Spellings (test on 5.12.25)

Mr Chanter's Spelling Group

interest

experiment

potatoes

favourite

imagine

material

promise

opposite

minute

increase

Mrs Friedmann's Spelling Group

myth

gym

Egypt

pyramid

mystery

hymn

system

symbol

lyric

typical

 Good evening everyone,

I hope you have had a lovely week. It’s nice that we have ended on a slightly warmer day, though I have no doubt it will be short-lived!

In English this week, we have been creating menus for the Iron Man as part of our own Junkyard Cafés. The children have been experimenting with ambitious vocabulary, using expanded noun phrases and similes to describe their dishes in imaginative ways. We had everything from “rust-flaked metal burgers stacked like towering skyscrapers” to “steel-chain spaghetti twisting like shiny silver vines.” The children really enjoyed thinking about how to turn mechanical materials into meals that might tempt the Iron Man, and the creativity on display was fantastic.

In maths, the children have been finishing their topic on multiplication and division, with a focus on multiplying three 1-digit numbers together. They have been using their times-tables knowledge to help them break down calculations and spot number patterns. We also looked at how these skills link to real-life scenarios, such as working out arrays, area, and grouping objects efficiently. It has been brilliant to see their confidence grow as they apply different strategies to reach the same answer.

During science, as part of our topic on sound, the children have been investigating how sounds travel. We took a listening walk around the school grounds, tuning into everything from the hum of classroom computers to the echo of footsteps in the corridor. In pairs, the children then discussed what materials each sound had to travel through—air, walls, floors or windows—to reach their ears. This led to some thoughtful conversations about vibrations and how different materials affect the volume and clarity of what we hear.

In computing, the children have started planning their very own podcasts. They began by brainstorming topics they are passionate about—ranging from sports and books to school life and environmental issues. We discussed what makes a podcast engaging, such as clear structure, expressive voices, and interesting content. Over the next couple of weeks, they will script and then record their episodes using an audio-editing programme on the computers, learning how to add effects, adjust volume levels and produce a polished final piece.

In music, the children have been continuing to practise their songs for the carol service at Christ Church next month. Their enthusiasm and hard work are really shining through and the hall is already sounding beautifully festive.

Now that the children have been properly introduced to this term's PSHE topic, Celebrating Difference, I would like them to create a poster, a piece of artwork or even a presentation that celebrates what makes them different or unique. This could focus on one of their hobbies, a particular skill or something they feel proud of etc. The children can either bring their work into school or you can email it to me at: cchanter@littleheath.herts.sch.uk

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and I will see you next week.

Kind regards

PSHE: Celebrating Difference (Project)

Now that the children have been properly introduced to this term's PSHE topic, Celebrating Difference, I would like them to create a poster, a piece of artwork or even a presentation that celebrates what makes them different or unique. This could focus on one of their hobbies, a particular skill or something they feel proud of etc. The children can either bring their work into school or you can email it to me at: cchanter@littleheath.herts.sch.uk

If you have any questions about the project, please ask.

Spellings (test on 27/11/25)

Everyone

though

although

dough

through

breakthrough

thought

bought

brought

fought

ought

 Good afternoon everyone,

To say it has been a cold week would be an understatement — but perhaps I’ve simply become too used to the warm weather we enjoyed for most of the year! I hope you have all had a lovely week, and it was wonderful to see so many of you at our Year 4 class assembly this morning. The children put an enormous amount of effort into both their learning and the assembly itself, and it meant a great deal to them to be able to share their hard work with you.

Alongside rehearsing our play this week, the children have continued reading The Iron Man and have been reflecting thoughtfully on the story so far. In English, they have also been writing their own narratives from Hogarth’s perspective, using expanded noun phrases to bring events and emotions to life. It has been lovely to see how their vocabulary and confidence in descriptive writing are developing.

In maths, we have been focusing on the 7, 11 and 12 times tables, as well as the related division facts. The children have been exploring patterns within these tables — for example, recognising how the 11 times table builds on place value knowledge, or how doubling and halving strategies can support their understanding of the 12 times table. We have also been working on applying these facts in problem-solving contexts, helping the children to build fluency and recall through games, quizzes and rapid-fire challenges. Any extra practice at home makes a big difference, especially with the multiplication check later in the year.

Our PSHE topic, Celebrating Differences, has led to some especially thoughtful discussions. This week we explored the idea of making assumptions about others — how quickly it can happen, and how it can affect people’s feelings and relationships. The children examined case studies involving misunderstandings or unfair judgements and worked together to suggest kind, practical solutions. It was wonderful to see them showing empathy and considering how to create inclusive, supportive environments both in and out of school.

In computing, we began our new topic, Audio Production. The children learnt about a range of input and output devices we use every day, such as microphones, speakers, tablets and headsets, and how these allow us to record and play back sound. They then had the opportunity to experiment with a recording program, practising simple audio captures and beginning to understand how digital sound can be created and edited.

We were also very fortunate to welcome an officer from Hertfordshire Police’s Cybercrime Team. They spoke to the children about staying safe online in all the different ways children use technology today — whether gaming, browsing the internet, watching videos or communicating with others. The session was engaging, practical and extremely valuable, and the children asked excellent questions.

On Thursday morning, we had a lovely visit to Christ Church, where the children took part in a variety of workshops linked to symbols and pilgrimage. They engaged brilliantly, and the activities helped them deepen their understanding of key themes in RE — you’ll be able to see some of this in the photos below.

Next week is, of course, only a four-day week at Little Heath as we will be closed on Friday… and before we know it, Christmas will be here! It may already have arrived for those who have put their decorations up!

Enjoy your weekends.

Mr Chanter

Mrs Friedmann's Spelling Group

 truly

duly

wholly

fully

daily

publicly

dryly

slyly

shyly

coyly

Mr Chanter's Spelling Group

musician

politician

electrician

magician

mathematician

dietician

statistician

technician

clinician

beautician

 Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you have had a lovely week. It has certainly been a very wet one. As you know today is Children in Need and it has been fantastic to see everyone supporting the day with their spotty clothes and incredibly generous donations. The children also took part in a live work-out assembly with the one and only Joe Wicks which brought great excitement and helped us all start the day with lots of energy.

In maths, we have been exploring multiplication and division facts in greater depth. The children have been practising how to use arrays to visualise number relationships and have been learning how to apply known facts to work out trickier calculations. We have also been looking at how we can use number families to show the link between multiplication and division which has helped to build confidence when solving problems.

In English, we have just started reading our new text The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. The children have enjoyed making predictions about what might happen based on the opening chapter and have been gathering quotations to support their ideas. They have also been using similes to help bring their character descriptions to life and experimenting with conjunctions and modal verbs to give clear advice to others. It has been brilliant to see them applying these features so confidently.

In our history topic on the Anglo Saxons Picts and Scots, the children have been learning about the Anglo Saxon migration. They discussed reasons why different groups of people might move from one place to another and considered the question 'Were they invaders or settlers?' with some thoughtful and well balanced class debate.

In our new science topic on sound, the children have been investigating how sounds are made. They explored a range of objects and instruments to see which parts vibrated and how those vibrations travelled to the ear. They were fascinated to discover that even very small movements can create sound.

On Monday, Year 4 will be taking part in an Internet Safety Workshop delivered by the Cybercrime departments at Hertfordshire Police. It was lovely to see some of you at the parent workshop on Wednesday. I am sure you would agree that it was very useful and raised some important points. We will be working closely with the Cybercrime department in the future and hope to welcome them back for another parent workshop soon.

On Thursday, we will be visiting Christ Church for a workshop on Symbols and Pilgrimage which the children have been learning about in class with Mrs Edwards.

Our class assembly is also next week on Friday 21st. We are very much looking forward to seeing you there. The children are excited to share what they have been learning this term.

Have a lovely weekend. Hopefully the weather improves soon.

Mr Chanter

 Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a lovely and restful half-term break. It’s been wonderful to see all the children return refreshed and ready for a new half-term of learning. It will be Christmas before we know it!

This week in English, the children have been working hard to write their own versions of The Mermaid of Zennor. They have included many of the features we have focused on this term, such as paragraphs, fronted adverbials and expanded noun phrases. The children have produced some fantastic pieces of writing, and I’m sure you will enjoy reading them at our next open afternoon. Next week, we will be moving on to our new text – The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes – one of my personal favourites.

In maths, we have been learning about area within our measurement topic. The children began by counting squares to find the area of simple shapes before moving on to using multiplication as a quicker and more efficient method. For example, they discovered that the area of a rectangle can be found by multiplying its length by its width. We also explored how irregular shapes can be split into smaller rectangles to calculate their total area. Next week, we will be starting our new topic on multiplication and division.

In Spanish, we practised saying the names of animals and colours. The children enjoyed combining these into sentences, making sure the adjectives agreed with the nouns for masculine and feminine words – a tricky but important skill.

In RE, we discussed the importance of Hajj for Muslims. The children learned about the special actions and rituals that Muslims perform when they visit the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and reflected thoughtfully on the significance of this pilgrimage.

We began our new DT topic by exploring different types of seasonal stockings. The children analysed various examples, thinking carefully about their purpose, function and what makes them visually appealing in terms of colour, decoration and design.

In history, we started our exciting new topic on the Anglo-Saxons, Picts and Scots. This week, we focused on the discovery of the Sutton Hoo burial in Suffolk – a fascinating archaeological find that tells us so much about Anglo-Saxon life. Some of the children even shared their own experiences of visiting the site, which really brought the lesson to life.

Next week is Anti-Bullying Week. The children will be exploring this important theme throughout the week, and we will be kicking things off with Odd Socks Day on Monday – a fun way to celebrate individuality and kindness.

We would also like to invite all parents and carers to attend a Cyber Safety Presentation led by the Police team on Wednesday from 2:00pm to 3:00pm. The session will offer valuable, practical advice on how to protect yourself, your family and your data online, as well as how parents can help children make safe and responsible choices when using technology.

One last thing - thank you all for the 500 Word submissions. It was lovely to read all of them and they have been uploaded onto the BBC's website for judging. Best of luck to all of the children!

Wishing you all a lovely weekend – see you next week.

Kind regards,

Mr Chanter

Mrs Friedmann's Spelling Group

gently

simply

humbly

nobly

horribly

terribly

possibly

incredibly

comfortably

probably

Mr Chanter's Spelling Group

invention

injection

action

question

mention

attraction

translation

devotion

position

solution