Inquiry: 

Health - 

Big Idea - How can we keep ourselves happy and healthy?

Lines of Inquiry

• Exercise and learning new skills are good for us.

• Different kinds of foods help us stay healthy and give us energy.

• What's inside our bodies?

Technology -

Big Idea - Technology allows us to make useful products for a more sustainable world

Lines of Inquiry

• The best packaging is sustainable - moving from single-use to environmentally friendly, reusable or recyclable packaging.

• Considering sustainable materials is part of the design process.

• Investigate the nature of materials and their ecological footprint.

Social Science -

• Design and trade

Literacy -

Reading:

In Year 4 most of our children are now reading to learn rather than learning to read. In the early years, children move through reading levels at a relatively quick pace and have usually developed strong decoding skills. However, in Year 4 the focus is on comprehension, vocabulary, reading pace and being able to use text material in a variety of ways. There is also not the same number of levels as in the early years so children are likely to spend longer on one level, as more time is spent on the content.

Children can read either to you, another family member or a friend. Please read and discuss a book with your child. It is a good idea to ask your child questions about what they have read. E.g. Who are the characters? Where was the story set? What happened in the beginning/middle/end? This is to encourage a deeper understanding of what has been read. Comprehension and understanding text is a major part of our reading program this year.

The children will not always bring home the book they are working on in class. They have the option of choosing a school journal, reading a chapter book from home, or a book they have chosen from the school library. Reading and library books will not be sent home if your child does not have their book bag at school.

Spelling: We will be running a spelling program in class. Please help your child to improve their spelling skills at home by using StepsWeb.

Maths – 

Please help your child to practice their addition and subtraction basic facts to 10, moving to 20, and 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, and 10x multiplication and division facts. Online programs such as Steve Storm and the Tables of Doom, and Studyladder are great for this.

Digital Technology - 

Digital Citizenship and responsible use of digital equipment will be woven into our Sherwood HEART values and will focus on responsible and reflective behavior. The children will learn how to use Google Docs in writing, maths, reading, and for inquiry-based research.

Te Reo Māori - 

This will be integrated into our daily program and will focus on informal greetings and farewells, counting to 100, and basic commands this term.

Specialist Subjects (Friday)

PE -

Focus: Adventure Based Learning and Striking/Fielding - Cricket/Softball

NZ Curriculum Key Concepts:

• Demonstrate respect through sharing and cooperation in groups.

• Express their own ideas, needs, wants, and feelings clearly and listen to those of other people.

• Participate in creative and regular physical activities and identify enjoyable experiences.

• Develop a wide range of movement skills, using a variety of equipment and play environments.

Please ensure your child has suitable footwear for sport on this day. They are also welcome to wear the school PE uniform if they have it, but this is optional.

Music -

Focus: Learning to sing along with a variety of instruments and backings, old and new songs. Using basic notations and symbols to read and play Music. Learning a Maori haka, action song and moemoea (chant) that supports a particular occasion eg welcome, speech, Matariki.

NZ Curriculum Key Concepts

1: Practical Knowledge: Seeing rhythms written down and playing them

2: Developing ideas: Using crotchets to semi quavers and rests

3: Communicating and Interpreting: Sending messages representing different cultures

4: Understanding context for different purposes and cultures. What does it mean to each culture?

Art -

Focus: Exploring line and colour through pattern making and looking at practising artists. Extending their painting and drawing techniques, while extending their idea of value (tone) in art.

NZ Curriculum Key Concepts

• Practical knowledge through exploring wet and dry media techniques and materials

• Developing ideas through creating their own individual artworks with inspiration from Artists

• Communicating and Interpreting through exploring artists works and how they create meaning in their work (with a focus on cultural symbols and patterns)

• Understanding context through exploring artists and why they make their work.

Library (Tuesday) Make sure your child has a book bag to protect their library books.