Year 4 - Science: Air Pollution
The Year 4 super scientists undertook some fieldwork this week. They will be comparing the level of air pollution in 4 areas within our locality and so they suggested some areas to test and off we went to place our test cards. One side of each card was covered with a thin layer of Vaseline with the idea that some particles released from vehicles and machinery will stick to the cards and we can observe and discuss the level of pollution in each area. We also took a reading of the noise level in each area using a decibel meter so that we could determine whether there is a link between noise level and pollution level.
Year 4 - Life Education
The children love a visit from Harold the Giraffe and the Life Education team. Today, the Year 4 class learned about ways to look after our bodies and our wellbeing. Beginning with a look at our bodies’ basic needs, we considered how we can take care of ourselves physically. The children learned why sleep is so important and that sometimes our bodies may need medication to bring them back in balance. They also learned about some problems associated with misusing drugs. Our session also covered friendships and diversity, highlighting the positives of being different to each other. After short video clip of Harold and his friends at a theme park aided a discussion about conflict resolution with particular attention on having different interests but finding a compromise. Finally, the highlight of the session was a visit from Harold.
Class Worship- Reception class, Year 3 and Year 4 -The Power of Kind Words
Mrs Gardner delivered a collective worship session focused on the power of our words, using the theme 'Kind Words.' The children reflected on how kind words can cheer us up and make others stronger, supported by verses from Proverbs and Ephesians. We watched a 'Douglas Talks' video that demonstrated how powerful our words can be, and we closed the worship with a prayer asking for help to use only words that bring a smile to the listener.
Art in Year 4
The children worked really hard on their artwork this week. The focus was ‘ one picture, four views’ and the children were asked to concentrate on one part of a picture using a view finder. They then copied that part of the picture into a 15cm x 15cm square. In each of our four squares we looked at a different part of the picture resulting in some very abstract pieces.
Year 4 Geography - Features of a Rainforest
Our geography lesson this week focused on the features of a rainforest. The children researched three key areas; Rainforest people, Rainforest food and Rainforest Animals. They focused on both The Amazon and Congo rainforest s. Working in groups, the children produced some super posters which they presented to the rest of the class at the end.
Foodie Friends Club: Making Chocolate Brownies
This afternoon, in our Foodies Club, the children took on the challenge of baking chocolate brownies, becoming little mathematicians as they weighed out sugar, flour, butter and rich cocoa powder. The highlight of the afternoon was cracking the egg and licking the chocolate from the spoon and bowl. Some of the children were initially terrified because they had never cracked an egg before, fearing the mess or a broken shell. However, by supporting one another, every child conquered their fear, successfully whisking the eggs into the mixture. The children could not wait to take their brownies home, serving their treats with a scoop of ice cream or whipping cream.
Year 4 Geography - Rainforest Layers
In our Geography lesson we have been looking at the layers of a rainforest. The children identified the four layers as the forest floor, the understory, the canopy and emergent layer at the very top. Using their enquiry skills they researched the climate, plant and animal life and height of the trees at each layer.
Art - Inspired by the Rainforest
As part of our new Art unit we have been looking at the rainforest and in this lesson we strayed to look at the beginning of a design process which will lead up to creating a piece of Batik artwork. We collected images, shapes and colours to match a theme and complete our very own mood boards.
Maths - Informal Methods of Multiplication in Year 4
In our maths session today we looked at informal methods of multiplication. The children completed lots of practical work using their whiteboards and multiplication grids. Using the part while model, the children were able to break each calculation down and partition it into three sections. They all worked so hard in this and we will now move on to more formal methods in the next session.
Go All In: 2026 National Year of Reading
Dear Parents and Carers, As we move into 2026, we are excited to share that this has been designated the National Year of Reading. This year-long celebration, spearheaded by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, isn't about schoolwork or exams—it’s about helping our children rediscover the sheer joy of a great story. The theme for the year is "Go All In." The goal is to show children that reading isn't just something they do in a classroom; it is a way to dive deeper into the things they already love. Whether your child is a fan of gaming, sports, music, or space, there is a book, graphic novel, or audiobook out there that speaks to their interests. The campaign reminds us that "if they’re into it, they can read into it," and that every form of reading—from a football programme to a digital comic—is a step toward success. We know how busy family life can be, but research shows that sharing a story for just 10 minutes a day can dramatically boost a child’s wellbeing and their confidence at school. You don’t need to be an expert storyteller to make a difference; simply sitting together and exploring a book, or letting your child see you reading your own book or magazine, sets a fantastic example. Throughout the year, there will be exciting events to look forward to, including a record-breaking World Book Day on March 5th and a music-themed Summer Reading Challenge titled "Read to the Beat!" Our local libraries will also be hosting free activities, from author workshops to interactive storytelling sessions. We invite you to join us in making 2026 a year of discovery for our children. Let’s help them find the stories that make them want to "go all in." For more resources and book recommendations tailored to your child’s hobbies, you can visit the official campaign website at goallin.org.uk. For our first challenge, I would love the children to send me some photographs of them reading their favourite story in their favourite place. Happy reading! Mrs Wilkinson
Year 4 - Computing: Social Media
This half term in Computing, the Year 4 class have been presented with a hypothetical scenario in which all social media has been removed from the Internet. Their task is to design their own social media platform, and in this week’s lesson the children were creating a web of ideas under different headings. They were also practising using the functions they have learned so far in the iSecure app. Each session also presents an online safety task so that the children are constantly being made aware of potential cyber dangers and how to avoid them.
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Year 4 - Maths: Dividing by 10
We’ve been making good use of our place value grids this week in Year 4. They are especially useful in helping children understand what happens to the digits in a number when we multiply and divide by 10 and 100. The children were presented with a number of problems involving dividing by 10 and they used their grids to move all the digits one place to the right. This practical method of moving digits prepares the children to visualise doing this to find the answer later on in their school journey.