Monday 1st October

The children had a fabulous time this week during the circusology. They learnt to do all sorts of tricks including juggling, balancing and even trying to ride a uni cycle. We are going to get feed back from our classes and the school council will discuss what the classes thought. I am sure that we will welcome Alex back next year! The behaviour in 3 and 4 was exceptional and we were very proud of the children and the way they conducted themselves.

Homework
Most children are handing in their homework now on a Thursday but a few are not being heard read at home.

Diaries
Thank you to all the parents/grandparents who correspond in the diary. Can we please remind you if it is a very important message for us ask your child to leave it on our desk as sometimes they forget to tell us?

LITERACY

This week in Literacy we are continuing with our factual theme. We are going to be spending the next couple of weeks exploring note-taking and report writing on the theme of DINOSAURS.

The children will be put into Writing Groups this week and will be set the task of producing their very own Information Book on Dinosaurs. Time will be spent building on the features of factual writing:
using headings and sub-headings;
including pictures or diagrams with captions;
text boxes;
paragraphs;
questions;
different styles of print, e.g. bold...

Check out the links below for lots of extra facts about dinosaurs that you may want to use in your writing.

http://www.show.me.uk/topicpage/teachers/tDinosaurs.html - lots of information. Make sure you check out these activities first!

http://www.dinodictionary.com/ - fact filled site - can even hear how to say those more difficult dino names.

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/dinosaurflr/diorama.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/dinosaurs/

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/dinosphere/teachers/activities.html - an American site that talks to you.

http://www.rain.org/~philfear/download-a-dinosaur.html - if you are feeling creative then download some of these dinosaur paper models to make.

http://www.prongo.com/dinoquiz/index.html - A dinosaur quiz

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/dinosaurs -Activities including a dinosaur tour

http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/wes/webquests_themes/dinosaurs_corinne_2005/species.html scroll down and there is lots of information about some of the most famous dinosaurs.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/allabout/alphadinos.shtml - a dinosaur a-z
http://enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/printouts/a.shtml - Labelled pictures of dinosaurs

http://animals.pppst.com/dinosaurs.html - a range of powerpoints.

http://www.nebo.edu/misc/learning_resources/ppt/k-5/k2_dino.ppt - a powerpoint of basic facts.

NUMERACY

Keep up with the times tables.

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/moonmaths.swf - an old favourite.

http://www.primarysite-kidszone.co.uk/KidsZone/resources/Math-Asteroids.html - a brand new game to try - make sure you give it a go.

In Miss Robinson's Numeracy Group we will be building up our addition and subtraction skill. By the end of the week we must be able to count on to find the next multiple of ten;
we should be able to add or subtract a one digit number that crosses multiples of ten;
we could be able to add or subtract a two digit number that crosses multiples of ten or hundred.
There's a lot to get through in our Numeracy this week so please use the sites below to practice:

http://www.ictgames.com/technowithflock.html - techno tortoise is back!!!

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=digitmenu

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/wholenumbers/addsubtract/mental/flash5.shtml - can you apply your addition skills to Bargain Hunt?

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/mayan-math/index.html - can you beat the Math Monster?

http://www.mrnussbaumgames.com/football/index.html - for all you football fans

http://www.sums.co.uk/playground/c1a/playground.htm - simple subtraction

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/geniusboxing.htm - and to finish off how about reviewing <, > and =? Can you knock out your opponent?

Mrs Bethells group are also finding out what number is needed to get a 2 and a 3 digit number to the nearest multiple of 10. The week should start with adding several 1 and 2 digit numbers together and moving on to subtraction. Here's some more links you may find useful:

Simple addition and subtraction up to 20 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/chi.shtm
Adding units together to create target numbers - against the clock
http://www.kidsnumbers.com/add_it_up.php
More advanced adding and subtracting for Yr3 and 4
http://www.sch/uk/maths/wordproblems/thai/iq3.html - click on Mental Maths.

Mrs Harding's Math's group this week will be carrying on working with large numbers and also quick addition of single numbers.

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

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/powerpoint/quiz_complements100.ppt

A great site for all types of number bonds. We will be doing 100 and 1000.

http://www.homeschoolmath.net/ebooks/preview/MD2_Multiply_Whole_Tens.pdf

A good site for practising multiplying by 10 and 20.

We will also be concentrating on the 6 timetables as well as the ones below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/wholenumbers/multiplication/timestables/game.shtml

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

http://www.ict-teacher.com/Mathstutor/Timestables.html

The children could be able to know their number bonds to 100 and 1000.
The children should be able to multiply by 20 by multiplying by 10 and doubling.
The children should know how to multiply by 4 by doubling and doubling again.
The children must know the 6 timetables off by heart.

SCIENCE

In Science this week all classes in Year 3 and 4 will be learning/reviewing about flowering plants. All children will learn about the stamen, leaves, roots and flower and the jobs that they do. Some children will be able to learn about the more complex side of flowering plants learning about parts such as the sepal, carpal, filament etc. I f there are any wilting flowers you are about to throw away please bring them into school so we can show the children the real thing. We do of course accept alive and thriving flowers he he! Thank you.

The children could know what the names and function of all the parts of a flowering plant including the male and female parts.
The children should know what the parts of a flowering plant do.
The children must know all the names of a plant such as stem, root petal and leaf.

To learn more please see:

http://www.teachingandlearningresources.co.uk/floweringplants01.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/plants_grow.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/revision_bites/life_cycles1.shtml

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/powerpoint/flower.ppt

TOPIC

The topic themes continue this week. The children started with their new teacher last week and that continues. Mrs Bethell's group is learning about renewable energy, focusing on Wind, Water, Plant and Solar power. We will be designing Saving Energy Poster.

http://tiki.oneworld.net/energy/energy.html play games including renewable energy

http://managenergy.net/kidscorner/en/u11/u11.html

Check out the links from the last couple of weeks to find out what's going on in the other two groups.

Have a safe and happy week.

The Year 3/4 Team
xxx