This term, Year 4 will unravel the mysteries of Ancient Egypt, exploring how movement—both physically and socially—shaped the lives of the people. From the settlement of the Egyptians along the Nile to the social mobility within the Egyptian class system, children will discover how movement led to progress and change. Through PSHE, they will reflect on how friendships evolve, and in Science, they will explore how sound moves through vibrations.

Settling by the Nile – Why Here?

Children will explore why the Ancient Egyptians chose to settle along the Nile, investigating:
🌊 How the river supported life, farming, and trade
🏠 The movement of people and goods along the Nile
📜 The significance of the river in Egyptian beliefs and customs

By comparing this to how people settle in modern communities, children will gain a broader understanding of why certain locations become centres of civilisation.

Rising Through the Ranks – The Egyptian Class System

Unlike many ancient societies, Egyptians had opportunities to move up the social ladder. Children will explore:
🏺 What different jobs Egyptians had
👑 How someone could work their way up in society
💰 The impact of wealth, power, and opportunity

They will compare this to other civilisations and think about how hierarchies exist today, from school groups to workplaces.

Movement in Friendships – How Do They Change?

Just as the Egyptian social system allowed for change, so do our relationships. Children will consider:
✔️ How friendships grow and evolve
✔️ Why change can lead to positive improvements
✔️ How to manage shifts in friendships in a healthy way

Through discussions, role-play, and reflections, they will link the past to their own personal experiences.

The Science of Sound – How Does It Travel? 

Movement isn’t just about people—it’s also about vibrations. Children will investigate:
🎵 How sounds travel through the air
🔊 Why volume depends on the movement of an object
📢 How sound was used in Ancient Egypt (e.g., music, communication, rituals)

By linking their knowledge of movement in history to the movement of sound waves, children will gain a deeper appreciation of how scientific concepts have always played a role in human civilisation.

Bringing History to Life: Our Authentic Outcome

To showcase their learning, children will:
🎭 Perform "Out of the Ark – Ancient Egypt" to parents, bringing the past to life through drama and storytelling.
 

This will be a fantastic way for children to step into the shoes of Ancient Egyptians and share their knowledge in a fun, interactive way.

Leaving a Legacy: Educating Our Community

This term, children will become the teachers! They will:
📖 Educate parents about Ancient Egypt through presentations, performances, and class exhibitions.
🏺 Showcase their understanding of Egyptian history and its lasting impact.

By making history come alive for their families, they will not only share their knowledge but also help others appreciate how history still influences us today.

English

A high-quality text drives each of our enquiries and the texts are used to give knowledge and purpose to the enquiry. High quality texts can only be accessed through knowledge of vocabulary in different tiers. Explicit teaching of new vocabulary and using the classroom environment to showcase key vocabulary helps us to infuse rich and sophisticated vocabulary from EYFS to Year 6. The texts are used as a stimulus for both English and cross curricular writing, ensuring high expectations of our children. Reading is interwoven into all aspects of the enquiry to encourage reading and language development and promote reading for pleasure.

Maths

In maths, we follow the Power Maths programme to support children’s learning and to build a deep understanding of maths concepts. Power Maths is a curriculum mastery programme designed to spark curiosity and excitement and nurture confidence in maths. It is built around a child‑centred lesson design that models and embeds a growth mindset approach to maths.

This term we are covering the following:

• Multiplication and Division

  • Multiplying and dividing 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers using formal written methods.
  • Exploring factors and multiples, including identifying prime numbers.
  • Solving word problems involving multiplication and division.
  • Understanding and using the distributive property to simplify calculations.

• Fractions

  • Recognising and generating equivalent fractions.
  • Compasring and ordering fractions with the same and different denominators.
  • Adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators.
  • Finding fractions of amounts and solving problems involving fractions in real-life contexts.

• Decimals

  • Understanding the concept of decimals and their relationship to fractions.
  • Reading and writing decimals up to two decimal places.
  • Comparing and ordering decimals.
  • Adding and subtracting decimals within 1 (up to two decimal places).

• Measurement

  • Measuring and converting units of length (mm, cm, m).
  • Understanding and calculating area and perimeter of rectangles and squares.
  • Measuring and converting units of mass (g, kg) and capacity (l, ml).
  • Solving problems involving measurement in real-life scenarios.

• Geometry

  • Identifying, comparing, and classifying angles (acute, obtuse, and right angles).
  • Understanding and drawing shapes with specific properties (e.g., symmetry, equal sides).
  • recognising and constructing 2D shapes, including triangles and quadrilaterals.
  • Exploring the properties of 3D shapes, including identifying faces, edges, and vertices.

• Statistics

  • Collecting and presenting data using bar charts and line graphs.
  • Interpreting data and making simple comparisons.
  • Understanding how to read and create pie charts.
  • Solving problems using information presented in different data formats.

• Problem Solving and Reasoning

  • Applying mathematical knowledge to solve multi-step problems.
  • Encouraging logical reasoning and explanation of methods used.
  • Engaging in mathematical discussions to deepen understanding.
  • Problem solving with fractions.