Autumn 1 2025
Design and Technology
Firstly, we looked at different types of torches considering what they were used for, by whom and what features they had in common and why.
Next, we looked at the internal workings of a torch and using our knowledge of electrical circuits and insulators we constructed a simple circuit with a switch and considered how this could be added and used to our own torch designs.
Then we looked at different materials that could be used as casing for our torch design. We considered the properties of the casing such as weight, waterproofing and malleability.
After that, we decided on our design and making teams and we set about designing a torch for an explorer considering our previous learning. Our design hand to include a switch.
Then we worked together to make and evaluate our torch.
RE
During our RE sessions, we have explored how different faiths and those with no faith consider life to be like a journey. We began by identifying what we mean by the term “milestones” and then drew the journey of our life so far and the mile stones we’ve already reached.
Then, we considered the milestones of birth and marriage. We explored how Christians, Hindus and Muslims celebrate these different milestones. We discussed our own personal experiences as well as identifying similarities and differences between them. We also discussed what people with no religious faith, such as Humanists, might do.
Finally, we considered the end of life and how life is commemorated in different ways and different beliefs about the afterlife. We then considered our own reflections on this area.
Geography
In Geography, we considered The Big Question: Would we prefer to live in the Arctic or Antarctic and why?
We began by locating the Polar regions on a map and globe and using pictures and videos we discussed what it might be like living there. Then, we compared the Arctic and Antarctic biomes (population, plants, animals, climate, land). Next, we considered how these regions have changed over time before developing our geographical skills by naming and using the 8 points on a compass and locating places on a map using 4 figure grid references. Finally, we had enough information to answer our Big Question.
Music
In Music throughout this year, we will be learning to play the guitar. This work has begun by learning how to hold a guitar correctly for both playing and resting. We have also learnt the names of the strings and learned different accompaniments to songs such as Get Back by the Beatles. During our sessions we have also learnt about the pulse and rhythm of a piece of music as well as singing different songs.
English
In our writing sessions, we were inspired by Polar explorers especially Ernest Shackleton and Matthew Henson. We used drama and reading first, and then read second-hand accounts of their explorations and achievements. We then wrote in character, firstly as a crew member on Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to the Antarctic expedition, which resulted in on of the greatest rescue missions of all time. Finally, we wrote diary entries imagining we were on Matthew Henson expedition to the Arctic. To relate to their experience, we used drama to act out the stories of both Shackleton and Henson.
In reading, we have read different types of text to continue developing our reading skills such as inference and vocabulary. We particularly enjoyed reading (and singing) A Spoonful of Sugar and developing an understanding Louise Bourgeois and her sculptures by reading Cloth Lullaby, a story about her life.
Computing
In Computing, we combined creative thinking with our developing computer skills to edit photos by cropping, changing colour, cloning and combining. Mr Berry challenged year 4 to edit and improve his holiday photos!
Children cropped and recoloured photos of the Eiffel Tower twinkling.
Then we challenged ourselves by combing images to create unique and surprising scenes!
Summer 2025
Our main topic this term has been History based, learning about Ancient Egypt. We have learnt about hieroglyphic writing and done some ourselves. We have learnt about pyramids and mummification. We have looked at the importance of the River Nile and all the different ways in which it was used.
In Science, our topic has been animals and humans. We have learnt about teeth and how to look after them. We have compared the teeth of different animals and worked out why then need different teeth. We have learnt about the digestive system and food chains of different animals
In art, we have looked at the work of William Morris. We have looked at patterns in nature and used these ideas to design our printing. We have practiced foils prints, tile prints and string prints.
In DT, we have looked at bread from around the world and how it is made. We tasted lots of bread and then we made our own bread, which was so tasty!
In RE, we have learnt about the Hindu religion. We have learnt about the different gods within the Hindu religions and how they are worshipped at a shrine at home and in a Mandir. We have learnt about Hindu celebrations and compared them to celebrations of our own.
Summer 2025
Spring 2025
Spring 1 Overview
Our main history topic this term has been crime and punishment, and we started our topic with a themed day. We began with a Victorian courtroom drama, where the children dressed up and played the roles of different courtroom staff. It was really interesting to find out how a courtroom worked. We then looked at the invention of fingerprints and how it made catching criminals much easier. We also had a visit form the local police to tell us what they do to help keep our community safe. We have looked a crime and punishment through history and discovered how brutal some punishments were.
In English, we have been writing a mystery story and learning about all of the features that help us create drama and tension within a story. We built our story up in small steps and acted out our mysteries. We then practiced different writing techniques and put them all together in our final piece. We are so pleased with our mystery stories – they are amazing!
In Science, we have been learning about states of matter. We know that things can be solids, liquids or gases and can explain the characteristics of each one. We have also learnt about heating and cooling. We have studied the water cycle and experimented with the speed of evaporation
In Art we have looked at street art and graffiti. We have learnt some letter writing styles as well as learning how to make cartoon characters out of everyday objects. We have looked at the work of Banksy and made some Bansky style pictures of our own.
In PE, we have been doing gymnastics. We have been learning about different types of rolls and jumps, and then making a gymnastic sequence.
Spring 2 Overview
Our main Geography topic this term has covered the Geography of the UK and rivers. We have used our map reading skills to place Nottingham and Rise Park on the map, as well as re-tracing the route of our walk to Bestwood Country Park. We have learned about the difference between villages, towns, and cities and compared the advantages of all three. We have also learned to identify the key features of a river from source to sea, and how rivers have played an important role in society for thousands of years.
In English, we have written a speech to encourage people to save trees in Bestwood Country Park. We started our writing by going on a walk to Bestwood Country Park to experience a variety of nature, and then began learning speech writing skills such as using rhetorical questions, imperative (bossy!) verbs, and addressing the reader directly in the second person. Our speeches were inspired by similar speeches by Greta Thunberg, who we have researched as a passionate activist.
In Science, our topic has been animals, including humans. We have learnt about teeth in both humans and animals and compared them to each other, understanding how teeth vary based on whether an animal is a carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore.
In DT we have investigated, designed, and made our own pencil cases. To do so we researched which skills and materials would be the most appropriate to make an effective pencil case. We practised sewing using a needle and thread to crate a strong and secure pencil case with an eye-catching design.
In PE, we have been doing table tennis. Children have focused on hand-eye coordination and practised lightning-fast reactions. Using a mixture of team work and competition, we had a great time developing our skills.
In Maths, we have continued to develop our skills by learning and practising formal written methods for multiplication and division. We have studied shapes and learned how to described different shapes with parallel and perpendicular lines, as well as lines of symmetry and interior angles.
In Music, we have carried on learning to play the guitar with our specialist guitar teacher, Matt. Our learning culminated in an amazing performance at the Great Orchestra Experiment, where we played alongside a full size orchestra!
Autumn 2024
Our central topic this term has been journeys.
We started by looking at the journeys of polar explorers and learning about life in the Arctic and Antarctic. Then we learnt all about the Anglo Saxons, and the period during which they moved to live in the British Isles. We went to Perlethorpe to meet an Anglo Saxon and see how they lived. We have learnt about Anglo Saxon rune messages. We have also read the Anglo Saxon story of Beowolf and written our own endings.
During our Science lessons, we have learnt abouts sound – how it is made, how it travels, and how we could use different materials to muffle sounds and make them more difficult to hear. The children thought about how to alter the pitch and amplitude of sounds, and even able to use a variety instruments to demonstrate what they had learnt. We also learnt about electricity and then used this knowledge for our DT project, where we designed and made a torch for a Polar explorer.
In IT, we have been learning how to edit photos, including changing colours as well as adding and removing objects from the picture. The children have really enjoyed their work
In Art, we have looked at the work of a local artist Anna Collete Hunt, who displays her work at Nottingham Castle. We have looked carefully at butterflies and sketched them in detail, before designing our own clay butterfly. We decorated them beautifully and were really impressed with our finished butterflies.
In Music, we have enjoyed learning how to play our guitars and have learnt some notes and put them together to play some simple tunes. We have also appreciated the music of different artists.
