Summer Term 

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The Summer Term in Year 4 looks like this:   

English

Our writing across the Summer will use The Witches by Roald Dahl and Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman as stimuli. 

The children will first of all, write their own narrative chapter of The Witches, explaining how Luke escapes from them in their own innovative style and then go on to write their own persuasive speech, in character as the Grand High Witch. 

They will then go on to write a diary entry from the point of view of Sam following the bullying of Davey and then go on to write a letter to the Headteacher of the school to explain how the children could be kinder towards others. 

Grammar 

We will learn grammar through our English lessons as well as one skill-focused lesson a week. The grammar features that we will focus on in Year 4 are: 

• Using direct and reported speech including using inverted commas to correctly punctuate direct speech 

• Using commas following fronted adverbials 

• Using subordinate clauses, punctuating them correctly by using commas when the subordinate clause starts the sentence 

• Using apostrophes for singular and plural possession

• Using prepositional noun phrases

• Appropriate use of nouns and pronouns 

• Precise use of paragraphs

• Understand and identify suffixes, synonyms, antonyms, homophones and all four categories of nouns.  

Spelling

Year 4 will have three spelling lessons a week during which they will learn spelling rules, spelling patterns and common exception words. We will then have a weekly spelling test of these rules on Fridays. The spelling rules and key words are sent home at the start of the half-term.  

Maths

Throughout the Summer term in Maths, we will build upon our prior learning in the following topics:  

• Decimals. 
• Money
• Time
• Shape
• Statistics
• Position and Direction

Times Tables

In the Summer term, Year 4 will complete the statutory multiplication tables check. On an Ipad or laptop, the children will complete 25 multiplication (no division) questions, with 6 seconds for each question. Once the 6 seconds has passed, the next question will load.   

It is, therefore, very important that the children continue to practise the 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 times tables previously learned. As we learn the remaining times tables in school, the children should practise these too.  

Do please keep logging on to Times Tables Rockstars or access the free websites linked below:  

 Hit the Button - Quick fire maths practise for 6-11 year olds (topmarks.co.uk)  

Times tables Speed Test X - Timestables.co.uk  

For those who prefer a more practical approach, why not try the following ideas?

• Times tables songs on Youtube eg 6 Times Table Song (Cover of Shake It Off by Taylor Swift!) - YouTube
• Quiz children on different questions - maybe even get them to quiz you!
• Set up a treasure hunt of the questions and answers.
• Use water or chalk to write out the tables on the floor outside. 
• Make art out of the times tables facts eg. putting the answers on flower petals.  

Science 

In science in the Summer term, Year 4 will explore the following two topics through lots of hands-on investigations:  

We will develop our scientific skills through the five types of scientific enquiry: 

• Observation over time 

• Pattern seeking 

• Identifying, classifying and grouping                           

• Comparative and fair testing 

• Research using secondary resources 

Year 4 will use this book to consider and reflect upon their mental health this term. 

History

Our Summer term history topic will be The Victorians, where we will consider the following questions:  

• What were the main changes that took place during the victorian era?
• Was it as bad as they tell us about children working in victorian factories?
• If life in victorian towns was so bad, why did people move there from the countryside?
• Who won and lost when the railways were constructed?
• What was school like in victorian times? 

This will be enriched in June with a residential visit to York. 

Geography

In geography in the Summer term, we will focus our learning around settlements, where we will consider the following questions: 

• What is a settlement?
• How is land used in my local area?
• Can I explain the location of features in my local area?
• How has my local area changed over time?
• How is land used in New Delhi?
• How does land use in New Delhi compare with my local area? 

PE 

We will have PE on Wednesdays this half term. Please send your child in with the correct PE kit and ensure that long hair is tied back and any earrings are covered with micro-pore tape or removed.   

Useful information 

Snacks: Please send your child in with a healthy snack for their morning break. Children may also purchase a warm snack, if they wish. 

Water bottles: Please send your child into school with a named, filled water bottle, with a secure lid. 

Homework:  

• Times tables: please encourage your child to use Times Tables Rockstars and the MTC practise test to recall their times tables.
• Maths: Set weekly through Mathletics on a Friday. 
• Accelerated Reader: it is so important to listen to your child read, even just for 5 minutes daily. 
• Reading comprehension: A reading comprehension text and questions will be sent home weekly. These should be returned thr following Thursday and a new copy will be sent home.  
• Spellings: please encourage your child to practise their weekly spellings in preparation for their Friday test. The weekly words are sent home at the start of each half-term. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me on Seesaw, at the end of the school day or on contact@excalibur.cheshire.sch.uk.

Mr Barclay