Like the Romans, year 4 went on a good march on Wednesday – to Verulamium Museum and back, via the hypocaust. Every child was a credit to their parents and St Adrian’s. I felt blessed to have a day out with such enthusiastic learners, who showed the best respect for the artefacts and the people in the museum and on the way there and back. We saw nearly as many dogs as people! Luckily, on the way back the playpark was completely empty so year 4 made the most of the opportunity to play there.
A massive thank you to Ms Carey and Mrs Donnellan, who came as parent helpers. These trips aren’t possible without voluntary help and it’s very much appreciated. Also thank you to Mrs Finnie and Miss Jilly, from school who came along too. Miss Jilly still found time to order some learning resources bought with cake sale money of which I will post photos when they are unwrapped and used.
Other learning has also gone on this week but I’ll post that later. I hope you all have a relaxing weekend and look forward to seeing everyone next week.
(The slideshow of Wednesday is in chronological order if you “swipe” to the left first.)
Happy New Year! It was great to see everyone back in school, raring to go. We’ve dived straight into the next Maths unit, continuing with multiplication and division. There is still a big emphasis on learning ALL times-tables facts instantly. There will be a statutory, straightforward online times tables assessment in May, call the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). I will send home the government’s information about it. By using TTRS, the children will be well prepared for it and when they do it, it will hold no surprises in terms of content or format. Over the next week or so we will do a practice MTC on TTRS and I will let you know how the children get on.
In Maths the children are learning how to manipulate times-tables facts. The calculations don’t involve large numbers, but the children need to apply number sense and fluency in knowing TT facts to understand it properly. Here they are using counters to prove how to use factor pairs in two-digit numbers.
We have kicked off several new topics. Here are the children enjoying getting to grips with data-loggers.
We started our new book in English – “Escape From Pompeii” -which links with our History topic of the Romans perfectly. The children role-played and then “freeze-framed” the initial scene in the book to understand daily live in Pompeii.
The children were excellent Archaeologists when they were given (clean, modern replicas!) of Roman artefacts and made very sensible suggestions about what they were. “I saw there are Roman numerals so I think this is from the Roman times.” was one comment. Someone else recognised the clay lamp being similar to the artefacts we saw in the Fitzwilliam Musuem so concluded these were also Greek. Other children saw the word “Caesar” on an item so decided it was Roman. Another idea was the jewellery, some of which looked like a torque and others were decorated with snakes, were Celtic.
Spelling of the year 3/4 statutory spellings is improving. I have sent home copies of the check of all of them which we did just before the holidays. The number of correct words has increased, as has the presentation of the words which is also very good to see.
We’re all looking forward to the trip to Verulamium Museum next Wednesday, where we will see real Roman artefacts. Unfortunately, the weather forecast just now is not great, but as long as everyone wears warm, waterproof coats and clothes (tights, trousers, etc) and sensible shoes we should be fine. Nearer the time, if it looks like it will be very wet then the office will send a message asking for children to wear wellies and bring their shoes to get changed into.
I hope you all have a lovely first weekend back. It’s always tiring coming back after Christmas but the good news is that it will start getting lighter, bit by bit, in the mornings and evenings which makes things a bit cheeries.
Thank you to all the adults who came into school on Wednesday, shared some time with the children and joined in the performances. The children are confident playing the ukelele and love doing it, so any opportunity to share this with others is welcome.
Everyone has made good progress in swimming. Well done! The children are also superfast at getting changed so we get back to school in good time.
The writing year was concluded with fantastic narrative telling as the children wrote their versions of “The Selfish Giant” – “The Spiteful Ogre”. I was blown away by their expressive language, insightful ideas and capacity to use Oscar Wilde’s clean, descriptive language to create their own prose with the same qualities. Also, the independent spelling in the creative writing has improved a lot this term. It takes a lot of effort! But the improvement in the outcome is very real and one which we’ll look to maintain and build on even further in the New Year.
Thank you very much indeed for the very generous Christmas presents you gave me and Mrs Finnie. I have been extremely careful with the “highly breakable” bag. Mrs Finnie and I really appreciate your generosity and also the time taken to organise these things. The bag in itself is a great gift.
We particularly wanted to thank you all this way as the gifts are simply from “year 4” . They are really appreciated and we feel very fortunate.
After the Christmas assembly today and an informative Advent assembly by year 5, the children spent the morning choosing their own activities in the classroom. They also asked to spend some time in the library which we did and was a lovely thing to do on the last day. They all played a game, when they followed the rules, helped each other and entered the spirit of it really well. Everyone waited till each child had received their present and opened their own. There was a wonderful collection of gifts and everyone looked delighted with what they had received. As on Christmas Day, once the unwrapping is done it’s time for tidying up….!
Mrs Finnie and I wish you all a very happy, relaxing and safe holiday wherever you find yourselves this year. I hope you have an enjoyable time with those you love, and that the spirit and peace of Jesus at Christmas time bring you joy.
I look forward to seeing all of you again in January!
The baubles the children have decorated and brought in look stunning on the Advent promises display. The Kris Kringles are accumulating at the Christmas tree and it’s very tempting to have a squeeze and try to guess what is in each one. It’s also a time for showing little acts of kindness which can cheer up the chilly, damp days.
In RHE the children have been learning about how they are all unique and that God is always there for them. Everyone is born to love, to be loved and to make a difference. Here the children are singing to song for this topic.
We have also been practising carols for the grandparents’ tea next week. We’re looking forward to seeing grandparents and any other relatives on that day.
The children all looked amazing and festive in their Christmas jumpers – every one was different!
Thank you very much to Luisa, Serena’s Mum, who came into class in her capacity as a dentist to share knowledge of teeth cleaning and hygiene. The children crunched a blue “plaque reveal” tablet to show where old and new plaque was on their teeth; and then cleaned it off. Luisa shared lots of important information about how to avoid sugar and how to keep teeth strong throughout a lifetime. What she told us married with what we found out in our investigation this week – Coca-cola erodes the layers of teeth and so does orange juice, because of the sugar and acids in them.
Well done to all the children in year 4 who participated in the carol concert. Once everyone had braved the rain, the singing was fantastic and the narrators spoke clearly and with fantastic diction. I am sure that all the adults are as proud as I am of the children’s achievements.
There is one more ukelele lesson this term and two more swimming lessons. We will do end-of-term checks on spelling and times-tables too. I’ll let you know how the children get on so they know what to work on next.
The children have all got their “KrisKringle” names (except for two children who weren’t here on Monday: I have their KrisKringle names waiting for them on their return).
Let’s hope the forecast isn’t as bad as expected this weekend and we can all enjoy the Advent activities.
Well done to everyone in year 4 for the huge collection of cakes last Friday. The children enjoyed their doughnut or muffin on Monday morning. I have ordered a set of model teeth and a cloth version of the digestive system to help with our current science learning.
After learning lines for the class assembly, it’s time to learn more for the carol concert – songs and some narrator parts. The children have been reciting both sets very well and we look forward to performing to you next Thursday, 5th December.
Thank you for writing beautiful prayers and presenting them beautifully in the class prayer book. This will go home to one family on Friday, to be brought back in the following Wednesday please. There are suggestions for writing prayers and examples of prayers for children in the little bag.
Names for Christingle will go home next week. Please use the £3 limit for the gift you buy, so everyone receives something similar.
The children all wrote very clear, well-thought out explanation texts about how an electric sharpener works. I never knew there was so much to it! The class has also been learning about teeth in science – a particularly fascinating topic when you are 8 or 9 and losing and gaining teeth!
I hope you have a lovely weekend and look forward to seeing the children again next week, with the start of Advent!
The children have learnt about Hindu books and stories and this week they experienced aspects of Hinduism and Indian culture. The children loved dressing in saris, prayer shawls and turbans – some of us helpers had our folding skills pushed to the limit! The children picked up the “stick dancing” patterns brilliantly.
The highlight of the week was the year 4 assembly and I will be proud all year for the children’s achievements. I was impressed when, by the day after handing people’s words, the majority of the lines were already learnt. The children’s commitment was total and their teamwork outstanding.
The children and Mrs Newman have all worked together brilliantly well with the ukelele playing. She pointed out that they have only had eight lessons to learn the instrument from scratch. On Thursday they performed the pieces very well with no music to hand (because of space constraints due to the stage being up already)
Thank you for coming and supporting your children in this and also the cake sale. I shall ask the children what they would like to improve their classroom, once we know how much we have to spend.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend in spite of the miserable weather which is forecast.
It’s been quite a different week this week. On Tuesday we all looked very individualistic in our odd socks, to remind everyone that we are all different and it’s important to respect the wonderful variety in people.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we took the opportunity to boost our accuracy in TTRS by participating in the “England Rocks” sessions. Soon it’ll be time to learn the 6, 7 and 9 times tables in class so being secure in the 2, 3 and 4 TTs is really important.
We have been practising our class assembly which we are looking forward to next Thursday the twenty-first. While the rest of the class continued with swimming on Thursday afternoon, the choir went to sing at Trinity Church. I’m sure it sounded as beautiful as the choir sessions on Tuesday afternoons do.
Year 4 go to Cambridge
…and visited The Fitzwilliam Museum to learn about the Ancient Greeks. The children were extremely well-behaved and responsible amongst artefacts which are thousands of years old. We examined coffins, statues, pots and other archaeological remains to determine the lifestyle and habits of the Ancient Greeks. We also marvelled at the splendour of the building itself and the children played chicken hero on the lawn outside the building. In the afternoon they each made a clay pot using slip and decorating it any way they chose, inspired by what they had seen and learnt at the museum.
The children coped with the long return journey very well and were all credits to their families and school.
the drying pots at school
creating in the art studio
the lunch room
outside the museum
in the Greek gallery
The children are all looking forward to the class assembly which will be on Thursday 21st November at 9.00.
In the rush at the end of day, after returning from the museum, I forgot to give out the prayer bag for the second week. I will do so on Monday. Thank you for the prayer from the first week/
The past few weeks have sped by and year 4 has made good use of every minute.
The children finished painting their clay pots in an Ancient Greek style.
In the “Called” topic in RE, the children reflected on the power of the Holy Spirit. They thought of a great collection of adjectives to describe living without the Holy Spirit (slow, sluggish, mean, isolated etc) and acted these out; and they also thought of how to describe life with the Holy Spirit (joyous, helpful, energetic etc) and acted these out.
We have been reading “Jabberwocky” and (most of) the children have loved exploring the “portmanteau” words and reading about the exploits of the characters in the poem. On returning from the week’s break they will continue with writing their own nonsense poems.
Column subtraction is a challenging concept! Everyone has made great progress with it, finishing off a good half-term’s learning about 4-digit numbers.
The children’s understanding of programming, in particular the need for absolute accuracy, is developing well. They have very much enjoyed learning how to use a repeat function and how to use “procedures” to program efficiently.
The class assembly will take place on Thursday 21st November (not Friday 22nd as published in the bulletin).
I hope you all have a relaxing half-term break and look forward to seeing you all on 4th November
The classroom is looking very cheerful with the children’s posters about classes of words around the walls. Hopefully, this will help them remember the different definitions of nouns, verbs and adjectives.
Last Friday the children made pinch pots to create Greek pots. They will paint them with Greek-style pattern or pictures.
Please remember to bring in donations for the Harvest Festival next Friday. The children are looking forward to performing their song to you.
The children wrote some thoughtful, perceptive versions of “The Varmints” this week. We talked about the importance of proof-reading, for both correcting errors and for looking for improvements in the writing.
