In English this half term, the children will be exploring The Rhythm of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith is a highly acclaimed, non-fiction picture book that masterfully brings the global water cycle to life for young readers. Melding lyrical, story-driven text with stunning digital illustrations, it traces the journey of a single drop of water across the globe. It is an exceptional cross-curricular resource for classrooms teaching geography, science, and environmental literacy

Throughout the half term, the children will develop their writing skills through two exciting outcomes. They will first create their own pieces of writing around the water cycle, which will also be further enhanced in their Discovery Learning lessons.

In Maths this half term, the children will be developing their understanding of addition, subtraction and multiplication. We will begin by exploring the value of digits within numbers, learning how numbers are made up of thousands, hundreds, tens and ones. Through practical activities, visual representations and mathematical games, the children will develop their confidence in reading, writing, ordering and comparing numbers, as well as recognising the important relationships between them.

This term, Years 3 and 4 are diving into the fascinating world of The Water Cycle in Geography! Pupils will be discovering how water changes between solid ice, liquid water, and invisible vapour, and how temperature triggers the processes of evaporation and condensation. Alongside tracking water’s journey through the atmosphere, children will explore how natural water is cleaned and filtered for safe drinking, as well as investigate the different types of flooding and its real-world impacts on local communities and environments.

This term, Years 3 and 4 are exploring States of Matter in Science! Pupils will be discovering how to sort and classify materials into solids, liquids, and gases while investigating how particles behave in each state. Through hands-on experiments, children will observe how heating and cooling cause materials to change state, exploring melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation in everyday life, from ice cubes melting to water boiling.

This term, Years 3 and 4 are exploring big philosophical and theological questions in RE: "What do we mean by truth? Is seeing believing?" Pupils will examine different views about the nature and existence of God and discuss the key differences between knowledge, belief, and opinion. 

Years 3 and 4 will be exploring important themes around identity, stereotypes, and relationships. Pupils will learn to recognise how and why we sometimes make assumptions about people based on their appearance, reflecting on personal experiences where their own first impressions changed after getting to know someone. Children will celebrate their self-worth by identifying what makes them unique and special.

In Art this half term, the children will be exploring the exciting world of drawing and mixed media collage. We will begin by developing our observational drawing skills, learning how artists use lines, shapes, patterns and shading to represent the world around them. The children will experiment with different drawing materials and techniques, exploring how changing the pressure, direction and texture of their marks can create different effects. We will look at how artists use sketchbooks to record ideas, practise techniques and develop their own creative style, encouraging the children to experiment, make mistakes and discover new possibilities.

In Music this half term, the children will be learning to play the recorder, beginning their journey into the world of instrumental music. We will start by exploring how the instrument works, learning how to hold it correctly, produce a clear and gentle sound, and develop good playing posture and breathing techniques. The children will discover how different notes are created by covering the recorder's holes with their fingers, gradually building their confidence and control as they begin to play simple musical patterns and melodies.

This term in Computing, Years 3 and 4 will be getting hands-on with digital learning as they discover how to use Google Classroom! Pupils will build key digital literacy skills by learning how to log in securely, navigate their virtual classroom, and find assignments. Children will practise completing and submitting different types of digital work, as well as accessing feedback from their teachers.

In Spanish, pupils will practise listening, speaking, reading, and writing basic words and phrases to introduce themselves, give their name, and state their age. Children will learn vocabulary to describe their appearance and body parts

Outdoor learning will take place on Monday afternoons. It is important that your child comes dressed in long sleeves and trousers and has a change of footwear.  We are so lucky to have our own woodland on-site and so the children have the opportunity to access outdoor learning every week.  Having our own woodland gives children the opportunity to develop their respect for the natural world, which ties in with our core values.  They develop resilience and problem-solving skills through challenges and wild play in the woods, as well as broadening their horizons by learning and developing their outdoor survival skills such as shelter building and fire lighting.  

P.E. lessons take place twice a week, with Friday afternoon sessions being led by Mr Bates (Mrs Morrell will be leading these this half term) and Wednesday afternoon sessions led by Mrs Morrell.  The units this half term are Basketball and Gymnastics.

Class Dojo is our main form of communication with parents. If you have not yet signed up for Class Dojo and would like to, please do not hesitate to come and see us.  We are more than happy to help if you are having difficulty accessing this.  It's a great space where you can view photos, videos and information about all the amazing things that are happening in our classroom and around the school. It gives you the chance to see what your children have been learning in school each week, giving you the opportunity to talk to them at home about what they have been doing.

Home learning in Dolphin class is about reading every day either to an adult, a sibling or to themselves.

The year four children will be undertaking the National times table check in the summer term and it is essential they practice their times tables regularly (they can use TT Rockstars for this).

There is a pick and mix homework menu which enriches the discovery learning we are doing in class. Pick a task, complete it and post your work on Dojo by Wednesday.

Please make sure all of your child’s possessions are labelled. Children do not need to bring toys or pencil cases into school. Children should wear PE kit to school on Monday and Wednesday. Woodland is on Tuesday and children need to wear sturdy, outdoor clothing.