Welcome to Autumn 1 in Red Kite Clas
English
Our two texts for this half-term are Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold and The Mermaid of Zennor by Charles Causley.
Tar Beach is set in New York in 1939. Tar Beach is the roof of Cassie's Harlem apartment building. Cassie's dearest dream is to be free to go wherever she wants, and one day it comes true when the stars help her to fly across the city.
The Mermaid of Zennor is a Cornish folk tale which originates in the village of Zennor. The legend tells the story of a mysterious woman who occasionally attended the parish church of Zennor; a young man followed her home one day, and neither were seen again.
Pupils will be exploring the following writing genres:
Tar Beach: Children will explore the theme of ‘freedom’ and do so by creating their own poems. This will lead to a class performance with a particular focus on using repetition and rhythm. Once they have finished the story, children will receive a letter from the BBC asking them to write a script for the (hypothetical) upcoming movie version. Children will learn the various skills associated with script writing, writing dialogue and stage directions, including writing in present tense, using brackets, contractions and noun phrases.
The Mermaid of Zennor: Children begin by exploring the story and language of the book before making predictions and creating some letters to characters in the story. They then go on to create guides to Zennor, retelling the story from the mermaid’s perspective and finishing by creating their own merfolk characters to include in a legend-style story that could be set in Cornwall or elsewhere.
Key grammar covered: Sentence structure, if-then sentences, adjectives, prepositions, possessive apostrophe, homophones, modal verbs, conjunctions, adverbials, verb tense forms, present perfect tense, paragraphing around a theme, direct speech.
Sentence Structure: There are four types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound- complex. Using these different types of sentence structures allows variety to be added to writing. A simple sentence is one independent clause with no subordinate clauses.
A useful website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C39_3-M0Nz4
If-then Sentences: In KS2, 'if-then' sentences (also called conditional sentences) use the structure "If + present simple verb, then + future simple verb" to describe a possible event and its likely result. For example, "If it rains tomorrow, then we will stay inside". These sentences can also be written without the word "then", such as "If it rains tomorrow, we will stay inside".
How to build an 'if-then' sentence:
- Start with "If".
- Add a verb in the present simple tense (e.g., rains, is, don't have).
- Add the word "then" (optional).
- Add a verb in the future simple tense (e.g., will get, will stay, will not eat).
Examples for KS2:
- If I do my homework, then I can play video games.
- If the dog barks, then the cat will hide.
- If you don't practice, then you won't get better at it.
- If the party is fun, then we will stay longer.
- If I get a gold star, then I will be happy.
Adjectives: An adjective is a word that describes a noun (the name of a thing or a place).
Useful website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y10Aa_fhUh8
Prepositions: Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase and another word in the sentence, typically indicating time, place, or movement. Common prepositions include words like on, under, in, at, before, after, with, and beside. To help identify them, remember they usually come before a noun phrase and can answer questions such as "where?" or "when?
Useful website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBn_X9VnaoU
Possessive Apostrophes: Apostrophes can be used to show contraction (For example, cannot = can’t, do not = don’t). We will be focusing on the use of apostrophes to show possession; that something belongs to or is connected to something else. e.g; The girl’s hair was brown.
Useful website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zx9ydxs
Homophones: Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings, such as there, their, and they're or see and sea. For Key Stage 2 pupils, they are a vital part of spelling, punctuation, and grammar (SPaG) to improve writing. Common examples include hear/here, plain/plane, and knight/night, and learning them involves understanding context and practising their correct usage in sentences.
Useful website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZubFntFNUGE
Modal Verbs: Modal verbs are "helping" verbs that add extra meaning to other verbs, indicating possibility, necessity, obligation, or ability. In KS2 English, children learn to identify and use modal verbs like can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. These verbs help to express different degrees of certainty, possibility, or obligation in sentences.
A useful website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbDzdtDXRdQ
Conjunctions: Conjunctions are words that link clauses and phrases together within a sentence. Examples of conjunctions include 'and', 'but', 'or', 'so', 'yet' and 'for'. In Years 3 and 4, children are taught to use a range of conjunctions to extend sentences. They should be able to use coordinating and subordinating conjunctions fluently in independent writing to help engage the reader.
Useful websites:
(Subordinating conjunctions) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8oYbgH3AZU
(Coordinating conjunctions) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZeByslypsA
Adverbials: An adverbial is a word, phrase or clause which adds more detail or information to a verb, e.g the time, place, or manner of which describes the action in the rest of the sentence.
- He drove to the hospital as quickly as he could.
- The children jumped happily.
- I met my friend in Paris.
- My daughter finished her work at halfpast six.
Useful website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wy9nfPyExQ
Verb Tense Forms: In Year 4, children continue learning to use the past, present, and future tenses, focusing on understanding and using the present perfect tense (see below) and maintaining consistency within a text. They will also start to recognise how different tenses are appropriate for different text types, such as using past tense for stories and present tense for instructions and explanations.
Useful website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1CeJ3vp12k
Present Perfect Tense: Children learn the Present Perfect Tense, which uses the auxiliary verbs "have" or "has" with a past participle (e.g., "eaten," "gone," "talked") to describe actions from the past that have a connection to the present. Key uses include talking about recent events ("They have just arrived"), past experiences ("She has been to the shop"), and actions that started in the past and continue now ("He has lived here for two years").
Useful website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP1aVdexres
Paragraphing: As a rough guide, we use TiPToP to know where to paragraph within longer pieces of writing.
A useful website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z9n73k7#zj4ms82
Direct Speech Punctuation: We looked at this during Autumn 2 half Term and pupils were surprised to learn that in order to achieve Age-Related Expectations in their SATs in year 6, pupils must know how to correctly use direct speech punctuation.
Useful website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhqh92p
Spelling
This is taught three times per week and pupils are tested on Mondays. The spelling sheet for each half-term is uploaded to Class Dojo.
Handwriting
This is taught three times per week. It is important that pupils form and place letters correctly and that they develop a cursive, fluent and legible handwriting style. Pupils will receive their pen licence once they can do this consistently.
Mathematics
This half-term, our focus is on place value, addition and subtraction. Pupils make much better progress in all areas of maths if they have fast recall of their number bonds, times tables and related division facts.
Place Value: Teaching will focus on understanding the value of each digit in four-digit numbers and extending this understanding to decimals and fractions later in the year. Pupils learn to identify the number of thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones within a four-digit number, and to read, write, and order these numbers confidently. They also begin to explore rounding and estimation, and make connections between place value and operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Useful website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3pxaH-dMMc
Addition and Subtraction: Pupils will learn to solve addition and subtraction problems involving numbers up to four digits, using lots of different methods, including using concrete resources, diagrams and formal written methods.
Useful websites:
(Using column methods) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHoRMBVSEfA
(2 step problems) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NLyoC4qvfo
Multiplication Tables Check: Secure knowledge and fast recall of their times tables and related division facts is essential, both for supporting many other areas of mathematical study, but also as an important life skill.
The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a key stage 2 assessment to be taken by pupils at the end of year 4 (in June 2026). The MTC’s purpose is to ensure the times tables knowledge is at the expected level.
It is an online test where the pupils are asked 25 questions on times tables 2 to 12. For every question, you have 6 seconds to answer, and in between the questions, there is a 3-second rest. Questions about the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 times tables come up more often. The questions are generated randomly based on the rules of the MTC.
How to prepare: A good way to prepare is to start early and build a daily routine practising the times tables. With regular practice, pupils will learn all the questions and gain confidence. We suggest practising 10 to 15 minutes a day for optimal results.
Useful Website: https://www.timestables.co.uk/multiplication-tables-check/
Art
Artists use tone (dark and light) to show the form of an object. Form means the 3d nature of an object. Form is shown by the different ways light falls on an object. Artists use tone to create the illusion that something 2d (a painting or drawing) is 3d.
Artists can also use tone to show drama. Chiaroscuro is an Italian term which means ‘light-dark’ and refers to a technique where an artist uses clear tonal contrasts to create very clear form or dramatic effect
Computing
The internet is a worldwide collection of computer networks. The term ‘internet’ refers to the network infrastructure, not the content stored on it. Web servers store and maintain web content, which is downloaded upon request to computers. Mail servers handle web-based email. Media servers allow clients to stream music and videos. Hosting is the storing of files and data on a web server. The web server is referred to as a host.
Drama
Drama will be used as a strategy to teach and embed across a range of subjects. This will include hot-seating, role-play, conscience ally, freeze-framing, thought tracking, teacher in role, flashback and flashforward questioning.
In addition, we will be auditioning for the Lower Key Stage 2 production! Watch this space!
French
We will be learning adjectives for description. Useful descriptive adjectives include grand(e) (big/tall), petit(e) (small), bon(ne) (good), beau/belle (beautiful/handsome), joli (e) (pretty), gentil/gentille (kind), fort(e) (strong), and drôle (funny). It's important to remember that most French adjectives change their ending to agree in gender (masculine/feminine) with the noun they describe.
Geography
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We will learn to name and locate counties and cities of the United Kingdom, geographical regions and their identifying human and physical characteristics. We will explore key topographical features (including hills, mountains, coasts and rivers), and land-use patterns; and understand how some of these aspects have changed over time. Pupils will learn to use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and key (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world. |
We will use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.
History
Ancient Greece: Greece is a peninsula, which means the Ancient Greeks had easy access to water. Many Greeks lived close to the sea, on islands, near harbours or near rivers. Naturally, many Greeks were explorers and traders. Ancient Greek civilization, ‘the birthplace of western society’, begun around 2500 years ago. The Ancient Greek civilization emerged after 800 BCE and reached its peak around 330 BCE, with the conquests of Alexander the Great.
Life Skills
Our unit is entitled “How will our feelings grow and change? We all have feelings; they are part of everyone. We feel different things at different times depending on what happens to us. Feelings are a reaction to how your body is feeling. Sometimes we feel sad, like when someone we love goes away. Sometimes we feel happy; like when we are having fun with friends. Part of our work will explore emotional well-being and how to cope with big emotions.
Music
The theme of this unit is based around the music of the hugely successful group Abba, a Swedish pop group formed in 1972. We will be listening to the following songs: Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All, Waterloo, Super Trouper, Thank You For The Music. We will be singing, playing instruments, improvising and performing.
P.E.
Pupils have two P.E. sessions. Mrs McCaghrey will be teaching gymnastics and Ms Hodges will be teaching the fundamentals of P.E.
Gymnastics: Pupils will develop balancing, rolling, jumping and inverted movements and use these skills to create more complex sequences. Pupils will be taught to demonstrate control in their behaviour to create a safe environment for themselves and others to work in.
Fundamentals of PE: Pupils will develop the fundamental skills of balancing, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, the ability to change direction with balance and control.
They will learn how our bodies move at different speeds as well as how to accelerate and decelerate.
R.E.
Our enquiry question is “How special is the relationship Jews have with God?” In this unit, children look at how Jews commemorate key people and key stories. They reflect on how these stories are relevant in their lives today and on the special relationship Jews believe they have with God. Part of our learning takes a deeper look at the story of Abraham and the covenant with God. The near sacrifice of Isaac can be explored in more depth here – why was God testing Abraham? How did Abraham respond? We will also be discussing why it is important to have rules, what would happen if we didn’t have rules, how rules might protect us and considering which rules are most important and why.
Science
This half-term, science will be taught by Mrs King on Wednesday afternoons. This unit about the human body will focus on the digestive system and include a specific study on our teeth.
