Ashurst Primary School

Year 4 class 2020-2021 welcome message

'Excellence Everyday'

We have missed you all so much and we can't wait to start the new school year with you.  You will shine bright in all of your new learning in the year ahead.

'Learn, Live, Laugh and Love Ashurst'

Learn to be inspiring and make a difference to this world, we know how amazing you are,

Live with understanding and compassion for others, knowing we are all different and special in a community where equality stands tall,

Laugh and listen to the enjoyment of learning and excitement of everyone celebrating their achievements,

Love Ashurst, our special school and the hub of supportive staff, parents and children who aim high to be the best they can be.

Our new stars of Year 4! 

Space Week - Geography

 As part of our geography topic 'All about Europe' Year 4 looked at images of Earth from Space. We identified physical and human features on these photographs and viewed Europe from a different perspective.

Space Week - Art

Pupils enjoyed learning about constellations and then producing artwork inspired by their favourite ones. Children practised skills of creating a watercolour wash and mixing colours to create mood.

Reading Plus

 Children in Year 4 are making such great progress in reading. It is wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they practise a range of reading skills whilst reading texts on Reading Plus.

Mamma Mia! Music

During our topic of Mamma Mia! Year 4 have appraised music from different genres. They are becoming more confident at identifying different instruments that they hear. They practise finding the pulse to these pieces of music. 

Roald Dahl Day

 Year 4 loved reading George's Marvellous medicine and dressing up as characters from Roald Dahl's novels. Take a look at some of our fantastic costumes.

To my current, fabulous Year 4 class and the wonderful children who will be in my class in September, as our new Year 4 here is an extract of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for you. I hope you enjoy it!  We miss you all so much and can't wait to see you in September 2020. 

Being Year 4 in September 2020

There are a few changes to how the classroom looks ready for September, but everything else about our school remains the same. Our desks may be placed differently but we are still a school who strives for 'excellence everyday' within a nurturing ethos unpinned by our 5 important values: caring, sharing, independence, respect and determination.  The Year 4 team are here to reassure you, support you, and help you reach your full potential. We have missed you greatly and can't wait to see you all back in September 2020.  Please keep checking the website for more information on your new class but for now, stay safe and enjoy time with your families. We have no doubt you will shine next year!

About the class...

Class Teacher - Miss E. Hunter

Learning Assistants - Mrs A. Johnson and Mrs L. Kenyon

Year 4 is a safe, caring learning environment where where children’s individual talents and achievements are recognised and built upon. We aim for all lessons to be interactive, exciting and engaging. Throughout Year 4, children are always encouraged to strive for excellence both independently and as part of a team. With support from teachers and family at home, the children work hard on their goals. Mental health and well-being are high priority in Year 4.  We work hard to support the children to be happy and free from worry and anxieties.  We promote positive self-talk and resilience and guide children through any difficulties they face. 

All individuals

Each child enters Year 4 at a different stage. Therefore, we treat every child as an individual and plan to cater for their individual needs. We understand that every child learns in a different way and has different interests and it is our aim to adapt our teaching to suit the children. We encourage their independence throughout, allowing them to take ownership of their learning and achievements and to understand how to solve problems on their own.

What do we learn?

We have daily maths and English/SPAG lessons.  Our mastery approach in maths develops mathematical fluency, reasoning and problem solving. We work hard to rapidly recall multiplication and division facts to 12 x 12. Our English work links to a whole class text. We produce some accomplished writing linked to our text.  We have reading lessons to help us work on year group reading objectives, including finding evidence in reading to prove our points.  We have daily opportunities to read across the curriculum. In addition, we read frequently at home and complete our reading records, which are commented on by staff. We learn to read then read to learn!

We have a broad curriculum with lots of exciting lessons on a range of topics including: The Ancient Greeks, Rivers, Electricity, Coding, Textiles, Roman Printing, and Mamma Mia.  We aim to grow scientists, historians, geographers, artists, linguists, musicians and much more!  We make links with different subjects across the curriculum and aim to apply our maths and English skills in different contexts. Click on the Long Term Plan for more information.

Important things to remember: -

• We have PE every Monday and Wednesday– please ensure that your child attends school on this day in their PE kit (an indoor and outdoor PE kit with trainers or pumps)  in line with our new guidance related to Covid-19.
• Homework is set on a Friday and should be completed by the following Thursday – please ensure you bring back spellings and multiplication tables activities to Miss Hunter and complete online tasks on time. 
• Spellings and multiplication tables are included in homework every Friday and tested the following Friday - please ensure your child learns these at home.  We recommend little and often and a multi-sensory approach can help children to learn.
• Reading books are changed on Mondays. - Please ensure your child brings their reading book on Monday if they want to change it.

Topic Webs

Year 4 Long Term Plan 2020-2021

Multiplication Tables

Year 4 use a range of strategies and activities to practise their multiplication tables. They enjoy using I pads to access TT Rockstars and Topmarks games but one of their favourite games has to be bingo.

The Book Bus

Year 4 pupils visited The Book Bus and were delighted to see some of their favourite books and have the opportunity to explore new titles.

Visit from The University of Manchester Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

 Year 4 participated in a workshop where they designed and made a circuit for their own smart gadget. Pupils took part in a Question and Answer session with Alex an Associate Professor from The University of Manchester and found out all about careers and studies in Electronic Engineering. We now have some budding engineers at Ashurst!

Lego Rovers

We loved our Lego Rovers workshop delivered by The University of Liverpool's Computer Science Department. We navigated our own space rover, saw the effect of the time delay between the Earth, the Moon and Mars, and experimented with automation rules based on concepts from artificial intelligence programming.

Working Scientifically - Using Microscopes

Year 4 used microscopes, which we loaned from the Royal Microscopical Society, to practice our working scientifically skills. We closely observed different solids and were able to group and classify them and record our findings.

DT - Adapting a recipe

 During our DT topic we sampled and evaluated a range of biscuits. Then, working to a budget, we made our biscuits and designed our own packaging. Finally, we sold our delicious cookies at the Christmas Fair.

Drawing 

We have been learning to explore different materials and drawing techniques this term. We experimented with hatching, cross hatching and stippling, with different grades of pencil and pens, to create texture in our drawing.

Letters from our Spanish pen-friends

We have enjoyed writing to our new Spanish friends and showcasing the knowledge and vocabulary we have acquired this half term. When we received our letters, we were thrilled. It has been wonderful to learn all about them.

Games Using Electrical Circuits

 Year 4 loved applying their knowledge of complete and incomplete circuits to design and make games using an electrical circuit. They learned lots from the challenges they faced along the way and felt a real sense of accomplishment when playing with the finished products. 

Investigating Electrical Conductors and Insulators

 As part of our Science topic about Electricity, pupils investigated which materials are insulators and which make good conductors of electricity.

Music

During our music topic Mamma Mia, pupils have enjoyed learning to play G and A notes on a recorder to then perform the song. 

Coding

Pupils have been learning to explore different commands and share challenges with their Kagan group.