This page will give you all the information you need about what is happening in our class, such as PE days, homework, trips, events and the areas that we will be learning about during the term.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Term 5 in Pelicans class.

We are looking forward to another exciting term, with lots to learn and many exciting opportunities to take part in!

English - In our English and Guided Reading lessons, we will be focusing on two traditional tales – ‘Hansel and Gretel’ and ‘The Tale of Tam Lin’. During our first English unit, the children will write a detailed, persuasive letter from the witch about why Hansel and Gretel should visit her house. During the second unit, they will retell the Tam Lin story, adding their own exciting twists to the tale!

Mathematics - In Maths, we will be moving onto Unit 10 Decimals, learning about how to convert between a fraction, a decimal and a percentage. This includes the inverse and division facts too, so please do keep up the good work on TTRS! Please also keep practicing on U R Brainy MTC too. Aiming for a score above 22/25.

Science - Our unit this term will be all about plants. We will learn what the different parts of a plant are and what they do as well as what plants need to help them to survive and how they reproduce.

Geography – This terms’ geography will focus on woodlands. We will learn about the key features of woodlands and how these environments support the wide variety of plant and animal life that live in them. We will then plan our own fieldwork activities, testing and measuring woodland features.

History- Within History this term, we will be investigating ancient woodlands and developing our understanding of chronology by finding out how they would have changed over time. We will time travel from pre-history right through to the modern day and even into the future to consider what they next chapter might bring!

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) - Our unit this term is ‘Relationships’. Within this unit, we will be looking at the importance of friendships, covering how to keep ourselves safe online and investigating how we can be good global citizens.

Computing - In Computing, we will be using the ‘scratch’ program and learning how to code. We will look at how to combine snippets of code to create sequences and program the characters to respond to our instructions.

Music – During our music lessons, we will be finding out all about disco music and learning a specially written song called ‘Bringing us Together’ which is a disco song about friendship, peace, hope and unity. We will be singing the song, playing instruments and composing accompaniments to go with it.

Spanish – Year 4 pupils will be studying adding to their knowledge of animals and ways to describe them with a particular focus on farm animals.

Art –This term we will be investigating a very different art form! We are basing our art on the work of the artist Anna Atkins, who creates ‘sun prints’ by using the chemical reaction between UV light and photo sensitive paper.

DT – Our DT this term is based around Anglo-Saxon food. We will be planning and cooking well balanced meals, using ingredients that would have been available to people in those times, to give us a real insight into their diets.

Physical Education (PE) - PE lessons will take place on a Wednesday this term with JB Sports, children will develop their skills in athletics. We will also be continuing with our swimming lessons every Tuesday. Children should arrive at school in their PE kit on PE days (black jumper or school jumper, PE t-shirt/white t-shirt, and black leggings, joggers, or shorts). Swimming costumes should be worn underneath PE kit, with underwear, towel and goggles brought in a separate bag please. It is important that your child is able to undress and dress independently for swimming sessions, including fastening their own shoes so please practice this with them if they still need some help. Earrings must be removed for PE; newly pierced ears can be covered with plasters for football, although this can’t be done for swimming. Your children are now becoming more confident within the pool and may now require a pair of goggles. Please speak with your child to see whether they require these for this next term. Thank you.

Learning at Home - We greatly value your support in helping your child continue their learning beyond the classroom. Daily reading at home will significantly improve vocabulary, comprehension, and enjoyment of books. Children should read a variety of texts, and their reading record should be signed each time please. Weekly spellings will continue during some weeks this term. We are now in a super position where your child is becoming more confident with these so you may see some repeated spellings- these are the ones that are still a little challenging. These will be sent home as and when needed this term and will be from the Year ¾ common exception word list.

Reminder- Please keep signing your child’s reading log so that certificates can be easily issued. We read daily in the classroom, so these can be recorded as a read too. It was lovely to give out so many reading certificates last term and we hope that is the same this term too.

Multiplication Tables - Regular practice of times tables is essential. Please encourage your child to log onto TT Rock Stars frequently and as stated above, U R Brainy MTC regularly in preparation for the government test in June. Link for this here if needed-

As always, please do come and speak to us if there is anything you need to discuss or if you have any questions.

Kind Regards,

Miss Nichols