Year Group 4
Topic – Castles
Farnham Green Creative Curriculum 2014/15 Medium Term Planning
Term: Spring 1
Teachers – Miss Shubh, Mrs Smith, Miss Raja
Subjects Studied
Science – How we see – Light
DT – Levers - Mechanisms
ICT – We are Co-authors
Music – Tudor dance tunes
History – The evolution of lighting our homes
Overview of Topic:
This theme is linked to an element of local study and learning will focus on famous castles including the Tower of London.
The children will study the reasons why castles were built and what it was like to live within the castle walls. They will study
the history of the Tower of London to examine how the defence of a castle works and how the technology of defence
developed through the ages. In DT they will examine how levers were used in the defence of a castle and they will use their
knowledge to design and build a siege engine. Learning in Science will study the evolution of bringing light into our homes
and the the difficulties of lighting a medieval castle without electricity.
Stunning Start
Catapault contest
Literacy Link: Embedded writing
Information text (wiki pages) – explanation texts (The
history of lighting our homes) - non-chronological reports
– newspaper articles
PE Focus:
Dance – 2 weeks/Tennis – 3 weeks
Marvellous Middle
Synagogue trip
Maths Link
Degrees of angles – lever mechanisms/catapaults
Fabulous Finish
Castle in a classroom!
Enterprise Link
Enquiry – data gathering techniques/drawing conclusion
and evaluating outcomes.
RE Focus:
Jewish beliefs – Pesach – Synagogue (visit)
PHSE / EMA Focus
‘Good to be me’ – 4 weeks
Block
Subj
CLJ
Targets
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Final Outcome
Can I investigate how
different objects reflect
different amounts of light?
Can I design and produce a
reflector for night safety?
Can I explain how mirrors
work?
Outcome:
Design and produce
reflective strips for a a ‘Be
Safe’ poster (card cutout of
a child)
Outcome:
Investigate ‘true or false’
statements regarding
reflections in mirrors.
Can I explain the effects of
excessive sunlight on the
human body?
Final outcome
Science
How we see - Light
Science
Science
Sc39
Sc40
Sc41
Sc42
Sc43
Sc44
Sc50
Sc51
Sc54
Can I recall facts about
light and shadows?
Can I explain why we need
light to see things?
Outcome:
Record key facts about
light and shadows including
annotated diagrams.
Outcome:
Write a prediction of which
objects are easier to see
than others when there is
less light.
Can I identify how
shadows are formed?
Can I identify materials
that are good at protecting
the eyes from strong
sunlight?
Outcome:
Investigate various
materials – opaque,
translucent, transparent –
sketch sillouettes of
various objects
Outcome:
Plan and carry out a fair
test – write a conclusion
Outcome:
Gather and record
information about which
objects reflect the most
light.
Can I explain why we need
to protect our eyes?
Outcome:
Design and produce a
poster explaining how
sunglasses protect the
eyes.
Outcome:
Design a ‘safety’ leaflet –
include dangers and
preventions.
End of Topic assessment.
Levers and moving
mechanisms
Tower of London
Judaism
RE
History
DT
Thematic Curriculum
Dt23
Dt24
Dt25
Dt26
Dt27
Dt28
Dt29
Dt30
Dt31
Can I investigate and
evaluate products with
moving mechanisms?
Can I use a range of
techniques to create
moving mechanisms?
Can I use moving
mechanisms in a picture
storybook?
Can I use moving
mechanisms in a picture
storybook?
Outcome:
Record examples of objects
with levers and linkages
(moving mechanisms)
Outcome:
Carousel activity – create
an example of various
mechanisms
Hi25
Hi26
Hi27
Hi28
Hi29
Hi30
Hi31
Hi32
Hi33
Can I explain how and why
candles were made?
Can I identify when and
why gas lighting was
introduced?
Outcome:
Complete planning
proforma for a storybook
which includes moving
mechanisms.
Can I describe the impact
of the discovery of
electricity?
Outcome:
Begin construction of
picture storybook using
moving mechanism
techniques.
Can I collate research to
produce an information
text?
Outcome:
Use media sources to
research the introduction
of gas lighting – make
notes.
Outcome:
Use media sources to
research the discovery of
electricity – Thomas Edison
Ra30
Ra31
Ra34
Ra35
Ra36
Ra37
Rf26
Rf28
*Synagogue trip
Can I explain why life was
difficult for Hebrews in
ancient Egypt?
Can I present reasons ‘for’
or ‘against’ keeping
slaves?
Can I identify the link
between the story of
Moses and Pesach
celebrations?
Outcome:
Use research notes to
begin composing an
information text about the
history of lighting our
homes.
Can I describe the
preparations made for the
celebration of Pesach?
Outcome:
Research and record notes
about the origins of
candles and how they were
used as a source of light for
early homes.
Outcome:
Make a poster of protest:
Save Us from Slavery –
listing the hardships of
being slaves and identifying
key terms such as
‘freedom’ and ‘oppression’
Outcome:
Two groups – write post-its
with a reason ‘for’ or
‘against’ keeping slaves –
conscience alley or hot
seating for Pharoah/Moses
Outcome:
Discuss and record key
events from the story of
Moses and the symbolism
used in Pesach celebrations
Outcome:
Match items to symbolic
representations – use
resource sheet.
Final outcome:
Evaluation of final product.
Final outcome:
Produce an explanation
text about the history of
lighting in our homes –
from candle to light bulb.
Final outcome:
Sketch an annotated
diagram of the Sedar plate
– describe symbolism of
each item on the plate.
Good to be me
We are Co-authors
PSHE
ICT
Pr28
Pr29
Pr30
Pa24
Pa25
Pa26
Pa27
Ic42
Ic46
Ic47
Ic50
Ic51
Ic52
Can I discuss things I am
good at and how I
overcome difficulties?
Can I recognise and discuss
different emotions?
Can I recognise when to
show or hide my feelings?
Can I explain reasons for
particular responses?
Outcome:
Listen to a story and
answer questions.
Outcome:
Demonstrate through role
play expressing/hiding
feelings.
Outcome:
Matching scenario cards to
appropriate response.
Can I design a ‘wiki’ page?
Can I use a search engine?
Outcome:
Brainstorm ideas for 5
different ‘wiki’ pages
focused on castles (Eg.
Why they were built – who
lived there – when were
the first castles built –
where are the most famous
castles – what do they tell
us)
Outcome:
Use key words and phrases
to research information on
given topic – castles.
Can I use research notes to
compose an information
text?
Can I use research notes to
compose an information
text?
Can I compare and
evaluate class ‘wiki’
pages?
Outcome:
Begin to construct ‘wiki’
page by organising selected
information.
Outcome:
Complete construction of
‘wiki’ page by organising
selected information.
Outcome:
Open discussion – debate
negative and positive
aspects of ‘wiki’ pages
produced by peers.
Outcome:
Write difficulties on postits for groups to discuss
how they can overcome
these difficulties.