Friday 21st March 2025

To start my post, I would like to say what a privilege it was to take the class to Batchworth Lock Education Centre this week. We had glorious weather and the behaviour of the children was impeccable. We were split into 3 groups with a rotation of the activities: learning about the history of the canal and lock which involved dressing up in traditional clothing and role playing life as a person on the canal, the second activity was a trip on the canal (spotting wildlife and seeing the different homes) and the final activity was opening and closing the lock and looking inside the living quarters of a working barge which is named the Roger. The volunteers were engaging and we came away with so much new information about our local history. A big thank you to Miss Wybrow for joining us.

In Maths we have been continuing to look at decimals: seeing the relationship between hundredths as fractions and decimals. 

In English we have planned our version of the model text. We have ‘boxed up’ so we can follow the structure of the original newspaper report.

In PSHE we were looking at how we can be influenced by others. We discussed the importance of having our own opinions and sharing that in a courteous, respectful way.

In DT we have planned our fruit pie recipe, based on the ingredients they trialled last week. Next week we will be making our pies.

It was such a pleasure to watch ten members of the Year 4 class participating in the Matilda performances this week. An absolute triumph!

In Guided Reading this week we looked at a story called Grimwood.

In Music we turned our haiku poems into musical performances. They were beautifully performed in groups of 2 or 3.

This week’s spellings focused on the sub- prefix. The spellings are on Doodle Learning and were sent home today on a sheet.

In RE we have started to assign the reading roles and performances for the Easter Service, which is taking place on Thursday 3rd April at 6pm. 

Friday 14th March 2025

On Monday we were treated to a snippet of the Matilda performance - goosebumps is the best word to describe it!

This week in Maths we have been learning about decimals - we were looking at how the fraction of a tenth converts into the decimal. We counted in tenths on a number line and identified the missing numbers. As we went along we addressed any misconceptions. My top tip was to think of it as counting in two digit numbers (25, 26, 27, etc) however a decimal has been slotted in the middle (2.5, 2.6, 2.7, etc). We have also divided a one and two digit number by 10. Seeing how the digits slide one place down the place value slider (becoming ten times smaller).

In English, we have been looking at the features of a newspaper. Identifying how an article’s introductory paragraph will start with the 5Ws (who, what, where, why, when). The class also carried out their Reading Comprehension assessment yesterday, the results of which will be shared on the reports in anticipation of the Parent Consultations at the end of this term.

In RE this week we had a visitor, Mrs Jordan, from the Watford School’s Trust to teach us a fascinating lesson about the Last Supper. On Wednesday we continued this learning about the symbols that represent Easter and reasons behind them.

In History we compared maps of Rickmansworth from 1860, 1910, 1960 and 2024. It was interesting to see how the lakes at the Aquadrome had been created (the stones were used to build the old Wembley Stadium), the addition of the railway in 1887, the increase of housing over the course of 150 years and how the fields had been turned into residences/shops/etc.

In DT we were tasting different types of apples and pears in preparation for planning our pie recipe. We also added ginger, cinnamon and lemon juice if we wanted. I was so proud of how every child tried the fruits. 

In Spellings this week we were looking at the inter-prefix. The spellings have been sent home today or are on Doodle Learning to practise.

This week’s Guided Reading focused on a collection of poems from a book titled ‘I am Jigsaw’. 

In PSHE we looked at rules/laws and who created them in various locations: home, school, train stations, swimming pools, etc. 

A reminder of weekly homework: English on Doodle Learning, Maths on Doodle Learning, TTRS (14 minutes), reading 5 times a week and spellings.

Friday 7th March 2025

To begin with, it was such a joy to see so many of you this week in the Library sharing a book with your child as part of Book Week. We appreciate you taking the time to join us. World Book Day was such a treat! Seeing Mr Stink, Elphaba and Little Red Riding in my Maths lesson was a treat, to say the least. Thank you so much for your support.

Maths - this week we have been learning about converting mixed numbers into improper fractions and how to find equivalent fractions. A video to look at converting mixed numbers to improper fractions can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEmCZGbd4R8 

English - In English, we finished learning our Recount model text. We also focused on ordinal adverbs (firstly, second, last of all, etc), answered a reading comprehension set of questions based on the model text and looked at reported speech in newspapers.

PSHE - we were looking at rules and laws surrounding children which are implemented by the United Nations. It was interesting to discover that not all children are protected by these laws in every country. 

DT - Due to the fact we will be planning and making fruit pies this term, we were looking at which fruits and vegetables are grown seasonably over the course of a year. Thinking particularly about the fruits grown in spring which we will choose from to create our pies.

RE - We started the new topic of ‘Why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’? - to hook us in we taste unleavened bread and red grape juice (red wine), just like Jesus shared with his disciples at the Last Supper.

History - We investigated the houses built in the Victorian times in Rickmansworth and their features. Then we sketched our own versions of a Victorian house and included the key features. 

Spelling - super prefix. The class were sent home today with the spellings to practise or they are available on Doodle Learning to rehearse.

Guided Reading - we looked at the entertaining non-fiction book ‘How do Meerkats Order Pizza?’

To mark the end of Book Week we enjoyed the bedtime stories - selecting a member of staff to hear reading a story with a delicious hot chocolate.

Friday 28th February 2025

It was lovely to see the class after Half term. We enjoyed sharing what made us smile over our half term break.

English - As a hook, to start out new Talk 4 Writing model text, we create Victorian-style travel posters to advertise the metropolitan line coming to Rickmansworth in 1887. We then started to learn our model text, which is a recount written in the style of a newspaper report. We focused on synonyms for primary, relative clauses and conjunctive adverbs (however, although, nevertheless, etc).

Maths - this week we started our Fractions topic. We were counting in various fraction amounts, identifying the fraction shaded and looking at mixed number fractions (e.g 2 ¾)

Science - we went on a sound hunt around the school, looking at what was making the sound and how it was being made. Was it the vibrations of vocal chords? Or the vibrations of the floor boards?

RE - we came to a philosophical end to our Hinduism topic. Thinking carefully about what we’ve learnt about Karma has impacted us. Can we find selfless acts of kindness?

Music - we looked at a video about the Hanami Festival in Japan. The music which accompanied the video made us think of vocabulary related to the beautiful blossom.

History - we are learning about the history of Rickmansworth and the waterways over this half term. In the first lesson we were thinking about what a source of information is. Rickmansworth was first mentioned in 788AD in the Doomsday book. 

DT - it’s going to be a delicious half term learning about cooking fruit pies. In our first lesson we revisited the Eatwell Guide and drew our own healthy meal based on the recommendations.

PSHE - we looked at people who have a duty of care to ensure we are safe and healthy: doctors, firefighters, teachers, crossing patrol, caretakers, police, school administrators, etc. 

spellings - this we focused on the re- prefix. The spellings have been sent home with the children and are available on Doodle Learning. 

In Guided Reading we looked at an entertaining story called Keisha Jones Takes over the World.

Library takes place every Tuesday.

English and Maths home learning is set on Doodle Learning every Monday morning. This is due to be completed by Sunday evening the following week.

TTRS - 7 mins of Garage and 7 games of soundcheck each week.

Reading records are now stamped on a Thursday morning if pupils have read at least 5 times a week.

Friday 14th February 2025

The end of a very busy half term. Wishing you all a restful half term. 

We were incredibly proud of the class performing and singing their hearts out at Young Voices on Monday night. Mrs Bennett was blown away by the class at the Dance Festival show on Tuesday.

In English, the class wrote their Hot Write story, using the setting toolkit to enhance their writing. They then published their stories on tea stained paper, to give the impression they were written at the time of the model text, about 150 years ago.

In Maths we continued looking at the perimeter of rectilinear shapes and polygons. 

In Science we were looking at the water cycle, thinking about water evaporating, condensing and their falling to Earth in the form of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet). 

In RE we thought about the morals taught in the Panchatantra tales.

In PSHE we thought about Safer Internet Day - thinking about how to spot Phishing Scams. 

In Geography we looking at the positive and negative effects of tourism on society, environment and economy.

In Guided Reading we looked at poetry by Michael Rosen. It was very entertaining to watch the performances. 

This weeks Art marked the end of our Typography art topic. The class were inspired by Chris Kenny to produce 3D maps which incorporated the typography by labelling the locations. 

Looking ahead to next half term we will be focusing on the following:

English - writing a recount in the form of a newspaper article

Maths - Fractions: counting in quarters, thirds, fifths, etc.

Science - Sound

DT - cookery

History - Rickmansworth and the waterways 

Music - Creating compositions in response to an animation (Theme: Mountains)

RE - Why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’?

PSHE - Rights and Responsibilities

Computing - Datalogging 

Spanish

This half term, we focused on learning the names of different classroom objects in Spanish. We practised describing what we have and what we don’t have in our bags. We also learned how to use the conjunctions y (and) and pero (but) to link our sentences. For example, we might say, "Tengo un lápiz y una regla" (I have a pencil and a ruler) or "No tengo una goma, pero tengo un bolígrafo" (I don't have a rubber, but I have a pen). This helped us create more detailed sentences and improve our conversational skills.

Computing

This half term, we focused on digital photo editing. We learned how to use different editing tools to enhance and modify photos. Our main project involved creating a realistic advert, where we applied our editing skills to design an eye-catching and professional-looking advertisement. We explored techniques like adjusting colours, cropping, and adding text to make our photos look polished and visually appealing. 

PE

In our PE lessons, we focused on performing a range of balances on the beam and learnt how to complete a handstand and cartwheel. We worked on improving our stability and control by practising different positions. We also practised holding our balance in different poses while maintaining focus and posture. This helped us build strength, coordination, and confidence on the beam, and we learned how to transition smoothly between movements while keeping our balance steady.

Mrs Bennett

Friday 7th February 2025

In Maths this week we have been learning about perimeter (measurement of the outside of a shape) of rectangles and rectilinear shapes. We all need to remember to write our unit of measurement to ensure we still get the mark!

In English we have been ‘hugging the model text’. We planned our story and then, sentence by sentence, we made it our own. Ensuring we included our settings toolkit: personification, similes, fronted adverbials, weather to show atmosphere, power of 3 and sensory details.

We have enjoyed Art Week. It was a delight to welcome Shanice into our classroom on Wednesday, she is a parent at St Mary’s and a professional photographer. It was fascinating to learn about the different shooting styles. We loved taking on the role as photographers. We also took part in an Art Assembly run by Mrs Bartram, looking at classic artwork by Canelleto.

It has been wonderful to get to witness the dance the class have been working diligently to learn with Mrs Bennett. The rehearsal today was a big success.

In Guided Reading we looked at a wonderful non fiction book called ‘Around the World in 80 Festivals’. It made for a fascinating discussion about the origins of the festivals. 

Today we were fortunate enough to welcome Mrs Nair in to talk to us about our RE topic of Hinduism. She gave a fascinating talk on key concepts such as Karma, Samsara, Dharma, and Moksha, helping the children to better understand these important ideas.It was especially interesting to hear about how her family celebrates Hindu festivals like Holi and Diwali, as well as the tradition of Puja. We are very grateful to Mrs Nair for giving up her time to share her knowledge and experiences with us!

In PSHE we were discussing the choices we make as children compared to adults. 

In Geography we looked at the different types of mountains: fold (which we formed out of several layers of paper, bulldog clips and plenty of pva glue), done, plateau, volcanic and block. 

In Science we were experimenting with salt and ice, looking at the impact the salt has on the melting time.

Spellings have not been sent out today due to the busy week the class will have. The Doodle Learning, English and Maths, will be available for two weeks to complete.

Friday 31st January 2025

This week in English we have been getting to grips with our setting description toolkit, applying it to different places (including Mount Everest and Table Mountain). It’s great to hear the oral rehearsal of ideas before committing them to paper. Thank you to those who could join us on Friday for the Writing Workshop.

In Maths we were looking at using efficient multiplication methods. See how we can use our knowledge of multiplying by 10 to help us then to multiply by 5. 

In Science we were looking at the melting time of white, milk and dark chocolate in various temperatures of water. 

Art was a really inspiring lesson. The thoughtful work produced was really wonderful. We were inspired by Grayson Perry and Paula Scher, looking at the work they have created with Typography in mind. They had both produced maps with words or postcodes all over. The class were offered a map of Rickmansworth, tracing paper and sketching pencils. Some chose to trace Rickmansworth and others chose to create their own maps, or using the pathways of the brain. It was fascinating to see the ideas the children added about their identity, sense of self and personality.

In Geography we were exploring the features of a mountain, including: foot, face, ridge, snow line, tree line, summit, valley.

In Guided Reading we looked at Brand New Boy by David Almond. We were inferring the details we could work out by reading between the lines.

Thank you for listening to the Young Voices songs at home as this is supporting the children in learning the songs in preparation for our visit to Wembley Arena. 

In PSHE we continued to begin the session with a walk and talk, paired up with a new partner and asking and answering questions. We then moved on to the importance of safety with regards to medicines. 

Spellings will be sent out tomorrow. They have been available on Doodle Learning since Friday.

This week I was able to hand out many bronze and silver badges for those reading at least 5 times a week. 

Friday 24th January 2025

In English this week we have been continuing to learn the model text and analyse it for parts of our settings toolkit. We answered questions about the text, ensuring we answered in full sentences. We created a descriptive paragraph and those whose writing was using the most sensory details had their description transformed into a picture with the help of AI.

In Maths we have been multiplying a one digit number by a two and three digit number. We have also started to divide a two digit number by a one digit number. We have been partitioning the number into multiples of the amount we are dividing by. 

Our Science this week was explosive. We started by adding mentos to cola and watching as the carbon dioxide multiplied and forced the liquid out of the bottle. We then carried out a comparative experiment, identifying which carbonated drink is the fizziest.

In PSHE we were looking at the word ‘dare’ and thinking about the negative connotations the word has. We thought about how a dare can result in someone being embarrassed, injured, upset or worse. At the start of our lesson we participated in a new weekly session called ‘Walk and Talk’. Each week the class will be partnered up with someone different and walk around the playground posing each other 5 questions that have been given to them. At the end they will be asked to share what their partner said. This will encourage them to listen and engage in conversations with children they do not typically socialise with. The first session was very successful.

In Geography this week we were looking at mountainous areas in the UK. We looked at how these are depicted on a map. We then created our very own contoured mountains. 

Guided Reading has been looking at the poem ‘The Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carroll. Deciphering the meaning being the nonsense words. 

In our PE session, continuing to look at Challenging Collaborations, the class were tasked with working in groups of 8 to traverse across the hall on mats without touching the floor. It was interesting to see the discussions involved and those who worked as a team.

Spellings this week were looking at the mis- prefix. Please encourage the children to practise either on the sheet sent home with them or on Doodle Learning.

Our Art this week was formed on a map, as opposed to a blank piece of paper. We were using 2B graphite pencils to form bold lines on a busy background. We thought about the mark making to draw animals onto the map.

A reminder that home learning each week is:

- English on Doodle Learning

- Maths on Doodle Learning

- Spelling on sheet or on Doodle Learning

- Reading 5 times a week (stamp given each Wednesday morning)

- TTRS - 7 minutes on Garage and 7 games on Soundcheck.

Friday 17th January

We have had a busy week in Year 4.

In English we have been learning the model text, which combines historical fiction and setting description. We looked at the following parts of our toolkit: similes, using the weather to create atmosphere, synonyms and personifying our setting. We want our descriptions to have adventurous vocabulary choices: crimson rather than red, etc.

In Maths we have been learning about multiplying and dividing by 10 and 100. I emphasised the understanding that the digits move one or two place up or down the place value slider. This will help the pupils in the long term when thinking of decimals.

Our Spellings focused on words starting with ‘auto’. These are available to practise on Doodle Learning or on the paper.

In Art we designed our very own font using nuts and bolts and/or twigs. The pupils constructed the letters and then sketched their design for the upper and lower case of a letter.

In Geography we started using Atlases to identify the raised ground to show where mountains are located. We looked at the details of various mountains across the world.

In RE we started learning about Hinduism. We were looking at the ancient Indian game ‘Moksha Patam’ (known to us as Snakes and Ladders). This was a great teaching tool to help children understand that the ladders (good actions) help us to progress and the snakes (negative actions) impede our progress. 

In Music we are continuing to learn our songs for Young Voices. Please can you let the school know if you are having issues with logging in to the songs for Young Voices. It would be hugely appreciated if the children are practising the songs at home. 

In PSHE we thought about safe and unsafe images to post online. Ensuring our consent is given, we do not share personal information and keep our location private.

Home Learning is set every Monday morning on Doodle Learning.

Friday 10th January 2025

It has been lovely to welcome the class back this week. 

We started our multiplication and division topic in Maths this week. Thinking about factor pairs. Factor X factor = product. For example, factors of 24 are 1 x 24, 2 x 12, 3 x 8, 4 x 6. We illustrate this by showing it on a factor bugs. 

In Guided Reading we explored the beginning of the story Land of Roars. Looking at the text, garnering key understanding and look at the definition of key vocabulary.

As we do not have swimming this term, please be aware that the Year 4 pupils will need to come into school on a Tuesday and Friday in their PE kits. 

We kicked off our Art topic of ‘Typography’ by forming our own letters of the alphabet using shapes.

In PSHE we were looking at what is considered a danger, risk or hazard. Thinking about the situations we put ourselves in and how we can lower the risk or avoid a hazard.

Home Learning will commence on Monday. There will be a Maths and English assignment set on Monday morning which is due for completion by the following Sunday. TTRS assignments are set each week.

Spellings will also be handed out on Friday 17th January. They will be available as a sheet or to complete on Doodle Learning.

Library will continue to take place on a Tuesday afternoon. Reading Records will be checked every Wednesday morning, a stamp will be given if the children have read at least 5 times.

Wishing you all a restful weekend.

Friday 20th December 2024

Marking the end of a busy Christmas Week. It was a joy to experience my first carol concert on Wednesday and hear the key stage 2 classes sing so beautifully. The disco on Thursday was lots of fun, with some great dance moves on show.

We finished our RE topic of ‘Incarnation’ this week, completing the following sentence starters:

"I believe God is important because..."

"When I think about God, I feel..."

"Some people think God helps them by..."

In Maths we solved mysteries to discover the identity of the Pine cone Penguin. 

In English we edited and published our non-chronological report ‘Hot Write’ about an elf. 

Today’s PSHE lesson concentrated on the various relationships we have in our lives and how we show our care and concern for others.

In History we looked at the various Roman housing options on offer: wooden hut, domus, insulae and villa. We created floorplans of a Roman Villa.

Next term in Year 4 we will be looking at the following:

Science - States of Matter and the Water Cycle

Geography - Mountains

PSHE - Keeping Myself Safe

RE - Hinduism

Art - Typography and Maps

Music - Continuing to learn the songs for Young Voices and the choreography

Computing - Photo editing

A massive thank you for the generous gifts I have received and the lovely words. It means so much. Wishing you all a restful Christmas and I look forward to seeing everyone in 2025.

Mrs Martin

PE, Computing and Spanish - Mrs Bennett

PE - Dance for the Dance Festival: This half-term in PE, the children have been preparing for the upcoming Dance Festival. They learned a variety of dance moves and routines, focusing on coordination, rhythm, and teamwork. The children are performing to 'Food Glorious Food' and are looking forward to their performance in February.

Spanish - Colours and Shapes: In Spanish, we explored the vocabulary of colours and shapes. They learned how to say and recognise various colours (such as rojo for red, azul for blue) and common shapes (like círculo for circle, cuadrado for square). The children practised using these new words in simple sentences and participated in activities where they identified and named objects based on their colours and shapes. 

Computing - Audio Podcasts: In Computing, students were introduced to the creation of audio podcasts. They learned how to record and produce their own podcasts, focusing on clear speech and basic audio techniques. Students worked in pairs to create short podcast episodes on topics of interest.

Friday 13th December 2024

An eventful week in Year 4. We have enjoyed the Reception and Key stage 1 nativity plays. We relished the opportunity to have lots of fun in our final swimming session. We were very thankful to Mrs Devlin for helping us each week. The Panto was a real highlight - lots of giggles to be had.

In English we have been hugging the model text - writing our version about a Roman Soldier. Today we applied all our learning and non chronological report toolkit to form our Hot Write about elves.

Roman soldiers invaded our year 4 classroom this week. In History the children designed and created Roman shields. Then we learnt to march in formation. Even learning Latin words: dex (right), sin (left), intente (attention), laxarte (relax). We even formed a tortoise shell protective style formation called testudo. 

In Maths we have been learning about the 9 times tables. Understanding how we can multiply by 10 and subtract one lot of the amount as an alternative method for multiplying by 9. 

The class were tested on their spellings but not given new spellings today.

In Science we have been looking at endangered species, the threats they face and those that are trying to help them and how. 

PSHE was looking at stereotypes and how people are judged based on their gender, religion, race, age and relationships.

RE focused on different phrases used to describe Jesus as the incarnation of God’s Holy Spirit.

A reminder that there will be no swimming next week.

This week in Maths, we revisited and consolidated our understanding of finding missing numbers in addition calculations and explored divisibility rules for multiples of 3 and 6.

In the Year 4 classroom, the Romans took centre stage. In English, we began planning our own versions of a model text about the life of a Roman soldier. We explored fascinating details about their daily lives, including their eating habits, clothing, sleeping arrangements, hobbies, and even their toileting routines. Building on this, in History, we designed and created our own Roman shields—a messy but rewarding project! Next, we’ll put them to use as we learn to march in unison, just like the Romans.

In Guided Reading, we have been diving into Rotten Romans. Each week, we read a text aloud, explore key vocabulary and definitions, and answer comprehension questions based on the reading.

In RE, we have been looking at Advent and unwrapping a part of the nativity scene each day following Gary the Vicar's Collective Worship. 

In Music, we’re continuing to learn the songs for Young Voices. Thank you for supporting the children as they familiarise themselves with the lyrics at home.

For spellings, we focused on the dis- prefix this week, practicing words which have been sent home for spellings: disbelief, disobey, dishonest, disappear, disgrace, dismiss, discourage, and disadvantage. Additionally, the following common exception words: experience, experiment, extreme, and famous. These words are available for practice on the sheet sent home or on Doodle Learning.

Friday 29th November 2024

This week has been the school’s assessment week. 

In English this week we have been analysing the ‘Cloud Goblins’ model text to spot the non-chronological report toolkit including: subheadings, relative clauses, coordinating conjunctions, rhetorical questions, parenthesis and generalisers.

In Maths we revisited the formal written method for multiplication. Two digit multiplied by one digit (e.g. 65 x 3). We also looked at missing number addition and subtraction calculations. We timed ourselves filling in an empty multiplication grid. Each week we will compete against ourselves to improve the time in which it takes us to complete the grid. 

The Science lesson looked at characteristics of vertebrates and invertebrates. We created classification keys (branching databases) to identify the similarities and differences.

Spellings this week have been looking at the un- prefix. The spellings are: unbelievable, uncomfortable, unfortunately, unknown, unfair, unlikely, unsure, untidy, eight, eighth, enough, exercise. These are available to practise on a sheet or via Doodle Learning.

Homework: set every Monday morning on Doodle Learning for Maths and English. Pupils need to ensure they are completing the assignment set.

Friday 22nd November 2024

This week in Maths we looked at the 12 times tables, particularly enjoying the catching song to make it memorable:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzNIVOR6OOk 

We reached the conclusion that when we divide a number by itself the answer will be 1, but when you divide a number by 1, itself will be the answer.

In English we continued to learn the model text about Cloud Goblins. We concentrated on using commas in a list, fronted adverbials followed by a comma and coordinating conjunctions (but, however, although, nevertheless, etc).

In RE we were pondering what Christians believe and considering what their actions are as a result.

Science had an Invertebrate (creatures without a backbone) focus this week. We looked at the different groups: Arthropods (insects, arachnids, scorpions), Annelids (worms and leeches), Crustaceans (lobsters and crabs), Molluscs (octopus, squid, scallops) and Myriapods (centipedes and millipedes). 

In PSHE we concentrated on the words ‘Negotiation’ and ‘Compromise’. In partners we looked at various scenarios to negotiate the compromise we think should have been reached.

Music this term is concentrating on learning the songs for Young Voices. Mrs Palmer shared the videos for children to start to learn at home too. So far we have looked at ‘Marley Magic’, ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Try Everything’. 

Following our exciting trip last week, we were looking at Boudicca in History. Interestingly our idea of Boudicca can’t be exact because we are relying on other people’s opinion of the Iceni Tribe leader. 

In Art, the class were looking at mark making which eventually lead to the stitches they make in their ‘Cloth, Thread and Paint’ artwork.

The spelling focus this week is the -cian ending. We noticed that these words are all professions. A reminder that spelling practice can take place on the sheet sent home or on Doodle Learning.

Every Monday morning the assignments for Maths and English are available on Doodle Learning. These are to be complete by the following Sunday.

Friday 15th November 2024

This week’s English has been concentrating on learning our Cloud Goblin’s model text. We have been focusing on relative clauses, rhetorical questions, parenthesis, generalisers and subheadings. It was wonderful to see their illustrations of a Cloud Goblin based on the description we had been given. 

Mathematics has had a focus on the 7 and 11 times tables. Using the number facts to find the answer to division problems. When looking at the multiples we have been trying to spot patterns. We were all in agreement that we loved the 11 times tables.

This week’s Science was concentrating on vertebrates (creatures with a back bone). We were surprised to discover that only 5% of the world’s creatures are vertebrates. The vertebrates were in 5 groups: reptiles, amphibians, mammals (including humans), birds and fish. We enjoyed the Vertebrates song to accompany our learning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9ptHAClC4Q&list=OLAK5uy_lviaryY9ze3j48Wa5C_nO-8FAf-kFkdvI&index=1 

In Spellings we were looking at the -sion or -ssion spelling pattern.

RE this week was a really heart warming lesson. We had looked through the language in John 1 and spotted the use of the following: glory, darkness, light, beginning, God, life. We then used these words to create our own Christmas Carols. We had listened to many carols for inspiration and noticed that they were retelling the story of Christmas. The verses the children produced in partners was a joy to behold.

Guided Reading’s focus this week was a non-fiction text called ‘Women Who Led the Way’. We looked at Aud the Deep-Minded (a 9th century explorer) and Sylvia Earle (a marine biologist).

To end the week with a trip to the Verulamium Museum was a delight. Bringing our history learning. We participated in an artefact workshop, toured the museum, visited the hypocaust and saw the remains of a Roman Theatre. We are very appreciative of the help from the parents to make the trip possible.

Friday 8th November 2024

It has been a great first week back after half term. We welcomed Matthew into our class which has been a lovely addition. 

In English, we ‘published’ our Finding Tale stories into our Publishing Books, taking pride in the appearance of our work. We started our new writing topic - we will be looking at non chronological reports. Our model text, which we have started to learn, is all about Cloud Goblins. To hook us into our learning we decided to illustrate our imagining of a cloud goblin onto a teabag and then light it so it could float away, up to the clouds. 

Maths this week has had a Multiplication and Division focus. We looked at the 3, 6 and 9 times tables. We looked for patterns: noticing that every multiple of 6 is a multiple of 3, but not all multiples of 3 are a multiple of 6, if you add the digits of a number together (e.g. 357 would be 3 + 5 + 7 which equals 15)- if it’s a multiple of 3 (which 15 is!) then we know that 357 would be a multiple of 3, we noticed that when writing out the multiples of 9 then the ones digit goes down and the tens digit goes up by one each time:

  9

18

27

36

45

54

63

72

81

90

We talked about the importance of writing out the multiples to help us solve a multiplication or division problem. It is really important that the children continue learning their multiplication tables as this will help them work at a faster pace, therefore, feeling more confident with these types of concepts.

In Science we started our ‘Living Things and their Habitats’ by sorting animals into venn and carroll diagrams according to their characteristics.

Today we started our History topic, learning about The Romans. We looked at the reasons they invaded Britain.

Art this week was an ‘Artist Study’ looking at Hannah Rae and Alice Kettle. They are textiles artists. The pupils chose one artist to feature in their double page spread in their Sketch Books. They thought about the artists style, colours chosen, and what they could see in the artwork. We will be working towards creating artwork which combines cloth, paint and thread. 

In RE we were thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. The birth of Christ who was the incarnation of the Holy Spirit.

Spellings were handed out today. They are looking at the -ation ending to words. Please be reminded that they can choose to practise them on Doodle Learning or on the sheet.

Every Monday morning, I set the assignments on Doodle Learning for Maths and English homework.

Reading Records are stamped on a Wednesday morning if a child has read at least 5 times in a week.

Library takes place on a Tuesday, the children have the opportunity to change their library books then.

Notices

Monday 11th November - Scouting uniform for Remembrance Day

Tuesday 12th November - Odd Socks Day for Anti-Bullying week

Please begin to sign up for the parent consultations on 26th and 27th November

Friday 25th October 2024

It has been yet another busy week in Year 4!

In English, we used our toolkit (similes, two adjective clauses, dialogue to show character, power of 3 and powerful verbs) to plan and create independent stories. It has been such a pleasure to see the writing that has been produced. 

Maths has had a focus on area this week. We worked out the area of rectangles and rectilinear shapes using the measurement of ‘squares’. Later in the year we will find an area using centimetres and metres.

DT reached peak excitement this week as we finished constructing our catapults. Then we were able to aim and FIRE! across the Hall. Mrs Maxwell and Mrs Bartram have been very impressed with the skills involved in creating the Roman-inspired catapults. We evaluated our creation.

Science has been rather grotesque, to put it mildly! We have experimented with eggs (in place of real teeth) to see what happens when they are left submerged in water, coca-cola, milk, orange juice and vinegar. Each day we have checked the progress that has been made. It has been interesting to see the egg in the vinegar’s shell disappear before our very eyes. The staining as a result of the coca-cola has also been eye opening. Hopefully an experience that will reinforce the importance of oral hygiene. 

In R.E we have been philosophers. We reflected on the messages from the stories we have been studying and how we can put those into action.

In Guided Reading we were looking at the poem ‘My Shadow’ by Robert Louis Stevenson. We discuss key vocabulary from the poem and talk about the expression and intonation needed to perform.  

During Spellings we have been focusing on the -ly suffix. Thinking carefully about if the root word stays the same or has to be changed. The spellings have been sent home as a paper copy or they can practise via Doodle Learning.

Wishing you all a restful half term.

Friday 18th October 2024

In English we finished hugging the text to create our own version of the model text. After completing the story we edited our writing in pairs, reading the sentences aloud and suggesting corrections for punctuation, spelling and uplevelling. 

We have come to the end of Addition and Subtraction in Mathematics this week. We have been looking at efficient methods for solving calculations. When using column subtraction, we talked about changing 3,000 - 1,427 to 2,999 - 1,426. By changing the calculation by one (still keeping the difference the same) then it avoids having to borrow tens/hundreds/thousands. We also thought about finding the difference between two numbers that are close together, for example, 1,602 - 1,593 we can see that the two numbers are only 9 apart. Looking for patterns and the relationship between numbers is really helpful.

In Geography we were looking at earthquakes - how they happen and the impact they can have.

During our Music lesson this week we were combining all the elements we have looked at in our Rock and Roll topic to create a performance: the lyrics, the steady beat and the sequence played on the glockenspiel. 

It was our final Swimming lesson of the first half term this week. It has been a joy to see the confidence in the children growing week on week. A reminder that swimming is not taking place next Thursday.

In R.E this week we were developing our thinking skills by creating thought maps to track the learning we have experienced this half term. Reviewing what Christians believe about the sort of world Jesus wanted from the passages/stories we've read. 

It was lovely to welcome Mrs Patel into our classroom on Monday. She is a St Marys parent and also a dentist. She talked in depth about her job as a dentist and the importance of oral hygiene. The class had prepared probing questions to ask.

For Spanish, Mrs Bennett has asked the children to use Linguascope to keep up regular practise of their spanish skills:

Linguascope

Please ask your class teacher for the login details.

Spellings were sent home today. They can either be practised on the sheet or on Doodle Learning. Every Monday a Maths and English assignment is set on Doodle Learning for homework.

Friday 11th October 2024

As we reach the end of another busy week in Year 4, it has been lovely to see so many children putting an effort into their handwriting. Focusing on the neat presentation and legibility.

In English we have been ‘Boxing Up’ - this is the planning stage of our writing. We have looked at the breakdown of the model text and then planned each paragraph according to what has taken place. Yesterday, we began ‘Hugging the Text’ - we begin by creating a ‘shared write’ so that the children can see how each sentence has been carefully constructed. Then they write their own paragraph based on the plan they have made.

Mathematics this week has focused on the column method for addition and subtraction. We start by using counters in a place value chart, to give the pupils a visual representation of what is taking place. Then we move on to the abstract: numbers.

DT was a hands-on experience! We designed our catapults, inspired by those used in the Roman times. We were measuring the wood needed and using hacksaws to cut the pieces to size. Luckily, all fingers are still intact!

Geography was focusing on the extreme impact a volcanic eruption can have. We looked at what happened in Pompeii in 79AD due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

In Science we reflected on the learning we experienced at the Science Museum. We then started to learn about different types of teeth we have: incisors, canines, premolars, molars and wisdom teeth.

Spellings have been given out today - they are able to practise on paper or on Doodle Learning.

With the Multiplication test at the end of Year 4 in mind, the children are being encouraged to practise as regularly as possible. They are mostly completing the TTRockstars games in class. However, there are multiple ways to ensure they are also continuing this practise at home:

• Flashcards
• Bullseye (something we have played in class)
• Online games, such as Super Maths Bowling
• Asking the multiples of a given number: if my answer is 24, what could the multiplication calculation have been? 1 x 24, 2 x 12, 3 x 8, 4 x 6

Library takes place on a Tuesday afternoon and Reading Records are stamped on a Wednesday morning.

Friday 4th October

We have just had the most amazing trip to the Science Museum, the class traversed the underground really well. We went to space, entered the Wonderlab, were horrified by the It Takes Guts workshop and were able to answer the question: ‘Who am I?’

In English we were looking at dialogue to show character, fronted adverbials to show manner and analysing the model text to find all the parts of our Characterisation toolkit.

In Maths we finished off the Place Value topic: learning to round to multiple of 10, 100 and 1,000. Then we started the Addition and Subtraction topic.

In Science we imagined we were an item of food (Sammy the sandwich, Gary the gherkin, etc) and wrote about the journey we take through the digestive system.

In Music we used the glockenspiels, creating a tune called ‘Walking the Bass Line’. 

In RE, following our visit from Gary the vicar the pervious week, we created job adverts for Vicars based on the qualities and roles he shared with us.

Our Guided Reading lessons this week focused on ‘The Wild Agreement’ poem.

In PSHE we were working in collaboration with each other.

Our Library session takes place on a Tuesday.

  Friday 27th September 2024

During our English lessons we have been focusing on: reading comprehension of our model text, using dialogue to show character, two adjective clause (Joe, determined and resolute,).

 In Maths this week we have been looking at Roman numerals. We also started rounding: rounding to a multiple of 10. We learnt a rhyme to help us:

1, 2, 3, 4

Round down to the multiple before.

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Round up on the number line.

Yee hah!

Guided Reading has promoted an excitement for reading with many in the class. The book was ‘Football’s Greatest Moments’. We were looking at Pete and Messi’s footballing achievements. 

Thank you for bringing Reading Records on Wednesdays to be stamped. We will continue with this.

In Science we had a rather grotesque experiment to give us an understanding of the digestive system. We used crackers, bananas, orange juice and water to churn up in the stomach (zip lock bag), this then passed into the intestines (tights). The liquid seeped out of the tights and left with a solid mass. This was squeezed into a cup (the rectum) with a hole in the bottom. With this finally being pushed out of the hole.

  Spellings (focusing on the -ed and -ing suffix) have been handed out today. They are available on the sheet or in Doodle Learning to practise. 

Gary the Vicar kindly came and visited Year 4 yesterday as part of our RE lesson. He talked about his career and the role the vicar plays in the church and the community. 

In Music, Year 4 continued with the Rock and Roll topic. Looking at ‘Rock around the clock’.

Another successful week at Merchant Taylor’s for our Swimming lesson. The children should take great pride in the behaviour they have shown and how the teachers there have recognised this.

We are looking forward to our trip to the Science Museum next week.

Mrs Martin  

In Spanish this term we have focused on building essential conversational skills in, learning how to count to 10 and expressing how we are feeling, 

This term, our PE lessons have focused on improving three key physical skills: agility, balance, and coordination. Each of these skills plays an important role in overall physical fitness and performance in various sports.

So far this term, our computing lessons have focused on understanding how networks connect to each other. We have explored the function of the internet, and how information is shared across the World Wide Web. 

Mrs Bennett

 Friday 20th September 2024

We have reached the end of another busy week. It has been lovely to hear such positive feedback from other members of staff about the class and their behaviour.

In English we started the week with the discovery of a spade and metal detector which instructed us to go to the dens. When we were there we uncovered a metal box with a sign saying ‘Do not open’. This hooked us into our new Talk for Writing model text: ‘Treasure’. We have been learning the story (paragraphs 1-4 so far) and acting out the sentences. We have focused on: similes, dialogue, power of 3 (3 things to describe the character) and synonyms. These short bursts of writing have produced sentences with rich vocabulary.

In Maths we have been partitioning 4 digit numbers and looking at number lines. A particular concentration has been working out the intervals on a number line.

Science was a real highlight; we learnt about the organs involved in the digestive system and constructed it. We then stuck on tubing to track the route our food would take and injected food dye into the tube to see the journey.

Another exciting lesson, where our learning came to life before our eyes, was understanding the parts of a volcano in Geography and then constructing our own! We loved watching the bicarbonate of soda and vinegar’s chemical reaction to depict the lava spilling out of the volcano.

In DT we were continuing to learn about and understand the parts of a catapult. Thinking about the reasons for their use in Roman times.

Spellings this week has had a focus on the alternative spellings of ‘air’ (7 to be exact: ere, eir, ar, are, aire, air, ear). The spellings have been sent home on a sheet, or the pupils can test themselves on the words on Doodle Learning. 

We are moving the Reading Record stamping to Wednesday mornings to try and avoid reading records becoming damp with swimming kit. Thank you for your understanding.

I have spoken to the class about the drive behind learning times tables in Year 4. They are to complete their 15 minutes of TTRS a week, in addition, there is Super Maths Bowling and Hit the Button which are interesting ways to practise times tables.

Home Learning is set every Monday morning on Doodle Learning. It will be checked the following Monday morning and pupils will be awarded house points for completion.

Wishing you all a restful weekend. 

Friday 13th September 2024

In English we have been continuing to look at poetry, focusing on a poem titled ‘A Small Dragon’. We recreated the poem about a different creature. Today we published our poems - writing them up neatly and illustrating them to ‘publish’ our poetry.

In Geography we started our ‘Extreme Earth’ topic. Using 6 colours of playdough we created the layers of the earth:

• Inner core
• Outer core
• Mantle
• Crust
• Land & sea

Year 4 had the pleasure of a delicious lunch after our swimming session at Merchant Taylors. The teachers made us feel very welcome.

In Music we started the Rock & Roll topic. We listened to Rockin’ Billy and Rock Around the Clock. With a brief introduction to acting out the Hand Jive.

Our Science topic this week has started with food chains. We thought about the producer who is eaten by the primary consumer, who is munched by the secondary consumer, who is finally consumed by the tertiary consumer. We have produced creative food chains to display our understanding.

Spellings this week have been concentrating on the controlled r vowel sounds (er, ir, or, ar, ur) - the class have been sent home with a sheet home with their spellings to practise ready to be tested next Friday.

Maths this week has had a Place Value focus. We were thinking about the value of each digit up to a thousand. We placed three digit numbers on a number line between 0 and 1,000. If there are 5 intervals in a blank number line between 0 and 1,000, what does each interval represent?

You will receive an email from Mrs Maxwell about the expectations of home learning on Doodle Learning. We will  share more information at our 'Meet the Teacher' session on Wednesday. Please encourage your child to used Doodle Maths, Doodle English and Doodle Spelling along with TTRockstars.

Reading records are stamped every Thursday if they have read at least five times.

Wishing you all a restful weekend after a busy first week.

Friday 6th September

Wishing you all a warm welcome back. It has been lovely to see the children returning from the summer break. Yesterday we started the term by introducing our Poetry topic, it was wonderful to see the whole class participate in either individual or paired performances of 'Overheard on a Saltmarsh', with very entertaining voices for the nymph and goblin. The afternoon was spent in family groups participating in a scavenger hunt to explore the school, outdoor activities and an active session.

Today we continued with the poetry. It was wonderful hear the extensive vocabulary the pupils volunteered to describe an image of a forest. In the Guided Reading lesson we introduced the story of 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane'. This afternoon the class were taught Spanish, Computing and PE by Mrs Bennett.

The Year 4 Meet the Teacher meeting will take place on Wednesday 18th September - 09:00. The Year 4 team includes Mrs Mcleod, Mrs Latimer and Mrs Bennett.

I am looking forward to our swimming lessons at Merchant Taylors begininng on Thursday 12th September. 

Children should come to school wearing their one-piece swimming costume / trunks under their PE Kit. Please ensure that your child has the following items in their named swim bag:

· Swimming cap

· Underwear

· Goggles (optional)

· Towel

Home learning will begin next Friday. In the meantime, I have encouraged the class to reignite their love of TTRS and Mrs Maxwell has challenged them to earn some stars by completing some learning on Doodle Learning. The Reading Records along with reading books will be handed out on Monday. The reading records will be stamped every Thursday morning.

Next week we will start the following topics across the curriculum:

Science - Animals (including Humans) - this includes learning about the Digestive System and Teeth.

DT - Mechanisms: Catapults

PSHE - Me and My Relationships

Music - Rock & Roll

Geography - Extreme Earth (volcanoes and earthquakes)

RE - What kind of world did Jesus want?