Our Learning This Term in Elm Class (Years 3 and 4)

Elm Class has an exciting and varied curriculum this autumn, with pupils diving into rich stories, hands‑on investigations and creative projects across all subjects.

In English, children are exploring two wonderful texts. Leon and the Place Between invites them into a world where imagination comes alive, while Arthur and the Golden Rope introduces myth, adventure and bravery as Arthur joins the Norse gods on a daring quest. Both stories give pupils plenty of opportunities to discuss characters, deepen comprehension and enjoy high‑quality literature.

Our Maths learning follows the White Rose scheme, beginning with a strong focus on place value. Pupils will represent numbers in different ways, partition thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, and compare and order numbers confidently. As the term progresses, they will build their skills in rounding and move into addition and subtraction with up to four‑digit numbers, including trickier calculations that cross place value boundaries.

Science this term centres on forces and magnets. Children will investigate pushes, pulls and friction, exploring how these affect movement. They will also learn how magnets work through practical activities that reveal attraction, repulsion and which materials are magnetic.

In R.E., pupils are thinking about how different faiths welcome new life. They will learn about Christian baptism and explore the Muslim Aqiqah ceremony, gaining an understanding of the traditions and meanings behind each celebration.

P.E. takes place twice a week. On Tuesdays, Mr Garner leads athletics, helping pupils develop running, jumping and throwing skills with a focus on technique and control. Thursdays are dedicated to fitness, where children build stamina, strength and flexibility and learn how exercise supports a healthy body.

Our Geography unit, Who Lives in Antarctica?, introduces pupils to one of the most extreme environments on Earth. They will discover how scientists and support teams work there temporarily, and how animals such as penguins and seals survive through clever adaptations.

In D.T., children will explore structures by designing and building their own pavilion. They will investigate real‑world examples, practise joining techniques and apply cladding to create a stable and purposeful final model.

Computing begins with essential online safety, teaching pupils how to protect personal information, recognise trustworthy sources and respond appropriately if something worries them. They will then move into collaborative learning, using shared digital tools to create and present content together.

Our PSHE unit, My Healthy Self, helps pupils understand how their mind and body connect. They will explore how emotions affect them, practise expressing feelings safely and learn strategies for managing strong emotions, including knowing when to seek help.

Finally, in Spanish, pupils are developing their phonics and pronunciation while learning vocabulary for Los Instrumentos. They will practise listening and speaking, learn the names of musical instruments and begin using them in simple Spanish sentences.