Welcome to Year 4

Autumn 1 2025

Welcome to Autumn 1  and Year 4! 

I do hope you have had a lovely holiday!  In year 4 you are going to be learning lots of new and exciting topics!

Our topic for this half term is 'Sparks May Fly'.

English

The first unit for this half term our focus is 'Plays and Playscripts', pupils will read and discuss various playscripts from well known stories. Pupils will think about how playscripts differ from books or film adaptations. We will read James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl comparing it with a play version of the text.  By the end of the unit, children will create a playscript of their own, using the features of playscripts and creating their own adventure. 

Reading is a priority of ours at Brookhouse therefore Whole Class Reading sessions take place everyday, where children are expected to read a range of texts and answer questions by summarising, retrieving, making inference and explaining.  We also have a specific focus on vocabulary, which will be sent home to learn before the lesson.  In school, we will continue to use the online reading resource called 'Reading Plus' and encourage children to complete lessons at home.  It is imperative for you to support your child with reading, please use the question stems to ask your children questions to check for understanding.  Also, ensure your child is learning their spellings for ten minutes daily. 

Oracy - Voice 21

As a school we are developing our Oracy, learning through talk and learning to talk.  In class, we provide opportunities for discussion in all areas of the curriculum.  We encourage children to fully participate by taking on a range of roles and utilising the discussion guidelines created at the start of the academic year.

Mathematics

In Maths, our aim is to improve Maths Fluency, Reasoning and Problem Solving.  We do this through concrete, pictorial and abstract models. In Autumn 1 we will learn to count in multiples of 25, 100 and 1000in order to count larger numbers comprehensively. Next we will learn about the relative size of numbers and complete number sequences within 10,000. We will compare numbers using language such as 'greater', 'smaller', 'less' and 'more', using mathematical symbols >, < and =. They will also learn about rounding numbers to the nearest 1000, 100 and 10; we will apply this knowledge to approximate, total and find the difference. We will learn how to multiply and divide by 6,7,9,11 and 12. We will begin to understand mathematical vocabulary such as 'quotient' in relation to division.  We will calculate multiplication equations using the multiplication facts that we know. We will understand the difference between sharing and grouping. 

In Year 4 we will be focusing on our multiplication tables with a view to the MTC Test in the summer term. Please do support your child at home to learn the multiplication tables. 

Science

In Science we will learn about 'Electricity'. We will identify common appliances that run on electricity that we have in our home. We will construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts. We will identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit based on whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery. We will be able to recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights in a simple series circuit.  We will recognise common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good conductors.  Children will be expected to work scientifically by setting up simple practical enquiries including comparative and fair tests, making careful observations, identifying similarities and differences, gathering, classifying and presenting data, recording findings using scientific language, drawing and labelled diagrams. They will use scientific evidence to answer questions or support their findings. Please encourage your child to learn their knowledge organiser which will assist them with their weekly quizzes.

Design and Technology

We will be designing our own board game which uses a simple electrical circuit. We will be able to design a board game which is exciting and appeals to a particular audience. We will consider which materials to use. We will design a prototype using components that work together to transport electricity around a circuit. We will be able to describe how we connected at least on electrical circuit in their final product. We will then assess our work and others, stating one improvement they we would make next time.  

Physical Education

P.E sessions will take place on a Monday afternoon, our unit is Dancing.  Children will master will collaborate to create movements which demonstrate the flow of electricity, using our bodies to create fluidity and become components in a circuit,  in pairs and groups.  Please ensure your child comes into school wearing their full P.E kit.  The kit should include a yellow P.E top with the school's logo matched with black shorts, joggers or leggings and black pumps or trainers.  Over the top, children will wear their school jumper or cardigan.  All jewellery must be removed, ensure earrings are taken out before the session or covered with plasters.

Swimming - Year 4 will be going swimming this half term on Wednesday mornings - returning to school for lunch. Pupils need to bring a swimming costume, swimming cap, and a towel. All swimming kit should be brought in a waterproof bag. 

Geography

In geography we will be developing our locational knowledge and exploring human and physical geography in Blackburn and also in cities and towns in the U.K. We will use atlases and digi maps to explore neighbouring conties to Blackburn. We will name topography features, human features and physical features. We will focus on Liverpool and Manchester and describe the similarities and differences between the two cities and how they have changed over time - thinking about manufacturing, importing and exporting of goods. We finally learn about why London is significant as the capital of Britain and how the city compares to other major cities in the world. 

PSHE

Sessions will take place on Thursday afternoon, our unit for this term is Mental Health and Wellbein.  Children will learn about the importance of expressing and managing our feelings and emotions - being mindful of the feelings of others. We will think about showing Kindness and what that means to others in our community and school. We will learn to recognise bullying, different types of bullying and what do if we witness/encounter bullying. 

If you have any queries, do not hesitate to discuss these with us at the end of the school day or arrange an appointment through the school office.

Thank you for your support.

All the best from the Year 4 team!

Miss Woodhouse (Class Teacher)

Mrs Khonat (Higher Level Teaching Assistant)

Mrs Matador (SSA)

Mrs Sadia (Teacher Assistant) 

Mrs Saleem (Teacher Assistant)