Year 4

Class Saint: St Patrick

Class Teachers: Mrs A. Scudiero

Curriculum

October 2025

R.E. Exploring Creation Through Art
This term in RE, one of our focuses has been the story of Creation as described in the Book of Genesis. We read the Bible story where God created the world in seven days, and we spent time reflecting on the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

To help bring the story to life, we explored the work of both classical and contemporary artists. We looked closely at Creation artwork by Michelangelo, Bill Bell, and Australian indigenous paintings and compared their styles.

On St Francis feast day we read ‘The Canticle of the Creatures’, a prayer written by St Francis worshipping God for all the wonders of his creation.

Inspired by these artists and St Francis’ prayer, we created our own watercolour paintings to show what the story of Creation means to us. Everyone chose different parts of the Creation story to represent — from the separation of light and dark, to the creation of animals, plants, and people. The children’s thoughtful and expressive pieces show both creativity and understanding.

Well done to all for their hard work and thoughtful reflections. We are proud of the way they have engaged with this topic both spiritually and artistically.

Anglo-Saxons
As part of our history topic this half term, we’ve been learning all about the Anglo-Saxons — who they were, how they lived, and what their culture was like.
We looked at real examples of Anglo-Saxon coins discovered by archaeologists, especially those found at Sutton Hoo, the famous Anglo-Saxon burial site in Suffolk.

The children were amazed by the detail and craftsmanship of the ancient artefacts. Inspired by what we saw, we designed our own Anglo-Saxon-style coins. First, the children carefully sketched their designs, thinking about the symbols, faces, and patterns that might have appeared on coins long ago. Then, using string relief technique, they created a raised design before covering their coins with silver foil or bronze craft paper to give them a realistic metallic
finish.

The results were brilliant! Here are some photos of our work in progress and the finished artefacts - we think you’ll agree they look like real treasures!

Academic Year 2024-2025

A Walk Around Maldon - June 2025

On Tuesday 3rd June - which happened to be a very a windy day, Year 4 went on a local area walk as part of their local history topic. They headed to a very blustery Promenade Park - and made their way right out to Byrhtnoth's statue, learning about the area’s historical significance, including the Viking invasion in 991 AD and other key events that shaped the town.

They then visited the local museum, where they saw exhibits about the town’s past. One of the most memorable parts was learning about the "Fat Man of Maldon" and seeing a replica of his large coat, which some students had the chance to try on!

Even though the weather was wet and windy, it didn’t stop the children from enjoying the day - or partaking in an ice-cream! It was an interesting and educational trip that helped the children understand more about our local history.

Thank you too, to all the parents who came along to help!

Art - Sculpture - May 2025

This half term in Year 4, we have been exploring sculpture in its many exciting forms. The children studied a wide variety of sculpture types including statues and monuments, abstract pieces, modelling and casting, light installations, nature-inspired sculptures, reflective works, and kinetic designs.

Through careful observation, they discussed and recorded their thoughts and ideas about each form.

We practiced representing well-known sculptures through drawing and modelling, before developing our own creative ideas using everyday materials such as foil, recycled items, string, and wire. The children experimented by making maquettes with pipe cleaners and papier mâché.

To finish our project, each child has designed a sculpture based on a chosen theme, which they will bring to life using clay in their final piece.

D.T. - 'The Great Bread Bake Off!' - April 2025

This term, Year 4 have been busy developing their skills in design and food technology through The Great Bread Bake Off! As part of this exciting challenge, students were asked to create their own design criteria for a brand-new type of bread—along with eco-friendly packaging to match.

After careful planning, we constructed prototypes of our packaging, ensuring sustainability was at the heart of our designs. Then, on Tuesday, the big day arrived! With their chosen ingredients ready, the children baked their unique bread creations, filling the school with delicious aromas.

A huge thank you to our wonderful parent helpers, whose support made the day run smoothly. Well done to all our young bakers and designers for their creativity and hard work!

Science Week - March 2025

Year 4 had an exciting and engaging Science Week, packed with hands-on learning and inspiring experiences!

We began with a live lesson on adaptation in farming, which linked perfectly to this term’s science unit on plants, animals, and their habitats. Building on this, pupils used their creativity and scientific knowledge to invent a brand-new plant species, specially adapted to survive in a chosen habitat.

To explore this year’s theme, Change and Adapt, we conducted an investigation into acids, alkalis, and natural pH values, discovering how different substances interact and change.

We were also incredibly fortunate to welcome two parents working in STEM careers. They shared fascinating insights into their fields—one in aviation and the other in virtual reality within psychology—helping to inspire our young scientists with real-world applications of science and technology.

Science Week was a fantastic opportunity to spark curiosity and deepen our understanding of the world around us!