Year 4
4A- Mrs Gillam and Miss Williams
4B- Mr Warner and Mrs Deb
Teachers can be contacted via email:
year4@englishmartyrs.bham.sch.uk
for all enquiries to do with your child's learning.
Information for parents- Multiplication Check
This term our theme is 'mountains, rivers and coasts'. In this fascinating topic, you will learn what mountains, rivers and coasts actually are, some of the forces that help create and shape these important features, and the effects they have on the world around them. You will learn about the climates, human interactions, and lifestyles shaped by the mountains, rivers and coasts of the world.
Please find our Knowledge organiser and work plan below.
Viking Day
Our incredibly talented Year 4’s made a flavour-filled stew that had all of the teachers’ stomachs rumbling. They sensibly followed all of our safety rules while using the bridge and claw techniques to cut vegetables, and used their sense of smell to decide how much of each herb to add.
We also made our own Viking bread, most were not so sure about that though… With no yeast and only wholemeal flour it was a little dense. Luckily, some butter helped soften the bitter bread.
Other activities:
- Designing Viking ships
- Painting runes
- Weaving bracelets
- Creating battle chants
- Designing brooches
Our Recipes:
Bread:
1. Mix ingredients then knead to stretch, split in half, shape into a flat ball.
2. Bake on baking tray 180 degrees for 55 mins.
3. Serve with honey or butter.
Viking Stew:
Ingredients (serves 10-20)
A knob of butter
1-2 large onions
2 leeks
2 celery sticks
4 large carrots
1 swede (or 2-3 turnips)
3 parsnips
Water
A few sprigs of wild garlic
A handful of fresh mixed herbs, sage, thyme, rosemary or whatever is available.
Method
Heat the butter/oil in a large stock pot/Dutch oven over a low-medium flame.
Once the oil is warm, add the sliced/diced onions, leeks and celery to the pot and stir before covering over with the lid to soften for approx ten minutes.
Then add the chopped root vegetables, stir and leave for a few minutes to soften and take on the flavour of the onions and leeks.
Add at least enough water to cover the vegetables, more if you want to thin it out and make it go further, increase the heat and bring to the boil.
Leave to simmer for about an hour, then taste!
4A visit Martineau Gardens
We went into the woods and used keys and cards to identify plants. We played a game called ‘Batty Habitats’ that showed us how changes in environments can pose threats to organisms.
We went on a tour around the gardens looking at how plants grow. We even had the chance to taste some food crops, smell the herbs and visit the compost heap to look at how this microhabitat works.
We looked at the 7 processes of living things, what habitats are and constructed some food chains.
We use keys and cards to identify plants and animals,
We found lots of living things when we went pond dipping.
We are able to recognise that environments can change and that this can pose dangers to living things.
Year 4 celebrate World Book Day
Have a look at our fantastic costumes and activities by clicking on the link below.
Safer Internet Day
Linked UNCRC articles:
Article 19: protection from violence, abuse and neglect
Article 31: leisure, play and culture
•What do you enjoy most about being online – what makes you smile?
•How do you show friendship and support to others online?
•What could you do to encourage more respect online?
Click on the link below to view the activities we completed for Safer Internet Day.
Mirodo
Mirodo is our new online learning platform.
Follow the link below then click pupil login. All children have their login details in their reading diaries.
This website allows them to practice maths and English questions. It also has many tutorials to help children on anything they find difficult.
Click on the link below to find out how Year 4 are Rights Respecting.
We are young advocates. New vision. New future.
We are young advocates. New vision. New future.
David Walliams – listen to David Walliams reading his own stories at 11 am each day.
Expectations in Year 4
Homework
On a Friday the children will have an English and Maths task. In addition, they will be expected to read, learn their tables and practice their spellings.
We will set a project based homework half termly.
If you have any queries contact us on:
Year4@englishmartyrs.bham.sch.uk
Reading
All children are expected to read for at least 30 minutes every night. Please sign your child's diary to show you have listened to them read. Teachers will sign diaries on Monday and Fridays.
If it is fiction, answer the following questions and discuss them with an adult if you can:
- Which tense is this book written in?
- How is the main character feeling at this point in the story? How do you know?
- Can you summarise what has happened so far in your own words?
If it is non-fiction, answer the following questions and discuss them with an adult if you can:
- Summarise the key points from what you have read today.
- Write down three facts from what you have read today.
- If you were writing this book, is there any other information you would have included?
Spellings
All children will receive a copy of the spellings they need to practise at home. Children have been shown strategies to help them to learn their spellings.
Times Tables
By the end of year 4, children should have memorised their multiplication tables up to the 12 multiplication table. It is vital that children are able to rapidly recall multiplication facts, and can do so ‘out of sequence’ (i.e. answer 6 x 7 without having to count in 6’s from 0). Please encourage your child to use Times Tables Rock Stars and Purple Mash to practise their times tables.