Year 4 Update

Learning Outlook for Weeks 3 & 4

🧠 Maths

Students are developing an understanding that the denominator shows how many equal parts the whole is divided into, and the numerator shows how many parts are being counted. Students are also exploring different ways to represent fractions, such as using numbers, words, and by saying “out of.” 

Throughout our lessons, we will discuss how fractions are used in everyday life, helping students make real-world connections to their learning.

📚 English 

Students are learning how to write persuasive text that aims to convince the reader of a particular opinion. They are exploring the structure of a persuasive piece, which includes an introduction, reasons supported by examples and evidence, and a conclusion.

Through class discussions and writing tasks, students are developing strong arguments supported by examples and evidence rather than just opinions. They are also learning how cohesion helps their writing flow and keeps their ideas connected.

To make their writing more powerful, students are experimenting with persuasive devices such as exaggeration, emotional language, and repetition. They are comparing different arguments to identify which are the most convincing and are practising how to plan, draft, and revise persuasive paragraphs that clearly express and support their opinions.

💬 SEL 

Students are learning from Aboriginal perspectives about the history of how white people came to the land and declared it ‘Terra Nullius’. Through discussions and activities, they will develop an understanding of the importance of respect and connection to Country. They will learn about the difference between a Welcome to Country and an Acknowledgement of Country, and how these practices help us show respect for the Traditional Custodians of the land.

Students will be exploring what respect means in different contexts. They identified what respect sounds like, looks like, and feels like, and discussed how showing respect helps to create a positive and inclusive classroom environment. Through role-plays and class discussions, students described examples of respectful behaviours—such as listening when others are speaking, using kind words, and caring for shared spaces. They reflected on how respect helps everyone to feel safe, valued, and supported both at school and in the wider community.

🌏Humanities

This term our new topic is about sustainability and how the community could benefit from a more sustainably lifestyle. We have explored design technology jobs and explain how these jobs can help make communities more sustainable. 

We will be investigating the properties of different materials and exploring how they can be used to create sustainable designs. Examining the strengths and weaknesses of various materials and discussed how these properties influence their suitability for different purposes. Building on this, students will use their knowledge to design their own sustainable product or structure in groups. Make labelled sketches of their ideas and explain how their designs could help address a real-world sustainability problem.

Hillsmeade Heroes