Year 4 Blog
Date: 6th Sep 2016 @ 4:17pm
Monday, 26th June
A summary for this week:
Maths: We will be starting the week by continuing with telling the time: reading the time in words/digital/analogue - 12hr and 24hr. We will also be looking at converting time from 24hr to 12hr; from hours to minutes; minutes to seconds; years to months; weeks to days. In addition, we will be solving problems relating to time. A good website is : https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/118/adding_time_word_problems
English: We are currently looking at persuasive writing and will be writing a job advertisement to recruit a Roman soldier using this writing technique.
Grammar: Using prepositions to add detail, eg before, after, during, after, in, because of ...
Spelling: We are consolidating our learning on all the words from the Year 3 and 4 list.
I look forward to seeing some of you at lunchtime tomorrow.
If I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Monday, 12th June
A summary for this week:
English: The children will be writing a story set in a historical setting, based around the story we have been reading in class, Escape from Pompeii.
Maths: Position and Direction - identifying the position of shape following a reflection or translation; tranlsating a shape using left/right and up and down. A website to support this learning is:
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/153/coordinates--reasoning-about-position-and-shapes
Punctuation: Apostrophe for both singular and plural possession
Spelling: Learning to spell the following homophones and apply them correctly in writing:
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Weather/whether
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Who’s/whose
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Where/were
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Missed/mist
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There/their/they’re
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Whole/hole
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Accept/except |
Affect/effect |
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As you know, we will be performing the musical Oliver in our KS2 performance for this year. Year 4 will be performing the song, Be Back Soon. If the children would like to practise the lyrics, the following website is useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6K9J4G6pgM.
For this half term, PE will be held on Monday and Tuesday afternoon. From today, the children will be developing their tennis skills and athletics will continue to be taught every Tuesday.
If I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Monday, 5th June
Welcome back. Hope you have all had a good half term break.
Our very eventful week started with James Chacksfield joining our class today, and, once again, the children have been very good at helping him to settle in. A short summary of the learning for this week:
English: Continuing with a story based on a historical setting.
Maths: Address any misconceptions on properties of shape; multiplying two/three-digit numbers by one-digit number using the formal written method (see example below) and solving problems using multiplication; reviewing addition and subtraction skills to solve problems involving units of measure.
Formal written method:
Websites to support learning on multiplication:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/multiplication-and-division
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/maths/number/multiplication/play/
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/33/multiplication--written-method-
Today, the children had fun making their mosaics with clay - they look great. Tomorrow, we will be having our class photo so please remember to bring in a cardigan/jumper. Weather pemitting, the week will finish with Sports Day.
Spelling focus: Words from years 3 and 4 spelling list:
sentence
separate
special
straight
strange
strength
suppose
therefore
though/although
We will also be reviewing possessive apostrophes for both singular and plural, eg, The boys' cloakroom; The girl's bag.
Grammar focus will be looking at subordinating conjunctions for varied sentence openers, eg, Despite feeling apprehensive, they continued their journey up the mountain.
Monday, 22nd May
We have had a great day today at the Lion Salt Works. As usual, excellent behaviour from the children. They all participated well in the drama and dance workshops and they have had great fun practising their routines for tomorrow's show. Just to remind you that children need to come in dark clothes tomorrow and to bring their packed lunch again (with plenty of water). If you are able to come tomorrow, the first show will start at 12.30 and the second will start at 1.40. They are expected to last for about 45 minutes. You are advised to come 10 minutes before the start.
For the remainder of the week, the children will be completing their work on properties of shapes, looking at lines of symmetry. There will be a dictation on 'sion' words, which they learnt last week and had for homework. In English, the children will be writing an information text on the Lion Salt Works.
Mrs Elliott and I wish you a great half term and hope the weather is going to be as good as this week.
Monday, 15th May
A summary for this week:
English: Based on the book, Escape from Pompeii, looking at setting and character description in preparation for writing a story based in a historical setting.
Spelling: Looking at words ending in 'sion', eg, invasion, decision, etc
Grammar: Writing expanded noun phrases, eg, developing 'the maths teacher' to 'the strict maths teacher with a stern face'. It would be helpful to look out for expanded noun phrases when the children are reading the books or when on Bug Club.
Maths: Continuing work on properties of shapes, looking at properties of polygons, identifying parallel sides, angles. This week, we are also looking at lines of symmetry as well as continuing mental arithmetic: times tables - working towards the goal of recalling times tables up to 12 x 12 and related division facts, and subtracting any two digit number from another two digit number.
Monday, 8th May
A summary for this week:
English: Continuing work on writing newspaper reports linking with the story of Boudicca's Rebellion.
Spelling: Learning to spell words from the Year 3/4 list:
- Promise
- Purpose
- Surprise
- Quarter
- Question
- Recent
- Regular
- Reign
- Remember
Grammar - Using paragraphs to organise information and looking at different ways to introduce/connect paragraphs.
Maths - Roman numerals, followed by looking at the properties of shapes.The following websites will support the learning in this area, along with BBC Bitesize:
http://www.abcya.com/roman_numerals.htm
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/83/sort-shapes-venn
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/75/shapes-sort-carroll
Science: Grouping/classifying living things.
History: Boudicca's rebellion.
Tuesday, 2nd May, 2017
Welcome back after the bank holiday.
Over the next two weeks, we will be looking at newspaper reports and the story of Boudicca, to link with our topic on the Roman Empire. The grammar focus for this week will be fronted adverbials. In spelling, we will be looking at words containing the /s/ sound but spelt 'sc', eg, Science, scene.
In Maths, we will be looking at angles: identifying acute and obtuse angles on their own and within shapes; comparing two or more angles up to 180°. In addition, we will be looking at using properties of acute and obtuse angles to reason about missing angles. It would be useful to review last week's learning on conversions of measurement, particularly bringing it into real-life context. An activity to practise this area of maths can be found in the maths resources on the class page: Bitesize Maths - measurement.
In Science, we will be starting our topic on classification.
Monday, 24th April, 2017
Today, Dun was welcomed to the class. The children have all been very accommodating and have looked after him well throughout the day. I am very proud of them.
This week in Maths, the children will be learning about measurement: converting units of measure and calculating the perimeter of rectilinear shapes. In English, they will be learning the myth of Romulus and Remus through drama and writing a playscript, which should be really good fun. Today, the children began the Roman Empire topic by being archaeologists, looking at artefacts and thinking about what they could have been used for. In GPS (Grammar, punctuation and spelling), we will be focussing on pronouns, including possessive pronouns; expanded noun phrases and the homophones, who's and whose.
Please refer to the websites on the Year 4 class page for support in these areas.
SUMMER TERM
Thursday, 19th April, 2017
Welcome back. Hope you have had a good Easter break.
This week, we have addressed any misconceptions from the Spring term in maths and consolidated the learning. In English, the children have edited and improved their own legend which they wrote before the Easter break. I am really pleased with what they have produced and they should be very proud. In addition, the children have created a spine poem about The Water Horse. The spelling strategy that we are currently practising is words containing the ‘ay’ sound, spelt ‘eigh’, ‘ey’ or ‘ei’. The children have completed their topic on rocks and soils this week by examining soil in the school grounds and making notes on their findings. In addition, to complete the Stone Age to Iron Age topic, the children have made a round house.
Next week, we will be welcoming a new member to the class: Dun Xue. The children have sent a message to Dun, telling him about the school and how much they are looking forward to welcoming him on Monday.
We will also be starting our new topic next week on the Roman Empire. A curriculum overview will be added to the Year 4 class page next week.
I have added a list of ‘Essential books to read’ for children aged 8/9+, as recommended by Lovereading4kids, on the Year 4 class page. In addition, I have included a list of recommended authors.
Friday, 31st March
I can't believe how quick this term has gone! The children deserve a well-earned rest.
As discussed at Parents' Evening, mental arithmetic games in the car, particularly chanting the times tables (your child will know the times table they are currently learning) will be really helpful. Also, there are useful websites on the Year Four class page, as well as those in previous blogs and homework books. Having said this, I would like to wish you all a very happy Easter break and look forward to seeing you and the children on Tuesday, 18th April when we will be starting our new topic on The Romans.
Monday, 13th February
We had such a great time at Burwardsley, last week. The children behaved exceptionally and were all willing to try new experiences. I was very proud to have them as members of my class.
This week, we are continuing with our work on fractions and decimals in maths. The children are learning how to find a fraction of a quantity and solve problems relating to this. The spelling focus this week is on learning how to spell the following homophones:
ball/bawl; mail/male/scene/seen/missed/mist/Weather/whether/whose/who’s/Not/knot/Except/Accept
The following websites will help with the children's learning:
http://www.counton.org/games/map-fractions/falling/
To support our Science topic on rocks and soils, the following websites are useful:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/science/materials/rocks_soils/read/1/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zdchyrd
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zmwvcdm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/znx4wmn
I have asked children to look around during the holidays and (if they can) take photographs of rocks. It could even be a photograph of marble on the kitchen worktop! I plan to display these photographs on our 'Rocks' wall to show that rocks are all around us. Some of the rocks we have been looking at are granite, slate, limestone, sandstone, chalk and marble, as well as many more.
27th January
This has been a very eventful week finishing with a great result at the County Finals of the Cheshire Schools FA Under 9's 5-a-side Girls' Football Competition (The Rod Whitlow Cup). Darcy, Abby Lowe, Charlotte, Leah, Izzy, Sophie and Jess were a credit to Sandiway Primary School, winning all four games without letting in a single goal. They played amazingly well in the semi-final and only missed getting through to the final by a penalty in the last 30 seconds. I am very proud of the girls - they couldn't have tried any harder.
To celebrate Chinese New Year, each class took part in a Chinese New Year Dance workshop. A video of this will be downloaded shortly.
In maths, year 4 have been learning about equivalent fractions and simplifying fractions. I will provide some useful websites for the children to practise this at home.
17th January
The children have had a fabulous day with our Archaeologist and Stone Age visitors. I was very proud of the children: they listened very attentively and participated well, as well as asking lots of questions. A picture of our Stone Age visitor is attached.
21st December
What a fabulous Christmas Service last night at St John's Church last night. The children sang beautifully and spoke really clearly. I was particularly proud of the children who, despite clearly being full of a cold, they continued to play their role very well - a true professional!
Today, the children have been learning about the water cycle as part of our Science topic. They carried out their own water cycle experiment and have learned a song. This can be found on the following website:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWb4KlM2vts
16th December
This week, the children have written some super stories on their own version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The week finished with a great Science lesson by Mr Jennings (Matthew's Dad) who carried out several experiments with the children relating to our current topic on States of Matter - photos to follow. Thank you,once again, Mr Jenning for sharing your expertise with us. Today, the children have have been given their user name and password for Bug Club and have begun to read one of their books on the site. Auditions to select two children from Year 4 for Sandiway's Got Talent will take place on Monday.
Have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to seeing you at the Christmas Service on Tuesday.
Friday, 25th November
English: Learning activities have been based around the book, The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan. The children were really inspired by this book and produced some great written work, which we will be continuing next week.
Maths: Following their work on factor pairs and multiples, the children have been multiplying two and three digit numbers by a one digit number using the grid method. Next week, they will be developing their knowledge on division. So, practising their maths targets: being able to recall division facts for the 3, 4, 6, 8, 7 and 9 times tables, will support them in their learning.
Art: We have a lot of great artists in Year Four. This week, they created some beautiful artwork for our new entrance/library area.
Science: We started a new topic: states of matter, where the children will be learning about solids, liquids and gases. The children had great fun in this introductory lesson, making Gloop, although I do need to give Linda, our cleaner some chocolate for the mess we made! See photos for this lesson.
DT: The children started to look at packaging designs as research for designing their packaging for a new chocolate bar. Watch this space!
Friday, 18th November
We've had a very busy week in Year Four. it' was lovely to meet so many parents and have the chance to show off your child's work. The children produced some beautiful artwork of which they were really proud. I have added some new photos, taken this week. Have a lovely weekend.
Friday, 14th October - Today, the children have been looking at the Singapore Bar Model approach to solving problems in Maths. They have been practising this strategy on the following website, and are confident to use this at home: http://www.mathplayground.com/thinkingblocks.html. I would also like to use this opportunity to remind any parents who haven't yet returned the order form for Cauliflower Cards, that the last day for doing this is on Monday. From Monday, 17th October, for the next six weeks, Paul Finney will be supporting the class in the gymnastic session. Hence, PE will now be on a Monday afternoon instead of Thursday morning - just until Christmas. Please remind your child to bring in his/her PE kit on Monday. Have a lovely weekend.
Today, we had a discussion on E-safety and looked at the KidSMART site. In the afternoon, the children enjoyed reading with their buddies - photographs are on the gallery. Have a good weekend.
This week we are working on adding and subtracting numbers with up to four digits using the formal written method. In addition, the children are working on their mental arithmetic: improving their mental recall of addition, subtraction and multiplication facts.
The children wrote a great diary entry of their visit to their imaginary chocolate room.
Day One
We have had a fun first day and it has been lovely getting to know the children. I am sure we are going to have a great year. As our topics are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the United Kingdom, we are designing the covers of our topic books with sweet/chocolate wrappers. I have asked the children if they could bring in any wrappers rather than throwing them in the bin.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything you would like to discuss.