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 our central idea “Communities can be created through invasion and settlement.”  Our journey began with an engaging provocation, where the children participated in activities enjoyed by the Ancient Greeks, such as Olympic games, Mystery Box and a Greek God Puzzle . The Olympic challenges were particularly exciting, sparking a competitive spirit among the children, especially during the sprinting events! Their curiosity about past civilisations has guided our planning for the next stages of our learning.

As we delved deeper into our 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 decide where they would have preferred to live. They were particularly fascinated by the advanced thinking of the Ancient Greeks, especially their introduction of democracy. Building on this, they wrote impressive ode poems about the Greek gods and goddesses, demonstrating their growing understanding of literary devices. To deepen their understanding of how invasion leads to new communities, the children embarked on an exciting treasure hunt to learn about the legacy and influence of Alexander the Great. Inspired by his bravery, they summarised key information from a range of sources and reflected on his role in expanding the Greek empire. 

They also explored monoprinting techniques in art. They also took on the roles of print artists, working in the style of Benjie Torrado Cabrera to create stunning Greek-inspired designs. In addition, following in the steps of structural engineer Jenny Sabin, they  designed and constructed their own Pandora’s Boxes using the  various structural techniques such as layering and corrugating to ensure their boxes were sturdy.