Year 4 - Curriculum Overview
As is the case with the rest of the school, each half term we will teach our lessons by focusing on one over-arching theme. Each theme forms part of our whole-school curriculum called Learning Means the World – a new and exciting curriculum that, whilst meeting all of the requirements of the National Curriculum, is forward thinking, highly relevant and deals with tomorrow's issues today.
Our themes are as follows:
Autumn
“That’s All Folks!” is a thematic unit based around the history and development of animation and cartoons. It primarily takes in elements of history, art and computing / ICT and starts with learning about the beginnings of animation, looking at
zoetropes and flip books, before moving on to the dawn of the Disney age. Then, the process of animation is explored further, with an opportunity for pupils to exchange their own design ideas and create their own animated films.
“Under the Canopy” is a thematic unit, based on the rainforest with a key focus on geography and history. Pupils are commissioned to work for a fictitious organisation called ‘Roots’ in helping two adopted children find out about their Mexican / Mayan heritage. Through this project, they will learn about the importance of the rainforest.
Spring
“Come Fly With Me! Africa” is a thematic unit based around the continent of Africa, with a key focus on geography and history. Pupils will be learning about the location of Africa and identifying its largest countries. Alongside this geography
element, they will study the Benin era. They will also learn about African culture, in particular typical African food and folk tales.
“Law and Order” is a thematic unit, based on the concept of justice, with a key focus on citizenship. Pupils will look at the importance of leadership and the meaning of democracy and its origins, before moving on to how this applies practically in communities, both school-wide, locally and nationally. It finishes by recognising issues of justice, rights and responsibilities in their own setting and the wider world.
Summer
“May the Force Be With You” is a thematic unit based around magnets and forces, with a key focus on science. It begins with learning about contact and non-contact forces before focusing on magnets. Pupils will learn about magnetic forces and the relevance of magnetic North and South poles.
“Under Attack!” is a thematic unit, based around invaders and settlers with a key focus on history. It begins by looking at the Romans, before moving on to learning about the invasion of the Anglo Saxons and their settlement in Britain, followed by the Vikings. Pupils will learn about sources of evidence and their reliability.
Our themes are as follows:
Autumn
“That’s All Folks!” is a thematic unit based around the history and development of animation and cartoons. It primarily takes in elements of history, art and computing / ICT and starts with learning about the beginnings of animation, looking at
zoetropes and flip books, before moving on to the dawn of the Disney age. Then, the process of animation is explored further, with an opportunity for pupils to exchange their own design ideas and create their own animated films.
“Under the Canopy” is a thematic unit, based on the rainforest with a key focus on geography and history. Pupils are commissioned to work for a fictitious organisation called ‘Roots’ in helping two adopted children find out about their Mexican / Mayan heritage. Through this project, they will learn about the importance of the rainforest.
Spring
“Come Fly With Me! Africa” is a thematic unit based around the continent of Africa, with a key focus on geography and history. Pupils will be learning about the location of Africa and identifying its largest countries. Alongside this geography
element, they will study the Benin era. They will also learn about African culture, in particular typical African food and folk tales.
“Law and Order” is a thematic unit, based on the concept of justice, with a key focus on citizenship. Pupils will look at the importance of leadership and the meaning of democracy and its origins, before moving on to how this applies practically in communities, both school-wide, locally and nationally. It finishes by recognising issues of justice, rights and responsibilities in their own setting and the wider world.
Summer
“May the Force Be With You” is a thematic unit based around magnets and forces, with a key focus on science. It begins with learning about contact and non-contact forces before focusing on magnets. Pupils will learn about magnetic forces and the relevance of magnetic North and South poles.
“Under Attack!” is a thematic unit, based around invaders and settlers with a key focus on history. It begins by looking at the Romans, before moving on to learning about the invasion of the Anglo Saxons and their settlement in Britain, followed by the Vikings. Pupils will learn about sources of evidence and their reliability.
