YEAR FOUR
Grade Bulletin - Term Two, 2023
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School provides a range of holistic learning experiences to enable students to:
- Participate in the life and mission of the school.
- Deepen their knowledge and engagement with the Catholic faith and tradition.
- Build capacity to continuously reason, reflectively, logically and critically.
- Embrace interdependence of human existence as global citizens, who are responsible to and for themselves and others.
- Engage in learning in a multitude of ways, through personalised and self-paced learning.
Religious Education
4.3 – Easter: A Time to Live the Good News.
This term we will continue to explore the presence of the risen Jesus in the parish community and in the Word of God.
4.4 - Pentecost: The Holy Spirit Gives Us Courage.
This unit explores the courage needed to bear witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit, alive and active in our lives, who gives us the courage to follow Jesus. The unit focuses on exploring examples of people (apostles, saints and heroes) who demonstrate courage in their lives.
English
This term, our focus is to improve the students’ grammar and writing skills. They will follow the ‘Seven Steps of Writing’ program to compose narratives from different perspectives. Students will be taught explicit skills in relation to grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation through the texts: Gallipoli by Kerry Greenwood, Ickabog by J.K Rowlings and Suri’s Wall by Lucy Estella and Matt Ottley. Students will continue practising their reading strategies in Reading Groups. They will also engage in the ‘Soundwaves’ spelling program, which is implemented throughout the whole school. The students’ will be tested on their weekly words at the end of each week.
Mathematics
Flexible learning groups will continue this term, three days a week. Each lesson in Mathematics will involve students applying their problem solving skills through activities that are differentiated in order to cater to the students’ needs and abilities. This term we will focus on the topics of Two-dimensional Space, Multiplication and Division, Fractions and Decimals, Length, Addition and Subtraction.
Science and Technology
This Semester we continue our focus on the Earth’s surface and how it changes over time. Students will investigate natural processes and human activity in order to develop a view in relation to sustainable practices. Students will also explore the effect of the interactions between the Earth and the Sun. A study of rocks introduces the unit and we will investigate the effects of the Sun and moon on the Earth. The students will question, plan and conduct scientific investigations, collect and summarise data and communicate using scientific representations. They will select and use technological equipment to develop solutions.
Mandarin
This term students in Kindergarten to Year 6 will continue to participate in the Chinese language program called the Meg Language Program. The Meg Curriculum is written by the co-author of the Australian Curriculum. All students and teachers will participate in the digital learning platform via Zoom weekly sessions with educators in China.
Geography
Students will continue this term with the unit ‘Earth’s Environment and its Sustainability’. The students will continue to explore the climate, natural vegetation and native animals of places in Australia and Asia. They will examine the importance of natural resources and learn about the ways people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, value environments. Students will identify sustainable practices and recognise that there are differing views on how sustainability can be achieved.
Amadeus Music Program
Students will continue with the Amadeus Music Education Program and participate in activities in listening, performing and organising sound within their regular Classroom Music lessons.
- It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they:
- Arrive on time for each lesson
- Bring their instrument and required accessories to every lesson If your child forgets their instrument, they will not miss their music lesson. Please do not drop forgotten instruments to school during the day.
- Bring their Essential Elements* music book
- Bring a lead pencil and eraser
Creative Arts
Visual Arts will be taught this term by Miss Jade Warton. ANZAC themes and The Ickabog will be a focus in Visual Arts lessons along with artworks to complement our Geography unit.
Drama will be taught by class teachers with a focus on improvising and role play that will culminate in a series of Theatre Sports opportunities.
The students will be exploring the musical concepts by singing, playing and listening to a range of music with Mr Parlato. There will be a focus on the acoustic guitar as well as a range of percussion instruments. They will learn basic musical notation and will learn to recognise the musical features in the songs they perform.
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Open Parachute will continue to be implemented K-6. Open Parachute aims to provide practical support on mental health to students. The program aims to reduce stigma and generate authentic dialogue in classrooms about the real issues students face. The psychological skills-building exercises aim to increase empathy, self-compassion, self-awareness, mental health literacy, and self-efficacy in students.
In Sport lessons this term with Miss Reid, there will be a focus on providing opportunities for students to develop their skills and build confidence in Athletics activities using Fundamental Movement Skills. Students will practice and apply these skills through activities and traditional Indigenous Games. Games are encouraged to build teamwork, communication, strategy, resilience and cultural awareness.
Homework
Students in Year 4 are expected to complete 40 minutes of homework nightly. Twenty minutes is expected to be dedicated to reading. The homework grid will be shared through Google classes. A weekly Maths Mentals task will be set and we ask that this be returned each Friday. Maths Plus follows a graded and spiralling approach, allowing for revision of concepts throughout the year. It will provide students with opportunities to sequentially develop, practise and master their skills and knowledge.
We look forward to continuing to work with you and your child this term. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher via a note or by appointment via the office.
Mr Michael Faber (4Blue)
Mrs Lisa Mann and Miss Belle Reid (4Gold)
Mrs Margaret McCarthy (4White)
Important Dates for Year 4
Sport, Music and Art will take place on Tuesdays for Year 4.
Library Sessions will occur on Fridays for Year 4.
School Photos
Wednesday May 3rd 2023 - Students are to wear full winter uniform
School Term - 26th April - 30 June 2023