Welcome back to MPJS! We all hope that you have had a wonderful break over the summer and now the children are back to working hard in their new year group.

Please see below for a brief overview of what the chidlren will be learning this term:

During the Autumn Term, the children will learn Place Value, then move onto the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division). Year 4 will also learn Roman Numerals. The children will also practice their times tables using TT Rockstars whilst learning new tables in lessons. Year 3 will learn their 3s, 4s and 8s and Year 4 will learn the rest of the tables. It is very important that children also practice their tables at home using TT Rockstars or other methods - practice makes perfect!

In English, we will begin with a foundational unit of work to ensure that the children have a solid grasp of the earlier skills taught in previous years. Our grammar, vocabulary and spelling will be taught through the lessons and we will be writing a range of text types for different audiences and purposes based on texts such as “There’s a Rang-Tan in my bedroom” by James Sellick and taking a look into classic children’s tales. This will help the children, especially those in Year 3, to transition into ‘The Literacy Tree’ which follows a similar approach.  In Guided Reading this half-term, we will begin by exploring 'Escape from Pompeii' by Christina Balit, following two young friends as they experience the historic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. After the October half-term, we will move on to 'The Nothing to See Here Hotel' by Steven Butler: a fun, page-turning journey into a weird and wonderful hotel for magical creatures. Across both texts, the children will develop key comprehension skills by exploring new vocabulary, making predictions, practising retrieval, and developing their inference skills.

Throughout the terms at Mount Pleasant, Art and D&T units are alternated. In Art we will be developing our drawing skills. Children will learn to observe, shade and use mark making to show texture and details. They will learn how to apply line, shape and tone to their own imaginative drawings using a range of media. In DT, the children will be applying scientific understanding of electrical circuits through designing and making a torch using recycled and reclaimed materials.

This autumn’s learning in history takes the children back to the mighty Roman Empire as they examine everything from the origins of the Roman civilisation up to their invasion of Britain and the impact that had on Britain. The work in this unit will be supported by our visit to the Yorkshire Museum where the children will undertake a workshop which will allow them to further discover Roman York - Eboracum. 

In geography, the children will look to answer the question “Why do some earthquakes cause more damage than others?” This sequence of learning will take the children to New Zealand to look at the impact of those who have suffered the effects of an earthquake. The children will also aim to explain how an earthquake occurs and why they don’t appear in some areas of the planet.

In RE, our work will look at ‘Inspirational people’.  Children will think about positive role models and who inspires them. They will learn about patron saints and how they are remembered, and consider if all saints have to be Christian? They will learn about the Prophet Elijah and his importance to the Jewish faith, and will explore several different heroes from history.

French has year-group specific objectives so is taught in year groups. Year 3 children will begin their journey by learning how to greet people in French before being introduced to animal words and recognising them in a story. They will also learn to use numbers and be able to extend sentences using connectives. Year 4 children will consolidate their learning on animals from last year before learning some new animal words. They will learn how to use a bi-lingual dictionary and read a new story in French. They will also learn how to form a negative sentence and vocabulary for parts of the body.

In Music, our Y3 children will begin their learning on how to play the violin or the Viola through Whole Class Ensemble Teaching (WCET) provided by East Riding Music Service. Every year, the children perform a concert to parents and carers at the end of the academic year to show how much they have developed their playing. In Year 4, the children will be taking inspiration from the world's Rainforests in order to create music using body percussion and tuned instruments focussing on musical structure and texture.

This autumn, we’re diving into the fascinating world of skeletons and the human body! Our Year 3 and 4s will explore the structure and function of the human skeleton, learn about movement and how muscles work together, and discover the importance of nutrition and diet for a healthy lifestyle.  Exciting discoveries await!

This autumn term in PSHE, we’re buzzing with excitement as we explore families and relationships and health and wellbeing! We’ll tackle important themes like anti-bullying, the importance of a balanced diet, respecting differences, and breaking down stereotypes. Together, we’ll discover what truly brings happiness to us!

Our outdoor PE will focus on Invasion Games. Starting with Football, children will develop skills of dribbling, moving, passing and receiving, culminating in a mini tournament. After half term we switch to Handball, where children will learn to pass, move, create space and participate in mini games. Indoor PE will begin with Dance linked to our History unit. Children will perform basic movements to music, and build a themed dance focusing on the Ancient Romans. After half term we will transition to a Gymnastics unit focussing on ‘Symmetry and Asymmetry’. The children will create sequences, use apparatus and perform within their class.

In computing, the children will be learning how to log in and use the program ‘Purple Mash’. They will then follow a unit of work on basic Coding leading up to writing a basic algorithm. The children can use their ‘Purple Mash’ login details (see Home Reading Records) to undertake further work at home each week, should they wish.