Please click on the link below to view the whole school curriculum overviews and subject specific information.
We aim to explain in more detail about what it is like to be a member of Year 4 by sharing some key ways that we learn during the day. We hope this supports you to further support your child.
maths (number and numerical pattern)
- Mastery Approach – Our maths curriculum is centred around a ‘Mastery Approach’. The aim is to ensure pupils have mastered and understood key concepts before moving on: using more difficult/higher numbers does not mean a child has a better understanding; rather, it is best that the child is able to access the learning in a wider range of contexts, the child can give detailed explanations and approach problem solving tasks.
- White Rose – We follow the White Rose scheme to sequence maths lessons. This ensures that there is a progression of skills within the academic year, but also across all years. On the curriculum overviews, which are shared with home at the start of each module, the maths skills we are focusing on can be seen. On the White Rose website, there are home learning videos which show you clearly how to help your child complete the activity. If we have been learning how to multiply a 3-digit number by a 1-digit number, for example, you will be able to find an equivalent video to support further at home.
Click here to view the year 4 home learning videos
- Maths Champions – This scheme has been designed by High Halstow staff. The scheme maps out individual targets which the children can work on at home. Children are set their targets by their teacher and are assessed on the target by the teacher to move on to the next target.
click here for more information
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The children’s individual targets can be found on the Cricket class Google Classroom: Classwork > Home Learning > Maths Champions Target.
- Maths Masters – This is an additional 10-15 minute focus on maths which happens outside of the main daily maths lesson every day. The focus is on arithmetic and recall of basic skills. Children are given an arithmetic test paper, the teacher decides what to teach based on the pupils’ results in order to develop key skills and then pupils are given the same arithmetic paper again at the end of the two week cycle. The aim is for the pupils to see an improvement in their scores. Children are told their scores each time so they will be able to share these with you.
- TTRS – TTRS is a fun and challenging programme which is designed to help the children master their times tables. There are different game plays: Jamming, time-free game, Gig, allows for assessment, Garage, teacher set times tables and more! Logins are at the back of your child’s reading record book so that this can be worked on at home.
click here to go to the ttrs website
- Multiplication -Times tables should be learnt in the order: 10, 2, 5, 3, 4, 8, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12. Children should have learnt their 10, 2 and 5 times tables in year 2. They then need to know their 3, 4 and 8 by the end of year 3. By the end of Year 4 children should be secure with all of their times tables up to 12. Children should be able to automatically recall these facts including division facts. For example: 3 x 4 = 12 and 24 ÷ 4 = 6. Children should also be taught strategies such as using doubles (3 x 4, 3 x 2 = 6, 6 + 6 = 12), finding a more familiar times table (9 x 3,10 x 3 = 30, 30 – 3 = 27), etc. so that they have strategies to answer questions even if they do not know the answers.
- Multiplication Check – Towards the end of year 4, all children nationally take part in a ‘multiplication check’. They are tested on all of their times tables.
english (literacy)
- Targets – In the front of each child’s English book, they have an individual target. Pupils should be aware of their target and so should know what they need to work on. This is updated when enough evidence of success is seen in their books to move on to a new target.
- Core texts – Click here to view our core texts.
- Reading – It is important for children to read daily however this does not need to be for a lengthy amount of time or a strenuous task. Conversation around the text is just as important as word reading in order to help support comprehension.
- Buster’s Book Club – an initiative that encourages the children to read at home. The class works collaboratively to be the class who has read the most minutes in the school. It encourages the reading of any reading material, not just the children’s banded reading book.
- Spellings – In school, we follow the Jane Considine scheme. It teaches spelling by helping children to make connections rather than rote learning. The scheme works on a two week cycle. At the start of the cycle, pupils are introduced to fifteen new words. Over the two weeks, children find words which also have the focus phonemes for each word. For example, descend, the focus phoneme is sc, so words such as scent would be a sound association word. Daily lessons with different spelling focuses are taught and then at the end of the two weeks, the children participate in a Go Grapheme Grafter lesson. They have twenty seconds to spell each of the fifteen words (the main focus is on spelling the focus phoneme correctly), then one minute to work collaboratively to list sound association words.
- EdShed – This site/app is not related to Jane Considine however children can use it at home to support with spelling practise.
google classroom
Check at least weekly for updates on the Google Classwork for suggestions of work to do at home to support your child.
what we're learning 2024-25
who we are
Central Idea:
‘Understanding the human body enables us to maintain and improve health and mental well-being.’
We will be reading:
- ‘The Whale’ by Ethan and Vita Murrow
The maths skills we are focusing on are:
- Number & Place Value
- Addition & Subtraction
- Multiplication & Division
- Measurement (area)
In our lines of enquiry, we will explore:
- How systems of our body work
- How our body changes
- How our choices affect our health and wellbeing
For homework please engage in:
Daily reading and discussion about texts, daily multiplication practice.
Use of apps prompted by the academy such as TTRS, Spelling Shed, Top Marks Maths.
If you choose to engage in some home learning about the inquiries shown above please share any experiences via the Google Classroom. E.G. Researching and cooking healthy meals and undertaking activities to improve your health or wellbeing such as taking part in sporting activities.
There may be additional homework set via Google Classroom from time to time linked to current learning.
how we express ourselves
Central Idea:
‘The arts are an important form of expression to communicate different ideas, emotions and feelings.’
We will be reading:
- ‘The Story of Paintings’ by Mick Manning
- ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ Books by Francis Lincoln
- ‘Music is in Everything’ by Ziggy Marley
The maths skills we are focusing on are:
- Area
- Multiplication & Division
In our lines of enquiry, we will explore:
- The different types of art (form)
- How music has changed through the decades (change)
- How different sounds affect feelings and emotions (connection)
For homework please engage in:
Daily reading and discussion about texts
Use of apps promoted by the academy such as TTRS, Ed Shed, LanguageNut and Numbots. Please see the front of your child’s Reading Record book for all of their login details.
If you choose to engage in some home learning about the inquiries shown above please share any experiences via the Google Classroom. E.g. There may be additional homework set via Google Classroom from time to time linked to current learning.
where we are in place and time
Central Idea:
‘Conquering civilisations influence change in many ways.’
We will be reading:
- ‘Herstory’ by Katherine Halligan
- ‘Queen Boudica’s Secret Diary’ by Terry Deary
- ‘Gut Garden’ by Katie Brosnan
The maths skills we are focusing on are:
- Multiplication & division
- Length & perimeter
In our lines of enquiry, we will explore:
- The ways of life of past civilisations
- The impact of Roman migration on Britain
- Past conqueror’s impact on present life
For homework please engage in:
Daily reading and discussion about the text.
Use of apps promoted by the academy such as Times Tables Rockstars, Ed Shed and Language Nut. Please see the front of your child’s Reading Record book for all of their login details.
If you choose to engage in some home learning about the inquiries shown above please share any experiences via the Google Classroom.
There may be additional homework set via Google Classroom from time to time linked to current learning.
How the World Works
Central Idea:
‘Physical and human systems can transform our world.’
We will be reading:
- ‘The River Singers’ by Tom Moorhouse
- ‘The River’ by Hanako Clulow
The maths skills we are focusing on are:
- Multiplication & division
- Length & perimeter
- Fractions
In our lines of enquiry, we will explore:
- Earth’s natural cycles.
- Changes to Earth’s landscape.
- How human systems impact Earth.
For homework please engage in:
Daily reading and discussion about the text.
Use of apps promoted by the academy such as Times Tables Rockstars, Ed Shed and Language Nut. Please see the front of your child’s Reading Record book for all of their login details.
If you choose to engage in some home learning about the inquiries shown above please share any experiences via the Google Classroom.
There may be additional homework set via Google Classroom from time to time linked to current learning.
sharing the planet
Central Idea:
‘Communities should work together in times of national crisis.’
We will be reading:
- ‘The Lion and the Unicorn’ by Shirley Hughes
- ‘Operation Banana’ by Tony Bradman
The maths skills we are focusing on are:
- Fractions
- Decimals
In our lines of enquiry, we will explore:
- Changes to Britain in WW2
- How systems support crisis management
For homework please engage in:
Daily reading and discussion about texts.
Use of apps promoted by the academy such as TTRS, Ed Shed and Language Nut. Please see the front of your child’s Link Book for all of their login details. If you choose to engage in some home learning about the inquiries shown above please share any experiences via the Google Classroom.