This term, Archibald First school is embarking on an exciting adventure in our final geography unit, 'Globe Trotters'. After exploring our local area in the autumn and travelling to countries across the continents in the spring, pupils are now zooming out even further to discover the amazing diversity of world geography. Each year group will follow its own pathway of learning, applying the map skills, fieldwork techniques, and geographical knowledge they have built throughout the year to investigate regions of the world they may never have the chance to visit in person. Through our core concepts of change, cause and effect, and location and place, children will explore how different environments are connected and how our world continues to evolve. This unit encourages curiosity, wonder, and a real sense of global adventure; celebrating the incredible planet we all share.
Topic Overview
Destination Europe
Key Question?
Why is Europe the most visited continent?
Geography
During this topic, children will get the chance to use their geography skills to explore North America. Children will investigate key areas of the continent and compare it to Europe. Children will also use their investigational skills and prior knowledge on earthquakes to discuss the Earthquake in San Francisco. As well as this, children will look at key physical and human features of North America and how they benefit the economy of the country. Furthermore, children will look at a range of maps over time to discover the development of Las Vegas and how it became successful when it is built in a desert.
To finish off the topic, children will compare three regions; San Francisco, The Alps and Newcastle. Children will discuss similarities and differences and where they would advise somebody to go and visit based on their criteria. The concepts of longitude and latitude will also be revisited.
Key Vocabulary:
- region
- climate
- topographical
English
This half term, children will complete reading and writing tasks based upon the novel, Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo. The children will write from different viewpoints, complete diary entries, adventure stories, a balanced argument, a playscript and a news report. 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 North America.
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 continue to be sent home weekly.
Key Vocabulary:
- biography
- formal letter
- autobiography
- balanced argument debate
- clause
- semi colon / colon
- commas
- genre
Maths
This half term, children will be recapping the four operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They will use their prior knowledge to help solve problems and investigations. Children will also be using a variety of interactive games ready for the times table test. This will involve many practical activities as well as programs on the I Pads.
Children will be investigating, checking strategies for their work. This will include using the inverse operation to check their answers. In terms of fractions, children will be using their times tables knowledge to help solve problems when finding fraction of amounts and objects.
The children will also be learning to calculate the perimeter of shapes.
Weekly homework will consolidate work completed in class. Please keep practising on maths frame in preparation for the times table checker.
Websites: Times Table Rock Stars - your log ins have been sent home. You can also use Maths Frame and White Rose.
Key Vocabulary:
- fraction
- inverse operation
- decimal
- multiples
- data
- estimate
- statistics
- rounding
- frequency
Science
Children will conduct a series of practical science activities. They will record their work in a variety of ways including: written reports, graphs, charts, diagrams and tables. Children will be encouraged to think independently and raise questions about working scientifically and the knowledge and skills it brings. Children will develop practical skills in a range of contexts, and plan and carry out investigations, making predictions, considering evidence and drawing conclusions. Children will be encouraged to use and apply the correct terminology and demonstrate their understanding in written and verbal form. Sound Children will study sound. They will investigate how sounds are made when objects vibrate, but that vibrations are not always directly visible. They will be taught how to change the pitch and loudness of sounds produced by some vibrating objects. They will learn that vibrations from sound sources require a medium through which to travel to the ear.
Key Vocabulary
- vibration
- energy
- volume
- pitch
- percussion
- medium
- impact
- consequence
- influence
Computing
The children will use ICT to support learning in other curriculum subjects. They will undertake research using selected websites and software, and will present their findings in different ways. They will continue to refine their coding skills in order to produce algorithms, independently using logical and appropriate structures to organise and record data.
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 the French artist, Georges Seurat. The focus will be using painting skills to mix colours to create mood and feeling. Children will develop an awareness of how tone can make paintings more realistic or expressive. They will learn how to manipulate light and shade for dramatic effect and pattern and texture for desired effects and decoration. They will use a range of application techniques and lean about the style of Pointillism.
DT: Children will be applying their knowledge of electric circuits to make their own torch. They will:
- Identify electrical products and explain why they are useful.
- Make a working switch.
- Identify the features of a torch and how it works.
- Describe what makes a torch successful.
- Create suitable designs that fit the success criteria and their own design criteria.
- Create a functioning torch with a switch according to their design criteria.
PSHE
Our big questions these half term are:
- How do we grow and change?
As part of the curriculum on health and well-being, Year 4 will be exploring the ways that we grow and change and also how to keep our bodies safe and healthy. The children will identify a wide range of factors that are required to maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle both physically and mentally.
Religious Education
This term we will be learning about religions within our local community. Our focus will be local places of worship and celebrations. We will be carrying out our own research. This is a great way for our children to gain an appreciation of the diversity of cultures and religions where we live.
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.