This half term in English, children will explore historical fiction through Escape from Pompeii by Christina Balit. They will immerse themselves in the dramatic events surrounding the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, building a rich understanding of Roman life through powerful description, dialogue and historical detail. Across the unit, children will develop their ability to organise writing into clear paragraphs, use a range of verb tenses, and punctuate direct speech accurately. The unit will culminate in writing a first-person narrative from the viewpoint of a character escaping Pompeii, bringing together atmosphere, emotion and historical accuracy in a gripping retelling of events.
Year 4
Welcome to our class page!
In Year 4, we work hard, look after each other, and enjoy the challenge of learning new things together.
This page is where you’ll find updates from the Year 4 team, useful links, and information about what we’re getting up to in class. From writing and reading to history, science, art, and more — there’s always something exciting going on.
We can’t wait to see how much the children grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity over the year.
The Year 4 Team
Year 4 25/25 (ID 1111)
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Mrs FinlayClass Teacher
Mrs Finlay
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Miss McIlvennaClass Teacher
Miss McIlvenna
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Mrs KennedyTeaching Assistant
Mrs Kennedy
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Mrs WinterbottomTeaching Assistant
Mrs Winterbottom
Our Learning This Half Term - Spring 1
See what Year 4 are learning this half term — click each subject to explore.
Spring-1-Year-4-Curriculum (ID 1119)
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English
English
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Maths
Maths
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Science
Science
In science, we will be learning about electrical circuits and how they work in everyday life. We will explore what electricity is and identify common electrical appliances that use it. We will build simple circuits using components such as batteries, wires, bulbs, buzzers and switches, and investigate how these parts work together to make a circuit complete. The children will learn to recognise when a circuit is complete or incomplete, understand the role of switches, and discover how changing components can affect whether a bulb lights or a buzzer sounds. Through hands-on investigations, children will develop their scientific skills by making predictions, testing ideas, and recording their observations safely and responsibly.
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History
History
This half term in history, the children will learn about the ancient Maya civilisation and discover what daily life was like for the Maya people. We will examine artefacts to help us understand how the Maya lived, what they valued, and how historians learn about the past. Pupils will explore why the Maya civilisation was so successful, including the importance of maize as a main food source that supported large populations and strong communities. They will also learn about the use of cacao, which was highly valued and used in drinks, trade and special ceremonies. In addition, children will study Maya religious beliefs, including their gods, temples and rituals, and how religion influenced everyday life and important decisions.
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Art
Art
This half term in art, children will be developing their drawing skills through the Power Prints unit. They will explore how artists use tone, shading and proportion to create the illusion of depth and form, experimenting with pencils and charcoal to show light and shadow. As the unit progresses, children will plan and refine compositions using collage and mixed media, investigating pattern and contrast through techniques such as wax resist and printmaking. The unit culminates in a collaborative printing project, where children work together to transform their drawings into bold, expressive prints, applying the skills and techniques they have developed throughout the term.
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RE
RE
This half term in RE, children will explore Islam through the key question How do festivals and worship show what matters to a Muslim? They will learn about core Muslim beliefs, including the oneness of God (Tawhid), and how these beliefs are lived out through worship and daily life. Children will investigate prayer (salah), the importance of the mosque, and the meaning of fasting during Ramadan, before learning how Muslims celebrate Eid. Throughout the unit, they will make thoughtful links between belief and practice, considering values such as submission, self-control and community, and reflecting on what these ideas might mean for people of all faiths.
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Computing
Computing
In computing, we will be learning how to programme using Scratch, a child-friendly coding platform. We will develop our understanding of algorithms by creating simple programmes using blocks of code to make characters move, speak and interact. We will learn how to use sequences, repetition (loops) and selection to control actions and solve problems. Through designing, testing and improving our own projects, the children will build confidence in logical thinking, creativity and problem-solving, while learning how programming skills are used in the modern digital world.
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Spanish
Spanish
This half term in Spanish, children will focus on food, opinions and shopping. They will learn how to express preferences, order food at a café or ice-cream shop, and take part in role-play activities, developing confidence in speaking while beginning to apply grammatical rules such as adjective agreement.
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PE
PE
This half term in PE, children are developing their basketball skills through active, game-based learning. They are learning to dribble with greater control while moving, use and receive a wider range of passes, and shoot from different angles using the correct technique. Alongside this, children are beginning to apply simple team roles in attack and defence, taking part in small-sided games and developing their understanding of the basic rules of the game..
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PSHE
PSHE
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Music
Music
Throughout the spring term, children explore how composers use pitch, dynamics, tempo and texture to tell a story or create atmosphere. They learn about motifs, graphic scores and simple composition techniques, and perform songs and rhythms using voices and instruments. Listening activities focus on orchestral music and help children recognise different instruments and musical styles.
Home Learning at Parochial
We use Learning By Questions (LBQ) for our homework tasks. You can access it using the link below.
| Subject | When it's Set | When it's Due |
| English | Monday | Wednesday |
| Maths | Wednesday | Friday |
| Learning Logs | End of each half term | First Friday after each holiday |
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Autumn 1 Rotten Romans
download_for_offline
download_for_offlineAutumn 1 Rotten Romans
- Autumn 2 Mexico download_for_offline
download_for_offlineAutumn 2 Mexico
- Spring 1 Maya Civilisation download_for_offline
download_for_offlineSpring 1 Maya Civilisation
- Spring 2 The Water Cycle download_for_offline
download_for_offlineSpring 2 The Water Cycle
- Summer 1 Anglo Saxons download_for_offline
download_for_offlineSummer 1 Anglo Saxons
- Summer 2 Global Trade download_for_offline
↑download_for_offlineSummer 2 Global Trade
Useful Links to Continue Learning at Home
🌟 Parochial Picks: Our Favourite Year 4 Learning Platforms
These are the tools we use regularly in class – children can log in and practise at home too.
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Purple Mash – Creative platform packed with games, writing tools, art activities and coding. Login provided in school
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Reading Plus – Helps build stamina, fluency, and comprehension in reading. Login provided in school
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TT Rockstars – Fast-paced fun to master times tables. Login provided in school
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Sumdog – Maths and spelling games that adapt to your child’s learning. Login provided in school
📚 Reading and Writing
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Oxford Owl – Free eBooks and phonics help, perfect for reading together at home.
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BBC Bitesize: English – Spelling, grammar and punctuation explained clearly.
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BBC School Radio – Audio stories, poems, songs and listening activities.
🧮 Maths
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Topmarks: Maths – Interactive games to practise number, times tables and problem solving.
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Mathsframe – Lots of Year 4-friendly maths games including multiplication check practice.
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BBC Bitesize: Maths – Clear explanations and mini quizzes to build confidence.
🌍 Science and STEM
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BBC Bitesize: Science – Explore rocks, plants, animals and more in bite-sized lessons.
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Code for Life – Learn to code through fun, logical puzzles.
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Scratch – Use block coding to build animations and games – perfect for Year 3 computing.
🎨 Creative Arts
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Tate Kids – Learn about artists, play games, and get creative with drawing and making.
🧘♀️ Wellbeing and PE
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The Body Coach for Kids – Quick and fun workouts to get moving.
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Cosmic Kids Yoga – Yoga adventures and mindfulness – great for calm moments or indoor days
Useful Documents
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Maths Badges
download_for_offline
download_for_offlineMaths Badges
- t2-e-5324-year-3-and-4-common-exception-words-with-outline-word-mat- ver 1 1 download_for_offline
download_for_offlinet2-e-5324-year-3-and-4-common-exception-words-with-outline-word-mat- ver 1 1
- Y4 Expectations download_for_offline
download_for_offlineY4 Expectations
Extra- Curricular Clubs
Half Term Club Day/ Time Staff Autumn 1 Choir Wednesday 12.00-12.30 Miss Bright Dance Tuesday 3.20-4.15 Mrs Ryan Wellbeing Wednesday 3.20-3.50 Mrs Kennedy Autumn 2 Choir Wednesday 12.00-12.30 Miss Bright Art Wednesday 3.20-4.15 Miss Bright Wellbeing Wednesday 3.20-3.50 Mrs Kennedy Rugby Monday 3.20-4.15 Mr Walker Boomwhacker Friday 3.20-4.00 Mrs Finlay Spring 1 Choir Wednesday 12.00-12.30 Miss Bright Dance Tuesday 3.20-4.15 Miss Hynes Wellbeing Wednesday 3.20-3.50 Mrs Kennedy Public Speaking Tuesday 3.20-4.15 Miss Thompson Basketball Monday 3.20-4.15 Mr Walker Spring 2 Choir Wednesday 12.00-12.30 Miss Bright Yoga Tuesday 3.20-4.00 Mrs Evans Wellbeing Wednesday 3.20-3.50 Mrs Kennedy Public Speaking Tuesday 3.20-4.15 Miss Thompson Dance Tuesday 3.20-4.15 Miss Hynes Tennis Monday 3.20-4.15 Mr Walker Summer 1 Choir Wednesday 12.00-12.30 Miss Bright Computing Programming Tuesday 3.20-4.15 Miss McIlvenna Wellbeing Wednesday 3.20-3.50 Mrs Kennedy Dance Tuesday 3.20-4.15 Miss Hynes Athletics Monday 3.20-4.15 Mr Walker Summer 2 Choir Wednesday 12.00-12.30 Miss Bright Wellbeing Wednesday 3.20-3.50 Mrs Kennedy Dance Tuesday 3.20-4.15 Miss Hynes Cricket Monday 3.20-4.15 Mr Walker - t2-e-5324-year-3-and-4-common-exception-words-with-outline-word-mat- ver 1 1 download_for_offline
- Autumn 2 Mexico download_for_offline


