Monday 21st May

TEST WEEK

Yep...that time of year has arrived for Year 3 and 4 children. Following in our Year 5 and 6 children's footsteps we are aiming to complete all tests this week so that they are not looming over us on our return after the Whit holidays. It is going to be an opportunity for you all to show off your learning for this year and will also provide us with the results that are then sent home with the reports in July. For us teachers it is a chance to see what you can remember and also find out were the gaps are to ensure we fill them before you move onto your next year. It would be really helpful if you can ensure that your child is in every day this week as we understand how tricky children find it to sit a test on their own after all their peers have done it. We have found in the past that it can affect their final result.

Well done to all the children who have moved up in their colour reading scheme book this week. All the children will be tested in the coming week and also after the half term. Most children do move up a colour band. Some even move up two!!! If your child does not move up it could mean that they need extra input with their reading. This not only happens in school with a reading buddy but needs to happen at home. Please make sure you hear your child read every day so that they make the progress they deserve. Thank you.


Year Three Holy Communion

Could you please make sure that you have sent back the letter regarding Holy Communion ties and the food that you will supply for the Holy Communion breakfast. We also need lots of parents to help with transport on the Thursday and Friday before to go up to church to practise. This form is also on the same letter. Please could we have all information by this week. Those parents who have offered their help with transport we will let you know who you are taking and the arrangements after half term. Thank you.

LITERACY

In between the tests the children will be continuing on their topic of persuasive writing, as well as improving sentences with some more of the Alan Peat work - ask your child about their Punctuation Face!

Please spend some time this week looking back over previous blogs for the different types of writing we have explored this year. It would be valuable for you to re-familiarise and review some for this week.

NUMERACY

Tables...tables...tables! It's amazing how quickly we can lose our rapid recall of times tables if we neglect them, even for a couple of weeks. Use the links below to get them up to tip top condition.

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/Hitthebuttonv7.swf

http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/multiples/intro.htm

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

All Numeracy groups have been sent home with a review sheet. Miss Robinson's group have one that concentrates on topic type maths for the children to focus on. Look back through previous blogs or visit:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/index.html - to revise the areas on the A3 sheet.

In class this week we will be revising our number skills.

http://www.mape.org.uk/startower/sums/index.htm - solve the column addition and subtraction sums.

http://www.buildabear.com/_graphics/games/flashcards/flashcards.swf - a little bit 'cute' but a good basic level to practise your column addition and subtraction.

http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/apples/default.htm - can you help the monkey save the apples?

http://www.sgfl.org.uk/games/games/maths/countdown - can you make the Target Number?

Mrs Harding's Maths group when we manage to meet up - Will be continuing to review certain topics. The first being data handling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/revision_bites/interpretingdata6.shtml

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/index.html

SCIENCE

In Science this week we will be continuing with our work on circuits. The children will be finding out/reviewing what materials allow electricity through and those that do not. Therefore, we will be learning about conductors and insulators.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/revision_bites/conductors2.shtml

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/Science/electricity.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/circuits_conductors.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/podsmission/electricity/annie02.shtml

I'm sure there will be lots of creative things going on too this week but we don't want to give too much away!

Good luck everyone! We're confident you'll all be brilliant!

Have a safe and happy week.

The Year 3 and 4 team

xxx

Monday 14th May

Hello again! This week is a very busy time in school as both the Year 5 and Year 6 children sit their exams. For the Year 6 it is their S.A.T.S this week and I'm sure you will join me in wishing them well and saying good luck to them all. I'm sure they will be brilliant!

For the Year 3 and 4 children that also meaans that time of year is fast approaching and exams and tests will be starting at the end of this week. We will be doing tests during the whole of the last week too. It would be helpful if your child does not miss their tests for other appointments as it is much more comfortable and relaxed when they are with their whole year group. If a child misses a test then we have to get them to do it later.

Can we please remind you that READING with your child is essential every day. We find the children who make the most progress are those who read nearly every day at home with an adult. Please sign the diairies and let us know how you get on.

Swimming is still happening every week on Thursday. We could do with some help at both times this week as we have no parents for either times at 9.30 and 10.00. If you could help please let one of the staff know as we would hate to have to cancel a session. Thank you.

LITERACY

Please make sure you have taken the time to explore the comprehension activities from last week. In particular those on http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/engindex.html

As well as continuing to look at our understanding of what we read we will be moving on with our topic on persuasive writing - thinking about how word choice can have a direct impact on a reader's thoughts and actions. Last week we took some time on examining adverts and how memorable these can be! Listening to the children complete the different slogan's definitely showed this to great effect. Now we are moving on to look at how we might persuade another person to our own viewpoint. Be ready to get those debates going at home too. How about asking what your child thinks about their bedtime, breakfast or pocket money - can they persuade you to change it? Think about whether they can say clearly what they want and then give factual and calm reasons and examples to try to convince you!

http://www.athena.bham.org.uk/discus_1.htm - looks at the features of persuasive writing.

http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/dragonsville/poster.htm - design a poster!

http://www.little-g.com/shockwave/hotel.html - create your own wacky advert! Really funny questions but a great piece of strange persuasion at the end of it!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/argument.shtml - if you didn't already look at this last week have a go at winning an argument.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/default.stm - read up on current news - what do you think of it all?

http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/ - write your own persuasive letter

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/sentence_detectives/eng/Introduction/default.htm - are you sure you know what a sentence is?

NUMERACY

Please make sure you continue using the links from previous weeks to keep your tables going - my group were surprised last week at how quickly they were forgetting the ones they'd worked so hard to remember. With tests looming why don't you review lots of topics using the Mathszone site below:

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/

You could work through each of the different sections trying out games to refresh your memory or you could pick out those topics that you don't feel so confident with such as time, money or fractions maybe.

In Miss Robinson's group we are continuing with our work on mental maths.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/wordproblems/index.html

As well as that we are completing our work on Measuring by exploring WEIGHT. Remember it can also be called MASS. Check out the links below for activities to practise with:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/digger/9_11entry/4.shtml

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

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

Alongside that we will be developing our skills in problem solving and looking at how to read questions very carefully to find the maths in them.

Mrs Harding's Math's group this week will be carrying on with the four rules. We will also be doing missing numbers, number sequences, parts of a circle and symmetry.

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsE5.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/revision_bites/shapes6.shtml

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/powerpoint/cm_3dShapes.ppt

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/powerpoint/3D_Shapes.ppt

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsB3.htm

Mrs Harding's Math's group will not be given their usual homework for the next two weeks but will be given a revision sheet to revise from for a test and the forth coming tests. Please make sure that your child knows their tables up to and including 9 timetables. We are having a weekly tables test to assess their knowledge.

Mrs Bethell's Maths Group will also be reviewing lots of topics covered already this year. In particular reading scales, addition and fractions. The Mathszone link above would be great to help you cover many of the different topics. The links below should also be useful:

http://www.sums.co.uk/playground/n6a/playground.htm - can you order the fractions?

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/fractions/index.html - looking at fractions of a square.

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/equivalentfractions/index.html - can you match the fractions in Melvin's lab?

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/fractotron.html - do you know whoch fractions are more, less or the same as half?

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm#ReadingScales - how to read scales accurately.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/numberskills.html - number skills.

HISTORY

In History this week we will be learning about 'What Romans did for relaxation.' We will be centering on Roman baths and the sports they did with the charioteers and gladiators. To find out more about what they did click on:

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/history/powerpoint/Roman_Relaxation.ppt

http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/index.cfm?UUID=FFBEB073-0A82-44FF-A1A9EB0FFB566CFE

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/gladiators_01.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/leisure.shtml

http://www.brims.co.uk/romans/index.html

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

We are well on our way to making a start with the money containers/purses/wallets. We have started designing them but have decided to improve our sewing skills this week. It would be great if you could send in some cotton thread, spare piece of scrap material/old hankie, etc. so that we can make a start. In the coming weeks the children will also need to collect their individual list of things that they have identified when they did their planning.

The children will need things like:
felt material
buttons
velcro
cotton
press studs etc.

If anyone would like to come in and offer their expertise and help threading the needles please see one of the teachers. He He!

That's all for now, I think.

Take care.
Have a safe and happy week.

The Year 3 / 4 Team

xxx

Monday 7th May

Hello all. I hope you have had a super Bank Holiday. I could get used to this three day long weekend! Thank you to all the parents of Year Three children who attended the Holy Communion Meeting last Tuesday night. A special thanks to the group facilitators who wrote down all the questions for a discussion. All the letters that were discussed at the meeting were sent out on Thursday. They give details about what the children should wear and also order forms for ties etc. If you need anymore information please contact one of the 3 / 4 team.

Not much house-keeping to do this week so let's move straight on.

LITERACY

We are continuing to keep our comprehension skills ticking over so have a go at some of the stories in the links below:

http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL3Book1/Book01/default.htm - year 3
http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL4Book1/Book10/default.htm - year 4
http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL5Book1/1/story/index.html - year 5
http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/owl/OWL6Book1/1/story/index.html - challenge yourself with the year 6 adventure with an Egyptian theme!

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/engindex.html - have a good explore of the different reading activities on this link. You will definitely benefit from completing some of the quizzes.

We are also going to make a start on our topic of persuasive writing:

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/powerpoints/persuasive_adverts_key.ppt#1 - looking at how language and word choice can be crucial.

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/powerpoints/PersuasiveWriting_Adverts.ppt#1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/argument.shtml - can you persuade another person to your point of view?

Want to keep improving your word skills then check out some of the many games on this site:

http://resources.kaboose.com/games/read2.html

NUMERACY

Keep going with the mental maths links form last week and have a go at the many times tables games we've used this year too. Don't forget our favourite though - can you do your tables quicker now than you could when you first used this site?

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/Hitthebuttonv7.swf

As well as ticking on with our Mental Maths skills we will be continuing our work on MEASUREMENT in Miss Robinson's group:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm#Measure - games to practise your measuring skills

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm#Weight - games to learn about weight

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm#ReadingScales - can you read the scales accurately?

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/liquidvolume/liquidvolume.html - capacity

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ - have fun with the games on MEASURING.

Mrs Harding's maths group will be concentrating on the four rules this week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/wholenumbers/addsubtract/problemsolving/game.shtml


http://www.mathszone.co.uk/interactivemaths.htm


http://www.joethedragon.co.uk/maths/addsub.html


http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/division/3x1%20division.swf


http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/DecompExpandv2.swf
Mrs Bethell's group will be reviewing time, money and word problems this week so check out some of the links below:

http://www.teachingmoney.co.uk/wb/ClassPresentsUK.html

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/time/index.htm

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/wordproblems/index.html - lots and lots of different games to try to practise solving word problems.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm#Time - lots of games for time to try.

SCIENCE

In Science we will be spending time learning about electricity and circuits so check out the links below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/circuits_conductors.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/10_11/changing_circuits.shtml

http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources/siliconspies/siliconspieslink.htm - Can you stop the evil Dr Volt and his plans to destroy Silicone City? Click on the game to launch it.

http://www.andythelwell.com/blobz/ - Can you complete The Blobs Guide to Electric Circuits?

http://www.powerdiscoveryzone.com/home.html - a great interactive site.

When you are feeling really confident you could even try to create your own circuit:
http://www.cleo.net.uk/resources/displayframe.php?src=207/consultants_resources%2Fscience%2FcircuitWorld%2Findex.html

HISTORY THE ROMANS

In History this week we will be learning about Roman houses both inside and out. The children in their teams will be creating a poster with a sketch of a house using labels and captions. To find out more about Roman houses look on:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/houses/roman.htm

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/architecture/houses/houses.htm

http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/house.html

http://www.webkwestie.nl/roman%20houses/

That's all I can think of for now.

Take care and have a happy week.

The Year 3/4 team

xxx