Topic Overview
Destination Europe
Key Question?
Why is Europe the most visited continent?
This term, our whole school will embark on an exciting geography adventure entitled “Our Wonderful World.” Building on the foundations laid in our first topic, “NE3 and Our City,” children will take the skills and knowledge they developed when exploring local geography and apply them to places further afield. From the rugged beauty of the UK and its coastal regions in Key Stage 1 to the diverse landscapes, extreme weather patterns and tourism trends of continents across the globe in Key Stage 2, pupils will broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of the world around them. Through our key concepts—location and place, change, and cause and effect—children will investigate how environments differ, why they change, and how human and physical processes shape the planet. This topic will spark curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and inspire a sense of global responsibility as pupils discover the wonders of our world and their place within it.
Geography
Through an enquiry approach, children will further develop their geographical skills and will explore the key question Why is Europe the most visited continent? Children will locate continents, countries and seas on a world map, using atlases, maps and globes. They will also label a map of Europe, which will be used as a focal point for our topic. They will use the four compass points and four figure grid reference to locate features such as mountains, rivers etc. They will identify capital cities and countries’ flags.
Children will use a range of sources to research information about European countries and will compare data based on their similarities and differences. They will study the climate of countries, physical and human features and the economy. They will use Google Earth to obtain panoramic views and look at the major city sights. Children will be encouraged to complete a project on a European country of their choice, to present to the rest of the class.
Key Vocabulary:
- climate
- tourism
- economy
- longitude
- latitude
English
This half term children will complete reading and writing tasks based upon the novel 'The Great Chocoplot!'
In addition to this, they will write fictional biographies and explore events from different points of view. In all written work, children will propose changes to grammar, punctuation and vocabulary to improve consistency and accuracy.
Children will complete writing tasks linked to their work on Destination Europe. 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. Spelling homework will be sent home weekly.
Key Vocabulary:
- formal writing
- suffix
- fronted
- adverbial
- pronoun
- synonym
- prefix
- antonym
- clause
Maths
The children will add and subtract mentally pairs of two-digit numbers. They will be encouraged to explain their methods orally. They should learn the multiplication facts up to 12 x 12 and be able to derive the corresponding division facts. They will solve word problems involving one or two steps and will be encouraged to develop their reasoning skills.
Children will be continuing their learning with fractions and will also be introduced to decimals. All children will complete regular problem-solving activities that focus on the application of written methods. Children will also use ICT to support their learning.
Children will also have regular opportunities to practise their times tables. By the end of Year 4, children should know all of their time tables up to 12 X 12.
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:
- place value
- fraction
- rounding
- decimal
- inverse
- operation
- data
- multiples
- estimate
Science
Children will learn about how to use electricity safely and the dangers associated with misuse. They will make their own electric circuits with a break, and learn how to make bulbs brighter and dimmer. They will learn and interpret electricity symbols, and use these to draw their own circuit diagrams. Children will have the opportunity to use a range of ICT programs to carry out experiments and learn more about circuits and conductors. They will learn about the different types of electricity, how it is generated and the journey into our homes. Children will be encouraged to use and apply the correct terminology and demonstrate their understanding.
Key Vocabulary
- electricity
- flow
- conductor
- voltage
- insulator
- energy
- circuit
Computing
Children will undertake research using selected websites and software, and will present their findings in different ways. They will use email to communicate with others in class and learn more about e-safety and the importance of being respectful online and offline. Google Earth will be used to conduct searches and locate places around the world.
Art and Design Technology
Each half term the children will have a week dedicated to art and/or DT.
Art: the children will study the work of the artist, Giorgio Morandi, and will explore form, shape and texture through still life drawings.
DT: the focus will be textiles. The children will evaluate fastenings, design a book sleeve, complete a paper mock-up and prepare fabric. Finally, they will assemble their book sleeve and evaluate the finished product.
PE
This half term, the PE focus will be developing fitness. Children will work with a range of equipment, to develop and refine their skills. We are also very lucky to have the Newcastle PE service working with us to teach us Hockey. Due to this, our PE days in Spring 1 will change to be Mondays and Wednesdays.
PSHE and Religious Education
PSHE
This half term we will explore ‘what makes a community’ and ‘shared responsibilities.’ Children will learn about different communities and their importance within society. They will learn how to show compassion towards others in need and the shared responsibilities of caring for them.
Religious Education
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. We will be exploring some ideas about God, ways in which Hindus worship and why worship is important to members of the Hindu community.
Spanish
This half term the children will be learning about the classroom. They will learn to say 12 different classroom objects with their indefinite article and then replace an indefinite article with a possessive adjective. They will also learn to say and write what they have and do not have in their pencil case.
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.