Welcome to Year 4 at Bloxwich Academy Primary

Throughout the year, we will be looking at different topics: Invasion, Misty Mountain & Winding Rivers and Ancient Civilisations. Timetables are very important in Year 4, and we have a fantastic way to learn these – TimesTable Rockstars! Challenge yourself to become a Rock Hero!

The Invasion Project

In the Invasion project, Year 4 will explore the effects of the Roman withdrawal and the chronology and geography of subsequent invasions. We will study the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings in detail, examining their reasons for invading, their settlements and their everyday life. We will also look at monasteries and the Anglo-Saxon legacy. Year 4 will consider how we know about life in this period and investigate the Sutton Hoo ship burial. We will learn about Athelstan, an Anglo-Saxon king, and what happened after his death, before ending the project by learning about the Norman invasion of 1066.

Misty Mountain, Winding River Project

In the Misty Mountain, Winding River project, we will learn about the characteristics and physical processes of rivers, including how they shape the landscape over time, their significance around the world and the impact of flooding. We will learn how to use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and a key to locate and plot geographical places and features on a map, as well as how contour lines are used to show the topography of an area. Year 4 will have the opportunity to learn about the stages of the water cycle and about mountains and their different formations, studying mountain ranges in the United Kingdom and around the world. We will also learn about habitats and how human and natural influences can have an impact on the environment.

Ancient Civilisations Project

In the Ancient Civilisations project, Year 4 will learn about three of the earliest civilisations in the world: ancient Sumer, ancient Egypt and the Indus Valley civilisation. We will study the ancient Sumerian and ancient Egyptian civilisation in detail, to discover how crucial factors like water sources and farming helped them to develop and thrive. Year 4 will find out about important inventions and the growth of cities. We will also study the lives of different people in society, including the roles of kings and pharaohs. The children will reflect on their learning by identifying the similarities and differences between the two civilisations, before studying the Indus Valley civilisation independently. Year 4 will explore sources of evidence about the location of the Indus Valley, cities and trade, and note the reasons why historians know less about the Indus Valley than other ancient civilisations. The children will then compare all three civilisations, before learning about the causes and consequences of each civilisation’s decline. We will also consider whether or not these civilisations left a lasting legacy.

Long Term Plan

Staff

Teachers: 

Mr Watters (Year Lead) 

Miss Fowler 

Mr Baugh 

Teaching Assistants: 

Mrs Shelton 

PE Day

Our PE day is Monday

Useful Links

TTR - https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth

BBC Bitesize - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zv48q6f

TopMarks - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/spelling-and-grammar

Spellings

Each week, Year 4 will be given a list of spelling words for them to learn over the weekend. We will have a spelling test in school each Friday.

Homework

Each week, the children will be asked to read their Accelerated Reading book and play TimesTable Rockstars. We kindly ask that you sign your child’s reading diary once you have heard them read. When they come back into school, they will take a quiz to assess their reading level.