Welcome to Year 4 – Emerald Class!

Miss Bailey

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Welcome to our Year 4 class page, here you will find details of our Autumn term curriculum for 2026 including homework, expectations and routines. I look forward to teaching Emerald class this year!

Autumn Term – How did the Victorian Era Change Britain?

Welcome to the year 4, Emerald class page. We are looking forward to welcoming the children to school ready for our new academic year beginning with lots of fun in the autumn term!

History
This term, Year 4 will step back in time to explore life during the Victorian era. We will discover how the Industrial Revolution transformed Britain, explore how schooling and childhood changed, and learn about remarkable Victorians whose inventions helped shape the modern world. To bring our learning to life, we will finish the unit with an exciting visit to Quarry Bank Mill, where the children can experience what life was like for Victorian workers and see the impact of the Industrial Revolution for themselves.

Geography
Building on our learning about the Victorian era in History, Year 4 will explore what life was like in England and Brittany, France, during the same period and the modern. We will compare the two regions, investigating their geographical features, climate, landscapes and ways of life, while developing our understanding of how geography influenced people and communities. We will also delve into the Commonwealth, exploring its development and significance during the Victorian era and considering how different places around the world were connected at this time.

English and Reading 
In English, Year 4 will develop their writing skills through two engaging fictional texts: The Gorilla in Autumn 1 and Leon and the Place Between in Autumn 2. Throughout these units, the children will use their imagination to create vivid and engaging writing, while developing their understanding of expanded noun phrases, paragraphing and descriptive language . They will also continue to develop their handwriting, sentence structure and vocabulary, building confidence in expressing their ideas clearly and creatively.

In Reading, Year 4 will develop their comprehension skills through two exciting units: Animal Stories in Autumn 1 and The Train to Impossible Places in Autumn 2. The children will strengthen their ability to retrieve information from texts and make thoughtful inferences using clues and evidence from what they have read. They will also develop their confidence in explaining their ideas, supporting their answers and engaging with characters, settings and events across a range of imaginative stories.

Maths
In Maths, Year 4 will develop their mathematical knowledge and problem-solving skills across a range of key units. We will begin by exploring place value , building confidence with numbers up to 10,000 and understanding the value of each digit. We will then move on to addition and subtraction , applying written methods and problem-solving strategies, before exploring measurement and developing our understanding of different units and how they are used. We will finish by focusing on multiplication and division , strengthening fluency with times tables and applying these skills to a range of mathematical problems.

Science
In Science, Year 4 will explore two exciting units: Electricity and Sound. We will investigate how electrical circuits work, learning about circuit components, conductors and insulators, and how to make a circuit work successfully. We will then explore sound, investigating how sounds are made, how they travel and how pitch and volume can be changed. Throughout both units, the children will develop their scientific inquiry skills by making predictions, carrying out investigations, recording results and drawing conclusions from their findings.

Computing
In Computing, Year 4 will develop their understanding of how digital systems work through our units on Hardware and Software and Animation . The children will explore the different components that make up a computer system, understand the role of hardware and software, and consider how these work together. They will then use a range of digital tools to create animations , developing their ability to plan, create and edit digital content for a specific purpose. Throughout both units, the children will build their confidence in using technology creatively, responsibly and effectively, while developing skills that support the Key Stage 2 Computing curriculum.

PE
This term, the children will be learning ball and net skills through netball in autumn 1 and hockey in autumn 2. These sessions will take place on Monday afternoons with Mr Parrish. On Tuesdays, year 4 attend swimming lessons for their second PE session of the week with Miss Bailey at Nantwich swimming baths.

Art 
In Art, Year 4 will explore Painting and Mixed Media, developing their creativity and confidence when working with a range of artistic materials and techniques. The children will experiment with colour, tone, texture and different painting techniques, learning how to combine media to create interesting and expressive artwork. They will also develop their ability to explore, refine and evaluate their ideas as they create their own pieces of art.

Design and Technology

In Design & Technology, Year 4 will design and make their own working torches, linking closely with our Science learning about Electricity. The children will research and explore existing products before designing a torch that is both functional and appealing. They will develop their practical skills by selecting appropriate materials and components, constructing a simple electrical circuit with a switch and bulb, and testing and evaluating their finished product against their design criteria. This hands-on project will allow the children to apply their scientific understanding while developing their skills as designers and makers.

Music
This term, the children will have funded music tuition where we will have the opportunity to learn the clarinet. The children will put on a performance for parents at the end of the autumn term.

RE
In RE, Year 4 will explore Christianity through the Bible and its teachings, developing their understanding of key Christian beliefs and how these influence the way people live. We will explore parables and their messages of inspiration, considering what they can teach us about kindness, forgiveness, compassion and how we treat others. The children will also learn about the Holy Trinity – God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit –and explore how this is understood by Christians. Throughout the unit, children will have opportunities to reflect on the teachings they encounter, share their ideas respectfully and consider how their own personal beliefs, values and experiences may influence the way they see the world.

School trips and workshops
Our school visits and special experiences this term will bring our Victorian topic to life. As part of our History learning, we will visit Quarry Bank Mill, a historic cotton mill in Cheshire that played an important role during the Industrial Revolution. The children will explore the mill, learn about the people who worked there and discover what life was like for workers and children during this period. To round off our learning, we will also hold a special Victorian Day, where the children will come to school dressed as Victorian children and immerse themselves in the experiences of the era. They will then share their learning with parents through a special performance, showcasing everything they have discovered about Victorian life.

Daily Routines and Homework Expectations
Our daily schedule will be displayed on a visual time table for the children to refer to throughout the school day, an overall weekly time table will be sent to parents via school spider. The children will need a labeled water bottle and waterproof coat each day and are welcome to bring their own pencil cases should they wish (labeled and kept in trays during outside time). Year 4 will be provided with a reading diary and school reading book dependent on reading level – this should be in school every day for reading opportunities. An equipment list will be stuck in the front of diaries along with any passwords for home website access such as purple mash or TTRS.

Homework:
Homework will be set on Fridays to be returned the following week. There will be one main piece set which will alternate between English or maths activities each week. On occasion, the homework piece may be related to a topic focus in class such as history or science. Reading diaries will be collected for signing on Friday mornings – children are expected to read at one at least once per week with a signature in diaries. Later in the year, TTRS homework will be set in preparation for the Multiplication Times Table check and should be accessed where possible for additional practice.