Year 4 have been thoroughly enjoying their guided reading lessons, where they have been learning all about the history of flight and the incredible people who made it possible. They explored how the Montgolfier Brothers created the first hot air balloon, proving for the first time that humans could rise into the sky. They also learnt about Igor Sikorsky, who designed the first successful helicopters, helping to make flying more useful for travel, rescue missions and emergencies.

The children were especially inspired by the stories of brave and determined pilots. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, while Amy Johnson completed a challenging solo journey from England to Australia. Bessie Coleman also inspired the class by overcoming barriers to become the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s licence, showing the importance of perseverance and believing in yourself.

To link their learning, Year 4 also watched the short film Taking Flight. In the film, a simple day with Grandpa turns into an exciting, imaginative adventure filled with wild monkeys and space battles. Just like the real-life aviation pioneers, the story shows how imagination, courage, and big dreams can lead to amazing journeys. This helped the children understand that before people could truly fly, they first had to imagine it and that imagination is often the first step to achieving something great.

Overall, Year 4 have loved this topic and have been inspired by both real-life heroes and imaginative storytelling. They have learnt that whether through invention, determination, or creativity, anyone can “take flight” and achieve incredible things.