Year 4
Welcome back! We hope you all had a great Christmas break and are back ready and eager to learn. We have an exciting term ahead of us and are hoping to win attendance awards this term!
This term, Year 4 will be learning about Crime and Punishment through the ages and how it has changed over time. The focus will be on the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Victorians and Tudors. The children will be exploring the types of crimes people committed during these times and what punishments were in place for each era, before finally comparing the crimes and punishments of the past to what happens today.
In Maths, we will be focusing on division, leading into understanding fractions and decimals. We will be learning how to find fractions of shapes and numbers and moving onto equivalent fractions. We will be using our addition and subtraction skills to add and subtract fractions with the same denominator and converting improper fractions to mixed fractions.
In English, we will begin this half term by reviewing a variety of narrative poems. The children will focus on the language devices the poet uses, and the ‘story’ being told through poetry. Then we will move on to planning and writing our own narrative poem. Following this, the children will link the narrative poem they have been studying to their history topic of crime and punishment and begin to debate suitable punishments. Finally, they will finish the term by writing a formal persuasive debate.
Some important information for Year 4 parents/carers:
- Reading books will be given out on a Monday and are due back on a Friday
- PE this half term is invasion games. Children will need pumps or trainers in school every Wednesday.
Year 4 teachers would like to encourage children to bring in water bottles and a piece of fruit for snack, if they wish.
Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC):
In June, Year 4 will be taking part in the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). This is an on-screen check consisting of 25 times tables questions. Children will answer three practice questions before moving on to the official check, and will then have 6 seconds to answer each question. On average, the check should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.
In preparation for the check, we will be using the ‘try it out’ area on the MTC site with the children so that they are aware of the expectations and know not to worry about the exercise. As being able to recall times tables along with their corresponding division facts, is so important for children in many areas of their life, we always practise times tables in a range of different ways so this will also help prepare the children for the MTC.
Please note, statistics on MTC data will be published on the GOV.UK website in October, however school and pupil level data will not be published.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to talk to the Year 4 teachers, Mrs. Mellor or Mr. Vine. More information can be found at:
Information for Parents Multiplication Tables Check
How to prepare
A good way to prepare is start early and build a daily routine practising the times tables. With regular practise you will learn all the questions and gain confidence. We suggest practising 10 to 15 minutes a day for optimal results.
With the year 4 multiplication timetables fast approaching, it is important that all children are confident in recalling their timetables up to 12×12. Here are some websites for the children to use at home.
- Multiplication Tables Check
This interactive test is in the same format as the Multiplication Tables Check they will sit in June. On this page the children can practice for the MTC and will become more comfortable with reading and answering on a screen. https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/477/Multiplication-Tables-Check - Timetables Rockstars
You can either download the App or use the website below. Your child will be given their username and password in school. This will help children answer at speed.
https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth/school/student/36529
- Hit the button
This interactive game will also encourage children to answer at speed.
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
2024_Information_for_parents_Multiplication_tables_check_PDFA_v1.1
Knowledge Organiser – Year 4 – Sound PDF
Year 4 History Knowledge Organiser – Crime & Punishment