Monday 20th November

First of all a big well done to all the children last week when the Ofsted inspectors visited - their behaviour was exemplary and the inspectors commented on how pleasant and articulate they were. We felt very proud of them all! A big thank you to those parents who returned the questionnaire - it is lovely to know that you support the work we do with your children.

Now that the inspectors have gone we can get back on with preparations for our Christmas production. Year 4 children should have come home on Friday knowing what part they are in the play. We will be having our first read through on Monday but it would be fantastic if you could help them at home with learning their lines (remember it's also important for them to know the line before so they can come in in the right place). Details of costume will follow shortly but it is about a school putting on a nativity so hopefully no complicated costumes will be required. Although once the teachers start putting it all together we can get occassionally carried away! Year 3 (as I mentioned in previous weeks) will be the choir and the dancers in our show - details will be coming home as the week progresses! We appreciate that time is definitely ticking on and so we will be working very hard over the next couple of weeks to get our performance just right.

Because of the demands on hall time between the Year 3/4 and Key Stage 1 production preparations it is really important that your child has an outdoor P.E. kit in school with them.

Alongside the Christmas play we will be continuing with 'normal' lessons as much as possible. The children did some fantastic writing last week and we will be continuing to work on this further. Have a look at the links below to inspire creative writing:

http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/diff/index.htm

http://www.midlandit.co.uk/education/interactivestoryguide.htm - story writing tips and a chance to write your own pirate story.

I found these great stories with lots of different activities attached - develop your reading and writing skills in one go:

http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL4Book1/Book10/default.htm - year 4
http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL3Book1/Book01/default.htm - year 3
There's even a year 5 one if you want to really challenge yourself. http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL5Book1/1/story/index.html

If you could continue to work on spellings that would be fantastic. Here's just a reminder of some of the useful spelling links we've used so far this year:

http://www.funbrain.com/plurals/index.html - can you remember your plural rules?

http://www.fekids.com/kln/games/whomp/whomp.html - how many words can you make? (think Boggle).

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/spellits/index.shtml - lots of spelling games.

http://www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/ReadingBrain.html - some funny games to try.

In Numeracy we will be continuing the work started last week so be sure to check back on those links.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/dynamo/den/index.shtml - lot's of games for all different maths topics.

Don't forget one of our favourite sites for all things mathematical:

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ - the children really enjoy working and playing on this site.

Thank you to those parents who continue to try and hear their child read three times a week and sign their child's diary.

And finally just for fun:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

http://www2.warnerbros.com/web/games/index.jsp?frompage=wb_homepage

Have a good week!

The Year 3/4 team

Monday 13th November

Hello again. Well done to all the children last week for working so hard. It was also lovely to hear that lots of them had been trying out the various links form last weeks blogspot too! Keep it up - it will all help to develop your learning.

This week we have some important visitors in our school from Ofsted. They are here on Wednesday and Thursday. I'm sure they will have a lovely time and will really enjoy meeting the children and seeing them learn.

The time for the Christmas production fast approaches and we have all made a really good start to learning the songs. Some time this week the Year 4's will receive their parts to begin learning them. Rehearsals start in earnest next week - and don't forget we tend to get a bit excited with it all so don't be surprised if your child comes home with more bits to learn as the weeks progress! Year 3's will be our singers, dancers and extras adn then next year will have the chance to be the main stars!!

As the winter weather seems to have settled in for definite now can I just ask again that all children bring their outdoor P.E. kits with them. Well done to all those who already have brought it to school but we do need everybody to have one so we can take the class outside for a P.E. session. Thank you.

Literacy

We have been really looking forward to this weeks Literacy focus. Those of you with brothers adn sisters in Year 5 or 6 will already know about the inspirational INSET that some of the teachers had from Alan Peat on strategies for improving writing. This week, every day will have a different set of skills and knowledge to help you to write more detailed and interesting sentences.

Can you recognise sentences? Try:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/sentencebasics/whatisasentence/flash3.shtml
We will be working intensively on using adjectives (describing words). Look at these websites to brush up your knowledge:

Can you improve sentences?

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/english/monmouthshire/choose_adj_monmouthshire.html - can you choose adjectives that fit the text?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/interestsentences/adjectives/ - Lots of different and fun activities based around reports and adverts! If you try the football report you can even try to change some black hat adjectives (negative) to yellow hat adjectives (positive).

http://www.crick.northants.sch.uk/assets/Flash%20Studio/cfslit/Trad/scenemenu2.html - try putting all your new skills into practice by choosing a story and creating a comic style scene.

We will be exploring words that show the passage of time - how many can you think of or find in your reading books?

Can you show what you have learnt?

http://www.mape.org.uk/startower/menu.html - check out the scribblers link. There are lots of other things on this site to do too!

http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/ - write some story ideas of your own.

For our word level work this week we are learning how to join two words together to make a new word.

http://www.quia.com/mc/87086.html - match the compound words

http://www.crick.northants.sch.uk/assets/Flash%20Studio/cfslit/compound%20words/compound%20words.html - more finding the compound word.

Numeracy

The Numeracy groups will be continuing with their own focus this week. Again look for the links below that match your topic. Or you could try some of the other games and see what the other groups are getting up to!

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ - as usual a great place to start!

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/fracto.html - meet the decifractor! A fractions and decimals activity.

http://www.learningplanet.com/sam/ff/index.asp - equivalent fractions practice

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/fractions/index.htm -fraction games... and lots of them!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/dynamo/den/snap/index.htm - money snap.


http://www.coolmath4kids.com/ - general maths games

http://www.transum.org/Software/SW/Starter_of_the_day/index.htm - a maths starter for every day of the week!

And don't forget it is still so important that you keep learning your times tables. Check out the links below or from last week for some good games to help you remember them.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/index.html - times tables
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/a_mental/index.htm - keep going on times tables and try giving yourself a maths workout while you are there!

Science

In Science this week we are assessing what you remember about the body topic we have done. It would be a good idea to flick through the previous weeks blogs and revise what we have done.

We will be starting a new topic on Keeping Warm so have a look at the BBC Science Clips link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/keeping_warm.shtml - our new topic in Science.

As well as all that we are going to be reviewing the parts of a plant. We may also be looking at how to help plants grow well in the coming weeks so I have included a couple of links so you can get ahead with your learning.

http://www.mystery-productions.info/hyper/Hypermedia_2003/Walia/final_hyper/final_artefact/star_graden/index.html - a great interactive adventure about plants. Can you help?

I hope that you continue to find all of this useful. As you can see we have a very busy time ahead of us.

For links for Art and Music check out last weeks blog - just keep scrolling down.

And finally just for fun check out:

https://jam.bbc.co.uk/Auth/Welcome.aspx?TBReturnUrl=%2fDefault.aspx - another good site from the bbc but you do have to sign up but it is full of great activities. Remember to ask an adult first.

http://www.funbrain.com/

Monday 6th November

I hope you all enjoyed Bonfire night and will be returning to school safe and sound. The weather has definitely changed into those chilly, wintery days we all enjoy so much!? As a result can we ask that your child now brings their outdoor P.E. kit into school with them (sweatshirt, tracksuit bottoms, trainers, etc). There are only so many hours available in the school hall and so we would like to get the children outside as often as we can for their P.E. lessons. This may mean that P.E. does not happen on the usual Thursday so can you ensure your child has their kit with them at all times.

In Literacy this week we are continuing to explore newspaper reports. Last week we learnt about headlines and the who, what, when and where to think about when creating reports. This week we are looking at how to transform this into paragraphs containing clear information. As a journalist it's important to keep up with events in the world. Below are some links to child friendly news sights. Remember to pay attention to the headline, the layout and the content.

http://www.firstnews.co.uk/
http://www.thenewspaper.org.uk/index.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/default.stm

Don't forget the links last week if you want to have a go at creating your own report.

In our writing morning session we are also focussing on improving our ability to describe in detail, and have been concentrating on use of alliteration, interesting adjectives and adverbs (describing words), and powerful verbs (action words).

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/kidpages/sentence.htm - have some fun making up silly sentences.

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/pet/petintro.htm - a choose your own adventure story that really shows off descriptive language.

At parent's evening I am sure lots of the children had a target that involved them learning their times tables - it is so important to start this as early as possible. The older your child gets the more importatnt rapid recall of the tables is integral to their number work. To help with the practise check out these sites:

http://www.transum.org/Software/Tablesmaster/Tablesmaster.asp

http://www.ictgames.com/spitfireufo.html

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/tabletrees.html

Within our Numeracy groups we are looking at different areas of maths. Ask your child what they are learning in Numeracy and then look for some relevant sites below.

http://www.ictgames.com/100huntadd9.html - mental maths - adding 9 to a 2 digit number.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/a_mental/index.htm
- go to the mental gym and give your brain a workout.

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/numberbond.html - keep up with your number bonds.

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ - again our favourite site - choose the area that is right for you and then play, play play!

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/functionmachines.html - addition and subtraction practice.

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/pyramid.html - more addition!

http://www.ictgames.com/technowithflock.html - using a number line.

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/clock.html - a big clock to practice TIME!

http://www.ictgames.com/hickory4.html - more TIME!

In Science we are contining to look at how a body moves. Have look at:

http://www.ictgames.com/bodyrunner.html

We will also be carrying on investigating solids, liquids and gases and this week we will be looking at the effect of heating water.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/solid_liquids.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/gases.shtml

We are also being creative in art and music lessons this week so do look at:

http://www.iamanartist.ie/ - art

http://www.sanford-artedventures.com/play/color1/color1.html - art

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/art/ art

http://www.dsokids.com/2001/rooms/DSO_Intro.html - music

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/onyourstreet/thestreet/india/ - music from round the world - lots of interactive activities.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/4_11/music/mm/index.shtml - solve the MUSICAL MYSTERIES

And just for fun check out this game site:

http://www.prongo.com/games/ages6-9.html

I also found this fabulous site that has bits of everything on it. Enjoy!

http://www.starfall.com/n/level-b/index/load.htm?f