Curriculum News, Year 4
Term 1, 2025

This term we have embarked on our year-long, ‘Sharing the planet’ unit, exploring Rights/Responsibilities. We will also introduce our ‘Where we are in place and time’ unit during which the students will be exploring Australia’s convict history.

It has been a busy start to Year 4 with the commencement of the Swimming Program and the students are excited to be part of the House Swimming Carnival later in February.

Wellbeing continues to be a priority in Year 4 with our ‘Wellbeing activities’ during weeks 2 & 3. RRRR and the Zones of Regulation will be introduced during the term. We are encouraging students to reflect on what they are grateful for each day and to be kind and inclusive in all interactions with students and teachers.

Units of Inquiry

Where we are in time and place

Central Idea

Exploration leads to discoveries and opportunities and new understandings

Lines of inquiry:

Reasons for exploration
Discoveries and explorations of our world
The consequences of exploration

Concepts

change

connection

Learner Profile Attributes

inquirer

reflective

Sharing the planet

All children have rights regardless of who they are

Lines of Inquiry

The rights that all children should have
The similarities and differences between a right and a responsibility
Whether these rights differ throughout the world

Concepts

connection

causation

responsibility

Learner Profile Attribute

caring

principled

Whole-school Focus on PYP Learner Profile Attributes

February - caring

We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

March – risk-taker

We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

Literacy

Daily 5 activities:

Read to Self – ‘Good Fit’ books. At our weekly Library visits, the Year 4 students will share recommendations of novels they have enjoyed. We hope to expand their interests by exposing the children to a range of different genres and subjects.
Read to Someone – oral reading to a friend, teacher, Bonnie or Ziggy (therapy dogs!)
Listen to Reading - class novels
Word Work - SMART Spelling – extra focus on syllables, sounds, commonly used words, etymology and mnemonics
Work on Writing - the aim for Term 1 will be to work on conventions and organisation through recount and narrative structures in writing. Our goals will be determined after assessing the students’ initial writing pieces. The likely focus will be idea generation and sentence fluency.
The Writer’s Notebook will also be used to encourage free writing and the development of ideas or techniques that support our core writing program.
Students will be encouraged to edit their writing to ensure that they have punctuated accurately. We will revise the use of capitalisation, punctuation at the end of sentences and speech marks with appropriate punctuation inside them.

Numeracy

Number and Place Value - students will model, represent and order numbers to at least tens of thousands. They will understand the value of a digit depending on its place in a number. We will be investigating odd and even numbers and continue to practise multiplication facts to increase students’ automatic recall of their times tables.

Students will solve equations using the four processes with the focus on addition and subtraction, and they will solve multi-step worded problems. We will begin lessons with revision, a ‘Number Talk’ or related maths game to build mathematical literacy and confidence.
Measurement - the students will be investigating converting between units of measurement. They will compare units of length, mass, capacity and temperature, and solve equations relating to these.

Students will practise telling the time using analogue, digital and 24 hour time, and use and read a variety of timetables. Measurement concepts are also reinforced through problem solving each week.

Inclusive Approaches

As part of our Wellbeing Program in Year 4 we have begun creating a harmonious classroom culture. We are completing activities based on getting to know each other and establishing strong connections with students and teachers.

These lessons will help develop students' social, emotional, and positive relationship skills.