year 4 english

using a text in which a child’s worries are encapsulated in a suitcase children express ideas through paper modelling, colours and painting, sculptures and dance, also responding to save the children’s global lockdown poem.

discuss inventions. imagine the future using was it better now? explore biography (genius of leonardo) study verbs, perfect form, adverbs; write an autobiography.

use studio ghibli films and contemporary japanese popular culture, including pokémon, to frame the study of haikus & syllabic poems. use descriptive language & adverbials.

read the hilarious how to train your dragon, exploring plot, character, setting & style. study pronouns, dialogue punctuation and adverbials. write a new chapter.

get creative with the usborne complete book of art ideas, exploring instructions & explanations. study possessive apostrophes and pronouns. invent and introduce an art machine.

it’s raining cats and dogs! explore poems about dogs and cats. investigate form and language and make comparisons. write a poem from the point of view of a pet.

relish in a selection of outrageous horrid henry stories. explore setting, character and plot. study expanded noun phrases and fronted adverbials. write a new story.

amazing architecture, world landmarks and influential architects inspire this block. using cool architecture (simon armstrong) as a starting point, read and write stimulating reports. revise extending sentences with conjunctions and use apostrophes for possession.

focusing on imagery, this block explores how poems use simile and metaphor to create powerful images. photographs, collage and jeannie baker's window inspire poetry writing.

use versions of princess and the pea to explore, compare and write fairytales with a twisted point of view. study dialogue, tense, pronouns. role-play, write and perform playscripts.

read and write list poems, including kennings. explore devices such as simile, alliteration and onomatopoeia. study word classes: nouns, adjectives, verbs, and expanded noun phrases.

using rainforest stories, explore the issues confronting indigenous peoples and the environment. create own stories and learn to correctly use the perfect form and paragraphs.

read wolves in the walls (gaiman) and wolves (gravett) for features of non-chronological reports. use adverbs, prepositions and conjunctions of time/cause. produce reports.

explore a variety of narrative poetry. use noun phrases and fronted adverbials, also pronouns. identify features poets use; learn, recite and write poems that tell a story.

using captivating mythical stories of selkies and mermaids, children use higher level reading skills and write their own sea myths. set out and punctuate dialogue and use paragraphs.

cherish rainforests, persuading others to do so too, with where the forest meets the sea and the vanishing rainforest. expand noun phrases and revise possessive apostrophes.

using the inspirational great realisation and a short message broadcast in lockdown, children explore any positives to come out of lockdown and think about things to remember. they use art, origami and planting sunflowers to cheer us onward.

two weeks’ work, focussed on key skills, no printing required – all do-able by children at home with just a screen. starts with a fun day; all you need if your class is self-isolating.

immerse yourselves in wonderful stories from africa. read mufaro’s beautiful daughters, the pot of wisdom and african tales. write ananse stories using extended sentences.

explore issues around animals in captivity, reading texts including zoo by anthony browne and rainbow bear by michael morpurgo. study adverbials and expanded noun phrases.

read the butterfly lion over the course of several days, using the opportunity to discuss, compare and analyse it. perform role-play, write dialogue, use adverbials, and finally produce a new chapter for the book.

immerse yourselves in poetry, reading and choosing poems, comparing and analysing, then writing. study fronted adverbials and possessive apostrophes, all in the context of a poem for every day of the year.

explore recounts using biographies from the civil rights movement: henry’s freedom box and the story of rosa parks' life. use dialogue punctuation, apostrophes and paragraphs.

using david walliams’ mr stink, children read and write humorous stories with funny characters. they practise dialogue punctuation and using expanded noun phrases for impact.

read, discuss, learn and perform some fantastic poems from off by heart – poems for you to remember (roger stevens). explore pronouns and fronted adverbials.