This half term our English will be focused around two Explanatory texts and one Poetry.  The explanatory texts will include ‘Human Digestion’ and ‘States of Matter’ linking well with our Science. Having already covered both of these topics in Science, the children will hit the ground running with their knowledge and understanding. Through key vocabulary and understanding of the grammatical structure of an explanatory text, the children, by the end of each block will be encouraged to independently write their own explanatory text using the identified key features.

We will spend a week looking at Haiku poems, unpicking the key features and performing and reciting our own poems.

This half term our English will be focused around two Explanatory texts and one Poetry.  The explanatory texts will include ‘Human Digestion’ and ‘States of Matter’ linking well with our Science. Having already covered both of these topics in Science, the children will hit the ground running with their knowledge and understanding. Through key vocabulary and understanding of the grammatical structure of an explanatory text, the children, by the end of each block will be encouraged to independently write their own explanatory text using the identified key features.

We will spend a week looking at Haiku poems, unpicking the key features and performing and reciting our own poems.

Our text for this half term is The Queen's Nose by Dick King-Smith. For the first 2 weeks we will focus on the reading element of the text and really unpick what the text is about. To do this, we will use our summarising, retrieval and inferring skills. For the last 3 weeks we will focus on the writing. Using The Queen's Nose as our model, we will plan and execute our own adventure story using a balance of dialogue and description to tell the story.

Spring 1

For the first 3 weeks of the half term, Year 4 will be looking at Stories from others cultures. We will be focusing on the text, 'The Firework Maker's Daughter' as well as a narrative story based in Sweden from a new scheme of work called CUSP. Throughout this unit the children will develop their knowledge and understanding of other cultures and traditions and compare contrast to their own and others. 

Autumn 2

For the first three weeks of this half term, our book focus will be the second half of 'There's a Rang Tan in my Bedroom'. We will be looking in detail at deforestation and sustainable palm oil and discussing how we as humans can make a difference. 

For the second part of the half term, our book focus will be 'Leon and the place between'. Leon and the Place Between written by Graham Baker-Smith is a delightful tale featuring Leon and an exciting magic show. Wanting to prove to his brothers and sister that magic really exists, Leon volunteers to be in Abdul Kazam's magic show and gets transported to a mysterious world. Filled with rabbits, doves, playing cards and magician's assistants - among other things - if a magician can make it disappear, it will end up in the Place Between!

Autumn 1

This half term, our texts will be a whole school approach. 'The Wonder Garden and 'There's a Rang-Tan in my bedroom'. 

The Wonder Garden is a beautifully illustrated book which allows its readers to 'wander through five habitats to discover eighty amazing animals.

The book entices children and adults alike through the golden gates on the cover and into the wondrous garden that is planet Earth.  From deserts, rainforests and mountains to oceans we are met by double spread after double spread of richly illustrated landscapes and beautifully drawn creatures.

The language used in the text is challenging also using the latin names of the animals alongside the common. The author describes the creatures vividly, using poetic language amongst the technical.

In Year 4 we will be specifically looking at the Chihuahuan Desert. 

'There's a Rang-Tan in my bedroom' will raise children's consciousness about conservation and will link with our Chester Zoo project.