St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School
We act with love, build our faith and grow as people
Year 4
Meet the Teacher 2025 26
Long Term Plan Yr4 25-26
Recommended reading list for Year 4: 
Recommended Reads
Lit in Colour
Recommended book list of books by authors of colour
Penguin Books and Lit in Colour state that:
Books create belonging. They help us see each other and understand one another. They shine a light on the world.
It’s vital that the books we read in our formative years reflect the rich diversity of the society we live in.
Here at St. Margaret Clitherow, we have a diverse school community - 55.7% of our school children are from a minority ethnic background. We therefore think it is important that children have access to books that reflect who they are. Attached is a list of recommended reads put together by Penguin Books. You can read the research behind the inclusion of books by authors of colour here:https:// https://www.penguin.co.uk/lit-in-colour/parents-and-supporters
2023 KS2 Lit in Colour Book List
15/12/25
We’ve had a very busy few weeks in Year 4!
In Geography, the children have been learning all about our region and Campania, Italy. They’ve discovered fascinating facts about tectonic plates, earthquakes, and volcanoes — including the famous Mount Vesuvius!
In D.T., we’ve delved into our Fairtrade topic, exploring how ingredients are sourced and used to create delicious products. The children especially enjoyed becoming researchers as they used their senses to explore different types of chocolate before making their very own chocolate bark!
In Writing, we’ve been developing our diary entry skills, taking inspiration from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The children are now working hard on improving their setting writing skills to plan and write a setting description.
In R.E. we’ve completed our Catholic Social Teaching unit and have now moved on to Advent. It’s been wonderful to see the children make thoughtful connections between the teachings and their understanding of the qualities of God’s people and the qualities of saints. They’ve shown great insight in applying Catholic Social Teaching to their daily lives and living out God’s word in their daily lives. We were welcomed the beautiful mosaic of St Margaret Clitherow that Mr. Raine gifted the school. Additionally, children reflected deeper on the Advent candles of: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, and Christ's candle lit on Christmas Day. Equally, they've thought about how they can prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ.
The children have worked so hard this term and are ready for a well-earned rest! Finally, they thoroughly enjoyed a delicious Christmas lunch made by our lovely cooks, and shared joy in appreciating their peers different Christmas jumpers! Thank you to all our parents and carers for your continued support. We wish you a peaceful and blessed Christmas! Huge well done to Year 4!!!
17/11/25
This half term, Year 4 have truly been thriving in their learning. The children have continued to develop their times-tables knowledge, growing in confidence as they practise daily sound checks on TT Rockstars. At Parent’s evening, it was a great pleasure to meet you all and share the children’s successes and how well they have already settled into Year 4. As part of Anti-bullying week, children wore Odd socks to school. The message behind this being it does not matter if we are all different we can still work together. We also recorded on a tally chart, how many Acts of kindness we could carry out; like showing respect to others, including others in our games, holding a door open for others and checking in on a classmate who might be upset. Lots of children thought deeper when writing an acrostic poem for Odd Socks, they also loved designing their own odd socks.
The children have also engaged brilliantly in their swimming lessons and are excited as they prepare for their upcoming survival session next week. Their enthusiasm and progress have been wonderful to see. Children engaged so well in a Street Dance workshop which they were brilliant at when learning new steps and keeping in sync with he music.
In DT, Year 4 have been learning about chocolate that cares, exploring Fairtrade and its values. This links beautifully to our Catholic Social Teaching, where we focus on caring for creation and respecting all people, including rights and responsibilities. All children loved the chocolate tasting lesson, where they became chocolate researches and gave their opinions on a variety of chocolate that they tasted. Some enjoyed the aromas, including the texture and appearance. This will help them design their very own chocolate bark that they'll make using Fair trade ingredients.
In R.E as part of our CST learning, we have reflected deeply on loving and caring for one another. We also studied the New Commandment in John’s Gospel, in which Jesus teaches us to love one another. Children enjoyed learning about Pope Francis’s letter Fratelli Tutti, which is rooted in fraternal love and reminds us to care for our global home. The children explored how we can break down the "walls of the heart" through kindness, caring, and helping others, never leaving anyone out as we are all neighbours. Children had rich discussions on this and made excellent links to the parable of the Good Samaritan.
In English, the children have been fully immersed in their learning. They have been exploring the features of diary writing, inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Well done to all our budding authors—they have worked superbly over the past few weeks. Well done Year 4!!!
17/10/25
It’s been another few busy, productive, and fun learning weeks in Year 4.
In Science, we have been investigating viscosity — testing how runny or thick different liquids are! The children enjoyed comparing how quickly various substances flowed, including two types of ketchup, washing-up liquid, and golden syrup. There was lots of excitement (and a bit of mess!) as they predicted and tested which liquid would move the fastest. Children thoroughly enjoyed melting a piece of chocolate through different ways, changing its state from solid to liquid and back to a solid again! Additionally, they loved playing the solid, liquid and gas game which helps them remember the features of the particles.
In Maths, we have been working on adding and subtracting four-digit numbers using different methods. The children are becoming more confident in explaining their reasoning and checking their answers carefully. We are also continuing to practise our times tables every week to build fluency and speedy recall of our multiplication facts.
As part of our learning for Black History Month, we have been reading and learning about inspirational people who used their voices to make a positive change. The children have enjoyed exploring a variety of stories and discussing how they, too, can use their voices to stand up for what is right.
In R.E. The children have explored different scriptures as part of our Creation topic. They’ve really made good links with how we are made in the image and likeness of God. They’ve enjoyed acting out some scriptures and thinking deeper about how they can be good stewards in the world.
I am so proud of all their efforts and how well they led us in our class Celebration of the word, thank you to all parents who could attend.
Finally, it's has been amazing to see how well they are working hard with their Swimming lessons and developing key skills. Well done Year 4, keep up the amazing work!
26/09/25
Learning in action so far 26/09/25
Newsletter 26/09/25
The children have settled beautifully into Year 4, showing enthusiasm and kindness in all they do. In Religious Education, they have been reflecting deeply on how to act with love, strengthen their faith, and grow as individuals. They have also been exploring ways to care for God’s Creation and appreciating what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God.
In Maths, children have been developing their understanding of number and place value, thinking more deeply about how numbers can be partitioned in different ways. They have also been focusing on improving their times tables fluency, learning lots of fun times tables songs and using TTRS (Times Tables Rock Stars), especially in “Garage” mode, to practise and consolidate their skills. The children have really risen to the challenge of their weekly times tables quiz, showing great determination and progress.
In Science, Year 4 delved into the fascinating topic of Living Things and Their Habitats. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in a local living-things hunt, using their observation skills to discover a variety of plants and animals in our school grounds. They have also been developing their grouping and classifying skills, challenging themselves to think more deeply about how living things can be organised, dependant on their features of characteristics. As part of our Coding topic in Computing, children were eager to write, run and debug their codes on a Micro:bit. Their resilience has been outstanding in ensuring their code worked just how they planned it. Additionally, we have discussed online safety and remembered the importance of being safe online.
As part of our Sculpture topic in Art, children have enjoyed learning new vocabulary and new skills. They were successful in creating a clay pinch pot, then making it into a coil pot using the 'score and slip' technique to join clay together. They also used this skill to create their lid to their Canopic jars, where they imprinted some beautiful designs. They will be mixing colours and painting these soon! I know that Year 4 are looking forward to their Swimming lessons which start next week. Well done to all Year 4 for settling in so well, and working hard daily. Keep up the good work!!!