Length:

10 Months

Subjects:

Module Names:

Modules 1-10

Equivalent school years

Australian years 4 / New Zealand year 5

Maths

This year begins with a recap of the base foundations before it introduces vertical strategies for each of the four processes. Division is explored in depth and multi-step word equations are introduced that require a combination of the process in order to solve. The topics of money, time and fractions are all learned this year and there is focus on being able to apply the addition and subtraction strategies to both whole and part numbers checking work with reverse operations. Geometry is introduced along with further work on measurement and patterns. Multiplication works to extend the basic recall of the twelve times tables.

English

By now the student is confident is writing independently and the majority of their stories are spelled correctly. There is the introduction of dictionary and thesaurus resources to assist with more complex spelling. The writing is formed in paragraphs and contains a variety of sentence formations, and sentence beginnings. The writing now becomes more focused and targeted on containing content completely relevant to the topic and parts of speech and complex punctuation are introduced. There is a focus on writing from varying points of view in first and third person speech and in past, present and future tenses. There is awareness now to engage the reader. Daily spelling lessons teach the formal spelling rules in depth and lessons on linked handwriting are provided.

The Arts

All subjects continue to be delivered in an artistic way. Stories are told and poems, songs and movements are learned to accompany them. The curriculum is connected so if the topic being studied is Geography for example, then the arts will reflect that topic. The songs and poems will be about Geography and the stories, paintings and models will also reflect the subject being experienced. The students are now more independent in their learning and the arts reflect this. There are finer details added to enhance the realism of the pictures and the use of layers and shading to bring in more colour and texture. Small drama plays are written and performed and the vocabulary is extended through complex drama pieces. Music theory is now introduced along with the terminology that accompanies that (quavers, semi quavers, sharp and flat notes, timing)

Science

The focus this year is on the Living World strand of the curriculum. It delves deeply into the animal, insect and bird kingdoms and begins to use the more formal science vocabulary of habitats, adaptations and life cycles. There is a connected link through to local geography and some in-depth studies of the environment and the impacts upon it. Previous knowledge of observation skills and an understanding of kaitiakitanga sets the children up to be able to conduct detailed investigative studies independently and begin to draw conclusions.

Technology

Because the finer motor skills have been developed over the proceeding years, the students are now able to construct with other materials including wood and metal. The technology projects become more detailed now and tools can include whittling knives, tin snips and geometry precision instruments. There are swords and shields to construct, along with 3D models, campfire burners and nature journals. There is a considerable amount of clay sculpture this year in connection to the sciences curriculum.