Firs Primary School
Year 3/4 Excellent Elms and Aspiring Acers
Staff
Aspiring Acers
Teacher: Mrs Twist
Teaching Assistant: Mrs Raghu
Excellent Elms
Teacher: Miss Wiggins
Teaching Assistant: Miss Rogers
Classrooms
Our classrooms are well organised to promote the children’s independence and to ensure the best from all of our children. Both classrooms have working walls for English and Maths to aid the children with their work. We also celebrate children’s fantastic work by displaying it around our classrooms.
Aspiring Acers
Excellent Elms
School Council and Eco Council
Every class has at one school councilor to help share their classes’ views and make changes across the school.
We also have an eco council with a representative from each class. These children meet to discuss ideas about how to make our school more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Aspiring Acers’ School Councillor
Zane K
Aspiring Acers’ Eco Councillor
Aliyah
Excellent Elms’ School Councillor
Heidi
Excellent Elms Eco Councillor
Lekhana
Dojo Masters
Every class has at least 2 Dojo masters. They are role models of excellent behaviour, always showing the FIRSY values of Fascinated, Independent, Respectful, Sociable and You can do it!
Aspiring Acers’ Dojo Masters:
Caet and Shreyan
Excellent Elms’ Dojo Masters:
Mae and Samuel
Our Curriculum
Click on the tabs below to find out more information about each topic. Throughout the year we will also add pictures of memorable experiences and hooks!
Topic
Autumn 1
Heroes and Villains
In this topic, for History we will be learning all about changes in the British monarch over time. We will be learning about key monarchs and changes to our government over time from absolute monarchy to democracy In Science we will be learning about electricity. This will link to our Design and Technology project, making a reading light. In Art we will be investigating the work of Alexander Calder and making wire sculptures. RE lessons will focus on What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today? During PSHE we are thinking about ‘me and my relationships’, exploring friendships and community. Computing lessons will focus on uses of technology. In MFL we will be learning about why and how people communicate and starting our very first lessons in German.
Our Maths lessons in Year 3 and 4 this half term will focus on Place Value and Addition and Subtraction. We will also be regularly practising times tables.
Autumn 2
Tremors
In Geography, we will be learning about mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes. Our Art unit will explore the work of a range of artists and creating our own volcano landscapes. In Science, we will be investigating rocks and learning about states of matter. Our RE lessons will focus on ‘Why is The Bible so important to Christians today?’ PSHE will look at ‘Valuing difference’. Finally, we will be continuing our German lessons, learning to ask a person’s name; how old they are and numbers to 12.
In our Maths lessons, Year 3 will be focusing on Addition and Subtraction and Multiplication and Division. Year 4 will be focusing on Area and Multiplication and Division. We will continue to practise our timestables daily
Spring
Traders and Raiders
In this full term unit, we will be learning about Anglo-Saxons and Vikings in a double History unit. In Geography, we will build our locational knowledge and learn about changes to settlements over time. In Design and Technology, we will be applying our computing skills using Microbits. Our Science unit is all about Forces. In RE we will be learning about Jewish festivals and considering life as a journey. In PSHE, we will be looking at keeping safe and rights and responsibilities. Finally, our German lessons will be about where we live, days of the week, weather, the alphabet and family.
In Maths, Year 3 will be completing multiplication and division, length and perimeter, fractions and mass and capacity.
In Year 4 pupils will be looking at multiplication and division, fractions, length and perimeter and decimals.
Summer 1
Burps, Bottoms and Bile
During this half term, we will be exploring the work of other artists and drawing the human form in Art. In Science, we will be learning about animals, including humans. In computing, we will be developing our programming skills. Our RE lessons will focus on significant experiences, while in PSHE will be taking part in activities about ‘Being my Best’. Our learning in German will continue with number to 31 and colours.
Summer 2
Blue Abyss
In Geography, we will be learning about water and rivers. Our Science lessons will focus on living things and their habitats. In computing, we will be developing our knowledge and understanding about the internet. For Design and Technology we will be learning about textiles and making a bag for a story character. Our RE lessons will focus on right and wrong and in PSHE we will be thinking about Growing and Changing. Finally, MFL lessons will be about pets and celebrating Gypsy, Roma, Traveller history month.
English
Reading
Mrs Twist and Miss Wiggins will be reading to us everyday. Our book for this half term are:
Escape from Pompeii – Christina Balit
Dear Diary – Sara Finella
Beastopia – Chrissie Sains
English
For English this half term we are focussing on writing diary entries. We are using the events of the Vesuvius eruption and the text ‘Escape from Pompeii’ by Christina Balit to inspire our writing. To improve our writing, we will be looking at emotive language, use of past perfect and simple past tense and first person.
Following this, we will be writing instructions for creating a painting. This will link to our museum visit and our learning in Art,
Our Experiences and Opportunities
We do lots of exciting things throughout the year, this may be part of our topic or additional experiences.
Memorable Experience
October 22nd/23rd – Past Productions workshop – Kings and Queens
November 19th/20th – Derby Museum and Art Gallery
March 26th – The Past Presents – Viking and Anglo-Saxon workshop
May 27th – Hands on Science – Digestive system and teeth
Music
We are really lucky to have specialist music teachers who will be teaching violin to all Year 4 children every Monday for the whole year.
Year 3s will be learning to play the glockenspiel.
Things you need to know
Year 3 will be swimming every Wednesday until February half term. Please ensure your child brings a swimming costume and towel.
PE for Year 4 is on Wednesday.
The children will change for PE in school so please ensure they have their kit ready. They can leave this in school if you like.
Home learning will be sent out every Friday and will need to be returned by Thursday the following week. Your child is able to complete it at lunchtimes in school if that is needed, just speak to their class teacher.