Autumn Term 2026

Road to Rio

Welcome

Welcome back and welcome to Year 4.  This newsletter gives an overview of our curriculum plans for the Autumn Term and some additional useful information.

Reading

Reading continues to be taught each day, using fiction and non-fiction texts. This term we are reading The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, an adventure story where technology meets the natural environment. 

Please continue to read with your child at home. Afterwards ask some ‘how’ or ‘why’ questions to help with their understanding. Once your child is a fluent reader, begin to talk about why the writer has chosen particular words, sentences or text features and the effect these features have on the reader. There are some guidance notes in the back pages of the reading scheme books which you may find helpful.

Please ensure your child’s reading record is filled in at least 4 times a week and signed by an adult.  If your child reads their school reading books quickly, they may also select other reading materials to add to their reading record book.

Writing

This term, we will be using a range of texts to support our writing.  The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan, the story of a mysterious ‘thing’ found at the beach one day, will be used to write a diary.  We will also be using what we learn this term, in Geography, to write a persuasive travel brochure for Rio de Janeiro, which will include lots of research on a trip abroad!

Spellings and grammar

Spelling will be taught using Essentials Spelling.  There will be short spelling lessons several times throughout the week.  Children will also have personalised spelling lists to continue to practice words they are finding difficult. Grammar will be taught in context within our writing lessons so that it is purposeful and relevant.   

Handwriting

In handwriting we are focusing on correctly joining letters. 

Maths

This first half term’s work is all about Place Value and Properties of Shape. The second half term’s work will cover Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. Each week we will revisit the number objectives to consolidate key maths skills. Please ensure your child practises their multiplication and division times table facts using TTRockstars.  It is expected that all times tables should be fluent by the end of the year. Please ask if you need a reminder of your child’s login details.

Science

This term’s science unit will be sound.  We will be investigating vibrations, finding patterns between sounds and the materials that produce them, and using data loggers to investigate how sound travels. In the second half-term we will be learning about animals including humans, the role of the digestive system and teeth and their functions.

All foundation subjects being covered during the term  

In PSHE as a class we will be thinking about ‘Becoming a Team’ through our units of work ‘Being me in my World’ and ‘Celebrating Differences’.

Our Geography focus for this term is Brazil and the Amazon Rainforest.  We will be learning about Brazilian culture and comparing life in a big city like Rio de Janeiro with life in the rainforest.  We will also be creating artwork inspired by favelas and the Austrian artist Freidensreich Hundertwasser.

In French, this term, we are looking forward to focusing on correct pronunciation and learning names for vegetables.

In RE this half-term, we are going to be learning about, discussing and finding out how to answer the following question: How do Jews in England celebrate festivals and how does this show what matters to them?  and What do Muslims believe about God and how do they respond?

In Design and technology this term will be looking at different types of bread and making some of our own.

Our computing focus for this half term focuses on data logging linked to our science and online safety in the second half.

In music we will be exploring the genre of Gospel – This little light of mine.

Knowledge Organisers

Please find Knowledge Organisers for Maths, Science and Geography for this term in the links below.

PE

Please send your children into school in uniform except on PE days.  On PE days, please send children in wearing their PE kit. PE days are: Monday and Tuesday for 4MW, Monday and Thursday for 4B. As the weather changes, children will also need a spare change of trainers / appropriate shoes for outdoor play.

Physical Education

Weekly timetable:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
4P & 4MW Swimming	4MW – PE lesson		4B PE Lesson

Swimming times this term are 1:30pm for 4MW and 2:00pm for 4B. Swimming will begin on Monday 21^st September and end on December 4^th. 

Because we swim once a week, that is counted towards our PE time, so where it looks like we only have one session of PE, we don’t! We do have two!  After half term we will be looking forward to doing Commando Joe!

Homework

Homework will be sent out on Fridays.  It will be collected in on Tuesdays at the start of the day. It is the responsibility of the children to tick off their name on the homework sheet when they return their work to school.

Spelling homework:  

Your child will have spellings to practise, including patterns taught in spelling lessons and challenging spellings from their work.

Routines and equipment needed (eg water bottles, stationery etc)

A couple of other reminders – please ensure your child comes to school with a water bottle (filled only with water please!) every day and please make sure that they have NAMED wet weather gear – wellies and waterproofs – it might be a wet autumn. 

If you do have any questions about the curriculum, please do come and speak to us at the end of the school day or contact us by email using dunalley@dunalley.gloucs.sch.uk

 

Knowledge Organisers

 

Spellings