This Term

Below you will find information about what the classes in Year 3 and 4 are learning about this term. You might also like to view our Homework page for ways that you can support learning at home.

Autumn 2023

English

This term Years 3/4 will start with a story based unit. The children will study a story with a familiar setting, focusing on the key features of story writing. They will study and write character descriptions, create their own versions of plots and endings for the original story and finally re-write parts of the story from a character’s viewpoint. Next, children will complete an information text. The children will learn and use the key features of this genre to write a text linked to our Science unit, animals.

In the second half of the term, we will be writing a persuasive text. Once again, this unit is linked to our topic work based on artists. Children will study and use the key features of persuasive texts to create their own texts based on the lives of three modern artists. Finally, the children will study, compose, recite and perform their own poems.

Maths

The children will be studying a range of concepts and calculations focused on number. These will include; place value, different methods for addition and subtraction, word problems, methods for multiplication and division, number puzzles, doubling and halving and fractions. In addition to the number focus; children will also work on 2D and 3D shapes, handling data, measure activities and presenting data.

Topic

During the first half of the Autumn term, the children will be learning about the United Kingdom and where they live. They will look at different geographical regions, physical features and map work. They will also draw comparisons between where they live and a remote Scottish Island. In the second half of the term they will study the lives and works of three different artists; Munch, Picasso and Dali. They will compare their different styles of painting and create images based on their work.

For more detailed information about Topic learning for this term please see the Topic work page here.

Science

We will begin the year with a study of Animals (including humans) and what they need to survive. We will look at why we need food, how different foods have different roles and what the function of the skeleton is. Our second unit is Light. Children will learn to recognise the importance of light and the sun, darkness being the absence of light, reflection and how light is reflected. They will continue to work practically, carrying out experiments focusing on fair testing and learning and using appropriate scientific vocabulary.

Computing

Our first unit focuses on Basic Skills. Throughout the course of this unit children will create and organise folders for their work, develop their word processing skills and document editing skills, learn about the importance of E.safety and access the internet for research to support their learning. During the second half of the term the children will continue to learn and develop their coding skills by accessing the Espresso Coding units.

P.E.

We continue to work on our core scheme of Real P.E. focusing on teaching integral skills to support children’s development. The two units covered this term focus on balance and its importance in moving, running and jumping. This then links to our second unit on ball skills. In addition, Year 4 children will have swimming lessons and Year 3 children will have rugby training lead by a rugby coach.

Art

During the first half term we will be looking at the Elements of Art. The children will be able to get creative with colour, line, form, space, value, shape and texture. We will then move on to our drawing unit which will include learning the different drawing techniques and how to add light and shade to drawings.

Life Curriculum

During the first week of term we will focus on new beginnings, creating and developing friendships and working together. Across the half term we will look at the importance of friends and families and what being healthy and happy means to us.

Music

In the first half of the term we will use the Charanga program by studying the unit “Let your Sprit Fly.” The second half of the term will be devoted to learning and performing songs for the pantomime and learning to play rhythm cups.

French

Both units in French are linked to our topic work. Initially, the children will learn French phrases describing the weather and this will be followed by a unit based on portraits. Children will learn French vocabulary for facial features and parts of the body.

R.E.

In R.E. our first unit looks at Spirituality and what this means to different religions. We then move on to discovering about shared faiths and looking at the numerous different faiths that are followed in the region of Yorkshire.