Yr4 Curriculum Update – 01/06/18
Working together to achieve success for every child
Dear Parents,
During the last two weeks we have been finding out about the main characteristics of civilisations, suggesting our own and comparing them to historians’ suggestions. The students have discussed which characteristics they felt were the most important and organised them into a diamond ranking of most to least important. As well as using non-fiction texts to find out about actual civilisations, we have used the book Weslandia as a stimulus for the students’ ideas. Other than that, our main focus this week has been on comparing primary and secondary sources. The Maritime and History Museums trips provided lots of examples of actual artefacts that helped us build up a picture of what the civilisations they came from were like. The museum trips also enabled the students to see first hand how a museum is organised which will be very useful to them when they create their own museum towards the end of the unit. They now have a much better idea of how artefacts can be displayed and the information that should go with them.
In language, students have continued to explore how we can write about artefacts. Some have focused on writing journalistic articles ensuring the five Ws (What, Who, Where, When, Why) are present. Others have begun to write detailed descriptions of an artefact, using their observation skills and inference.
In reading we have continued to work on developing inference through using the thinking routine of Claim, Support, Question where students have read some information and made an inference about it (claim) then provided evidence from the text to support their thinking and finally asking questions that the text has made them wonder.
In Maths, we have continued to inquire into shape with students identifying main properties of them and using these to sort a variety of shapes and objects using Carroll and Venn diagrams. Students have begun to build their understanding of different types of angles and have spent some time comparing different angles in shapes and identifying them as acute, right, or obtuse angles. We have also focused on using the correct vocabulary when describing a shape’s properties e.g. angles, sides, edges, vertices, faces. Some students have also explored the nets for 3D shapes and have made their own shapes using nets, toothpicks and blu tack.
Our students were very fortunate two weeks ago to have the opportunity to participate in a very practical music and dance session led by two musicians from the UK who call themselves Bassistry. The students learnt how to clap different rhythms, play a range of percussion instruments, sing a traditional Caribbean song and dance. They all thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
How you can help
Ask your child about the different characteristics of civilisations, which do they consider are the most important and why? Talk to them about their museum trips, what did they learn about the past? Which artefacts were the most interesting to them? Why? What questions do they have now? Encourage your child to notice and name different 2D and 3D shapes at home. Can they describe them using the correct terms?
Remember if you have any concerns or questions about your child’s learning and wellbeing at school please contact your child’s teacher in the first instance
Kind Regards
Team Year 4.
