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Year Four Weekly Blog Wk beginning 16.3.2020
Welcome to our home learning blog. The Year Four teaching team will be updating this blog regularly with home learning tasks designed for your children.
English:
Our Spelling learning this week is words which use the prefix ex- Here are some practising activities, games and tests to help your child learn these spelling words.
https://www.spellzone.com/word_lists/list-733.htm
Our grammar focus is apostrophes. Here is a video to teach the rules and some games designed to help practise this.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zvwwxnb/articles/zx9ydxs
Reading:
We recommend a website for reading quality books online. We have set up a login for each class so you can access this resource for free.
https://www.getepic.com/students
Southwark Class Login details
Millennium Class Login Details
Writing task:
We have been exploring the story The Tin Forest by Helen Ward. Use this illustration from the story to write what might happen next.
Remember to include:
Fronted adverbial phrases
Conjunctions
Expanded noun phrases
Punctuation including capital letters, full stops, commas in lists and after adverbial phrases, inverted commas for speech and apostrophes for plural possession. We recommend the follow website which explain these grammar terms
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zwwp8mn
Maths:
We have updated Mathletics. Our focus this week is decimals please look at free websites like Topmarks for good activities and games or the free resources on Mathsframe. BBCBitesize has good free video teaching resources for decimals
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/category/471/Y4-Decimals-and-Fractions
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=decimal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zr6pvcw
Science:
We are learning the basic function of the digestion system in humans. Watch the following videos and explain how the digestive system works.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z27kng8
Topic/Geography:
Research the journey of chocolate from pod to product.
P.E:
We recommend Kids hiit and Cosmic Yoga workouts available on YouTube to help keep us active.
Hopefully this will be plenty to keep your children busy and active. Newsround has excellent resources if your child is interested in World Events and News at a child’s level.
Week beginning 16th March 2020
[dropshadowbox align="none" effect="lifted-both" width="auto" height="" background_color="#ffffff" border_width="20" border_color="#dddddd" ]THIS WEEK’S LEARNING:
SPRING TERM 2 TOPIC: Traditional Tales
LITERACY:
Book Focus: Three Billy Goats Gruff
This week the children will explore alternate endings for the story, creating their own new adventures for the goats and the troll.
MATHS: This week we will focus on the language of subtraction eg less, fewer, take away, minus, subtract [/dropshadowbox]
[dropshadowbox align="none" effect="lifted-both" width="auto" height="" background_color="#ffffff" border_width="20" border_color="#61ebe3" ]HOMEWORK:
……and the troll was never seen again.
We have been reading the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. At the end of the story the troll who lived under the bridge was never seen again. What do you think happened to the troll? Where did he go? What did he do next? Why did he never come back to live under the bridge again? Draw a picture and write your own sentences about what you think happened to the troll
READING BOOKS: Please send in reading books and reading diaries on group days. Please note that if a book is lost, we kindly ask that you please replace the book with a similar book as our stock of books are dwindling
We also welcome donations of suitable books for our class libraries. [/dropshadowbox]
[dropshadowbox align="none" effect="lifted-both" width="auto" height="" background_color="#ffffff" border_width="20" border_color="#4deac6" ]IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday 17th March: Grosvenor Class Parent evenings 4.00pm to 7.00pm
Chelsea Class to be rescheduled in due course
23rd - 25th March: Balance bike training for Reception children. Please return any outstanding consent forms
Friday, 3rd April : Last day of term, Family Friday
Monday, 20th April: School re-opens for Summer Term 1 [/dropshadowbox]
Week Beginning 16th March 2020
English – Writing
The Monkey Puzzle – Julia Donaldson
| We will then create missing posters to help the young monkey find his mum. The children will take part in lots of writing opportunities based on this story. Over the next two weeks the children will write their own version of the story as part of our BIG WRITE.
The children will then create missing posters to help the young monkey find his mother. This week the children will understand how Monkey Puzzle fits a losing tale. A losing tale often starts with the main character having a valuable item. The character loses the precious item and has to either search for it or face the consequences of losing it. The story may end with the valuable item being found again. Towards the end of the week children will innovate a prequal and a sequel to the Monkey Puzzle. Prequal – The child will think about what could have happened before the monkey lost his mum :(. Sequel – The children will continue the story. |
Maths – Shape
- To understand quarter to and quarter past
- To tell time to the 5 minutes
- To recap how many minutes in an hour, hours in a day
- To find durations of time
- To compare durations of time
– To understand quarter to and quarter past
|
| Our new class read is The Last Polar Bears by Harry Horse. We will also be learning some new reading skills as a whole class using ERIC. The children will build their repertoire of different reading skills through the year. |
When reading with your child, please use VIPERS when asking them questions on the book they are reading.
Below you will find a list of possible questions to help you with conversations about your child’s reading. They are not intended to be used all at once or every time you read with your child. Use them at your discretion and where they are appropriate. Happy Reading.
Questions to ask before you read
- Can you look at the pictures and predict what you think will happen in this book?
- What makes you think that?
- What characters do you think might be in our story?
- Do you think there will be a problem in this story? Why or why not?
- Does the topic/story relate to you or your family? How?
Questions to ask during the reading
- What do you think will happen next?
- What can you tell me about the story so far?
- Can you predict how the story will end?
- Why do you think the character did _______?
- What would you have done if you were the character?
- How would you have felt if you were the character? (use different characters)
- As I read____________, it made me picture________ in my head. What pictures do you see in your head?
- As you read, what are you wondering about?
- Can you put what you’ve just read in your own words?
Questions to ask after reading
- Can you remember the title?
- In your opinion, was it a good title for this book? Why or why not?
- Were your predictions about the story correct?
- If there was a problem, did it get solved?
- What happened because of the problem?
- Why do you think the author wrote this book?
- What is the most important point the author is trying to make in his writing?
- What was your favorite part of the story?
- If you could change one thing in the story, what would it be?
- Can you retell the story in order?
- If you were __________, how would you have felt?
- What is the most interesting situation in the story?
- Is there a character in the story like you? How are you alike?
- Why did you like this book?
Our ICT slot is on Tuesday afternoon. We are photographers is the name of our new unit. In this unit, the children review photos online, practise using a digital camera, take photos to fit a given theme, edit their photos, and then select their best images. Children will also select images to create a comic.
Is your child an author?
If yes, head over to Grant Koper’s website. Your child has the opportunity to have their story published on his website and their story read out of YouTube by Grant himself!!!
Week Beginning 2nd March 2020
Parents’ Evening will be held on Thursday 12th March 2020 and Tuesday 17th March 2020.
THURSDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 2020
This year for World Book Day, children can decorate spoons and potatoes as book characters.
English – Writing
The children wrote a non-chronological report about minibeast. They all did very well, and we are extremely proud of them. Ask your child all about minibeast. 🙂
The Monkey Puzzle – Julia Donaldson
We are starting a new book this term. We will read the book and begin to understand the vocabulary used in the text and look at key phrases. We will then embed phrases and grammar.
Towards the end of the week, the children will group information about the mummy monkey.
Maths – Shape
- To recognise a third
- To understand unit fractions
- To understand non unit fractions
- To understand equivalence of ½ and 2/4
- To find ¾
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z3rbg82/articles/zq2yfrd
-To find a third
– To understand unit fractions
A unit fraction is a fraction where the numerator (top number) is 1 and the denominator (bottom number) is a while number. The fractions below are unit fraction because the numerator is 1 and the denominator is a whole number.
– To understand non unit fractions
A non–unit fraction is a fraction where the numerator (the number on the top half of the fraction) is greater than 1.
These are examples of non-unit fractions because the numerator is greater than 1.
– To understand equivalence of ½ and 2/4
When two fractions are equivalent, this means they are the same in terms of shape and size, but are expressed using different numbers.
We will explore the relationship between 1/2 and 2/4. They are the same size but expressed in a different way.
-To find ¾
This is a non unit fraction because the numerator is greater than 1.
| Our new class read is The Last Polar Bears by Harry Horse. We will also be learning some new reading skills as a whole class using ERIC. The children will build their repertoire of different reading skills through the year. |
When reading with your child, please use VIPERS when asking them questions on the book they are reading.Below you will find a list of possible questions to help you with conversations about your child’s reading. They are not intended to be used all at once or every time you read with your child. Use them at your discretion and where they are appropriate. Happy Reading.
Questions to ask before you read
- Can you look at the pictures and predict what you think will happen in this book?
- What makes you think that?
- What characters do you think might be in our story?
- Do you think there will be a problem in this story? Why or why not?
- Does the topic/story relate to you or your family? How?
Questions to ask during the reading
- What do you think will happen next?
- What can you tell me about the story so far?
- Can you predict how the story will end?
- Why do you think the character did _______?
- What would you have done if you were the character?
- How would you have felt if you were the character? (use different characters)
- As I read____________, it made me picture________ in my head. What pictures do you see in your head?
- As you read, what are you wondering about?
- Can you put what you’ve just read in your own words?
Questions to ask after reading
- Can you remember the title?
- In your opinion, was it a good title for this book? Why or why not?
- Were your predictions about the story correct?
- If there was a problem, did it get solved?
- What happened because of the problem?
- Why do you think the author wrote this book?
- What is the most important point the author is trying to make in his writing?
- What was your favorite part of the story?
- If you could change one thing in the story, what would it be?
- Can you retell the story in order?
- If you were __________, how would you have felt?
- What is the most interesting situation in the story?
- Is there a character in the story like you? How are you alike?
- Why did you like this book?
To understand a woodland habitat. Children will look at the features of a woodland habitat and compare it to an ocean habitat.
Our ICT slot is on Tuesday afternoon. We are photographers is the name of our new unit. In this unit, the children review photos online, practise using a digital camera, take photos to fit a given theme, edit their photos, and then select their best images. Children will also select images to create a comic.
Is your child an author?
If yes, head over to Grant Koper’s website. Your child has the opportunity to have their story published on his website and their story read out of YouTube by Grant himself!!!
Week Beginning 2nd March
This week our learning will be as follows;
- In mathematics we will continue our work on addition and subtraction. We will learn to add and subtract using formal written methods, estimate the answer to addition and subtraction calculations and check our work using inverses.
- In English we will learn about the features of letter writing before writing a letter in role as a character from Escape from Pompeii.
- In science we will continue our learning on fossils.
- In History we will plan a piece of writing about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and destruction of Pompeii.
- In RE we will learn about why Hindus believe it is important to care for our world.
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#36f2e6″ border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]We are looking forward to seeing parents at our Parent-Teacher meetings on 12th and 17th March.[/dropshadowbox]
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#f236e1″ border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]World Book Day is on Thursday 5th March. Children will not be dressing up this year but they have been asked to bring a spoon or potato dressed as a book character.[/dropshadowbox]
The first week of February
Back to a normal week at Howard.
First of all, last week’s homework:
Next week, we will work through the following things:
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#94bde0″ border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]Maths[/dropshadowbox]
- Ordering and comparing fractions above and across one.
- Adding and subtracting fractions with related denominators.
- Problem-Solving.
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#e0c394″ border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]English[/dropshadowbox]
With the help of our class-novel “Room 13” we will be …
- Using a range of narrative and language devices to innovate a warning dream.
- Using a storymap and a range of narrative and language devices to invent a warning dream.
- Using Success Criteria and feedback to edit and improve our writing/narration.
- SPaG: Using Prefices.
- Have a look at the video: https://www.literacyshed.com/draculas-whitby.html#
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#67c44a” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]Science[/dropshadowbox]
- Exploring the effect of pulleys to translate force.
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#f0d1f5″ border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]Others[/dropshadowbox]
- Spanish: I can use Spanish to talk about pets.
- Geography: I can link contour-lines with the reality.
- ICT: I can apply my knowledge of programming to create a simple Scratch programme.
- PSHE: Connor and Faye will be back teaching us how to keep fit and healthy.
We will also continue sharing our Myths from two weeks ago.
Week Beginning 3rd February 2020
This week our learning will be as follows;
- In mathematics we will learn to add and subtract units of measure before starting a new unit of work on place value.
- In English we will use information books and video clips to research volcanoes. We will then plan a non-chronological report on volcanoes.
- In science we will test rocks for permeability, density and durability.
- In RE we will learn why Jewish people believe it is important to care for trees and we will mark the Jewish festival of Tu B’Shevat.
- In topic time we will use the volcanoes we have made in class to make a working volcano. We will use vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to create an “eruption”.
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#72f623″ border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]Thank you to all the families who sent in newspapers. The children really enjoyed making volcanoes.[/dropshadowbox]
Year Four Weekly Blog Week Beginning 20.1.2020
Our Learning This Week:
Maths-We will be learning the properties of triangles in order to identify and names isosceles, scalene, equilateral and right-angled triangles. Children will continue to revise the properties and vocabulary associated with 2-d shapes. For example, perpendicular, parallel, quadrilateral,adjacent,diagonal,bisect,polygon. We will then be moving on to coordinates reading and plotting points in a 10 by 10 grid.
There are many online games your child can play to consolidate this learning. We have used these websites in class:
https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/geometry/shapeshoot/QuadShapesShoot.htm
https://www.iknowit.com/lessons/d-geometry-quadrilaterals.html
https://www.mathplayground.com/matching_shapes.html
http://www.skoool.com.eg/english/skoool_bundle/content/primary/maths/polygons/index.html
English-We will be reading the Great Kapok Tree boxing up the story to understand the structure and writer’s techniques before innovating our own animal addition to the story.
Feel free to read along with us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Teb-_jTyI
Topic-We are starting our Geography unit-The Rainforest by learning about the climate.
R.E-During P.P.A, with Miss Symes, children will be learning about bible stories. Children have been invited to share their personal bibles if they wish.
I.C.T-During P.P.A, with Mrs Forde, children will be learning about Logo.
Reminders:
P.E will take place on Tuesdays or Friday and Thursdays-Children will need their full p.e kit including tracksuit bottoms or leggings for outside P.E.
Daily Reading at home is essential. Please sign your child’s book to show this is happening.
Homework will continue to be given out on a Friday to be completed for the following Friday. All children are expected to complete homework unless this is prearranged with their class teacher.
Please let us know if you have lost the homework then we can provide another copy.
Week Beginning 20th January 2020
Mordern Hall Park Trip – Thursday 30th January 2020
English – Writing
Here is the story of The Magic Paintbrush.
The Magic Brush
Long, long ago in Ancient China there lived a poor boy, who was called Chang. Although he loved drawing, Chang was too poor to have a paintbrush so he used a stick instead. He would draw in the sand or scratch marks on the walls.
Early one morning, Chang saw a large, silver fish trapped in the tall reeds by the riverbank. The fish were struggling to get free. He helped to release the fish because he felt sorry for them.
Later that day, Chang was sleeping. In his dream, a man dressed in a silver cloak spoke to him. “You are a kind boy Chang. I am giving you a magic brush. Use it to help the poor.” Chang woke with a start and lying beside him was a paintbrush.
So Chang painted the shape of a butterfly and to his amazement it changed into a real butterfly and flew away. Chang was delighted with this gift. He ran straight back to the village to see how he could help the poor people.
First, he painted a donkey for the young mother to help her carry her goods. Next he painted an ox to help the farmer pull his plough. After that he painted a hoe for the old lady to weed her garden. Everyday he found a new use for the paintbrush.
Unluckily, the Emperor heard of Chang and his magic brush. He sent for Chang and ordered him to paint a field of gold. Chang didn’t want to obey the greedy Emperor so he drew a sea with a tiny island in the distance.
“Where is my field of gold?” shouted the Emperor, angrily.
“Just here,” replied Chang, drawing a tiny field on the island.
“Paint me a boat so that I can travel to the island,” snarled the Emperor. So Chang painted a boat. The Emperor climbed onto the boat. Chang drew the north wind blowing towards the island.
“I’m going too slowly,” roared the Emperor. “Paint stronger wind.” “So Chang drew a storm. Suddenly, the waves grew rougher and rougher until the boat capsized and the Emperor disappeared. Then Chang drew a white horse so that he could ride home and tell his friends what had happened to the Emperor who wanted too much for himself.
This week we will be answering questions on the story of The Magic Brush in order to deepen their understanding. The children will have a variety of questions, including choice, retrieval and interpreting.
The children have enjoyed looking The Magic Brush’ story so far. This week we will be retelling the story through drama. We will then be using the ‘warning tale toolkit’ to box up the story into different sections.
The children will use this tool kit to innovate their own version of a warning story. We will be encouraging children to ‘show not tell’.
Maths – Division
- To divide by 10
- To recognise 2D and 3D shapes
- To count sides on 2D shapes
To make equal groups by sharing, divide 16 oranges equally between 4 families
Share 6 cookies between 2 people.
To divide by 10
Children will practically group and share objects. Children will be encouraged to use number lines to share objects between 10 people. When dividing by ten, children will be encouraged to use their knowledge of their 10 x tables.
To recognise 2D and 3d shapes
We will be investigating 2D and 3D shapes. Children will explore the difference between 2D and 3D shapes. 2D shapes are flat and 3D shapes have volume.
To count sides on 2D shapes
Children will count the sides on 2d shapes. They will see 2D shapes in different ways.
Example:
| We will continue to read The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl. We will also be learning some new reading skills as a whole class using ERIC. The children will build their repertoire of different reading skills through the year. |
When reading with your child, please use VIPERS when asking them questions on the book they are reading.
Our ICT slot is on Tuesday afternoon. We are photographers is the name of our new unit. In this unit, the children review photos online, practise using a digital camera, take photos to fit a given theme, edit their photos, and then select their best images. Children will also select images to create a comic.
Florence Nightingale. The children will continue to explore Florence Nightingale. We will be comparing the conditions in Scutari hospital before and after Florence Nightingale. The children be writing about the differences in a diary form.
Is your child an author?
If yes, head over to Grant Koper’s website. Your child has the opportunity to have their story published on his website and their story read out of YouTube by Grant himself!!!
English – Writing
|
| We will continue to read The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl. We will also be learning some new reading skills as a whole class using ERIC. The children will build their repertoire of different reading skills through the year. |
When reading with your child, please use VIPERS when asking them questions on the book they are reading.Maths (Multiplication)
-
- To use arrays to solve multiplication problems
- To learn the 2x tables
- To learn the 5x tables
- To learn the 10x tables
- Using arrays to solve multiplication problems
Arrays can be used for building multiplication facts in a meaningful way. Before drilling and memorising tables, children must understand how these facts are derived. For example, by progressively adding another column of three objects, children can build the three-times tables for themselves.
To learn the 2,5 and 10 x tables the children will:
– Look at patterns and rules – 2 and 10 times tables the numbers are even. In the 5 times tables, they end in a 5 or 0.
| -Look at the rules of commutativity – Oral activities – songs, rhymes and raps help young children to memorise multiplication facts -Practical activities – flashing 5 fingers |
Examples of living things – baby, butterfly, oak tree, goldfish
Examples of things that were once alive – leather bag, cotton jumper
Examples of non-living things – plastic bag, metal
Our ICT slot is on Tuesday afternoon. We are game testers. During this unit, the children will play and evaluate simple scratch games. We will discuss age ratings and increasing game addiction.
Florence Nightingale. The children will write a factfile about Florence Nightingale.
Art
We will continue to explore line and tone. The children will draw different facial parts by taking a line for a walk. They will draw a mouth, an eye, an ear and a nose without lifting their pencil form the paper. The children will apply this to Florence Nightingale. The children will draw a portrait of Florence Nightingale by taking their pencil for a walk.
Is your child an author?
If yes, head over to Grant Koper’s website. Your child has the opportunity to have their story published on his website and their story read out of YouTube by Grant himself!!!
Week Beginning 13th January 2020
Mordern Hall Park Trip – Thursday 30th January 2020
English – Writing
Here is the story of The Magic Paintbrush.
The Magic Brush
Long, long ago in Ancient China there lived a poor boy, who was called Chang. Although he loved drawing, Chang was too poor to have a paintbrush so he used a stick instead. He would draw in the sand or scratch marks on the walls.
Early one morning, Chang saw a large, silver fish trapped in the tall reeds by the riverbank. The fish were struggling to get free. He helped to release the fish because he felt sorry for them.
Later that day, Chang was sleeping. In his dream, a man dressed in a silver cloak spoke to him. “You are a kind boy Chang. I am giving you a magic brush. Use it to help the poor.” Chang woke with a start and lying beside him was a paintbrush.
So Chang painted the shape of a butterfly and to his amazement it changed into a real butterfly and flew away. Chang was delighted with this gift. He ran straight back to the village to see how he could help the poor people.
First, he painted a donkey for the young mother to help her carry her goods. Next he painted an ox to help the farmer pull his plough. After that he painted a hoe for the old lady to weed her garden. Everyday he found a new use for the paintbrush.
Unluckily, the Emperor heard of Chang and his magic brush. He sent for Chang and ordered him to paint a field of gold. Chang didn’t want to obey the greedy Emperor so he drew a sea with a tiny island in the distance.
“Where is my field of gold?” shouted the Emperor, angrily.
“Just here,” replied Chang, drawing a tiny field on the island.
“Paint me a boat so that I can travel to the island,” snarled the Emperor. So Chang painted a boat. The Emperor climbed onto the boat. Chang drew the north wind blowing towards the island.
“I’m going too slowly,” roared the Emperor. “Paint stronger wind.” “So Chang drew a storm. Suddenly, the waves grew rougher and rougher until the boat capsized and the Emperor disappeared. Then Chang drew a white horse so that he could ride home and tell his friends what had happened to the Emperor who wanted too much for himself.
This week we will be answering questions on the story of The Magic Brush in order to deepen their understanding. The children will have a variety of questions, including choice, retrieval and interpreting.
The children have enjoyed looking The Magic Brush’ story so far. This week we will be retelling the story through drama. We will then be using the ‘warning tale toolkit’ to box up the story into different sections.
The children will eventually use this toolkit to help them plan their own warning tale.
Maths – Division
Children will practically share cubes and counters between different people or they will group these objects in different ways.
- To make equal groups by sharing
- To make equal groups by grouping
- To divide by 2
- To divide by 5
To make equal groups by sharing, divide 16 oranges equally between 4 families
Share 6 cookies between 2 people.To divide by 2
Children will share objects between 2 people. Practically, they will also group objects into two groups.When dividing by two, children will be encouraged to use their knowledge of their 2 x tables. We will also explore the relationship between halving and dividing by 2.
To divide by 5
Children will share objects between 5 people. Practically, they will also group objects into five groups. When dividing by 5, children will be encouraged to use their knowledge of their 5 x tables.
| We will continue to read The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl. We will also be learning some new reading skills as a whole class using ERIC. The children will build their repertoire of different reading skills through the year. |
When reading with your child, please use VIPERS when asking them questions on the book they are reading.
Our ICT slot is on Tuesday afternoon. We are game testers. During this unit, the children will play and evaluate simple scratch games. We will discuss age ratings and increasing game addiction.
Florence Nightingale. The children will continue to write a fact file about Florence Nightingale.
Is your child an author?
If yes, head over to Grant Koper’s website. Your child has the opportunity to have their story published on his website and their story read out of YouTube by Grant himself!!!