Welcome to Year 4 - Sycamore

Mr Mali

Learning Update

Literacy
This half term, Year 4 completed their work on the book Varmints. Through this text, the children explored how language and structure can be used to create atmosphere and emotion. They have built their skills in using the present perfect tense to describe events and expanded their vocabulary through the use of expanded noun phrases. The children also practised expressing time, place, and cause through conjunctions, adverbs, and prepositions, making their writing more detailed and cohesive. They were introduced to and have included in their writing: paragraphs, headings, and subheadings to help organise their writing clearly for the reader. The children also developed their understanding of choosing nouns or pronouns appropriately for clarity and cohesion. They began using fronted adverbials, ensuring they punctuate them correctly with commas.

Maths
In Maths, the children have been working hard to secure their understanding of rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, and 1000. They have used number lines and place value charts to support this process and have become increasingly accurate and confident in applying these skills in problem-solving contexts. Following this, they moved on to addition and subtraction of larger 4-digit numbers, using both mental and written methods. The focus has been on selecting efficient strategies, checking answers using the inverse operation, and applying these skills to multi-step problems. Towards the end of the sequence, the children began their new topic on area, exploring what area means and how it can be measured. They enjoyed using squared paper and cubes to calculate the area of rectangles and irregular shapes.

Science
In Science, the children have been learning about the human digestive system. They explored the journey of food through the body, starting from the mouth and moving through the oesophagus, stomach, and intestines. The children learnt about the functions of different types of teeth and how they help with chewing and breaking down food. They compared human teeth to those of herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores to understand how animals’ teeth are adapted to their diets. To build on this, they investigated food chains, discovering how energy flows from producers to consumers and identifying the roles of predators and prey. The children particularly enjoyed creating their own labelled diagrams and models of the digestive system and food chains, showing a clear understanding of how living things are connected.

History
In History, Year 4 has been learning about life in Britain after the Roman withdrawal, exploring what happened when the Romans left and how this led to new invasions and settlements. They studied the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, discovering where they came from, why they came to Britain, and how they lived. The children examined Anglo-Saxon life, including their homes, clothing, beliefs, and the importance of monasteries as centres of learning and religion. After half term, we will be exploring the impact of Viking invasions, looking at artefacts, maps, and stories to understand how the Vikings influenced Britain’s culture and place names. The children have shown great curiosity and enthusiasm throughout this unit, using timelines, historical sources, and creative writing to bring the past to life.

Computing
In Computing, the children have continued to develop their understanding of coding using the Purple Mash scheme of work. They began by revisiting key coding vocabulary, including algorithm, debugging, and sequence. The children explored how to design, write, and debug programmes that accomplish specific goals, such as controlling the movement of on-screen characters and creating simple games. They learnt how to plan their code carefully, predict what will happen, and test their algorithms to identify and fix any errors. By the end of the unit, the children were able to use 2Code on Purple Mash to create programmes that included multiple objects, events, and conditions. They demonstrated excellent independence, logging in securely, saving their work, and even supporting one another by offering solutions during debugging challenges. This sequence of lessons has really encouraged the children to think logically, be resilient when solving problems, and take pride in creating their own interactive projects.

Looking Ahead
In the following weeks, Year 4 will be focusing on:

• Literacy: Sequencing a story, new book (FARther by Grahame-Baker Smith), using conjunctions, modal verbs, and the present perfect tense to develop their understanding of narrative structure and grammar.
• Maths: Continuing with multiplication and division, with a strong focus on mastering their 3, 9, and 11 times tables to build fluency and speed in recall.
• R.E.: Learning about Kathina in Buddhism, exploring the meaning of generosity, gratitude, and community within the festival and how it is celebrated around the world.
• P.E.: Football with Mr Mali and Dance with Mrs Bissmire.

Autumn Term 2025

Click on the links below to see what the children in Year 4 will be learning in the Autumn Term.