Chattenden Primary School
Year Four Parental Overview
Dear Parents,
Welcome back after the Christmas break. We are sending you an outline of what your child will be
doing this term to enable you to take an informed interest in their learning. Your role and support to
your child and the school is appreciated and valued. The school relies on your support to ensure
your child achieves their potential. Please ensure your child can work at home by having time and
space in which to do so. If you have any comments or suggestions please fill in the attached reply
slip.
Our theme this term is:
Tomb Raiders
English- Fiction
Literacy Reading –
Term 1
This term the children will be :
*Looking at and constructing shape poems linked to Ancient Egypt
*Writing an explanation on why the Egyptians carried out
mummification
*Writing a diary entry for Howard Carter as he enters Tutankhamun’s
tomb
*Writing a letter to Pharaoh about whether Joseph should be sold as a
slave
Term 2
This term the children will be:
*writing an instruction text on how to construct a shadof
* reading, studying and comparing a range of writing styles in fiction
and story settings on imaginary worlds – where the pharaoh will travel
to in the Afterlife.
The narrative work covered will both allow the children to read, discuss,
retell and evaluate what makes a good story better.
The children will then write their own stories on imaginary worlds which
will have correct structure and outlay.
We will continue to work on reading fluency, comprehensions skills and
improve our handwriting and presentation.
English- non
fiction
In the spring term we will be learning about instruction and explanation
texts.
The children will be studying how the Ancient Egyptians carried out
mummification to prepare a person for the Afterlife.
We will also be looking at the construction of a Shadof .
English- speaking
and listening
Children will work on the retelling of instruction texts and stories read.
Correct grammatical sentence structure will be orally focused on as well
as discussion on how writing produced can be adapted for different
audience and purpose.
Mathematics
Term 1
Children will begin this term by recapping and consolidating using basic
skills number work and embedding their place value knowledge .
Children will go on to :
*Using and reading measuring equipment. They will use this to
accurately measure and construct a life size skeleton – links to our ARL
learning on Tomb Raiders. Data analysis will enable them to compare
and construct bar graphs supporting their skeleton construction.
*Identify equivalent fractions (1/2s , 1/3s, 1/4s, 1/6s, 1/8s, 1/10s, and
1/12s); Reduce fractions to their simplest form; Identify equivalent
fractions and decimals (1/10s and 1/2s); Add and subtract fractions with
the same denominators with 2 wholes
*Use compact addition to add amounts of money; Use counting up to
subtract three digit numbers, e.g. 414 – 278; Find change from £5 or
£10, e.g. £5 – 3.78; Find a difference between prices, e.g. £4.24 and
£3.78
*Add three two-digit numbers using compact addition; Add four twodigit numbers using compact addition; Subtract pairs of three digit
numbers using decomposition (two ‘carries’)
* Check subtraction with addition; Choose counting up or
decomposition to solve subtractions; Identify and describe patterns
*Divide whole 2-digit numbers to give one-place decimals; Multiply 1place decimals to give whole numbers; Recognise decimal and fraction
forms of tenths; Place one-place decimals on a number line; Round
tenths to nearest whole; Compare 1-place decimals and write one in
between, e.g. 2.1 and 1.2 and say what whole number comes between
these two
Term 2
* Add/subtract single-digit numbers to and from three and four-digit
numbers; Add/subtract multiples of 10, 100 and 1000 to and from fourdigit numbers
*Revise adding three three-digit numbers using compact addition;
Revise using compact addition to add amounts of money; Revise using
expanded decomposition to subtract three-digit numbers. Introduce
compact decomposition to subtract three-digit numbers
*Read and tell the time to nearest minute on digital and analogue
clocks, Use am, pm, 12-hour clock notation, and 24-hour time. Work out
time intervals crossing the hour. Read and work out questions from
simple timetables. Read and plot co-ordinates in the first quadrant;
Complete polygons by giving missing point; Translate shapes in the first
quadrant.
* Know multiplication and division facts for the 9 times table; Begin to
know multiplication and division facts for the 7 times table; Revise all
times tables up to 12 × 12; Find factors of numbers up to 40; Use tables
facts and place value to multiply multiples of 10 and 100 by single-digit
numbers, e.g. 4 × 70 and 3 × 400.
*Use partitioning to multiply three-digit numbers by single-digit
numbers (grid or ladder layout); Know the 11 and 12 times tables;
Divide two-digit numbers by single-digit numbers, including those
divisions which give a remainder (answers between 10 and 30)
ICT
Children will be taught how to use the internet safely and responsible
use of school e-mail accounts.
Children will use a 3D programme to create a pyramid for a Pharaoh’s
burial.
Children will use the internet for research and the accessing of
Mathematics and English based sites to further enhance their learning.
Links with mathematics, English, science.
Science
Terms 1 and 2– Animals including humans
*Children will construct a life size skeleton using measurement learnt in
week 1
*Children will look at, discuss and show understanding for the process
of mummification carried out by the Egyptians
*Children will look at the key parts of the body removed for
mummification – draw and discuss function in human body
*Children will look at how they were stored and why
*Children will look at and discuss preservation techniques used in
Ancient Egypt and how preservation can occur today
Children will write scientifically and accurately on any experiments
conducted.
P.E
A reminder that P.E is on Monday’s and Thursday’s so please ensure
your children have their P.E clothing in school on both these days.
Children are not allowed to wear jewellery and girls should have long
hair tied back for safety reasons.
Children will improve their ball skills and build on these playing invasion
games. Team building skills will be built upon and fine motor control in
throwing/catching will be developed.
Geography
R.E

Children will use world atlases to locate position of Egypt within
Africa’s continent

Children will look at and identify key features of tombs and
important landmarks within Egypt

The Egyptian landscape will be looked at and how floodplains
affect where local people live

Children will look at and discuss how the landscape/population/
trade differs in various parts of the modern day Egypt
Children will begin to look at and discuss the different Gods worshipped
in Ancient Egypt and why.
Children will discuss what it felt like to be a slave and show empathy for
people who were
Children will discuss why worship is important today
Modern Foreign
Languages
(French)
Music
In class French will be taught on a Wednesday afternoon by a qualified
linguist, Miss Turner will be teaching basic French phrases, numbers and
colours.
Children will have Music every Wednesday with Mrs Alicindor where
they will learn many popular/fun songs used in schools today. They will
also begin to use percussion instruments to accompany their singing.
Learning will be linked to the children’s All Round Learning topic on
Ancient Egypt.
History
Terms 1 and 2
Children will:
*Create an Egyptian Timeline and make links to numerical ordering
*Discuss and write about the Egyptian beliefs on mummification and
how it was carried out
*Look at the construction of pyramids and write a diary entry on
Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the
Kings
*Look at the artefacts Ancient Egyptians took to the afterlife and why
*Discuss hierarchy within Ancient Egypt and the role of women
*Link above to Nefertiti and her role within Egyptian society
Art
Children will be ;
*Drawing and painting their name in hieroglyphics
*Using water colours to create an Egyptian landscape
*Creating a mummy
*Design their own tomb
*Create a 3D obelisk
*Construct a shadof
*Design an Egyptian death mask
*Create and draw an Egyptian God
Please note in Year 4 homework is given out every Monday and is to be returned the following
Monday. There will be both English and Mathematics homework given out here.
Every Friday your child will also be given some basic skills homework based on either English or
Mathematics which will be based on the topic area covered that week. This homework may be
online learning or paper. If paper based it will need to be returned the following Monday with your
child’s normal homework.
A gentle reminder that your child should be in school by 8.55am every morning, if they arrive after
this time they will be marked late. This can cause a disruption in your child’s learning and start to
their school day .
If you have any problems/ questions regarding any area of your child’s learning please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Websites which may help you child with their topic work this term are;
ANCIENT EGYPT
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/homework/egypt.html This interactive website covers all
areas of Ancient Egyptian life
http://www.ngkids.co.uk/did-you-know/Ten-Facts-about-Ancient-Egypt# Key facts on Ancient Egypt
SCIENCE
Any children friendly websites discussing Liver/Intestines/Lungs or stomach will support in your child’s
science coverage and also support their ARL learning on Ancient Egypt.
Mathematics and English
www.sumdog.com – This interactive site allows your child to build upon knowledge learnt within
school using ICT support
www.primaryresources.co.uk this site can allow your child to access any English/ Mathematics
coverage from their learning.
Times tables ( from x 2 – x 12) Your child should be confident in ALL their times tables by the time
they leave Year 4. In class we will learn them by rote, also chanting and singing in order to support
learning.
If you have any worries/ concerns on any of your child’s learning please do not hesitate to contact
me.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs J.Gordon
(Class Teacher)
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