Overview

This 90-minute one-to-one session blends literacy and maths through immersive, practical, and multi-sensory activities. All objectives align explicitly with the National Curriculum for England, Year 4 (ages 8–9). The session includes movement breaks and opportunities for reflection, tailored for a flexible morning homeschool environment.

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Learning Objectives

Literacy (English National Curriculum, Year 4)

• Reading Comprehension: Retrieve and record information from non-fiction texts.
• Vocabulary: Use a dictionary/thesaurus to check the meaning of words.
• Writing: Plan and write a narrative with clear structure, setting, and character description.
• Grammar: Use varied sentence structures including fronted adverbials and expanded noun phrases.

Maths (Mathematics National Curriculum, Year 4)

• Number & Place Value: Read, write, order and compare numbers to at least 10,000.
• Addition & Subtraction: Add and subtract numbers with up to 4 digits using formal written methods.
• Problem Solving: Solve two-step problems, choosing appropriate calculation strategies.

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Resources Needed

• Age-appropriate nonfiction book (e.g., on animals or geography)
• Large paper or whiteboard and markers
• A dictionary and thesaurus (print or digital)
• Notebook and coloured pens/pencils
• Number cards (1–10,000)
• Counters or cubes for visualising maths
• Timer or stopwatch

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Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Notes
0-10 mins	Warm-up & Vocabulary Challenge	Introduce new topic vocabulary with a mini dictionary challenge using the nonfiction book. Write 5 unfamiliar words; use dictionary to find meanings and synonyms. Encourage child to use each word in a sentence aloud. Focus on spelling and pronunciation.
10-30 mins	Guided Reading & Retrieval	Read a selected nonfiction passage aloud together. Ask retrieval questions (e.g., “What is the main idea of paragraph 2?”). Record answers on a whiteboard to promote active note-taking. Discuss how the author organises information and use fronted adverbials to describe sequence (e.g., “Firstly,” “After that,”).
30-40 mins	Movement Break: Word Walk	Spread vocabulary word cards around a room or garden. Say a sentence using a fronted adverbial; child walks to the word that matches the meaning or beginning sound. Repeat with synonyms or antonyms for physical engagement in learning.
40-60 mins	Creative Writing: Character & Setting	Using notes from the nonfiction reading, plan a short story about an explorer visiting the setting discussed. Focus on expanded noun phrases (“the lush green rainforest”) and fronted adverbials (“Deep in the forest,”). Write a paragraph with a clear opening sentence, description, and action. Use coloured pens to highlight grammar features.
60-70 mins	Maths Mental Warm-up: Number Ordering Game	Use number cards (up to 10,000) to order numbers on a timeline. Include odd/even discrimination. Child explains reasoning aloud, reinforcing place value language.
70-85 mins	Maths Focus: Addition & Subtraction Problem Solving	Present 2-step word problems linked to the story’s theme (e.g., “The explorer found 3,542 leaves and then 2,178 more. How many leaves did they find in total?”). Guide child through formal written calculation methods. Use counters for visual support. Break down problems verbally and in writing.
85-90 mins	Reflection & Cool Down	Discuss key learning points from literacy and maths. Child self-assesses confidence using a simple traffic light system: green (confident), amber (need more practice), red (find difficult). Set one personal goal for next session.

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Differentiation & Personalisation

• Adapt reading passage complexity if needed.
• Provide additional visual aids or manipulatives for maths as required.
• Challenge with extension questions (e.g., “Can you find two synonyms for this word?” or “What strategy did you use to solve this sum?”).

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observe oral use of new vocabulary and sentence constructions.
• Review written paragraph for use of expanded noun phrases and fronted adverbials.
• Check accuracy in formal written methods for addition and subtraction.
• Review problem-solving explanation for understanding of multi-step reasoning.

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Curriculum Links Summary

• English: Reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar - Year 4, Programmes of Study - Reading: comprehension and vocabulary; Writing: composition and grammar.
• Maths: Number - Place value and addition/subtraction (Year 4), Problem solving (reasoning with multi-step problems).

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Teacher’s Tip

Enhance engagement by connecting literacy and maths through storytelling and real-world contexts. Use multisensory activities and movement breaks to sustain attention and embed learning deeply. This integrative approach reflects best practice in the National Curriculum and promotes a joyful, confident learner.