Two chapters in and everyone in class 4 is desperate to know who the creatures are and what adventure is going to happen next in “Odd and The Frost Giants”. We have travelled to a different time and place to meet some very interesting characters… More will be revealed next week…
The book is by Neil Gaiman, an author I’ve been mentioning at consultations. He writes fantastic books – novels and picture books – for children which appeal to many ages and girls and boys. If your child enjoys this book, or even if s/he wouldn’t choose reading as the first thing to do, this author could be for them. Your child doesn’t have to read every word – you could read a page each, or you could chip in when it gets tricky. Any way into reading is really worth it, for so many reasons, not the least being as inspiration for writing. There are Neil Gaiman books in the school library for anyone to borrow. This website is American and shows some of the titles, for all ages he has written- https://www.mousecircus.com/books
Have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing the parents I haven’t seen yet on Monday morning.
Both were studied this week – logic in the form of data which the children saved using data loggers, when they worked well in small groups. They were also inspired by Lewis Carroll in “The Jabberwocky” and wrote their own fantastic versions of the nonsense poem which will be made into an anthology. They also made good progress with multiplication, moving onto formal multiplication. It’s been a packed five weeks and I hope everyone has a really good break and rest. I look forward to seeing everyone after the half-term break.
.. has been the theme of this week. Some of what we have done is in the bulletin. On Thursday, the children also thought of an achievement they are proud of and shared this with their table. Also key to good mental health is a healthy outdoor environment and the Eco Councillors and other children planted some saplings on the field which will hopefully grow to provide shade and a home for birds and other animals.
The children are really enjoying “The Firework Maker’s Daughter” which is a beautifully written story of bravery and adventure, laced with plenty of humour.
Reading rich, varied and creative literature is a key aspect of good learning and the children are also loving exploring nonsense poetry, specifically “The Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll.
They have been learning about data – what it is, the pitfalls of collecting what seems to be straightforward data, and how well-suited computers are to gathering and processing it. They used data loggers, which are borrowed from a local computer hub.
Here is the display of the children’s writing about the (imitation) Roman artefacts we have here and their excellent accompanying sketches the children took great care in drawing.
The children used data loggers for the first time today. They recorded the levels of light and noise and the temperature in different parts of the classroom. Some children went to great lengths to ensure different readings!
With the freezing weather and roadworks getting to school has been tricky this week, but once in year 4 it’s really warm and cosy as the new heating does its job well. The sun has been streaming through the window to make the days bright.
The children are engrossed in our current book “Escape From Pompeii”
The children are engrossed in our current book “Escape From Pompeii” which contains a wealth of powerful verbs and interesting language. The children love the fascinating subject of volcanoes and this story shows the impact of a pyroclastic flow. They have been creating some excellent paragraphs with expanded noun phrases. On Google Classroom I’ve posted another two pages in the grammar book to help support this learning. I sent home a couple of sheets relating to this book, because I came across them in researching resources and they were so useful for vocabulary building and comprehension skills. Its purely optional to use these resources or not.
Linked with this, we are learning about the Romans, leading on from the children’s learning about the Iron Age last year. This another fascinating topic – “What did the Romans ever do for us?” is a question it’s always intriguing to answer. Our trip to Verulamium Museum on Wednesday will help deepen this understanding. If you are able to accompany us, please could you contact the office as we still need an adult (though I appreciate that Wednesday morning is not convenient for work schedules). Thank you.
We’re coming to the end of learning about times tables facts and soon will apply that knowledge in formal multiplication and division, involving instant recall of those facts.
States of Matter is our topic in Science. Can your child explain to you why solid objects retain their shape after being squashed and squeezed but a gas can occupy any size shape into which it is released?
The children’s ukelele playing is really progressing and the collective sound is very jolly and uplifting.
There were a few complaints about the number of spelling words last week – I did ask the class! – so apologies if the quantity and variety was a bit much for your child or you. However, there were good improvements and I’m very proud of the seriousness and commitment they children show to improving their spelling and writing.
I hope you all have a relaxing weekend, whether the weather stays bitterly cold or warms up.
It was a very relaxed last day to the school year today, deservedly so after all the hard work put in this term. Mrs Porter led an assembly where we remembered the important events all those years ago, listening to the same words from The Bible that so many people have heard over the years. The children sang “Silent Night” beautifully. It was also a time to say goodbye to Mrs Ruffell who had worked at St Adrians for twenty years! We also said goodbye to Mrs McSweeney, which was sad for Year 4, who are hoping that the next cook will prepare such good lunches.
The children enjoyed opening their KrisKringles and working out who gave them their gifts. We missed the children who weren’t here today and hope they get better soon.
Miss Cartwright, Miss Parkes, Miss Goodall and I thank you sincerely for the very generous gifts you gave us. They are all very much appreciated.
It only remains to wish you all a very happy, peaceful and safe Christmas with your family and friends, whether you are at home or away. There are no home learning activities on Google. Reading for enjoyment is always a good thing to do, along with getting lots of fresh air when possible and spending quality time with family and friends. I very much look forward to seeing you all on 8th January 2024!
Year 4 is making good progress with learning the 6 times tables and have been exploring the links between the 3 and the 6 times tables. They have used resources and counting the multiples, backwards and forwards, to help understand and learn the facts.
This week they verbally built sentences based on “The Snowman” and said what they liked about their partners’ writing. By responding positively to other people’s ideas they are giving others feedback on what works well as well as reading ideas which they may want to magpie.
Singing of the songs is coming on, but everyone really needs to commit the lyrics to heart so they can sing the songs confidently and beautifully on Monday, when we’re all looking forward to seeing you at St Bart’s, starting at 6.30pm.
Thank you for all the hard work in providing cakes and selling them this afternoon. They looked really amazing! We will have to consider what we, collectively as a class, would like to spend the money on.
The countdown has begun! Year 4 has made some cheerful decorations for the classroom and is starting to look festive. The Advent table is ready and we have been learning the importance for Christians to prepare themselves during Advent, for the coming of the Christ Saviour.
This is the year 4 “Carol on the door”. Which carol is represented?
We have started our new book, “The Snowman”, which the whole school is reading. The children are really enjoying it. There is much nuance and inference when there are no words! I loved the simile one child thought of, when they said the boy’s hat flying was “like a kite”
The Maths topic of multiplication and division has started. Please don’t hold back with learning those times tables off by heart!
I hope to see you at the Christmas fair. Have a lovely weekend and stay nice and warm.
Year 4 has completed many topics in learning this week. They completed their story about the varmints, learnt all about Area (in Maths) and have continued learning about Sound in Science amongst other learning. They looked fantastic in their spots and have made some amazing-looking cakes.
Mr Hayes has released powerpoints for the Christmas songs for the KS2 play. The link is below. Please spend some time at home learning the words so the songs sound amazing at the performance. Have a great weekend and look forward to seeing you all next week. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nDi_UuwLfmAC_ZB_-fWD8Y1uEfJjgcXx
Year 4 sat respectfully during today’s Remembrance Service and sang very well. Thank you to the children who created beautiful “stained glass windows” for this year.
The children always enjoy the library trip and yuekeles on Friday.
They have finished learning about addition and subtraction and will start Area next week. Their versions of “The Varmints” are progressing very well and they are including lots of expanded noun phrases which we have practised lots.
Next Friday there will be a bake-off competition for CHildren in Need, so year 4 will have their cake sale on Friday 24th.
Have a lovely weekend and look forward to seeing everyone next week.
Year 4 was a credit to the school and their families at St Bart’s on Wednesday. They are also representing the school very well on the weekly swimming trips, when they are making very good progress with their skills.
We have moved onto Addition and Subtraction with 4-digit numbers in Maths and are writing our first story, with the children creating interesting sentences using expanded noun phrases, prepositions for detail and personification. The inspiration is a book called “Varmints”, which the children have really enjoyed exploring.
They are also enjoying the ukelele lessons and the strumming sounds very tuneful!
Luckily, the rain has not been falling at breaktimes so the children can still get outside at play. Long may this continue!
Monday is photograph day , so the children should come to school super-smart like they usually do.
Apologies for the lack of photos this week. I will endeavour to post some next week.
