Introduction to Year Four (Age 8-9)

In Year 4 we encourage the increased independence and self-empowered learning developed in Year 3. Our holistic approach employs neuro-scientifically based principles including honouring a variety of learning styles, sipping water and Brain Gym to balance the structured, knowledge-based English National Curriculum with learner-based methodology.

Children sit at a set desk in the classroom where they keep their personal items. This place may be changed. For differentiated tasks the groupings are rearranged. For whole class discussions, stories or presentations children sit together on the carpet. Additional specialist rooms used by the class are: the school library, the computer room, the music room, the art room, the gymnasium, the food technology room, the science laboratory and the language rooms.

We use a variety of teaching approaches including exposition by the teacher, discussion between the teacher and individual or groups of pupils, between pupils themselves and independent work. Subjects are made relevant by developing learning situations that provide learning contexts to which the pupils can relate. For example, the numeracy programme covers continuity and progression, assessment and recording and reporting. In Year 4 frequent use is made of the local environment for fieldwork.

For some subjects, other specialist teachers are used, e.g. Music, German and EAL.

Schemes of work identify assessment opportunities related to learning objectives. These are planned as ongoing teacher assessments and they provide pupils with opportunities to review, correct and edit their work and reflect on their own achievements. The Collins Primary Maths Scheme has built-in assessment each half term. Recognised reading and spelling tests are administered to monitor progress within the year.

Parents receive written reports twice a year. There are three formal parent - teacher interviews per year and individual meetings as required by parents or teachers.

During the school day, children are provided with many opportunities to develop social skills. Children learn to co-operate with peers and adults to help negotiate solutions and to solve interpersonal problems by talking things through independently in the first instance.

Resources used include textbooks, worksheets, videos, DVDs, compact discs, tapes, inter-active whiteboards, computers and a wide variety of appropriate teaching aids. All pupils are required to bring pencils for writing (some may use fountain pens) and appropriate sports kit.

Educational visits include local fieldwork, local Art galleries, the Roman town at Xanten and other museums according to current exhibitions.

English

The class follows the English National Literacy Strategy for Year 4 for four of the five 60-minute sessions. A typical session has 15 minutes whole class shared reading or writing, 15 minutes whole class word/sentence work, 20 minutes either guided reading/writing for one group with the teacher while the others may do an independent reading/writing activity and a 10-minute whole class plenary time.

Our fifth session is an extended writing session including plays, stories, poetry or non-fiction and updating personal spelling journals.

Mathematics

The class follows the English National Numeracy Strategy for Year 4 for five 60-minute sessions per week. We use the Collins Primary Maths Scheme. A typical lesson includes:

• 5-10 minutes oral work and mental calculation
• 30-40 minutes main teaching and pupil activities
• 10-15 minutes plenary.

There are support and extension activities as appropriate. Key areas covered are:

• Numbers and the number system
• Calculations
• Solving problems
• Handling data
• Measures, shape and space
  

Science

In Year 4 Science lessons take place in the laboratory when appropriate. Our topics include:

• Term 1: Properties of liquids e.g. boiling points, pH.Local tree studies, research about water animals.
• Term 2: Solids, e.g. conducting a "Which?" survey on packaging, identification keys of animate and inanimate objects.
• Term 3: Colour and light e.g. lenses, mirrors, spectrum, optical illusions.Local fieldwork on wild flowers growing in different habitats.

Social Studies (History and Geography)

The topics covered in this integrated area of study are: looking at historic and geographical aspects of the school address and researching country fact files about Germany and selected other countries. We also look at aspects of ancient Roman life and
local studies, e.g. roads, homes, shopping, people, religion, entertainment and warfare.

Furthermore, studying within and across periods, including the modern Heiderhof area, Muffendorf village and ancient Rome. Some of these lessons are taught in German.

Information Technology

Information Technology is taught as a discrete subject, but is also integrated throughout the other areas of the curriculum. The children have one double lesson in the computer suite where they learn Touch Type skills, word-processing/desk top publishing, graphics and databases, in conjunction with other subjects.

Design Technology

This may include activities such as pottery, constructing, tie 'n' dye and food technology, involving the following: devising and adapting plans, choosing objects complementing current topics such as: pottery water animals in term 1, making Roman artefacts in term 2 and board games in term 3.

German

German is taught for four or five lessons per week and the children are divided into two or three groups according to their experience of the language.

Wir arbeiten mit dem GUT1-Rechtschreibprogramm

Art

Our major areas of study are drawing, painting, printing and collage, which are sometimes inspired by other subjects, for example, trees, portraits and board games, or particular artistic themes of, for example, scale drawing, black and white, colour, tone and hue.

An Art specialist takes the class for some projects.

Music

Music is taught for one lesson a week by a specialist teacher.

Personal, Social and Health Education

There is a separate assembly for Key Stage 2 during which a particular moral or ethical topic is introduced. Further discussion follows and during the year many other topics, such as bullying, honesty, fairness and respect, are discussed.

EAL (English as an Additional Language)

Support from a specialist teacher, usually in small groups, is given to children whom, we feel, need extra help. The amount of help will depend upon the age of the child and his or her level of English.

Physical Education

Field hockey: basic foot-and stick- work, small team games, fitness: breathing, jogging and stretching techniques, gymnastics: formal and creative floor and apparatus work, individual and group sequences, ball games: passing, catching, marking, dodging and basic rules, athletics: medium distance running, sprinting, jumping, ball throwing, swimming in ability groups in local pool. Dance: performing set dances and creating own, e.g. carnival, May Day.

Learning Support and Development

Please click here to refer to this section in the curriculum pages.

Homework

Children in Year 4 are given up to 20 minutes per day according to timetable. Parents are asked to mark with their initials where help has been given. Each child has a homework diary and folder to make a note of the homework set.