Year 3 & 4 – Oak Class
In English, our key texts will include Arthur and the Golden Rope by Joe Todd-Stanton and Stone Age Boy by Satoshi Kitamura. We will be writing stories, scripts, letters, poems and diary entries, working on developing our understanding of writing for different purposes and developing the key grammar skills required in Year 3 and 4.
In maths, we start the term by deepening our knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, moving on to formal written methods. Later in the term we will learn how to calculate the area of rectilinear shapes, extend our knowledge of fractions and introduce decimals.
Our history topic in the first half term is Invasion. This knowledge-rich project teaches children about life in Britain after the Roman withdrawal. Children will learn about Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions up to the Norman conquest. After half term we will have a geography focus and will be studying Interconnected World. This project teaches children about compass points and four and six-figure grid references. They will learn about the tropics and the countries, climates and culture of North and South America. Children will identify physical features in the United Kingdom and learn about the National Rail and canal networks. They will also conduct an enquiry to prove a hypothesis, gathering data from maps and surveys before drawing conclusions.
In science, we will Food and the Digestive System. Children will explore the main parts, starting with the mouth and teeth, identifying teeth types and their functions. They will link this learning to animals’ diets and construct food chains to show the flow of energy. After half term will will learn about Sound. This project teaches children about sound and how sounds are made and travel as vibrations through a medium to the ear. They will learn about pitch and volume and find out how both can be changed.
We study Christianity and Hinduism in RE and will be discussing the key questions, ‘What is it like for someone to follow God? ’ and ‘What does it mean to be Hindu in Britain today?’
In addition, we will; learn about the concept of networks and programming in computing using algorithms, key inventions in food preservation and packaging in design technology, understand musical structures in music, learn phonics and key phrases in French and discuss and celebrate our differences in PSHE.
This year our PE slots will be on a Tuesday (swimming) and Wednesday.
Homework
All children will have homework set online (EdShed and on TTRS), reading (5 times a week!) and will also need to complete written spellings.
For more detail take a look at our knowledge organisers on the website or please get in touch via ClassDojo if you have any questions.
Enrichment Activities
We enjoy enrichment activities such as sewing and singing with Derby Cathedral Choir.
Forest School
We all love our Forest School sessions with Sunshine Forest School. These take place throughout the year rain or shine.
School Trips
We will visit our friends at Derby Museum to learn more about Anglo Saxons. We will also take a whole school trip to watch the Pantomime at Derby Theatre after half term. In Spring Term we will visit the Whistlestop Centre to learn more about rivers and take part in our whole school Ascension Day walk around Turnditch and Windley. In Summer Term we will visit our friends again at Derby Museum this time to learn more about Ancient Egypt. We will also attend our annual highlight residential at Lea Green. Throughout the year we will also take part in Faith Trails and visit a Mandir and Derby Cathedral to link with our RE studies.
Lea Green Residential
Children take part in lots of activities including: river walking, problem solving games, climbing tower, bouldering, ropes course, zip wire, soft play and the play park. The children always have a super time, work as a Turnditch team and are open to trying something new. It isn’t always easy when it’s outside their comfort zones but they all push themselves in many different ways.
