Learning in Year 4
Buckle up, sunglasses on—we’re going on a road trip across the good old US of A!
Flying from London Gatwick and landing at JFK airport New York, it’s time to explore the sights and sounds of the Big Apple. Use your map skills to navigate your
way around the USA’s most famous landmarks and send an email home. To ask
the question : Do you wish you were here?
Learn how to send an email to book a day trip or reserve a room. Make sure you
ask the important questions : Does your hotel have a pool? Is there 24 hour room
service?
It’s going to be a long ride. Put the roof down and let the wind blow through your
hair—we’re off!
Learning in English
Writing
Our stimulus this half term will be ’LaRue Across America’ by Mark Teague. During this
time, children will be writing an email in response to a family that want to take a road
trip around the USA. They will be suggesting which states the family could visit and
landmarks they can see while there which fit into their budget. They will organise their
writing into paragraphs and extend their sentences using clauses and conjunctions.
They will compare emails to other forms of communication and draft, edit and improve their own and others’ work. Children will also be writing a holiday brochure
about a state of their choice. There will also be a focus on handwriting this half term
where children will ensure their work is legible and consistent.
Reading
In Guided Reading, we will be exploring a range of texts including emails and holiday
brochures. Children will be explaining and justifying their personal opinion about the
texts that we are reading, as well as identifying and summarising ideas drawn from
more than one paragraph. Children will also be using dictionaries to check the
meaning of words that they have read.
Learning in Maths
We will be continuing with our mastery work in Maths. We will be investigating money problems using both pounds and pence. Children will be measuring and calculating the perimeter of shapes in centimetres and metres, as well as comparing and
classifying geometric shapes. While looking at shapes, children will also explore angles, lines of symmetry, co-ordinates and translations.
Learning in History and Geography
In Geography, we will be using maps and other sources to discuss the human and
physical geography of North America. We will be studying the Grand Canyon, rivers,
climate zones, rivers, mountains, economic activity as well as several other famous
American landmarks.
Learning across the wider Curriculum
DT: Children will be preparing and making a range of traditional North American
dishes.
RE: We will be exploring the Hindu faith , focusing on the features of a temple and
how Hindus pray.
PE: Children will be participating in swimming lessons where they will use a range
of strokes effectively. They will also be taking part in rounders sessions where they
will demonstrate throwing, catching and teambuilding skills.
MFL: Children will listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding
by joining in and responding.
Music: Children will be listening to and learning a selection of traditional Native
American songs.
ICT: Children will have access to their own email accounts and will be composing
and sending their own email.
How Can You Help?

Read every night.

Practise high frequency
words and spelling lists for
Year 4.

Trips and Experiences
Children will be going on an exciting
trip to Manchester Airport. While there
children will gain an understanding of
how airports operate as well as experiencing a simulated flight.
Practise times tables up to
12x12.

Remind your children to
bring in their full PE and
swimming kits on the correct days .
Project homework.
Choose two of the following project ideas. One must be submitted
on Friday 12th May. The second must be submitted on Wednesday
24th May.

There have been many US Presidents over the last 100 years.
How many can you find? Write a short biography about one
of them.

Make a playlist of different American songs you could listen to
on your road trip. Make sure you have a song from a range of
genres, such as blues, jazz, country, rock, hip hop, rock and roll.

Write a shopping list for a United States-themed evening meal.
Report back to others using photos or videos.

Plan a second road trip, this time around South America. Plan
your route on a digital map and write an itinerary.
Extra information
PE slots
4B - Indoor PE Thursday (swimming)
Outdoor PE Monday
4T - Indoor PE Thursday (swimming)
Outdoor PE Tuesday
4K - Indoor PE Thursday (swimming)
Outdoor PE Tuesday
Spellings to be sent out every Friday.