Hawthorn Class 2024 - 2025

WELCOME TO HAWTHORN

Class teacher - Mr A Fowles

Learning Support Assistants - Mrs C Morris and Mrs G Oakes

Miss Graves teaches on a Friday afternoon for French and Mrs Rowland for music. 

Mrs Harries teaches dance on a Wednesday afternoon.

Mr E Parrish teaches PE on a Thursday morning.

Follow us on our Twitte handle -  @WhtgateHawthorn  

In Year 4 and 5, the children in Hawthorn class will be supported and guided in growing to understanding of the world around them. Through a wealth of experiences, we develop thankfulness for all we have. In all that we learn, we aim to find opportunities to shine both in what we have learnt and in what we do.  Above all, being in Hawthorn class gives us the opportunity to develop self-control, and self-motivation and the chance to act wisely in all we do and say.

Our proposed plan:

We will be focusing in on the Groovy Greeks within our history work. We will be exploring how 2,500 years ago Greece was one of the most important places in the ancient world and what made the Greeks such great thinkers, warriors, writers, actors, athletes, artists, architects and politicians. Later in the topic, we will investigate why the Greeks called themselves Hellenes and their land was Hellas. Additionally, who gave them the name Greeks?

Our vehicle text of ‘Leo and the Gorgon's Curse’ by Joe Todd-Stanton will provide us with many opportunities to explore SPaG as well as setting descriptions, diary entries and mythological writing. You may recognise the name Joe Todd-Stanton, he was the author who wrote Arthur and the Golden Rope which we read when we were in Cedar class together.

We will consider the geographical location and influences of the Ancient Greeks in Europe, once we have revised our knowledge of the UK and British Isles.

Our maths focus will be on place value this term before we shift our focus to addition and subtraction. Morning maths retrieval will focus on all previously taught maths topics including both written and mental methods.

Our science will be focused on forces explaining that unsupported objects fall towards the earth because of the force of gravity acting between the earth and the falling object; identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces. We will then explore the properties of materials by looking at conductors and insulators, evaporation and solubility. Later, we will investigate earth and space, this unit gives children the opportunity to star-gaze by learning more about the earth and the celestial bodies in our solar system. 

Within RE, we will be looking at how faith impacts the way people behave, live and how their values are affected by this. As part of our interfaith focus, we will be looking at a range of world faiths before exploring christmas through advent.

Across our foundation subjects, we will be storytelling through drawing in art, creating Greek motifs in music, coding using Scratch in computing, designing and making a Greek banquet in DT. In PE, we will be participating in invasion games, gymnastics and a host of dances preparing for the production of ‘Wind in the Willows.’ 

Reading

Reading is at the heart of successful learning and we will immerse ourselves in a range of quality texts over the course of the year.  As reading is a priority across all subjects, we regularly use a range of fiction and non-fiction texts in our lessons to help inform richer learning across the curriculum in the afternoon. 

In addition to this cross-curricular learning, a single day might also see us exploring the motivations of characters in our gripping class novels or simply allowing children time to develop a love of reading through our provision of high-quality fiction books.  Wherever and whenever possible, we will prioritise developing the skills and positive attitudes towards Reading that will enable Hawthorn class to become confident, informed and engaged learners. 

Home Reading expectations are detailed below, but should your child express and interest in a particular author, series or genre, please let us know and we would be delighted to order books from our library partners free of charge. Visits to your local library are also encouraged!

PE 

PE will take place on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Please ensure your child comes to school in their PE kit on these days.

Homework

Please ensure your child reads at home at least 4 times per week.  In Year 4 and 5, they are expected to record their own reading in their home – School contact books; parents just need to sign each time. 

TT Rockstars should be practised at least 15 minutes a week. This will be checked each Thursday with extra time in school for those who can not fit it in.

Don't forget about Education City as well!

Personalised spellings will be sent out at the start of each time, please allow time for analysis to be complete in school before they're sent home.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with me using the Home-School book or by email via this address: contact@whitegate.cheshire.sch.uk 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: YEAR 4 MULTIPLICATION TABLES CHECK

What is the Year 4 Muliplication Tables Check

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a Key Stage 2 assessment to be taken by pupils at the end of year 4 (in June). The purpose of the MTC is to make sure the times tables knowledge is at the expected level.

What to expect:

The MTC is an online test where pupils are asked 25 questions on times tables 2 to 12. For every question you have 6 seconds to answer and in between the questions there is a 3 second rest. Questions about th e 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 times tables come up more often. The questions are generated randomly based on the rules of the MTC.

How to prepare:

The best way to prepare is to start early, this is why Timestables Rocksters is to completed at least 3 times a week as part of home learning, in addition to class practise. With regualar pracitse, children will learn all the questions and gain confidence. Do also use the web links below:

Times Table Resources:
Times Table Rockstars – (soundcheck, at least 4 times a day)
Multiplication Tables Check – 2022 – Timestables.co.uk
Times tables Speed Test X – Timestables.co.uk
Times tables games – Learn them all here!
Times Tables Games for 7 to 11 year olds (topmarks.co.uk)
Test your Multiplication – Times Tables From 2 to 15 (mathsisfun.com)
Multiplication Tables Check – Mathsframe