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.

We will be focusing in on the Remarkable Romans within our history work. We will be exploring how, over 2,000 years ago, Rome became one of the most powerful empires in the ancient world and what made the Romans such skilled engineers, builders, soldiers, lawmakers, artists, and leaders. Later in the topic, we will investigate how the Romans shaped Britain with their roads, towns, and way of life. Additionally, we will explore why the Romans called themselves citizens of Rome and how their empire was governed. Later in the term, we will be focusing in on the Amazing Anglo-Saxons within our geography work which will be focusing specifically on Great Britain. We will be exploring how, over 1,500 years ago, the Anglo-Saxons came to Britain and transformed the land with their kingdoms, traditions, and culture. We will look at what made the Anglo-Saxons such great farmers, warriors, craftsmen, storytellers, and leaders. Later in the topic, we will investigate why the Anglo-Saxons settled in Britain and how their culture still influences us today. Finally, we will be exploring how, over 1,000 years ago, the Vikings set sail from Scandinavia and became known as fearsome raiders, settlers, and traders. We will look at what made the Vikings such remarkable explorers, warriors, craftsmen, storytellers, and leaders. Later in the topic, we will investigate how the Vikings came to Britain, their impact on the land, and how they shaped history.

Our vehicle text of Escape from Pompeii by Christina Balit will provide us with many opportunities to explore SPaG as well as historical narratives, character perspectives, and descriptive writing. The story will take us back to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, allowing us to vividly imagine life in ancient Pompeii and the bravery of its characters. As we read, we will develop our understanding of how historical events can be brought to life through rich storytelling and beautiful illustrations. This captivating book will also help us make links to our history work on the Romans, deepening our knowledge of their daily lives and the dramatic events that shaped their world.

Our maths focus will be on place value this term before we shift our focus to multiplication and division. The morning maths retrieval will focus on all previously taught maths topics including both written and mental methods.

In Hawthorn, children are expected to develop their understanding of states of matter and the properties of materials. They will learn to identify the three main states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases, and explore how materials can change between these states through processes such as melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation. They should understand how temperature affects these changes and be able to describe the particle arrangement in each state. Additionally, they will investigate the properties of different materials, such as their hardness, flexibility, transparency, and solubility, and consider how these properties make them suitable for particular uses.

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 topics we will be focusing on Jesus and then we will turn our attention to loss and death and how being a Christian provides hope.

Across our foundation subjects, we will be exploring a range of exciting themes and skills. In art, we will focus on storytelling through drawing, using sketches and illustrations to bring narratives to life. In music, our work will be inspired by rivers, using rhythm, melody, and soundscapes to reflect their journey and power. In PE, we will build teamwork, strategy, and physical skills by participating in invasion games, striking and fielding activities, and orienteering, which will challenge our navigation and problem-solving abilities while keeping us active and engaged. These subjects will give us creative and physical outlets to complement our learning across the curriculum.

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 will take place on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday 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