Kingsley Class

Welcome

Welcome to Kingsley Class (Year 4), 

My name is Miss Priestman and I am the class teacher. Working alongside me is my higher-level teaching assistant, Mrs Popham, and my apprentice teaching assistant, Miss Veer. Together, we make up the Kingsley class team.

I will be using this page on our school website to document the children’s learning journey in Year 4. Enjoy looking through our class page!

Class Information

Welcome to Year 4! I hope you had a lovely May half-term with your families and were able to enjoy some quality time together in the glorious sunshine that we had! We have a busy half-term ahead with our whole school Careers Fair, Fieldwork Week, our class trip to the Somerset Museum for a Saxon Somerset experience and our Saxon Shield-Making Parent/Carer Workshop. 

All information regarding life in Kingsley class can be found on the class newsletter below. 

Our Summer newsletter is here.

We also have Curriculum Overviews, which map out the learning objectives for each half-term and the topics that the children will be exploring. The overview for this half-term can be found below.

Summer B – The Anglo-Saxons

The accompanying Knowledge Organiser for this topic is here.

At the beginning of the academic year, I held a Curriculum Meeting for parents/carers, to provide information regarding the teaching and learning that will take place in Year 4. Please find the PowerPoint presentation from this meeting below. 

Kingsley Curriculum Meeting PowerPoint

Learning in Kingsley Class

Summer Term

Shield-Making Workshop

On Friday 3rd July, the children decorated their own Anglo-Saxon shield ready to use in a re-enactment of The Battle of Hastings.

Somerset Museum Trip

On Thursday 2nd July, we enjoyed a class trip to the Somerset Museum to participate in a Saxon Somerset Workshop. The children were fantastic at acting out the life of Alfred the Great, making their own Anglo-Saxon rune stone and using card to make an Anglo-Saxon house. In the afternoon, we split into groups and completed a self-guided trail of the museum where we saw many interesting artefacts.

Geography Walk

As part of Fieldwork Week, we went on a walk around the local area to observe different water sources. We found the River Brue, the Bridgwater Canal and the docks. The children drew an observational sketch of each one and considered the water quality and the surrounding environment.

Careers Fair

The children thoroughly enjoyed attending the whole-school Careers Fair where they were able to learn about and explore a variety of different job opportunities in the local area.

Beowulf Illustrations

In English, we read the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, and then drew and painted our own picture for a different part of the poem to help us retell it as a class. 

Rainforest Homework Projects

Over the half-term, the children were set a homework project to complete based on their learning of the world’s rainforests. They worked exceptionally hard on them and they were very creative with how they chose to showcase their learning. 

Our topic for Summer A is Rainforests, where the children will develop their locational knowledge when exploring where the majority of rainforests are found in the world. They will learn about the rainforest climate and weather patterns as well as investigating the different layers of a rainforest, including the animals and plants that inhabit them. 

Summer A Curriculum Overview – Rainforests

Summer A Knowledge Organiser – Rainforests of the World

Health and Wellbeing Week 

As part of our whole school Health and Wellbeing Creativity Week, the children had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities including kickboxing, cricket, Wake and Shake, making yogurt bowls and mindfulness tasks. To finish the week off, we had our school Sports Day, which every child thoroughly enjoyed. 

Science – Electricity

In Science this half-term, we have been developing our knowledge and understanding of electricity. We made simple electrical circuits and then tested a variety of materials to see if they were conductors or insulators. We reflected on what we learnt and wrote an explanation of our findings using scientific vocabulary.

Rainforest Collage Workshop

Our Geography topic this half-term is Rainforests. To celebrate our learning, the children created a rainforest collage picture, alongside their parents/carers, using a variety of media, including tissue paper, wax crayons, felt tips and card. 

Music

In our Music lessons, we are learning to play the glockenspiel to a piece of music. So far, we have learnt how to play the notes G, C and A. 

Forest School

In Forest School this half-term, the children learnt how to use a knife to whittle wood. They enjoyed developing this new skill and can explain how to be safe when using tools for outdoor learning. 

Spring Term

Our topic for Spring B is The Romans in Britain, where the children will develop their knowledge and understanding of who, when and how the Romans invaded Britain and how their presence changed daily life. They will enhance their chronological understanding and they will learn how to critically analyse historical sources and recounts of events.

Spring B Curriculum Overview – The Romans in Britain

Spring B Knowledge Organiser – The Ancient Romans

Roman Baths Visit

As part of our History learning focused on the Ancient Romans, we enjoyed a class trip to the Roman Baths. We participated in a variety of activities including exploring Roman artefacts, dressing up as Roman people, making Roman mosaics and doing an archaeological dig. In the afternoon, we went on a self-directed tour of the Roman Baths, using audio guides to learn more about what we were seeing. It was a fantastic day, and the children went home brimming with new knowledge about how the Romans entertained themselves. 

Great Athlete Day

On Wednesday 18th March, our school was lucky enough to receive a visit from the Paralympic Sprinter, Katrina Hart! As part of this day, the children participated in a circuit of exercises, similar to those that Katrina does as part of her training. Katrina then led an inspirational assembly where she showed the children just how fast she is! The children thoroughly enjoyed their time with Katrina and they are inspired to try new things!

British Science Week

This year, the theme for British Science Week was curiosity and, in our class, we focused on Curious Kitchen. Throughout the week, we investigated the concept of food miles, used our taste buds and followed a recipe to make our own sherbet and we made persuasive posters about reducing food waste. In addition to this, we had a STEM workshop delivered by science teachers from a local college where we engaged in some fun scientific experiments. 

World Book Day

On Thursday 5th March, we celebrated World Book Day! We had a fantastic day reading our school focus book, ‘Somebody Swallowed Stanley’, and thinking about our favourite children’s book character. We dressed up in amazing outfits and enjoyed sharing a story with our grown-ups at the end of the day. 

Water Cycle Projects

For their homework, the children were set the task of completing a project on the water cycle linked to our learning in Science on States of Matter. Every child had put lots of effort into their project and they were amazing, demonstrating a secure understanding of how the water cycle works. This will then lead into their English learning where they will write explanation texts about the water cycle. 

Our topic for Spring A is Deserts, where the children will develop their map skills by locating hot and cold deserts around the world, learn about hot and cold desert flora and fauna and improve their fieldwork skills by drawing maps including symbols and a key. 

Spring A Curriculum Overview – Deserts

Spring A Knowledge Organiser – Hot and Cold Deserts

Park Visit

At the end of the half-term, we visited the local park to celebrate the children’s excellent behaviour and hard work throughout the six weeks. The children had a wonderful time playing with their friends on the equipment and enjoying a little bit of sunshine!

NSPCC Number Day

On Friday 6th February, we raised money for the NSPCC through their annual Number Day. The children enjoyed dressing up in something mathematical and participating in number-themed activities throughout the day. 

DT – Bridges

In our Design and Technology topic this half-term, the children have designed, built and tested bridges made out of paper. They explored different strengthening techniques including making bases, rolling paper into tubes and using a concertina or arch structure. The children had a design criteria to build their bridge to which they then evaluated when testing their bridges. 

Aspens Cookie Decorating Workshop

The children thoroughly enjoyed participating in a Cookie Decorating Workshop run by Aspens. They had two biscuits to decorate, a gingerbread man and a shortbread, and a wide variety of icings and toppings to choose from. The children were very creative and were able to take their biscuits home to enjoy. 

Sports Hall Athletics Festival

On Thursday 15th January, eighteen of the children participated in an indoor Athletics Festival against ten other local primary schools. Every child maintained a positive attitude and demonstrated excellent resilience throughout the afternoon, representing the school brilliantly. 

English – Dragonology

In our English lessons, we are exploring the book, ‘Tell Me A Dragon’ by Jackie Morris. After reading the story and enjoying the wonderful illustrations, the children created their own dragons by drawing and painting them using watercolour paints.

PE – Gymnastics

In PE with the sports coach this half-term, we are developing our static and dynamic balance, flexibility and core strength through a range of gymnastics activities and movements. The children enjoyed performing balances and incorporating equipment and jumps into their sequences. 

Autumn Term

Our topic for Autumn B is Ancient Greece, where the children will learn about the achievements of the Empire, explore Ancient Greek gods and goddesses, learn the Ancient Greek myths of Theseus and the Minotaur and The Trojan Horse and analyse historical sources. 

Autumn B Curriculum Overview – Ancient Greece

Autumn B Knowledge Organiser – The Ancient Greeks

Festive Fun!

The last week of school before Christmas was filled with lots of Christmas fun including singing at our KS2 Carol Service, having our Christmas dinner whilst wearing our Christmas jumpers and dancing and playing games at our class Christmas Party! From all in Kingsley Class, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Card Parent/Carer Workshop

As part of our Christmas festivities, we invited parents/carers into school to make Christmas cards with their child. Much festive fun was had by all and every child produced a wonderful Christmas card/s for their loved ones. 

Greek Mythology Day

As part of our History learning about Ancient Greece, we had a Greek Mythology Day where the children were invited to come to school dressed as any character from Greek Mythology. The children explored lots of Greek myths in our Reading lesson, orally planned their own Greek myth in English and learnt about Ancient Greek gods and goddesses and the Trojan horse myth in our History lessons. 

Children in Need

On Friday 14th November, the children came to school in their pyjamas to raise money for Children in Need. As part of our activities for the day, they completed some Pudsey Maths Challenges, in pairs, which developed their arithmetic skills alongside raising awareness of this important fundraising day. 

Willow Sculpture Workshop

On Thursday 13th November, the children enjoyed participating in their second Willow Sculpture Workshop. They worked very hard to weave the willow to create the different parts of the sculpture that will be displayed outside of the school as part of a community project. 

Gaia Exhibition Visit

On Tuesday 4th November, the children enjoyed visiting the Gaia Exhibition at Bridgwater Town Hall. They asked fantastic questions about the piece of art and completed a quiz to assess their learning. 

Our topic for Autumn A is Modern Day Greece, where the children will learn where Greece is located in the world, what the climate is like, the population and types of settlement there and how the culture is similar and different to England. 

Autumn A Curriculum Overview – Greece vs The United Kingdom

Autumn A Knowledge Organiser – Modern Day Greece

Multicultural Creativity Week

In Year 4, to celebrate Multicultural Week, we learnt about Kenya. The children learnt where Kenya is in the world as well as learning about its people and culture. We learnt the song ‘Jambo Bwana’ which we performed to parents/carers during the Multicultural Week Parade, we made Kenyan Maasai necklaces after learning about the Maasai Tribe, we sketched a portrait of Wangari Maathai, a famous Kenyan woman, and we made Kenyan Safari Silhouette pictures during a workshop that parents/carers were invited to attend. We had a wonderful week learning about a new country and culture. 

Avalon Visits

This half-term, the children have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to visit the Avalon Nursing Home to socialise with the residents and participate in some autumn-themed activities. Every child thoroughly enjoyed their experience and took home some lovely creations!

Canoeing and Team-building Day

Kingsley Class thoroughly enjoyed participating in a Canoeing and Team-building Day ran by staff from Bridgwater and Taunton College. The children learnt how to paddle forwards and backwards in the canoe and how to turn the canoe in both directions. Throughout the day, they needed to communicate well with each other and listen to what everyone in their group had to say in order to be successful in the activities. It was a wonderful day to strengthen relationships with peers and staff and to take part in an adventurous physical activity that many had not done beforehand. 

Science – Tooth Decay Experiment

As part of our Animals, Including Humans topic in Science, we set up a tooth decay experiment using hard-boiled eggs and different liquids. We placed an egg in water, coffee, cola, vinegar and one covered in toothpaste and placed in coffee to observe, over the course of a week, what happens to each one. We will record our findings in a table and draw conclusions about the liquids that are the best and worst for our teeth to understand how to keep them healthy.

Science – Identifying teeth in humans

In our Science lessons, we have been exploring the different types of teeth that humans have. We ate different foods to investigate which teeth we use for different purposes such as cutting, tearing and grinding food. We then drew a diagram in our books of the human mouth and labelled the molars, premolars, canines and incisors. 

Geography – Locating the UK and Greece

In our Geography lesson, we used atlases to locate the United Kingdom and Greece. We then explored Greece’s bordering countries, capital city and surrounding seas. The children used this information to label a map of the United Kingdom and Greece to develop their locational knowledge.

Music – Nuvotoot Lessons 

For our Music lessons this term, the class are learning how to play a ‘Toot Flute’. They have already learnt how to correctly hold the instrument and how to play the notes ‘A’ and ‘B’. They have also played tunefully as a solo and in unison as a class.