We aim for our students to learn to enjoy the fundamental skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening through engaging cross disciplinary activities. Through the process of Writer’s Workshop, students will learn to write texts that are personal and purposeful, ensuring that every writing piece has a clear message and is targeted for a specific audience. In Year 4 there is a focus on developing confident, independent readers. They learn the skills of selecting appropriate reading material from the Library and establish strong home reading routines.

We aim for students to be confident with numbers, shapes and basic equations through activities and games that require an increasing knowledge of numeracy. These activities require students to count, name, order, and manipulate numbers. They are taught to look for patterns and to consider a range of strategies in solving problems. Students use concrete materials to explore number problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and use written methods to record their thinking. They apply number skills to everyday contexts.

Engagement with our environment for a whole year provides countless opportunities for Year 4 students to learn about: growing, cooking and sharing food; nature and its systems; ‘our place’ and its history; and acting for the environment. Students participate in a range of activities and excursions including: the growing, cooking and sharing of food; gardening; ponding and nature walks; trips to local parks, reserves, farms and sanctuaries; and visits to waste, recycling and sustainability centres. Each term’s work concludes in a project that allows the students to consolidate and share their learning.

Students are challenged to begin to learn and understand spoken and written language. The foreign language teaching methodology known as Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) uses gestures, music, dance, and theatre to help students learn language. The basic idea of AIM is that students learn and remember better when they do something that goes along with the words they are saying. The program uses gestures to help students remember and access words, phrases and structures. AIM also uses storytelling to help students remember and use the language. The three skills of Reading, Listening and Speaking are developed as the students move through the program.

Singing, percussion, movement and improvisation are all explored through creative and fun activities in music. Students listen to music and respond using musical vocabulary such as rhythm, melody, instrumentation, tempo and dynamics. They listen actively to one another and to authentic music of different cultures and styles. Vocal development is explored and encouraged through a variety of songs and performances in front of the class in groups and as a soloist. Students become confident and poised performers. Creativity is encouraged through improvisation and composition with voice, instruments and movement. They work collaboratively to rehearse and then perform. Students create music to illustrate stories and poetry.

Drama benefits all students as it builds self esteem and confidence. It develops a wide range of talents as it involves many personal and interpersonal skills. This course aims to foster creativity and cooperative endeavour and develop expressive speaking and performance skills. The students develop their performance skills by presenting to their peers and rehearsing works that are performed in front of their audience. Their use of expressive skills, character work, teamwork and audience engagement are developed during this experience. Basic stagecraft and dramatic terminology are also explored.

Creativity is expressed across a variety of techniques, materials and mediums in Visual Art. Students use starting points such as careful observation, experience and imagination to express individual ideas and feelings through drawing. They explore line, colour, pattern, form and shape. They also investigate the genre of Printmaking through the study of block printing techniques, Collage, Textiles and Ceramics.

Physical and Health Education is seen as an integral part of the student’s education. The program is designed to offer all students the opportunity to experience a variety of physical pursuits and is concerned with the total well-being of individuals and their ability to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The College has excellent facilities: football and cricket ovals, soccer and hockey pitches, tennis, basketball and netball courts, a swimming pool and double gymnasium. Each student participates in four one-hour lessons during the school’s two-week cycle. Key focusses in Year 4 are target games and throwing and catching skills.

Religious and Values Education lessons allow opportunities for students to develop their personal thinking and give them freedom to question. They are encouraged to discover ideas themselves and to be confident that inquiry is acceptable. They examine human issues and significant life questions. The presentation of Christian stories, beliefs and teachings related to these experiences are used to assist students to reflect and make connections with their own experiences. Students are given the opportunity to participate in a variety of ways to express ideas and concepts during Worship segments of the Primary Assembly and Chapel.