teaches of Genesis, where the children reflect that every human person is made in the image and likeness of God and is called to reflect God’s love.

We will discuss that God gives us responsibility to care for all of his creation – linking this part of our RE learning with our Catholic Social Teaching of stewardship. We will therefore ask, how does God give us responsibility to care for all of his creation?

God called Abram into a special relationship which is called a Covenant. God protected His faithful people like Abraham and Isaac. In RE we will reflect these relationships with God, while continuing to develop our own.

Computing

This term, in Computing lessons, we will be focusing on Online Safety, Spread sheets and Effective Searches. The Vocabulary and Knowledge Organisers for these areas of learning are below.

Online Safety is taught at the beginning of every half term, discussed at the beginning of every lesson, as well as having its own unit focus. The children have created their own Code of Conduct for how they behave online at school as well as at home. These will be coming home soon.

Science

In this first half term our first unit is 'Animals Including Humans', where we will focus on how the digestive system works, the dietary needs of humans and the human teeth.

What children will focus on in this unit:

The digestive system is made up of different parts, each with a specific function.
We use our teeth when we eat to tear and chew our food to make it easy to travel around the digestive system.
We have different types of teeth which all have different jobs.
We can keep our teeth healthy by eating healthy, brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist.
Working scientifically to investigate which drink causes the most tooth decay.
Different animals have different diets. Scientists use food chains to show what different animals eat in a habitat.
A food chain is made up of producers, prey and predators.
All plants and trees are producers.
Animals that are hunted are called prey.
Animals that hunt other animals for food are called predators.
The stomach produces acid to break down food so it can be digested.
Working scientifically to investigate how acid affects the food in our stomachs.

Geography

During this term we will be exploring Mountains in Geography. The children will define them, identify their features and qualities as well as exploring how they develop. Children will look at these physical features in a local and broad sense, while celebrating the people who live on mountains across the globe.

Learning the children will cover:

A mountain is a landform that rises at least 1,000 feet (300 meters) or more above its surrounding area.
Mountains can be formed in different ways, depending on how the Earth’s crust moves.
The temperature on mountains becomes colder the higher the altitude gets. Mountains tend to have much wetter climates than the surrounding flat land.
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains on each continent.
Everest, Aconcagua, (McKinley) Denali, Kilimanjaro, Vinson Massif, Mont Elbrus, Kosciuszko
Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Slieve Donard are the highest mountains in the UK.
Mountain landscapes change over time through erosion.
Tourism can have a positive and a negative impact on mountain environments.
The Himalayas are important for people living in the region.
The Andes are important for the people living in the region.

History

In this term the children will be exploring the Anglo-Saxon Era - moving into the time of the Viking raids. The children will be looking of photographs, artifacts and a range of sources from 410 AD to fully immerse themselves into this time in the past.

Some of the content the children will be learning:

The Anglo Saxons began to invade Britain in 410 AD.
The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork ever found, comprising over 4,000 items.
Many of today’s settlements have existed and grown since an earlier historic era.
By the end of the 7C Anglo-Saxons were ruling most of Britain.
Early Saxons worshipped Gods we name our days after (Tiw, Woden, Thor, Frig)
Anglo Saxon Britain was invaded by the Vikings in 865 AD
King Alfred the Great was king of the Anglo Saxons from 886 until his death in 899.
The Vikings came from Scandinavia and began to invade England in 789.
Vikings kept coming to Britain for almost 300 years first as raiders then as conquerors.
Archaeological finds at Jorvik have changed the way historians view the Vikings.
The Vikings began as raiders but became settlers by the time of the Danelaw.

Design and Technology

In DT, Year 4 will be working with textiles and fastenings - creating their own book cover/sleeve. This will be an opportunity for the children to create their own design, create prototypes, advance their sowing techniques and evaluating the success of their creation.

Art

Claude Monet was a painting and a key figure in the impressionist movement and is the artist that Year 4 will be learning about within the Autumn term. The children will develop an understanding of Monet's life, artistic abilities and why he is now known as a art icon. We will be creatibg studies from his work, whilst exploring his way of work in their own style.

An art critic uses their own thoughts to make comments about art.
Impressionist artists were not trying to paint a reflection of real life, but an ‘impression’ of what the person, object or landscape looked like.
Monet painted ‘en plein air’, which is painting landscapes outdoors.
Impressionist painters used layers of colours, leaving gaps in the top layers to reveal the colours underneath.
Monet’s painting, Poppy Fields is one of the most recognisable and a world famous painting.
Impressionist painters did not use black but used contrasting colours to create depth and light.
Monet uses pure primary and complementary colours.
Impressionist artists were not trying to paint a reflection of real life, but an ‘impression’ of what the person, object or landscape looked like.
Evaluating art is a chance to talk about what you made.

PSHE

In PSHE the children will have further opportunities to explore our Catholic Values that are the backbone to our school mission.

Autumn 1 - Advent 1:

Catholic Social Teachings - Human Dignity, Dignity of the Worker and Stewardship

Gospel Values - Purity and Holinness & Humility and Gentleness

Catholic Values - Grateful and Generous

Autumn 2 - Advent 2:

Catholic Social Teaching - Solidarity and the Common Good

Catholic Values - Attentive and Discerning

Gospel Values - Dignity and Compassion

Unit of work: Family and Relationships

Through this unit children will reflect on effective relationships, considering healthy communication, the role of citizenship and their health and well-being when opening exploring their thoughts and feelings.

The Kapow scheme of work and the TenTen scheme will be followed during many of our PSHE sessions.

Music

In music, Year 4 will demonstrate awareness of the need for good posture and diction whilst singing to maintain a pleasing sound. We will be using ICT to compose and recognise simple structures in music that are being performed or listened to (Verse-Chorus).

We will be singing rhythmically and expressively using a range of approximately an octave with increased control. The children will be encouraged to understand and respond to visual cues for starting and stopping, sustaining sounds, ending words with clear consonant sounds and/or fading away.

During this term, Year 4 will be focusing on Tag Rugby as their outdoor PE learning. The children will first learn how the sport works, and then will consider the physical skills needed, practicing them in isolation. The children will progressively practice the skills and will then work towards competitive games.

As part of our indoor PE this term the children will be having swimming lessons on a Friday afternoon at the Cheadle leisure center.