Skip to content ↓
Whinless Down Academy

Whinless Down Academy

Year 4

Year 4  Curriculum –
“Why are we learning this?” “Why is this important knowledge?” “How will this learning help me?” “How is this learning connected to what I have learnt before?”

At Whinless Down Academy we believe that ‘learning changes lives’. We are committed that each of our topics has a purpose and a ‘Big Idea’. The ‘Big Idea’ is the rationale behind our curriculum and choice of topics.

Term 1

Rotten Romans

What impact did the Romans coming to Britain have on our lives today? Historians suggest that the, ‘Roman invasion of Britain was the most significant event ever to happen to the British Isles. It affected our language, our culture, our geography, our architecture and even the way we think’. How can we prove this? Nearly 2000 years ago, the Romans came to Britain and changed our country. Throughout our topic, we will explore what life was like in Ancient Rome and investigate how the Roman Empire spread and eventually conquered Britain in 43AD. We will look for evidence of the Romans all around us and consider life in Britain before and after the arrival of the Romans.

Term 2      

Bright Sparks/Sound

Whether we are driving around in our cars, working, or relaxing at home, we are turning on lights, music, TV, radio, computers and mobile phones. We are plugged in to sound and light 24 hours a day. But what is the science behind sound and light?

Electricity is one of the most important discoveries ever made and we have learned how to use it to power almost every aspect of our lives. Who discovered electricity and how does it work? As Scientists we will investigate insulators and conductors and learn how to conduct a fair test to extend and develop our understanding of electricity.  

Term 3

Ancient Egyptians 

Why do we learn about ancient civilisations? Who were the Ancient Egyptians and how do we know about them? As budding historians, we will travel back in time and develop our knowledge and understanding of how their lives were different to ours and their legacy today. When studying history, we are looking in the mirror at ourselves – looking both backwards and forwards. History helps us understand who we are as society now, how we got here, and what we learned along the way. When looking at ancient history, Ancient Egypt has some of the most incredible, compelling, exciting puzzles and mysteries that can be found in studying how humanity began forming civilizations.

 Term 4

Shape of the UK

               

Why do we live here? We live in the county of Kent – the garden of England, home to Charles Dickens and the main area for growing hazelnuts in the UK! The first ever James Bond book was written down the road in St. Margarets and we are the gateway to Europe being just 21 miles away from Calais in France. Where do other people live? Do you know anything about the other counties of the UK or how our country is divided up? As developing geographers, we will consider the shape of the UK as we travel from South further North. Along the way, we will practice our skills in map reading through the use of OS maps, Google Earth and atlases.  You will be so inspired by the wonderful and diverse shape of the UK you will want to discover so many of these extraordinary places in the future.

Term 5

Our Plastic Planet 

At a time when transport and communication can connect the world in more ways than ever before, what we buy and what we consume can have a profound impact on the lives and societies of people and wildlife of the world. To be a global citizen is to become a part of something bigger than ourselves. Each of us has a responsibility to the communities which we are a part of – to respect each other’s cultures and needs, to support one another and ensure that we work together locally, nationally and globally. As geographers and scientists, who protect our spectacular planet, we are going on a journey through our seas and oceans, explaining the impact us humans have on the environment. Along our way, we will discover the impact of this plastic waste and be inspired to create sculptures using discarded plastic and writing persuasively to campaign against it. 

 Term 6

Everything Changes

 

 

Does everything change? What is the impact of change? Once something has changed, can it be undone? This term, we will consider some of the changes around us and investigate what causes them. We will begin the term as historians, exploring how Dover has changed over time. We will use old photos of our town and take a trip to Dover Seafront to compare the changes that have taken place, asking questions about the causes and consequences of the changes.  We will consider the impact these changes have had on our lives. As scientists, we will continue to investigate change by learning about solids, liquids and gases. We will explore, discuss, test and develop ideas about changing states of matter by carrying out investigations involving freezing and heating. We will work scientifically by asking questions about what we want to find out the answer to, and decide how is best to investigate a question. We will plan, carryout and record simple and fair tests, observing changes over time. We will then present our findings and draw conclusions about changes that are taking place.  We will put our learning about changing states of matter into action, by making a savoury snack.