Leon - The place between by Angela McAllister

In Block 2, our English lessons will focus on the story Leon and the Place Between by Angela McAllister, a magical and beautifully illustrated book that explores themes of imagination, courage, and belief. Through reading the story, students will develop their comprehension skills by predicting, inferring, and discussing the events and characters. They will explore the author’s use of descriptive and figurative language, including similes, metaphors, and vivid imagery, and apply these techniques in their own creative writing. The book also provides opportunities for drama and oral storytelling, allowing students to bring the story to life through performance and role play. Visual literacy will be developed through careful study of the illustrations, while cross-curricular links to Humanities allow students to explore themes of magic, theatre, and performance in a broader cultural context. Assessment will be based on reading responses, creative writing tasks, and performance activities, helping students to reflect on the power of imagination and storytelling in an engaging and enjoyable way.

Key Vocabulary: impatient, lantern, fidget, twitch, swish, lurch, awkward, applause, astonishment, majestic,big top, lantern, braid, barrel organ, carousel, mechanical, handkerchief, pantaloon trousers, lute

In this block, children will continue to build on their knowledge of addition and subtraction, developing fluency with numbers up to four digits and applying both mental and formal written methods. They will practise using the column method for addition and subtraction, including exchanging across place value columns, and will be encouraged to use estimation and inverse operations to check the accuracy of their answers. 

They will also begin to explore multiplication and division in greater depth. They will use arrays, repeated addition, and grouping to strengthen their understanding of multiplication as both scaling and repeated addition, and division as both sharing and grouping. This will lead into work with factors, multiples, and factor pairs, which are key building blocks for later topics such as fractions. 

Key Vocabulary: more than, altogether, sum, exchange, column methods, times, lots of, array, repeated addition, factor, multiple, share, group, inverse, factor pairs

Now you see it - the history of magic and theatre 

This six-week interdisciplinary humanities unit explores the fascinating intersection of magic, illusion, and theatrical performance throughout history. Students will investigate how cultures worldwide have used spectacle, sleight of hand, and dramatic presentation to entertain, inspire wonder, and communicate deeper truths about human experience. From ancient ritual performances to modern stage magic, learners will examine the techniques, cultural contexts, and societal impacts of these art forms.

The unit bridges historical inquiry with performance arts, examining how magic and theatre have served as vehicles for storytelling, social commentary, and cultural preservation. Students will explore diverse traditions including European stage magic, Asian theatrical forms, and Sri Lankan folk performances, developing critical thinking about the relationship between illusion, reality, and belief.

Key Vocabulary: Illusion, Spectacle, Ritual, Kolam, Nadagam, Sokari, Commedia dell'arte, Apparatus

States of matter 

In science this block, children will learn about the three states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. They explore how materials can change state when they are heated or cooled, including processes such as melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation. Pupils investigate the temperatures at which these changes happen and use simple particle models to understand how matter behaves. They also study the water cycle, recognising the important role of evaporation and condensation. Throughout the unit, children develop their scientific enquiry skills by asking questions, setting up fair tests, making careful observations, recording results, and drawing conclusions.

Key Vocabulary: solid, liquid, gas, melting, freezing, evaporating, condensing, solidify, particles, volume, shape, flow, compress, container, heating, cooling, temperature, Celsius, evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection, water vapour

Celebrating Difference

In this unit, children learn to understand and respect differences between people. They explore diversity, learn about what makes them unique, and develop empathy and kindness. Pupils practice recognising feelings, resolving conflicts, and celebrating both their own strengths and those of others.

Key Vocabulary: Unique, special, similar, different, strengths, weaknesses, happy, sad, scared, worried, angry, embarrassed, proud, kind, unfair, fair, polite, respect, include, exclude, problem, solution, compromise, calm, discuss, agree, disagree

In Year 4, children expand their vocabulary through stories, discussions, and a wide range of cross-curricular subjects. Vocabulary development is central to strengthening reading comprehension, enhancing writing, and improving speaking and listening skills. Our curriculum places emphasis on both everyday vocabulary and subject specific language linked to areas such as English, Maths, Science, and Humanities.

Year 4 Block 2 Spelling Rules

Prefixes - in-, im-, il-, ir- (all meaning “not” or “opposite of”)
Suffixes - -ly (adverbs formed from adjectives)
The suffix -ation - Changing verbs into nouns
The suffix -ous - Adjectives formed from nouns
Words with endings sounding like zhun - Spelt -sion
Common exception words - word list year 3 and 4

Home learning in Year 4 reinforces classroom learning, builds confidence, and helps children develop independence. Each week your child is encouraged to complete a writing task in their writing journals provided by the school, which may involve a short story, poem, book review, a letter etc..

In Maths, a weekly activity will be assigned on MyMaths every Tuesday, linked to the topics taught in class, and should be completed before the following week. 

Reading remains a key priority in Year 4, and children are encouraged to read at home every day and record it in their reading logs.

In Computing, our topic for this block is We are Makers. In this unit, pupils use the micro:bit and Microsoft MakeCode software to design, write, and test their own projects. They explore how to control and interact with the device, analyse how their programs work, and make modifications to improve them. Through this unit, pupils strengthen their coding, debugging, and problem-solving skills while gaining practical experience of physical computing.

Key vocabulary: Accelerometer, Algorithm, Bluetooth, JavaScript, LED, MakeCode, micro:bit

In art lessons, children will explore the creative world of set design. They investigate how spaces can be transformed through colour, scale, and perspective to support storytelling and atmosphere. Using sketching, model-making, and collage, children experiment with ideas and problem-solving while considering characters, mood, and narrative. The block develops imagination, design thinking, and practical making skills, culminating in a mini stage set or model box that brings stories to life.

Key Vocabulary: set, design, stage, space, scale, perspective, atmosphere, colour, mood, narrative, character, model, sketch, construction, storytelling

In this block, children build on prior learning from Stage 1 to further develop glockenspiel skills. They explore reading and playing simple notation, focusing on rhythm, melody, and timing. Through performing pieces and improvising short patterns, children gain confidence in ensemble work and creative expression. The block encourages accuracy, fluency, and listening skills, culminating in class performances that celebrate musical progress, teamwork, and enjoyment of tuned percussion instruments. They will also be working on magical themed songs for their showcase assembly.

Key Vocabulary: glockenspiel, notation, rhythm, melody, pitch, timing, pattern, improvisation, ensemble, accuracy, fluency, listening, performance, creativity, expression, confidence

In this block, children explore the history of theatre and magic through drama and performance. They investigate traditions from ancient theatre to music hall and early stage magic, discovering how performance has entertained and amazed audiences over time. Through role play, movement, and ensemble work, children develop storytelling, presentation, and stagecraft skills. The block culminates in group performances inspired by theatrical and magical traditions, celebrating creativity, collaboration, and historical awareness.

Key Vocabulary: theatre, magic, tradition, history, performance, stage, role play, ensemble, storytelling, movement, presentation, stagecraft, illusion, collaboration, creativity, audience

In this block, children explore the theme of magic through imaginative dance. Using stimulus such as illusion, transformation, and mystery, they experiment with sudden and sustained movements, contrasts in dynamics, and creative use of space. Children work individually, in pairs, and collaboratively to devise sequences that reflect magical atmospheres and tricks. The block develops creativity, expression, and performance skills, culminating in a class showcase that captures the wonder and excitement of magic.

Key Vocabulary: magic, illusion, transformation, mystery, sudden, sustained, dynamics, space, sequence, choreography, atmosphere, creativity, expression, collaboration, performance

Football: Pupils learn core skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. They begin to understand simple attacking and defending strategies, working in small groups and showing fair play.

Keywords - dribbling, passing, shooting, control, teamwork, space, fair play 

All students will take part in a fortnightly swimming lesson designed to build both confidence and enjoyment in the water. Our programme follows a structured level system that ensures steady progression, tailored to each child’s ability. Alongside stroke development, children also learn important water safety and personal survival skills. We aim for every child to leave Junior School as a competent, confident swimmer with the skills to participate safely in a range of aquatic environments.