01/02/19

Hello Year 4!

What a wonderful end to the week we have had. Today was one of the most magical moments I have had as a teacher, as it was an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to play in the snow with the children. Have a look at some of the pictures below. The snowballs we made were very impressive!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highlights of the week:
The children have had the opportunity to take part in a lot of outdoor and practical learning this week which they have really enjoyed. The class have been investigating lines of symmetry in maths and they had the chance to look for symmetry in nature and in the playground. Take a look at some of the patters they found!

They also really worked on their teamwork skills in PSHCE where the class had to work together to complete some collaborative activities. Next week, the children will be able to analyse how well they worked together. I can certainly see the children's teamwork skills developing, not only in the classroom, but also on the playground, which is a huge improvement from the start of the year.

The children did not go to Stormont for art this week due to weather conditions, but Stormont came to them! They have been working really hard combining their art and history skills to create plates with numbers and letters from early civilisations. The other half of the class have been experimenting with water colours to add to their photographs.

It was an absolute pleasure to take the choir to the O2 this week. They performed so well and it was something I am sure the children will remember for the rest of their lives. So many children are eager to join choir as a result of hearing about the O2 which is brilliant.

Next week: 

English:
Next week we are going to be writing an alternative ending to our text and then we are looking at different story settings.

Spellings: There are no official spellings for this week as I want to give the class the chance to look over the first half of the statutory spelling list of the words that the children need to know by the end of year 4. Focus on the ones you are not confident with and practise writing these in sentences. Here is the list of the words if you do not have them. Don't panic, you will know a lot of them already.

accident(ally)
actual(ly)
address
answer
appear
arrive
believe
bicycle
breath
breathe
build
busy/business
calendar
caught
centre
century
certain
circle
complete
consider
continue
decide
describe
different
difficult
disappear
early
earth
eight/eighth
enough
exercise
experience
experiment
extreme
famous
favourite
February
forward(s)
fruit

Maths: We are starting a unit of work on decimal numbers. The class now know their 6 times tables and are making excellent progress with this. As a class we have now mastered the know 2,5,10, 11, 3, 6, and 9 times table and we will be moving on to the 4 times table. Please practise this at home. Remember, it is just double your 2 times table!

Science: Investigating melting and cooling and changes of state.

Have a lovely weekend enjoying the snow and remember to keep reading, practising times tables and Mathletics.

Miss Bradford

25/01/19

Hello Year 4.
I can't believe we are nearly at the end of January! We have been very busy in Year 4 and have had lots of fun with our learning this week. 

Highlights of the week:  
This week in numeracy the children have worked really hard on developing their reasoning skills to prove they are correct. The children are learning that in order to think mathematically, you need to be able to orally articulate your answers. In English, we have been reading more of 'Stig of the dump'. We looked closely at descriptive language used in the text, and we even reenacted parts of the text, focusing on the sounds that are in the book. In History, we transported back to the early civilisations and created a drama piece based on what trade would have been like in these times. The children created a diary entry based on a day in the market square. This week half of the class went to Stormont school to complete some Art work. They began using clay which they will turn into early civilation inspired pottery. The rest of the class went outside and completed some mindfulness photography. The children learned how to use a camera and produced some fantastic nature pictures with a range of different angles and zooms.

Next week: 

English: 
We will be finishing Stig of the dump, looking closely at how the characters have gone on a journey through the book, and we will also be writing an alternative ending. 

Spellings:
This week the spelling focus is homophones. You will probably know most of these spelling, but the  focus this week is knowing when to use each one in the correct place.

-I'll/Isle/aisle
-to/ two/too
-sent/cent/scent
-road,rowed,rode.

Maths: 
We are exploring symmetry, both through our bodies practically, drawings and shapes. 

Science: 
We will be completing our chocolate experiment next week, as this week we needed to consolidate the findings from our science experiment. 

Choir: 
I am so excited to go with the choir to the O2 arena on Tuesday afternoon! The children have been practicing so hard and they cannot stop dancing and smiling in rehearsals, which is an absolute delight to be apart of. 

The children are working so hard on their timetables and are becoming so much more confident. The whole class are now secure on their 2, 10, 5, 11, 3, 9, and we have been focusing on our 6 times table. The children have been working on using the most efficient method to reach their answer. For example, for 2x6, it is a lot quicker to count up in 2's than to work out 2x3 and then double it. Please practise these times tables with your children at home to ensure that they are reaching the answer with speed. If you children are secure with their times tables they need to now work on the inverse and work into the higher multiplication sums. 

Just to remind you that there will be a sharing assembly on 11th February at 9am. All of the information is on the sharing assembly tab at the top of this blog. The children taking part in this assembly are:

- Aliya
- James
- Edward
- Albert
- Harry
- Luis

Have a lovely weekend (hopefully we will see some more snow!) 

Miss Bradford 

18/01/19

Hello Year 4!

It was really nice to have a full week of learning, and you have worked really hard in all areas of the curriculum.

Highlights of the week:The week started with the children reading the story of "Salt in his shoes" all about hopes and dreams. The children created a class book of their goals for the future, what barriers they have put in the way of these dreams, and how to overcome them.We also had a really fun science lesson where we were investigating the weight of different gases by weighing fizzy drinks before and after we shook them to release all the carbon dioxide. The children really enjoyed doing this!

We have been code detectives in History as we have been looking at the Phoenician alphabet and using it to write messages to each other. This proved to be a challenge, considering there are no vowels in the Phoenician alphabet! In English, the children have been really enjoying "Stig of the dump" and have been answering lots of comprehension questions based on the text. They have also been working on their summarising skills, so please tell your family at home all about the text so far, and share with them your predictions about what you think might happen. In maths, we have been looking at different properties of shapes and using verbal reasoning to explain and compare these shapes. The children have been working really hard on explaining their answers to develop their mathematical language and skills.

Next week:
English: 
We are finishing off 'Stig of the Dump' and using drama to act out some of the key moments in the text.
Spellings:
The spelling focus for this week is 'ture' spelled words.
-mixture
-adventure
-departure
-feature
-moisture
-expenditure
-picturesque
-vulture
-sculpture
-agriculture

Maths:
We are finishing off looking at different properties of shapes and then exploring symmetry.

Science:
We are investigating heating and cooling with chocolate!

All of the children have been working really hard on their times table learning. Please ensure they are practising at home. They have all told me which times table they are working on, so they know what they need to practise.

Have a lovely weekend and I am looking forward to seeing you on Monday.

Miss Bradford

11/01/19

Happy new year Year 4! 
I hope you all had a lovely break and have come back feeling refreshed for the new year. 

Please see below for an overview of the topics we are covering this half term. 

Maths:
The units of work for this half term are;
-shape
-symmetry
-decimals and fractions
-money

Literacy:

We will be studying the text 'Stig of the dump' as well as completing a unit of work on different story settings. 

Science:
Investigating solids, liquids and gases. 

Spanish:
We are learning different vocabulary for restaurant settings in Spanish. 

Art & DT
Half of the class will be completing pottery art work at Stormont school each week, while the rest of the class will be doing a unit of work on photography and water colours at school. The groups will be swapped around after half term so everybody has the chance to do both units of work.

PSHCE:
Hopes and dreams.

RE:
The children will be looking at belonging, commitment and different types of worship. 

History:
Researching early civilisations.

Highlights of the week:
We have had a fantastic start to the new year in Year 4. I certainly had an exciting start to the week when I found out that the children who had entered the Young Writers poetry challenge right at the start of the year have been chosen for their work to published! Over 20,000 entries were sent in and I am so proud of all of your hard work which has certainly paid off! 

The children have come back to school really engaged and eager to learn. As always, we have been very practical this week! The children performed drama scripts based on an ice cube baby in a hospital that was melting. They really showed their understanding of the different properties of solids, liquids and gases through their physical drama. The children also created some songs and raps to do with their RE learning on belonging. These were performed and shared with the class and the children worked really hard on making a catchy song to showcase their learning. We have also begun a new text 'Stig of the dump' in English. The children recorded their predictions based on the front cover and blurb of the book, and we read the first chapter as a class today and met the mysterious character Stig. The children really developed their predicting and retrieval skills by unpicking information from the text to form views and record facts about Stig. I have also been really impressed with how well the children worked together on their maths detective  challenge. They had to find out different clues by answering maths problems to discover the culprit who stole the chocolate from the chocolate factory.

Next week:

Maths:
We are looking at different properties of shapes. 

Timestables:
Before the end of term, I gave each child an A3 sheet with all of the times tables on it. This is the order that the children should be learning the times tables in. They are split into 3 chunks. 
- 2 times table. 
- 5 times table
- 10 times table 
- 11 times table 

- 3 times table 
- 6 times table (double 3 times table) 
- 4 times table ( double 2 times table) 
- 8 times table ( double 4 times table) 

- 9 times table ( hand trick) 
- 7 times table
- 12 times table 

I have shown the children the importance of learning them in this way to make it easier. Today I taught the class the 9 times table trick on their hands. This is a fast and simple way of knowing the 9 times table. Please ask your children to show you this over the weekend. Here is a video clip to refresh your memory.
9 times table video clip

Next week we will be starting our times table challenges. The children will chose which chunk they are focusing on and will be tested on these times tables. Remember you can use your fingers or count on in your head to help you! Those children who are confidence with their tables up to 12 x 12 will be given an extension multiplication challenge. 

English:
Continuing our work on 'Stig of the dump' focusing on the effect of the language choices made by the author. 

Spellings:
The spelling focus for this week is 'gu' spelled words with the sound 'g'. ( not 'spelt'! There was a typo on the sheet that went out at the end of the day, sorry!)
-guardian 
-guest
-guess
-guide
-guitar
-guarantee
-guard
-baguette
-disguise
-Portuguese 
We will be doing spelling activities, including dictionary and thesaurus skills around these words every morning from 8:40-9:00, so please make sure you arrive promptly for school to ensure you get the most out of these sessions. If the children get all of these words correct in the pre-test on Monday, they have the extension challenge of finding more words that follow the same rule in the dictionary. 

Science: 
Investigating gases in a fizzy drink experiment. 

PE: 
Our PE timetable has changed as swimming has now finished. 
The children will still have PE on Monday, where they will need trainers. They will now have football on Tuesday afternoon and normal PE kit on Thursday morning.  Last term there were a lot of children regularly forgetting kit or trainers. Please ensure that you have your kit on the correct days so that you can get the most out of your PE lessons. 

Please make sure you are reading, completing mathletics and practising your times tables at home. I look forward to a full week of learning next week.

I hope you have a lovely weekend. 

Miss Bradford 

21/12/18

Hello Year 4! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

It has been an absolute delight teaching you this term, thank you for working so hard and being such a wonderful, loving and fantastic class.  

Thank you so much to everyone for all of the amazing and wonderful gifts, it was extremely kind and really appreciated. 

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are looking forward to seeing all your smiling faces in January!

I will write a detailed blog of what the children will be covering in the New Year.

Thank you very much again and Merry Christmas.

Miss Bradford, Mrs Farrell and Mrs Kirby

xxx

14/12/18

Hello Year 4!

Highlights of the week:
Christmas is certainly upon us and the elf on the shelf has been up to no good in our classroom! It was so lovely to see the children in their Christmas jumpers today and hearing them sing for their Christmas carol concert practice. I had the absolute pleasure of taking the choir to Mandeville Court to sing to the elderly. I am so proud that so many of Year 4 were there singing so beautifully. It was a delight to see the Foundation and KS1 Christmas performances this week. The class really enjoyed it and were really impressed with how well the children did. We also had an absolutely delicious Christmas dinner yesterday afternoon. The children really got into the festive spirit and even sang songs while they were eating!

Next week notices:

Just to remind you all next Friday the school will finish at 2pm.

The Carol Concert is on Monday evening at 19:00. I really do hope to see all of you attending. It is a lovely celebration of all the learning they have been doing in music this year. All children need to be in school uniform – if children want to wear Christmas head wear this is allowed. Be practise your lines if you are a reader. 

It's party time! On Wednesday afternoon KS2 are having their Christmas party.  The children can bring their own clothes to change into to feel more comfortable when busting a move. Year 4 have certainly been practising for the dance off...

Mrs Onley has asked if I could remind you all to return all library books by Monday.

There is no spelling test to revise for. If you could focus on learning the Y3/4 statutory word list with the children that would help with their progression within their writing.

There is no swimming next week, but can you please ensure children have their PE kits all week due to  changes in the timetable next week. 

Have a fantastic weekend. 

Miss Bradford

07/12/18

Hello Year 4!

It's nearly Christmas! I'm looking forward to seeing lots of you at the Christmas fair on Sunday. Thank you very much for your kind donations for the class Christmas hamper, it is greatly appreciated.

Highlights of the week.
We have had a busy week in Year 4 and the children have really been getting into the Christmas spirit. We have begun opening our 'Christmas acts of kindness' advent calendar and even the classroom has been redecorated with Christmas decorations, thanks to the wonderful help of Mrs Farrell and Mrs Kirby. We even had an elf on the shelf visit us this afternoon, who wrote on my whiteboard in permanent marker!

The children have really enjoyed our new topic in English looking at non chronological reports. They have been looking at a variety of different reports to help with their understanding of successful non-fiction writing. The class have also been working really hard on consolidating their maths fluency with a mental maths test today. The class have also been getting really hands on in D&T, making their prototypes for mechanical moving posters promoting recycling. The children really worked on developing their resilience skills during this lesson as a lot of them felt the frustration when their levers did not work first time. However, they were able to reflect maturely on what went well and what didn't, and suggest improvements and alternations for when they make their final product next week.

Next week:

English:
Producing non chronological reports on Volcanoes.

Spellings:The spelling focus for this week is words with the 'ou' spelling but have the 'u' sound.
-young
-touch
-trouble
-country
-enough
-encourage
-nourish
-cousin
-southern
-rough
Remember if you think you know these spellings you can challenge yourself to find different words that follow the same spelling rule.

The children did really well in their spelling test this week so thank you for supporting them in their learning at home. It really makes a difference to their progress and self esteem when they have practised before the test.

Maths:Next week we are focusing on measuring weight accurately. Any pre-learning you can do at home would really help. This can be helping read scales when cooking or baking, or looking at the different amount of liquids.

Maths investigation of the week:
For the maths problem this week I have sent the children how with a Christmas activity to consolidate their multiplication facts to complete if they want too. They do not need to bring this back to school, they can keep this and work thorough it.

Science:
Invertebrate hunt!

Have a lovely weekend!

Miss Bradford