At St Joseph’s, we are so grateful for the invaluable support that our parents and carers provide for our pupils. We know how well our families have been able to adapt to home learning so now that we can welcome all of our pupils back to school, we wanted to provide opportunities for our pupils to continue their learning at home, if they choose to. The homework given will prepare and support your child’s learning across the curriculum each half term. The homework tasks below are optional. If you would also like to read our homework policy, please follow the link below.

Please follow the links below to access our online learning platforms that are used for homework.

Resources to support optional homework tasks

Writing for Pleasure

To suggest some ideas for our aspiring authors for their next best chapter books, I included some links to fun picture prompts, story starter ideas and sentence challenges. Take on the challenge and see where a piece of paper, a pencil and your imagination takes you!

Maths

We know the importance of learning our times tables in Year 4.  We all know that we are expected to know all of our times tables by the end of the year.  Please use these links to help you learn your times tables online. Come up with some active ways to practise your times tables. Design a Burn2Learn activity to practise or learn some moves from the Super Movers. Super Movers Top Marks games Times tables online games Online and downloadable Oxford Owl activities

Here are some games you could download, print and play as a family too.

Try the Multiplication Tables Check activity that generates the 25 times tables questions randomly and the children have 6 seconds to type their answers in.

Multiplication Tables Check

Summer 2

To help you with your learning this half term, here are some optional homework tasks and resources/activities for you to complete. I can’t wait to see your work that you complete at home!

Art

The lettering used for any product’s name on the packaging is thought about carefully by artists. It has to be eye-catching, memorable unique and instantly recognisable. Explore different styles of graphic writing and create your own lettering for a new chocolate bar.

Read the information slides to find out more about why and how product packaging should be eye-catching and unique. Information Slides

Use the templates to get some ideas and create your own lettering artwork. Template

Give the challenge cards a go if you want to keep working on various different design options. Challenge Cards

Check out this video if you want to give bubble lettering a go!

DT

Many design aspects are important when it comes to packaging chocolate products: name, font, colour, shape, images and other information. Design your own appealing packaging for a new chocolate product.

Use the following template to come up with your own chocolate creation and design its packaging. Chocolate design template

The following templates have different styles that you can consider for your product. Wrapper templates

Give yourself a challenge with the following challenge cards. Can you design packaging for various audiences and chocolates? Challenge cards

Check out this video to give you some inspiration.

Geography

Cocoa trees like a tropical climate. Design a poster to explain where and how cocoa trees grow. You could include information about which continents and countries the cocoa trees grow in and how the pods grow and then get harvested.

Find out a bit more about cocoa trees by reading the following information text. Information text

Use the following template to design your poster. Poster template

Check these challenge cards to make sure you included all the relevant and important information on your poster. Challenge cards

Watch the video to learn more about cocoa trees.

History

Find out why cocoa is called the ‘food of the gods’, by reading the legend of Quetzalcoatl. After getting familiar with the legend, illustrate the story.

Read the ‘Legend of Quetzalcoatl’ here. Legend of Quetzalcoatl

Use the template to create a storyboard. Storyboard

Watch the video to find out more.

PSHE

The life of a cocoa farmer is often hard and they can face many problems. The Fairtrade Foundation’s main aims are to secure a better deal for farmers and workers. Find out more about the Fairtrade Foundation by reading more about it and playing a game of fair or not fair.

Read the information text about the Fairtrade Foundation. Fairtrade Foundation  

Play a fun fair or not fair card game. Fair or not fair? game  

Fancy a challenge? Create your own Fairtrade themed game to play.

Science

What happens to the temperature of a hot liquid if it was left for one hour? Heat travels from warmer to cooler places, so the temperature of the liquid will drop. Experiment to find a way to slow down the loss of heat by wrapping a good insulator around the drink container. What material will keep your hot chocolate warm for the longest?

Read the information slides to learn more about temperature and fair testing. Information slides  

Use the template to record your findings. Science experiment record sheet  

Summer 1

To help you with your learning this half term, here are some optional homework tasks and resources/activities for you to complete. I can’t wait to see your work that you complete at home!

Art

A cartouche is a nameplate that was used by the ancient Egyptians (usually pharaohs or very rich people). A cartouche had the person’s name written in hieroglyphics and was usually placed on a sarcophagus. The ancient Egyptians believed that it was important to have your name written down and recorded otherwise you might disappear in death and not find the underworld.
Investigate hieroglyphics and write your name in the style of the cartouche.

Check these slides to learn more about what a cartouche is. Information Slides

Follow the instructions to work with clay and create your cartouche. Insturctions  Don’t worry if you don’t have any clay to work with, you could draw or paint too!

Use this template to help you create your artwork. Art Template

Check out this video that can give you a step-by-step guide on how to create your own cartouche art.

Computing

Try touch typing! Touch typing is a method of typing without the need to look at the keyboard. This way, the fingers get so used to typing that they instinctively go to the appropriate keys without the typist needing to see or even feel around the keyboard.

Knowing where to find the keys can really boost your typing speed and efficiency. Computer, tablet and phone keyboards have a similar layout so you can get familiar with the place of the keys on any device.

Dance mat typing is a great game to help you learn how to touch type on a computer keyboard. Dance mat typing.

These prompts will help you remember the use of the different keys. Computer keyboard prompts.

Use your new typing skills to create a project in word, keynote, power point or any other program you like. The topic of the project is your choice! Happy typing!

Watch the video below for touch typing tips and tricks.

DT

The ancient Egyptians had a very healthy diet. They ate plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, like leeks, beans, onions, grapes, dates, figs and pomegranates. There was plenty of fish too from the River Nile. Richer people could afford meat such as beef, pork and goat. Yet the main part of every diet, no matter how rich or poor you were, was bread. Use your cooking skills to bake some Egyptian bread!

Read the information slides to learn more about the ancient Egyptians’ diet. Information Slides

Follow the instructions to bake your bread! Instructions

Done with baking? Tasted your bread? Give this evaluation a go to record how well you have done. Evaluation

Have a look at this video on what an ancient recipe looked like!

History

Find out more about the ancient Egyptians and what gods and goddesses they worshipped!  The ancient Egyptians worshipped over 2000 different gods and goddesses. Each god or goddess played a particular role in their lives. Most ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses had human bodies and the heads of animals or birds. Present your research in a way you choose.

Read more about the various gods and goddesses. Information Slides

Find a list of gods and goddesses here and choose which one you want to research. List of Gods and Godesses

Fill in this template with the information you find. Research Template

Have a look at a video of some of the famous gods and goddesses.

PE

Have you ever seen an Egyptian dance before? What was it like? The dance styles that take inspiration from ancient Egyptians is called pharaonic dance. Explore the various picture cards and try to come up with your own choreography!

Check out this groovy video to give you some fun ideas.

Find some more information and picture prompts for your dance. PE Information Slides PE Picture Prompts

RE

As part of our RE learning, we learn about another faith. The faith that we learn about in Year 4 is Sikhism. To start this learning journey, take a look at the following websites to some reading. What is Sikhism? Information on Sikhism Sikhism

Do some research about Sikhism and present your findings any way you prefer. You could choose to make a poster, PowerPoint presentation or Word document, the choice is yours!

Watch the video to learn more about Sikhism.

Spring 2

To help you with your learning this half term, here are some optional homework tasks and resources/activities for you to complete. I can’t wait to see your work that you complete at home!

Art

Use ‘The Great Wave’ by Japanese artist Hokusai as the inspiration to create a piece of art. You could create your own printing block of waves and press your prints onto paper or fabric. Or try and make a 3D image of The Great Wave out of paper or card.

You could follow the video and use oil pastels or other art pencils to create your artwork.

Read more about Hokusai and his artwork. Information slides

Plan your artwork using the following templates. Plan your artwork

Follow the instructions to create your 3D art. 3D art instructions

Computing

We all like to spend some of our time online. Whether it is playing games or having a video call with our family or friends, spending time online can be fun. However, we must make sure that we are safe whilst being online. What rules should you follow when you are online? What information should you share or keep private? Design a poster about how to be smart and safe on the Internet.

Check these 5 tips to keep safe online.

Get more familiar with useful rules about how to keep safe online. Check out these posters that are already created. You can take some inspiration from them. Online safety posters

The SMART rules are helpful to remind us what to do. Be SMART online

Fill in your top 3 things you want to keep safe. Things to keep safe

DT

Certain areas of the world are more likely to experience earthquakes than others. In these places, special measures are taken to protect against earthquakes and to prevent buildings from falling down during earthquakes. Can you find out why earthquakes happen more in some places rather than others, and how to protect buildings from being destroyed by earthquakes? You can present your research in any way you like.

Watch the video to find out more about earthquakes.

Learn more about what earthquake waves are from this website. What are earthquake waves?

Geography

Research and create your own project on a volcano of your choice. You can choose how you want to present your findings.You can create a poster, model, speech, PowerPoint Presentation, booklet, fact cards, drama presentation or anything else you like.

Learn more about volcanoes.

Read more about volcanoes to create your chosen information project. Information slides

Follow the instructions to create your own model volcano! Volcano models

Choose a volcano and research it. Use this template to record your ideas. Volcano research template

MFL

This half term in French we will be learning about the shopping for different products. Can you draw and colour a scene from a shop? Label the items in French that can be bought there.Use a French dictionary or online translator to find the names of different items.

Listen to Alexa to learn 20 useful words about shops.

Create a scene from a shop and use words and phrases in French. Shop scene

Match the words with the items in French. Shop item match

Science

Many living things are endangered because their habitat has been destroyed. Choose an endangered animal to research from topic books and the Internet. Draw a picture of your chosen animal, describe the animal’s habitat and write about the environmental dangers that it faces. Can you suggest how the animal can be saved from extinction?

Read more about endangered species. Endangered species information slides  

Use this template to write up a report about your chosen animal. Animal report template  

Consider the impact of the environmental changes on the different animals and their habitats. Environmental changes  

Spring 1

To help you with your learning this half term, here are some optional homework tasks and resources/activities for you to complete. I can’t wait to see your work that you complete at home!

Art

Romans loved to use mosaics for decoration, particularly on floors. Mosaics are made from tiny, coloured stones called tesserae which are arranged to make different pictures and patterns.
Designing your own mosaic picture or pattern.

Read more about Roman mosaics and take inspiration from the many different patterns. Mosaic information slides

Check out more examples and use the templates to create your own mosaic art. Choose your level of challenge by choosing from an easier or more tricky grid. Mosaic artwork templates

Computing

Create a database of the different Roman gods and goddesses. A database clearly organises information into fields so that information can be easily found. Do your research to find some key information and then record your findings.

Learn more about the gods and goddesses from these information slides. Information slides

Use the templates to create your own database. Choose your level of challenge. Roman gods and goddesses information and templates

1.Match the statements to the correct god.

2. Match the names with the descriptions.

3. Create your own fact cards.

DT

The Romans used big shields in battle called ‘scutum’. These were good for protecting the soldiers and they would often use their shields in formation so that no arrows would be able to get through.
Design and make your own Roman shield.

Read more about the designs of Roman shields. Information slides

Use the templates to design and create your shields. Choose your level of challenge. Roman shield templates

1. Draw the front of your shield as a poster and label it.

2. Draw the front, back and side of the design to label.

3. Draw all angles and explain your materials used, tools needed and method.

History

The Romans loved to keep clean and bathing was a sociable experience that the Roman people enjoyed sharing together. Plan, design and produce a Roman Bathhouse Guide.

Read the presentation and learn more about Roman baths. Information slides

Use the diagram and template to help you create an information leaflet. Choose your level of challenge. Imagine you are a rich Roman who has just opened a new bathhouse. Design and produce an information leaflet about the new baths. Diagram and template

1. You can decide which rooms you would like to include in your bathhouse and you should draw and label them.

2. You can decide which rooms you would like to include in your bathhouse and you should write about each one.

3. You may wish to include pictures, maps, labels, plans of other information to enhance your guide and make it stand out to potential visitors.

PE

In ancient Rome, the Campus was an area of land that was used for army training, although other men did use it to train too. It was at the Campus that men would do take part in events like running, jumping, wrestling, throwing, riding and archery.

Choose an activity from the list and have a go! Activities

Choose a challenge to complete and create your own training routine.  Choose your level of challenge. Challenges and training ideas

1. Complete the solider training activities.

2. Create your own training games for throwing, catching, running, jumping.

3. Create your own training games for throwing, catching, running, jumping as well as teamwork and communication skills.

Science

Carry out a sound survey! Take a walk around indoors or outside to identify and describe the sounds you can hear! What is making each sound? Listen carefully. Can you hear high and low sounds? Can you hear loud and quiet sounds?

Complete the sound survey. Sound survey

Choose the level of your challenge from 1 star, 2 star or 3 star to show how different sounds travel to our ears. Science of Sound  

Autumn 2

To help you with your learning this half term, here are some optional homework tasks and resources/activities for you to complete. I can’t wait to see your work that you complete at home!

PSHE

We all like to spend our time with good friends. Whether it is playing football in the park or having a fun video call, spending time with our friends can cheer us up. What are the qualities of a good friend? How can you show that you appreciate your friends?

Have a go at making a friendship bracelet. Who will you give them to? Make a friendship bracelet

Can you create the recipe for a good friend? Recipe for a good friend

RE

Research and learn about St Sebastian. Who is he and why is he a Saint? Who is St Sebastian the patron Saint of?

Read more about our class saint. Saint Sebastian facts for kids

Check out this videos to help you learn more about St Sebastian. Story of Saint Sebastian

MFL/Geography

This half term in French we will be learning about the world around us. Can you name all the continents? How many are there? Find and name all the continents in French. Use dictionaries, atlases, reference books or the Internet to translate English country names to French. Find out which continent the countries are in!

Check out this poster of the world. Can you find the continents and their French names? World map

Have a go at completing this activity booklet! Activity sheets

Can you create your own continents booklet and include the French words too? My continents book

Geography/History

Under Queen Victoria’s reign, The British Empire included Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, India, Jamaica, Barbados and many more. Use the Internet or other sources to find out some key information about some of the countries that Queen Victoria ruled.

Find out about Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria presentation

Conduct your own research about a country that used to be part of the British Empire. What can you find out? Activity sheet

Science

What dangers do we associate with electricity? What hazards are there that we need to watch out for? Create a poster to show how to stay safe when using electricity. How do you use electricity on a daily basis? Can you keep a record of your essential and non-essential use of electricity?

Take inspiration from the following posters. Electrical hazards posters  

Record which use of electricity is essential in your day and which is non-essential. Essential and non-essential electricity use  

Science/History

Explore Thomas Edison’s work with electricity. How did his inventions change people’s lives? Go on an electric appliance hunt in your home! What appliances can you find that use electricity?

Learn a bit more about Thomas Edison. Thomas Edison presentation  

Create a comic strip about Edison! Comic strip  

Go on an electricity hunt around your house. Electricity hunt  

Autumn 1

To help you with your learning this half term, here are some optional homework tasks and resources/activities for you to complete. I can’t wait to see your work that you complete at home!

Art

Sir John Tenniel was a Victorian artist who became well-known for his illustrations in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. He had great attention to detail and used the techniques of hatching and cross-hatching to create the darker areas in his illustrations.

Choose some of your favourite book characters and sketch them. Can you create lighter and darker tones in your drawings by using cross-hatching in the style of Sir John Tenniel?

Watch these videos to learn more about hatching and cross hatching. Hatching and cross hatching What is cross hatching?

Take inspiration from Sir John Tenniel’s artwork. Sir John Tenniel Illustrations

Geography

It is important to know which is your left hand and your right hand. In map reading, it is just as crucial to know where north, east, south and west are. Have a go at discovering features of the UK by using the 8 points of a compass. Can you tell which direction is Wetherby from London and other cities of the UK? Can you create your own map of an imaginary place like Wonderland?

Learn more about how to use a compass. Compasses and directions

Use these templates to create your imaginary map. Imaginary map

Work with this UK map to show directions. UK map

History

The period between 1837 and 1901 was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign. Can you look into Wetherby’s history and find some interesting facts about the town? What was it like to live in Wetherby in the Victorian era? How was it different to what Wetherby is like today?

Find out more about the history of Wetherby. History of Wetherby

Read more about the first train station in Wetherby. First train station in Wetherby

Read the brochure with lots of fun facts in. Wetherby brochure

MFL

This half term in French we will be learning about colours and our school and what we can find around the classroom. Can you draw a picture of the school or the classroom and label what you can see in French?

Use the images from the classroom to practise the names of various objects. Classroom objects

Draw a picture of your classroom and label your drawing in French. Classroom frame

Music

Hans Zimmer has helped shape the sound of today’s film, television and games. He has composed unique and powerful soundtracks for films including The Lion King, Kung Fu Panda and Blue Planet II. Evaluate the music from your favourite film! Can you use descriptive music vocabulary to describe why the music works well with the pictures? Try choosing one image from the movie, print or draw it and annotate with your thoughts and likes.

Watch an interview with Hans Zimmer about the composition of Planet Earth II. Hans Zimmer talkes about the music of Planet Earth II

Use the following musical vocabulary to describe your chosen musical composition. Musical vocabulary

Look at an example about an amazing cuttlefish. Cuttlefish example

Science

Water is one of the most important substances on Earth. Being essential to all living cells, 75% of our bodies is made up of water! Water covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and is the most common liquid we come across. Water is continually recycled on our planet. Can you create your own information poster to explain the processes of the water cycle?

Read the following diagram to learn more about the water cycle. Water cycle diagram

Read more about the water cycle. The water cycle

Have a go at labeling the following diagram with the correct scientific words. Label the water cycle