On this page you will find information about what the Moorhen Class and the Highland Cow Class are getting up to and see some of their amazing learning.

Stepping into Marinka’s story

In our first week of Term 4, Year 4 have begun reading the second half of The House with Chicken Legs. In Wednesday's lesson, we discovered more about Marinka’s past and enjoyed learning about when she was a baby who would not be guided! The Moorhens showed fantastic understanding through thoughtful silent role-plays, using expression and movement to bring key moments to life. Making the most of the sunshine, we even took to the playground stage to perform our scenes. A wonderful way to combine reading, drama and creativity!

Dipping into the Dour

This term the children are delving deeper into their knowledge of the local area and looking closely at the River Dour. The children will be learning about the different wildlife that inhabit the rare chalk stream river and learning how rivers are made and develop. They will be discussing the importance of protecting river environments and taking part in activities in the community to support the local area. 

Marvellous Marble Treat!

Highland Cows have been earning lots of marbles for amazing manners and showing respect and kindness, resulting in them filling their class marble jar. The children discussed different options for their marble treat but unanimously voted for an afternoon of making, cooking and eating pancakes. As Shrove Tuesday falls in half term, the children enjoyed their delicious marble treat early filling their bellies with yummy pancakes and lots of scrumtpious toppings! Well done Highland Cows!

Our trip to the Dour

To support this terms learning and introduce next terms topic, Year 4 visited the River Dour. The children decided the route to take whilst looking at Google maps and paid close attention to landmarks and features when journeying to the river. Whilst at Barton Path they observed the different wildlfe living in the river such as Moorhens and Ducks, whilst building curiousity and asking lots of questions about how quick the river was flowing, where it started and why the Dour is so special to Dover. The children then returned to school and produced a class 'messy map' of the route they followed, plotting shops, garages, houses and road names. They used this to draw detailed sketch maps, showcasing the skills they have learnt across this term. 

Chicken Legs Rap Battle

Using our learning from 'The House with Chicken Legs' we created catchy class raps full of rhyme and rhythm. Performing them to our peers was great fun! If you could see the rap battle between the classes, who would get your vote?

 

 

 

 

Amazing Artists! 

In Art, Year 4 are exploring line, perspective and drawing skills with the aim of creating a self-portrait at the end of the term. This week Highland Cow class researched and compared 4 different portrait artists - Romero Britto, Pablo Picasso, Chuck Close and Vincent Van Gogh. The children discussed what they liked or disliked about the artists style and talked about how the self-portrait may refect the artists personality. The children then presented their work in a the style of their favourite artist. 

The House with Chicken Legs - 'The Desert' inspired art

After reading 'The Desert' chapter, we had great discussions about meteors and then created artwork inspired by the text. Mr Gibb was impressed by how unique every piece is.

 

PSHE – Belonging and inclusion chant

This week in PSHE, the Moorhens talked about what it means to belong. We worked together to create a class chant, sharing ideas and making sure everyone had a go. It didn’t take long and the children really enjoyed it. We’ve challenged other year groups to create their own too and can’t wait to see what they come up with!

Exploring Solids, Liquids and Gases

In this hands-on science lesson, the Year 4 children were introduced to the topic of solids, liquids and gases through practical activities and discussion. The children explored a range of balloons, comparing how heavy they were, how they moved and how they behaved, and noticed how each balloon acted differently.

The lesson then moved on to exploring everyday materials. The children tested whether items could be poured, squashed or put into a bottle. Through these activities and talk, the children showed a good understanding of the properties of solids, liquids and gases, using scientific vocabulary to explain their ideas.

Are we there yet? 

In geography this term the children are exploring maps, OS symbols, drawing sketch maps and following directions on a compass. This week Year 4 began the topic by recalling what they already know about OS maps and the symbols used. They worked together to correctly identify and match symbols and even challenged eachother to see which class could identify the most symbols in the quickest time. Highland Cows were victorious with a very speedy 2.22 minutes but Moorhens were close behind with 3.01minutes. A great effort Year 4!                                                                                                                                                                                      Year 4 begin another musical journey...

This term both Year 4 classes begin learning a brand new instrument... the recorder!

This week the children began their first lesson with Miss Richardson. They built upon their skills in reading music and learnt their first note on their recorder; B. They practised the correct way to hold their recorder and quickly discovered that they did not need quite as much breath as they did when playing the trumpet! The children are very excited to develop their music skills over the next 10 weeks. 

Our class text

This term Year 4 are diving into the captivating story of 'the House with Chicken Legs' by Sophie Anderson. To begin our learning sequence, the children have been making predictions based on the intriguing title and illustrations on the front cover. They had fantastic ideas and discussions about what they feel might unfold, including making links to the Disney film 'Coco'. The children are already engrossed in our key text and cannot wait to explore it further. 

A Fantastic Performance!

Year 4 celebrated the end of their trumpet sessions by holding a performance to the rest of the school. Both classes performed each of the pieces that they have been learning with Mr Royston. The children performed with confidence and with huge smiles on their faces. They were incredibly proud of their achievements over 10 weeks, from never holding a trumpet before to being able to play 5 notes within songs and rhythms infront of an audience. Well done Year 4, you were amazing! 

St Andrew's Church in Dover

On Wednesday 10th December, Year 4 visited St Andrew's Church in Dover. The children were amazed by the beautiful stained glass windows and the incredible vaulted ceiling. The children were introduced to Reverend Melissa who runs the church and her rather cute guide dog, Taylor. The children had lots of questions and discovered some interesting facts about our local area and the church. As a thank you, the School Council representatives presented Reverend Melissa and the church with a festive White Cliffs wreath.

Year 4 are getting into the festive spirit! 

'Christmas craft day'  ~ Christmas cards ~ Christmas panto! ~ Christmas themed spellings ~ wooden Christmas decorations

Christmas fable writing  ~ designing our elves ~ Christmas photoshoot

Still to come: Christmas jumper day - trumpet performance - Christmas dinner day - Christmas disco!

We vote democracy! 

This week was UK Parliament week and in history, Year 4 explored the idea of democracy. The children discovered what democracy looked like for Ancient Greeks and how this has influenced the way our country runs today. They worked in small groups to become class political parties with an aim of convincing the other children that their party best represented our class. They wrote a short manifesto for their election campaigns, designed a logo for their party and presented their campaigns to the other groups. The children then discussed how fair it was that every class member could vote and share their opinion rather than being told who and what to believe by the opinion of one person. Year 4 realised this week that they are incredibly lucky to live within a democracy. 

Opal play

Our Year 4s are absolutely loving OPAL play at the moment. Every day there are so many exciting things happening across the playgrounds, from imaginative constructions to creative games and new adventures with friends. The children are completely engrossed in their play, developing new skills, building confidence and making the most of every outdoor moment.

Sticky bagels!

In Computing, we recapped what algorithms are and learnt why they must be clear and precise. We created our own algorithm for making the perfect jam bagel, then tested it by following each other’s instructions step by step. Although we initially struggled to complete a bagel in the allotted time, we didn’t give up and our perseverance was rewarded with a very tasty taste-test at the end!

Super scientists

This week, Year 4 investigated switches and where we find them in everyday life. Working in groups, the children then created their own switches using cardboard and metal stationery items, experimenting with ways to open and close a circuit. Great teamwork and brilliant problem-solving!

Breaking News from Ancient Greece!

This week, the children were challenged to write a short script to showcase their understanding of the Battle of Marathon, Newsround style. Each group did an amazing job and it was so much fun to watch them share different facts in their own unique way. They read their scripts brilliantly to their peers, showing confidence, expression and a fantastic understanding of the events of the Battle of Marathon and its famous messenger.

Anti-Bullying Agents!

On Monday 10th November, Year 4 participated in Odd Sock Day for Anti-bullying week. This year the theme was about finding the confidence to speak up and becoming an 'upstander' rather than a 'bystander'. The children took part in a live lesson where we completed various challenges to bust myths, crack codes and and celebrate the superpowers needed to spread kindness. The children then discussed different ways an upstander could help in various scenarios, sharing their advice for both face-to-face and online situations. 

The Golden Touch

Year 4 have been reading the Greek myth of King Midas.This week we planned, wrote and edited letters to Dionysus to persuade him to reverse the wish of the golden touch. We then aged paper using coffee, wrote our final letters to the ancient Greek God and rolled them into scrolls. 

Bendy Bridges

In PE this term, Year 4 are focusing on developing and improving their skills in gymnastics. This week, Highland Cow class recapped their Year 3 skills and explored the different ways they could make their bodies move. The children worked in partners to create imaginative bridges where they had to explore balances and ensure that 2 parts of their bodies connected. They then challenged themselves further by seeing whether they could create bridges and balances on 2 different levels. Our core strength was incredibly important to support our balances and we developed skills in flexibility, performance and partnership. 

Designing King Midas inspired games

In Design and Technology this week, we began exploring what we'll be working towards this term - designing and making our own simple electronic games based on the story of King Midas. We investigated how popular games like Operation and wand control challenges work, discovering how circuits and metal-to-metal contact create exciting features. The children discussed the importance of thinking about the user experience and began magpieing ideas to inspire their own golden game designs.

All about Greece

The children produced some brilliant work in Geography this week. We learnt how Greece's warm climate helps certain crops like olives and grapes to grow and how its many islands make trading by sea important. We also learnt how the country's mountains affect where people live and how they travel. The children in both classes produced double-page spreads showing the amazing Geography of Greece and what makes it such a unique place to explore and visit. Legends and lessons

This term in Year 4, we are exploring the wonderful world of Greek myths and fables! From King Midas and his golden touch to the daring flight of Icarus and the tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, we’re learning how these stories have been passed down for generations to teach important lessons.

Saying no to dares!

This week, Moorhen Class explored the theme of dares. We began by discussing how saying “no” to a dare can often be one of the bravest and most sensible choices you can make. The children reflected on the phrase “don’t be a chicken” and considered how language like this can pressure people into doing things they may not want to do. We also explored the influence of online trends and how these can sometimes feel like dares in disguise, encouraging people to join in even when it might not be safe or sensible. The class then expressed their ideas creatively by designing vibrant, graffiti-style posters to spread the message that true courage comes from making your own choices, not following the crowd.

Let there be light!

In Science this week, we explored electrical components such as wires, bulbs and batteries to create a simple circuit. At first, we weren’t sure how to make the bulb light, but through experimenting and sharing ideas we began to figure it out. Once we had mastered the skill, we challenged ourselves with a race to see who could build a working circuit the fastest. It was lots of fun and helped us practise our science skills!

From playdough to clay

This week, we practised making Ancient Greek–inspired pots using playdough. We experimented with a range of tools, including toothpicks, to bring to life the designs we had carefully sketched beforehand. An informative video helped us learn key pottery techniques such as slip, blend, and score and now we feel confident to use these skills. We cannot wait to put our practice into action and create our pots using real clay!

Science predictions

Moorhen Class made fantastic predictions about what might be inside a plug. Afterwards, we carefully opened an old one (thank you to Mr Mills for providing it!) and drew detailed scientific diagrams, making sure to label each part accurately.

Cricket with Mr Tom

Highland Cow class have been practising their throwing and catching skills in PE. Mr Thomas has been teaching them the different skills needed to correctly bowl in a game of cricket. They have been also developing their life skills of listening and perseverance. 

Art Week 

Wow. . . what a busy week! With ‘Alien Worlds’ as our theme, we let our imagination run wild and produced some fantastic artwork.

Monday – alien landscapes
Focus: texture & colour blending
Inspiration: the artist Chris Foss and NASA photos

Tuesday – alien plants
Focus: imagination & pattern
Inspiration: the artist Yellena James and photos of coral

Wednesday – alien creatures
Focus: shape & mixed media
Inspiration: the artist Shaun Tan and animated characters

Thursday – alien structures
Focus: line and perspective
Inspiration: the artist Peter Thorpe

We cannot wait to share with you what we have produced in our art show in the hall on Friday 19th September 2025.

Our first trumpet lesson!

On the second Wednesday of week two, we had our very first trumpet lesson. We are lucky to have Mr Royston from Kent Music teaching us this term. In our first session, we learnt how to make a buzzing sound with our lips, how to hold the instrument and even practised our first notes: C and D.

Voting for our school council representative

Mrs Farrier launched this year’s School Council in assembly at the start of week two. Lots of our Year 4 children shared fantastic ideas about why they would make the perfect candidate. It was great fun listening to their speeches and even more fun casting our votes on Friday and putting that all important cross in the box! We will find out the winners at the end of Art Week!

Our first class text

We're starting off the year by reading 'Here Comes Hercules.' This funny adventure story is all about what happens when a Greek hero suddenly turns up in the modern world. We're looking forward to seeing what happens.