Year 4 Program
Semester 2
English
Students read more critically and extend their understanding of different texts and their meanings including, the author's purpose. They produce a variety of written texts including narratives, information reports and persuasive texts, and use vocabulary that is specific and sentences that are well structured and grammatically correct. Students continue to develop their vocabulary through a range of activities and use dictionaries to check spelling and thesauruses to enhance their written pieces. They plan and revise their writing and publish their work using iPads, utilising a range of word processing skills. Students develop their speaking and listening and are provided with opportunities to present to an audience. They practise how to project their voice and use appropriate body language. Students also participate in discussions, and learn to express their opinions and listen to others.
Mathematics
Students continue to focus on the four processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They continue to learn how to solve multiplication and division problems and complete open ended tasks in these areas. Students use money to carry out financial purchases using addition, subtraction and calculating change. Students continue to use a four-function calculator to check the accuracy of mental and written estimations, approximations and solutions to number equations and worded problems. They strengthen their understanding of equivalent fractions and decimal place value to hundredths. Students explore length, area and mass using formal measurements. They convert between units of time and solve simple time problems. Students study aspects of location particularly giving directions, reading maps, using scales and legends. They interpret the chance of everyday events occurring.
Inquiry
Students explore the concept of nation, culture and identity in Australia during the unit ‘Our Place, Our Country’. They look closely at Indigenous cultures and how they lived in Australia before European arrival. In the unit ‘First Fleet – First Contact’, students learn the significance of key events leading up to British Colonisation. They investigate the discovery and exploration of Australia, the effect of colonisation on Aboriginal culture, the journey to Australia by the convicts and the establishment of the colonies. Through a variety of hands-on and research activities, students compare what life was like in the late 18th century and prior to European arrival.
Health and Physical Education
Students continue to practise fundamental skills and discuss and apply strategies that demonstrate leadership and cooperation. They begin to evaluate their own and the performance of others and the impact it may have on a successful outcome. Students participate in a bike education program to develop bike awareness, safety and riding skills. They explore strategies to manage physical, social and emotional change including positive self-worth.
Performing Arts
Students use their knowledge of the elements of music to analyse, create and perform. They express musical concepts on a variety of tuned and percussion instruments as well as through dance and song. Students build upon the essential musical skills they have developed to improvise, compose, rehearse, read and perform music for a particular purpose, audience or theme. They value a variety of cultural musical styles and analyse the importance of storytelling and themes in music.
Visual Arts
Students focus on developing various techniques through the Visual Arts elements of line, colour, shape, texture, value and space. They observe techniques used by artists from a range of social and historical contexts and plan and create their own visual art works. Students participate in the areas of drawing, collage, painting, textiles and construction. They use ideas and concepts taken from themes and visual stimuli from a range of cultures and social contexts to explore, create and express their ideas.