Year 4

What a fantastic start we've had to our learning journey this term! Our exploration of the transdisciplinary theme 'How we Organise Ourselves' has immersed the children in the fascinating world of Ancient Greece. Connected to the central idea that "Communities can be created by invasion and settlements," our journey began with an engaging provocation where the children delved into various activities enjoyed by the Greeks, including Olympic games, marathons, and researching Ancient Greek facts. The 'Olympic challenges' were particularly exciting, igniting a sense of competitiveness among the children, especially during the sprinting events! Their questions about past civilizations guided our planning for the next stages of our learning.

As we delved deeper into the inquiry, we explored the structures that shaped Ancient Greek society. The children were captivated by the organisation of Athenian and Spartan societies, comparing and contrasting them to draw conclusions about where they'd prefer to live in ancient times. They were fascinated by the advanced thinking of the ancient civilization, especially their introduction of democracy.

Building on our understanding, the children wrote incredible ode poems about the Greek gods and goddesses, demonstrating their engagement with literary devices. They also explored monoprint art techniques to create stunning Greek patterns and used their design and technology skills to craft replicas of Pandora's box, complete with plagues.

In our exploration of how invasion can lead to new communities, the children embarked on a thrilling 'treasure hunt' to learn about the legacy and influence of Alexander the Great. Inspired by his bravery, they summarised information from various sources using key vocabulary, reflecting on his role in expanding the Greek empire.

Moreover, the children delved into the captivating world of Ancient Greek myths and legends through our class reader, 'Who Let the Gods Out.' Their enthusiasm for each chapter was palpable, fueling their creativity as they crafted outstanding narrative stories rich in vocabulary and descriptive language.

Our final inquiry into how decisions and laws influence democracy saw the children participating in a mock election to debate environmental issues, aligning with our geography inquiry.

Overall, it's been a fantastic term filled with fun and enriching learning experiences!