Maths!
We have a massive focus on timetables this half term as it is essential for all children to know their times tables up to 12x12 in time for upper KS2 maths. Therefore we will be completing daily times table activities.
We are also looking at using formal methods for answering questions linked to all four operations and understanding the value of each digit in a given number.
Click on the calculation policy to see how you can support your child to use a formal method when calculating numbers at home.
UPDATE! We've been looking at fractions and decimals a lot recently but now need to move onto time. Children are expected to be able to read the time to the nearest minute, so please encourage them to tell the time at home and work out 'how long' it will be until an activity and what the end time may be. For example; It's 2:35pm and grammar will take 30minutes, what time will it finish? Thank you for your continued support.
Maths at home!
Please help your child by supporting them with their times tables daily. Reciting the times tables before eating breakfast or asking 5 questions as you walk or drive to school will make a huge difference.
Please click on the links below to access different maths sites that can support your children's learning.
Times tables:
60 times tables grid ~ Answer Sheet
Mixed 144 times tables grid ~ Answer Sheet
144 division grid ~ Answer Sheet
General:
Sumdog
Cool maths
Maths shed
Crickweb
BBC bitesize
Maths games
Fraction games
Fractions
English!
In English, we are looking at Anne Fine and the book, The Diary of a Killer Cat. Here is an audio clip of the book. Our main focus is writing a diary-entry style text, as well as on how to describe feelings and character within our writing.
Next we focused on persuasive adverts as our genre and had great fun creating our own ‘super shoes’ as part of our homework. Then we used these ideas in our class writing and these are some of our fantastic pieces of writing.
Now it’s all about information text/ non-chronological reports. We’ve been busy identifying the features of a non-chronological report this week and working out the difference between facts and opinions. You've completed some really fantastic homework on these, well done everyone for your efforts!
English at home!
Spelling and grammar are big focuses for Year 4 so keep learning these daily.
Spellings:
UPDATE! There seems to be lots of children who require numerous retests each week for the spelling tests. Please support your children to learn their spellings each week. In order to help with some more inspiring ways to learn them than just writing them down, please see the attached document.
Unusual ways to learn your spellings
All children are expected to know what all of these statutory words mean and how to spell them by the end of the year in preparation for upper KS2.
Click here for the statutory spelling list.
Click on the links below to see your spellings list.
List A List B List C List D List E List F List G List H List I List J List K List L List M List N List O List P
Grammar:
Please click on the links below to access different grammar sites that can support your children's learning.
Topmarks
BBC bitesize
Crickweb
Reading:
UPDATE! A massive ‘WELL DONE’ to Isobel who is the only child to get her reading diary signed by an adult from home at least 4 times every week! A pat on the back also goes to Elisabeth who has only missed one week! Lots of the class have improved their home-reading, well done, but there are a few who keep forgetting to return their diary and therefore can’t earn their reward…
We are really pushing reading at home and where possible, we are asking children to be heard by an adult and to get their reading diary signed 4 times a week.
A large proportion of the Year 4 reading curriculum looks at children understanding what they have read, predicting what will happen and the children being able to ask questions about the text.
Please find below some questions that might be useful as a starting point when discussing what you have been reading with your child.
- What do you think will happen next and why?
- Who is the main character and how do you know?
- What are the main points in the text? Summarise what you have just read.
- How does this character show their thoughts and feelings?
- How has the author used a variety of sentence structures for effect?
- Why has the author chosen this word? What effect does it have on the reader? Can you think of a better one?
- What does this word mean? How can you find out?
- Why has the author used a heading, bullet points and images?
- What would you like to find out from this book? What questions would you like to ask?
PE
AT1 - Our focuses are hockey and gymnastics this half term and our skills have really improved during PE.
AT2 - Now we’re learning to play football as a team with a big focus on passing accurately to our team mates. In dance we’re learning to move in time to music which Ishe, Joshua and Darcy have shared with the whole class. We’ve also used partners and we’ve been learning a whole class dance routine, that uses mirroring and cannoning, to a Disney song. Maddy and John have learnt the moves really well as they’ve only just joined us!
EXCITING UPDATE!
Also, we had an exciting visit from a London Irish Rugby play who ran some taster sessions throughout the day for every class. In Year 4, we particularly liked to tag game where you collected as many tags as possible from all the other children in the class. Thank you for a lovely session! Click below to view some photos. London Irish
Science
AT1 - We are looking at living things and their habitats in science this half term and have been outside the classroom exploring our school's habitats.
Here are some photographs of our work - we have been grouping animals based on their characteristics and we have made classification keys about them. Also, we have conducted investigations in our local area to find out and classify different vegetation.
AT2 - Science has now moved onto solids, liquids and gases and we completed a very messy investigation that involved melting chocolate buttons on our hands. Did you know that Elisabeth had the warmest hands because her chocolate melted the fastest and Ollie’s was the complete opposite!
A note from the children:
In Year 4, in science, we have been learning about habitats. For our homework, Miss Johnson set us a challenge to make our own habitats in a box/on a plate. We also had to write a description about them. We made a variety of habitats that were all different and unique. The locations included; tropical rainforests, deserts, north/south poles, jungles, ponds, hydrothermal vents and under the sea.
We had lots of fun sharing them today during assembly and with the Reception children.
Our homework was FANTASTIC this week! Can we have more homework like this please Miss Johnson?
Take a look at all our wonderful creations by clicking on the link below.
Habitat images
