Year Four News

Term 4 in Year 4 

Welcome to Term 4! We hope everyone had a restful break and is ready for an exciting final term of the year. This term is packed with engaging activities and new learning opportunities, as we build on the skills and knowledge gained so far.

LITERACY BLOCKS

In Language Comprehension, we will dive into the novel Blueback by Tim Winton, a captivating story that will allow students to expand their vocabulary and apply comprehension strategies in new and meaningful ways. Through rich discussions and guided reading activities, students will develop a deeper understanding of the text and its themes. Additionally, the novel will provide opportunities to explore broader concepts, such as overfishing, which will help students connect fiction to real-world issues.

For Writing, we will continue to use The Writing Revolution framework to strengthen students' skills in crafting clear and effective sentences. This term, we will focus on identifying and correcting run-on sentences, using transitions to improve the flow of writing, and creating Single Paragraph Outlines to plan persuasive texts. Students will engage in a persuasive writing project where they will form opinions on overfishing, drawing on both Blueback and supporting non-fiction texts to construct well-reasoned arguments.

In Spelling, our focus will be on prefixes and suffixes. Students will learn to apply prefixes such as un-, pre-, re-, dis-, mis-, en-, and de- to base words, as well as suffixes like -ish, -ive, -al, -able, and -ous. In addition, they will practice spelling contractions and common homophones correctly, ensuring they can use these forms accurately in their writing. Daily Review sessions will provide opportunities to consolidate these spelling rules and reinforce their understanding through regular practice.

MATHS

In Maths, students will continue to solidify their learning with Daily Review. Key focus areas of learning will include rounding numbers to estimate answers for addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems. We will also revisit decimals, renaming decimal numbers up to hundredths and linking this knowledge to fractions and division. Students will further develop their understanding of equivalent fractions, as well as mixed and improper fractions. In Measurement, we will learn to calculate elapsed time to the minute, convert between units of time, and measure length, mass, and capacity accurately using appropriate units.

UNITS OF WORK

This term, students will explore two main units: Government and Democracy and Earth and Space.

• Government and Democracy: Students will learn about the features of government and what it means to live in a democracy. They will investigate the role of local government and how democracy impacts their daily lives. Through a range of activities, they will consider how they can contribute to positive changes in their communities.
• Earth and Space: Students will study Earth’s position in space and how natural and human activities have shaped the planet over time. They will investigate the changes that occur due to these activities, helping them develop a clearer understanding of Earth’s past and future.

HOMEWORK

Homework will begin in Week 2 and be posted in Google Classroom. Students are expected to:

• Read for 20 minutes, 5 nights a week.
• Practice two maths concepts of their choice via Essential Assessment.

IMPORTANT DATES THIS TERM

We are excited for a term full of growth and discovery!

Best regards,

The Year 4 Team