Cross-curricular topics: Summer term
Year 4: River Deep, Mountain High
As readers we will be enjoying the story ‘Escape from Pompeii’ by Christina Balit. We will be taking part in guided reading sessions linked to rivers, mountains and rainforests. We will be reading Alfred Wainwright’s guide books. We will be enjoying poetry by William Wordsworth and finding out about his life, as well as a fantastic narrative poem by Valerie Bloom.
As writers we will be writing letters, diary entries and descriptive settings that link to our main text. We will be writing a range of non-fiction texts, including information and discussion exploring issues linked to our topic. We will be writing our own guide books as we find out about Wainwright. We will be writing diaries and stories linked to mountaineers. We will be exploring and writing poetry about mountains and rivers.
As scientists we will be finding out about the water cycle.
As historians we will be finding out about the lives of Albert Wainwright and William Wordsworth. We will be examining the history of rivers and how a river course can change.
As geographers we will be exploring rivers, identifying river features, finding out what affects river changes and identifying major world and UK rivers. We will be exploring mountains, their features and climates and finding out about the world’s largest mountains and their intrepid explorers. We will look at the impact of flooding on communities, in particular, the flood defence scheme in Kendal.
As artists and designers we will be drawing, sketching and painting mountain scenes, we will be looking at one specific mountain through the changing seasons.
-
How parents can support learning at home
When out and about, look at and discuss rivers that you see. Use the vocabulary below to talk about what you have found. Any photographs or experiences of walking mountains can be shared with the class. Read books and stories together about rivers and mountains.
Possible visits:
• Brockhole visitor centre
• Visit rivers and Wordsworth’s house Dove Cottage
• Wainwright walks -
Words we will use (key vocabulary)
river, meander, ox-bow lake, deposition, erosion, source, canal, estuary, stream, precipitation, condensation, transpiration, evaporation, mountain, peak, summit
-
Enterprise
We will consider how different materials could be recycled and promote energy saving ideas for home and school.
-
Learning Skills
Thinking about the resilience of mountaineers and survivors of floods and how we can apply these skills to challenges we face. Investigation skills linked to rivers.
-
Christian Values
Compassion – destruction of natural habitats. How can we promote trust and peace in these endangered environments?
-
Global Learning
How do our actions impact on those around us and people living in other nations around the world ? What choices can we make which might help other people and the planet?