Year 4 Morpurgo Class
Spring Term 2020
Over the next four weeks Morpurgo class will be following a unit of work called `Lets Plant It’. This unit of work is part of the International Primary Curriculum. This
Year 4 Morpurgo Class
Spring Term 2020
Over the next four weeks Morpurgo class will be following a unit of work called `Lets Plant It’. This unit of work is part of the International Primary Curriculum. This curriculum sets out very clearly what children will learn – the learning goals – in three different areas:
This unit of work is part of the International Primary Curriculum. This curriculum sets out very clearly what children will learn – the learning goals – in three different areas:
1. The subjects of the curriculum. The learning goals for each of these subjects are at least as challenging as the UK curriculum. In many cases, the learning goals are more challenging.
2. Personal development – the characteristics which will help children become more responsible, independent learners.
3. International understanding – which will help children develop both a sense of the independence of their own country and culture and the interdependence between countries and cultures.
Each unit of work is based around speciﬁc targets derived from the learning goals for one or more of the subjects. During this unit we will be focusing on Science, Technology, Geography and International.
In Science, we’ll be ﬁnding out:
• About plants in our local area
• What plants need in order to grow
• About water transport within plants
• About local food chains
• Why plants have leaves
• About different rocks and soils
In Technology, we’ll be ﬁnding out:
• How to make a garden obelisk
In Geography, we’ll be ﬁnding out:
• Where the plants we eat come from
In International, we’ll be ﬁnding out:
• About cash crops
• If eating more plants could make a difference to the world
All of the work we are going to do has been specially written to help your child reach the learning goals. Children will be reading, researching, writing, illustrating, working on their own and working in groups. We will be checking to see how well your child has learned through particular activities and asking children to explain their work, perhaps to you. Teaching in a thematic way, the national curriculum requirements of English, Maths, Science, RE and Music will be interwoven with our topic learning. In Literacy we will completing a unit involving persuasive writing. In Maths we will be looking at coordinates and time. Our Science topic this term will involve looking at plants.
We already know the interest you take in your child’s work. If you can, please discuss with your child the work they have done as the term progresses and let them teach you. Point out to your child the enormous variety of plants that can be found in your neighbourhood and how these plants are adapted to their surroundings. Discuss what plants need in order to grow. Find books in the library that show the life cycle of plants.
If your child has some work to research, please help them, but without actually doing the work. If you have the chance to further their interest in the ideas of this theme please take it, but your enthusiasm and interest is most important.
PE takes place on Monday and Wednesday. The children will require a sky blue polo top with the school badge, plain royal blue shorts, royal blue tracksuit and black or white trainers. P.E kits should be kept in school in case of any timetable changes and will be sent home fortnightly to be washed. For health and safety reasons, earrings and watches should be removed for all PE lessons and long hair must be tied up.
Importantly, this term we will be continuing to develop our independence in our work and reflection. Please encourage your child to be independent with their choices at home and this will pay dividends in the classroom. I hope your child will have lots of fun and be happy and enthusiastic in their learning this term.
In Morpurgo, across the week, we have Mr Woolin, Mrs Hatchman, Mrs Bell, Mrs Thompson, Miss Pepechkova and Mrs Donnelly helping us with our learning. On a Monday afternoon the class is taught by Mrs Thompson and Miss Taylor.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call in and see me after school or call the office to make an appointment.
Please keep checking back for updates.
When reading with your child at home it is important that they understand what they’re reading. Use these questions to help question your child:
Please comment in your child's diary each time you read with them. Pupils will also have the opportunity to bring a book home from the school library. Please make sure children have their books available to read everyday.
Pupils will be set homework on a Wednesday and Friday. On Friday the homework will consist of spellings and times tables. On a Tuesday homework will be set that will consist of an area of the curriculum. The children will be able to access this through Google Classroom or in the homework book. In addition to this, each child will be expected to complete their daily work program on DoodleMaths.