Topic Overview
Exploring the North East
Key Question?
How can we increase tourism in the North East?
This term, we launch our exciting whole school curriculum topic: NE3 and our City. Across all year groups, children will be exploring the rich geography and history of our local area, deepening their understanding of the community we call home. As part of this journey, every child takes part in a ‘planning and decision making’ challenge—identifying a local issue or gap and proposing thoughtful solutions, whether imagined or actionable. Through this empowering task, we’re helping our young learners realise that although they may be small, their voices matter, their ideas count, and their opinions deserve to be heard.
Geography & History
This half term, we will explore the North East with a focus on tourism. We will further develop our planning and decision-making skills in relation to our local area. The children in Year 4 will think about the bigger picture, and see that whilst conflict arises from decision making and different groups of people, it can be resolved through a variety of methods. They will learn how and why the government dictates many of these changes through targets and proposals.
Pupils will read, compare and interpret a variety of maps, including ordnance survey maps. They will explore the concept of tourism and the impact upon our local area. We will use the new park play structure Lilidorei, located in Alnwick Garden, as the starting point for our research. Children will work together to design their own project to answer the key question: How can we increase tourism in the North East?
Through a range of activities, pupils will debate proposals and discuss how conflict can be resolved to promote positive outcomes for different groups of people.
Key Vocabulary:
- County
- Population
- Suburb
- Facilities
- Tourism
English
In narrative texts, the children will cover stories that build suspense, adverts and explanatory texts. They will also look at a range of descriptive poems and write their own poems that convey images, using similes and metaphors, as well as learning and performing poems in groups.
The children will also complete reading and writing tasks linked to their topic work on the local area. SPaG work will focus on developing their understanding of common homophones, the apostrophe of contraction and the correct use of verb tenses within writing. 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 / spelling sessions will take place each week; children will complete a series of activities and tasks to support with the acquisition and development of reading skills. We will also be introducing our class novel—Boy at the Back of the Class. Spelling homework will be sent home weekly too.
Key Vocabulary:
- Pronoun
- Possessive pronoun
- Adverbial phrase
- Fronted adverbial
- Plural possession
Maths
Maths work will centre around the children developing their reasoning and problem solving skills; these strategies will be woven into all strands of mathematics.
Children will be encouraged to use and apply written methods of calculation to all aspect of their work, where appropriate. The children will learn a range of mental strategies and written methods to help them to calculate numbers, and will be encouraged to explain their methods orally. They should begin to learn the multiplication facts up to 12 x 12 and be able to derive the corresponding division facts.
Children will be focusing this half term on their place value knowledge which will include estimating, counting in 1000’s and also multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1000. We will then move on to addition and subtraction. Children will have the opportunity to use a variety of equipment, including ICT, to support their learning.
Children will receive weekly homework tasks that consolidate skills and knowledge acquired in school.
Websites: Please log into Times Table Rock Stars - your log ins have been sent home
Key Vocabulary:
- Place value
- Inverse
- Estimate
- Rounding
- Multiples
Science
This half term, our teaching focus will be Animals Including Humans. Children will learn about and will describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans. They will also explore the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions. They will construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey. Children will record their work in a variety of ways including: written reports, graphs, charts, diagrams, tables and computer spread sheets. Children will be encouraged to think independently and raise questions about working scientifically and the knowledge and skills it brings.
Key Vocabulary
- Predator
- Prey
- Consumer
- Producer
- Digestive System
Computing
Children will begin the year learning about the importance of E Safety. They will learn how to be safe, respectful and responsible when online in order for them to be good digital citizens. They will select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create content.
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 be looking at our sketch books to develop and refine our pencil skills. Children will also learn how to use these books effectively throughout the course of the year to enhance their art skills.
Design Technology: In DT, the children will be adapting an existing biscuit recipe while considering the cost of ingredients and other expenses against a set budget, this unit includes new lessons with teacher and pupil videos to develop the children’s food preparation skills and adapt a recipe to suit a target audience.
PE
This half term, the focus will be on developing balls skills. Pupils will develop tracking and collecting, catching and dribbling skills. They will use a range of techniques and apply to team games. They will also be working on their fundamental skills such as running and skipping with a rope.
PSHE and Religious Education
PSHE
Our big question this half term is: How can I be a good friend? We will explore the importance of friendships; strategies for building positive friendships and how positive friendships support wellbeing. A No Outsiders theme will also be explored with a focus on inclusivity, respect and tolerance.
Religious Education
This half term, children will be introduced to a number of outward expressions of religious identity through the study of world faiths. They will consider how and why for religious people, expressing their sense of belonging and identity is so important.
Spanish
This half term children will be learning to present themselves. They will use greetings in Spanish, ask somebody how they are feeling, their name, how old they are and reply when asked. They will recall the numbers 1-20, express their nationality in Spanish and understand basic gender agreement rules.
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.