Topic Overview
The Tunnels Below
Key Question?
How would my life be different if there was still mining in Gosforth?
At Archibald First School, we believe that learning comes alive when children can connect their studies to the world around them. This term, our whole-school curriculum focus is “History on Our Doorstep” — an exciting exploration of the rich historical tapestry that has shaped the North East of England. Children will engage with the people, places and events that have influenced our region, experiencing history in meaningful, tangible ways. Through immersive activities and local connections, they will see, feel and reflect on the past that surrounds them. As they journey through this topic, pupils will develop key historical skills through our core concepts: understanding chronology and change, exploring cause and consequence, evaluating historical significance, and using evidence to build interpretations. This approach not only deepens their knowledge of the past, but also empowers them to think critically and see themselves as young historians.
History
During this half term, children will be learning about the industrial revolution during Queen Victoria's reign. Children will be using their history skills to help complete challenges and demonstrate what life was like during this time in history. Furthermore, children will focus on what life as a miner was like. This will include investigating mining disasters, becoming a miner and answering the question ‘Should mining still take place?’ Children will also be comparing the differences between the rich and the poor during these times. Linking to geography, children will be using their map skills to see where coal was taken from.
We will be looking at how Gosforth has changed over time and this will include looking at a range of maps. We will be identifying what is different and what is still here. We will also link this to the mining that occurred in the local area and discover where the coal mines were on a map. Year 4 will also visit Beamish Museum to explore this further.
Key Vocabulary:
- Primary source
- Secondary source
- Mining
- Industrialisation
- Pace
English
This half term, children will complete reading and writing tasks based upon the novel, Street Child by Berlie Doherty.
The children will write diary entries, explore the use of standard and non-standard use of language and its impact, fiction genres, extending narrative, recounts and non-chronological reports. In all written work, children will propose changes to grammar, punctuation and vocabulary to improve consistency and accuracy. They will follow the model of plan, write and edit. Children will also complete reading and writing tasks linked to their work on The Tunnels Below.
In speaking and listening, children will take part in drama, role play and hot -seating activities. They will also have the opportunity to present their work to others, where appropriate, using ICT.
Guided Reading and Comprehension sessions will take place weekly; children will complete a series of activities and tasks to support with the acquisition and development of reading skills. Spellings will continue to be sent home weekly.
Key Vocabulary:
- Expanded noun phrase
- Standard / Non standard English
- Commas
- Regular / Irregular verbs
- Pronouns
Maths
Maths work will centre around the children consolidating work on number bonds and place value.
Children will also be given opportunities to apply basic skills and to develop their reasoning and problem-solving skills. They will be encouraged to use and apply written methods of calculation to all aspects of their work, where appropriate. The children will learn a range of mental strategies and methods to help them to calculate numbers, and will be encouraged to explain their methods verbally and in written form.
They should learn the multiplication facts up to 12 x 12 and be able to derive the corresponding division facts; they will have access to a range of IT programs to support with this.
They should choose and use standard metric units and their abbreviations when estimating, measuring and recording angles, length and time.
Children will have the opportunity to use a variety of equipment to support their learning, where appropriate.
Weekly homework will consolidate work completed in class.
Websites: Please log into Times Table Rock Stars - your log ins have been sent home
Key Vocabulary:
- Inverse
- Mulitple
- Rounding
- Place Value
Science
Children will begin work on Solids, Liquids and Gases and states of matter. They will read scales of different thermometers and record temperature. They will carry out investigations, making predictions and drawing conclusions based on evidence gathered. They will group materials together on the basis of their properties and will observe how some materials change state when they are heated or cooled. They will record their work in a variety of ways, including: charts, diagrams and tables. Pupils will also identify the part played by evaporation and condensation in the water cycle and will explore the rate of evaporation with temperature.
Key Vocabulary
- Solids
- Liquids
- Gases
- Condensation
- Evaporation
Computing
The children will use Green Screen / IMovie/ Photostory to make a report about the tunnels. They will select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.
Art and Design Technology
Each half term the children will have a week dedicated to art and/or DT.
Art: This half term we will study the work of Lowry and the local artist, Norman Cornish. The children will develop an awareness of composition, scale and proportion in their paintings e.g. foreground, middle ground and background. They will begin to use simple perspective in their work using a single focal point and horizon. We are also luckily enough to have workshops with artists Ben Holland and Zoe Allen.
PSHE
Our big question this half term is: What is diversity? recognising differences between people such as gender, race and faith and identifying what they have in common with others e.g. shared values, likes and dislikes, aspirations etc. Pupils will discuss the importance of respecting the differences and similarities between people. Children will also take part in activities linked to Anti-Bullying and will learn how to differentiate between playful teasing, hurtful behaviour and bullying, including online.
Religious Education
In this topic the children will learn and gain new knowledge about Hinduism and the culture behind its name. They will gain a better understanding of what Hinduism is and how this religion has its similarities and differences to other religions and cultures. The festival of Diwali will be explored and pupils will also learn more about the religion from some of their peers who are Hindu.
Spanish
We will be learning how to talk about our families. We will use the nouns and articles for family members and answer the question ‘¿Tienes hermanos?’ (Do you have any brothers or sisters?). We will Introduce family members using ‘se llama’ (he/she is called) and use our knowledge of larger numbers to describe the age of family members.
Our Values
Please Instagram us @archibald_1st if you see your child being #AFSCurious #AFSCaring #AFSCreative or #AFSCourageous
If you would like any further details about this half term's curriculum, please speak to your child's teacher.