Year 4 Curriculum Guide
2023-24
OUR YEAR 4 TEACHING TEAM
Rachel Chan
Y4C Teacher
Carol Newlands
Y4N Teacher
Victor Chan
Candice Zhang
Y4 CF Teacher
Fiona Cao
Y4 CL Teacher
Kerry Xu
Y4 CLL Teacher
Sean Taylor
Ho Mei Chau
Jacob Newbery
Nobel Gabasan
Jenny Tang
Susanna Lynam
Library Teacher & Specialist Lead Teacher
Kate Kam
LEARNING IN YEAR 4
PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
Throughout the year, students will be guided through six Units of Inquiry of global significance, providing opportunities to broaden their learning by developing their conceptual understandings, strengthening their knowledge and skills across, between and beyond subject areas.
The following six Units of Inquiry will be explored throughout the year. Each unit is developed around a concept, a Central Idea and Lines of Inquiry.
Who We Are: Physical Wellbeing 身心健康
An inquiry into:
- The function of human body systems 人體系統的功能
- How body systems are interconnected 人體系統如何相互連接
- The impact of lifestyle choices on human body systems 生活方式的選擇對人體系統的影響
Unit timing: Term Three
How We Organise Ourselves: Design Thinking 設計思維
An inquiry into:
- Issues in our community (case study) 我們社區的問題(個案研究)
- How empathy can help us to understand and define problems 同理心如何幫助我們理解和定義問題
- The design thinking process 設計思維的過程
Unit timing: Term Three
How We Express Ourselves: Creativity 創造力
An inquiry into:
- Influences on artists and performers (case study) 對藝術家和表演者的影響(個案研究)
- Different interpretations of creative works 對創意作品的不同解讀
- How the use of ideas of others can influence our own 借鑑他人的想法如何影響我們自己的想法
Unit timing: Term One
How the World Works: Energy 能量
An inquiry into:
- Forms of energy 能量的形式
- How energy can be transferred, transformed & stored 能量如何轉移、轉化和儲存
- How energy can be used to make our lives simpler 如何利用能源讓我們的生活更簡單
Unit timing: Term Two
Where We Are in Place and Time: Heritage
An inquiry into:
- Hong Kong case study - how artefacts can help us understand our history 香港個案研究- 文物如何幫助我們了解我們的歷史
- How heritage helps us learn from the past
- Our responsibility to our heritage
Unit timing: Term One
Sharing the Planet: Sustainability 可持續性
An inquiry into:
- How the Earth provides us with a range of resources 地球如何為我們提供一系列資源
- How the choices we make have an impact on the Earth's resources 我們所做的選擇如何影響地球資源
- Making sustainable choices can help preserve the Earth's resources 做出可持續的選擇有助於保護地球資源
Unit timing: Term Two
LANGUAGE
The development of language is fundamental to all areas of our learning programs. Language helps us communicate our thinking and understanding.
Language is socially constructed - it is dependent on social interactions and relationships. It permeates all subject areas. As such, we view all of our teachers and assistants to be language teachers.
English is our main language of instruction, with Chinese (Mandarin) taught as an additional language.
English
In Year 4, our reading program focuses on developing strategies needed to be an independent reader. Students are taught different comprehension strategies to understand what is written beyond the literal text. These are developed through a mixture of guiding reading, shared reading, read aloud and independent reading sessions.
Students will explore a range of text types: to entertain, to inform and to persuade. Specific writing skills will be developed around how to create a range of informative texts.
Chinese
Chinese Foundation focuses on speaking, listening and social Chinese. Students read texts and environmental print and learn to write the most commonly occurring characters.
Chinese Language focuses on Chinese speaking, listening and the reading of longer texts. Students write their own longer pieces of writing.
Chinese Language and Literature focuses on extended reading and writing tasks, using more complex language.
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics is a global language of concepts and symbols through which we make sense of the world around us.
Mathematics is taught through three main stages:
- Constructing meaning and ideas about a mathematical concept through interactions with objects, discussions, experimentation and play;
- Transferring these ideas and understandings into symbols;
- Applying these ideas and understanding in real-life and hands-on problem solving activities.
Mathematics is taught through the strands of number, data, shape and space, measure and problem solving.
In Year 4 students will explore numbers to 10,000 and decimals to tenths. They will learn their times tables and apply the column method to solve addition and subtraction problems. They will continue to learn to recognise, represent and order halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, eighths and tenths.
Students will explore the concept of space by using and creating maps. They will measure the perimeter and area of simple 2D shapes. They will explore the properties of symmetry and angles. They will use AM and PM when dealing with time.
OUTDOOR LEARNING
In Year 4, students will explore a range of land-based, freshwater and coastal environments. They will learn how to identify a range of native birds. Students will also investigate properties of soil and the process of composting.
PE and WELLBEING
Our PE program from Year 4 focuses on developing fitness and an understanding of four different types of games: target, net/wall, striking/fielding and invasion. Each unit focuses on developing appreciation for the game, different tactics that can be applied, how to make decisions within a game, how to apply a range of skills and performance.
Wellbeing is another central pillar of our school. Throughout our wellbeing program, our students explore relationships, identity and aspects of health (physical, social, emotional and spiritual). Our wellbeing program also teaches our students about child protection, anti-bullying and mindfulness strategies.
In Year 4, students will explore ways to cope with failure or uncertainty. They will continue to learn about their physical development and learn how abuse can take many forms and identify sources that be used when needed. Students will learn the importance of reducing screen time, sleep and physical activity, as well as, mindfulness practices.
THE ARTS
In Music, Year 4 students will continue to develop skills to play the bamboo flute. They will explore music from different cultures. They will continue to develop knowledge of using formal notation and time signatures.
In Visual Art, Year 4 students will manipulate and experiment with combinations of various materials and tools to create predictable effects. They will pursue their interests in art making in an attempt to tell a story through own artworks.
In Drama, Year 4 students will explore how to use voice and movement to develop a specific role. They will have opportunities to perform short scripted drama with a sense of role and situation.
In Dance, Year 4 students will explore how to use elements of dance to clearly communicate ideas to an audience. They will learn how to use body control, accuracy, alignment, strength, balance and coordination with increased accuracy.
SCIENCE and SOCIAL STUDIES
In Year 4, students will explore the different forms of energy, including how it is generated and stored. They will learn how simple electrical circuits are made. They will investigate the behaviours of light and sound waves. Students will investigate the history of different cultures.
TECHNOLOGY
In Year 4, students will learn out to use online platforms to gather information. They will learn how to be a digital citizen when online. They will experiment with photography and film making. Students will explore the steps in designing a product, including generating ideas, testing ideas and evaluating products.
ICHK Kindergarten and Primary
Email: info@ichkhly.edu.hk
Website: www.ichkhly.edu.hk
Location: 3 Hong Lok Yuen 20th Street, Hong Lok Yuen, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3955 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICHK.ICHKHongLokYuen/