Sunday 14th October

Welcome to the final week of our first half term. What a busy time we've had. The children have all settled incredibly well and we look forward to where their learning will go next half term.

Parent's Evening

Don't forget that the Parent's evenings are this Tuesday and Wednesday. Thank you to every one who returned their parent's evening forms. By now you should have received a time allocation for your child/children. If not, please see your child's teacher to arrange a time. You will be given targets during the meeting so that you can see where your child is and how we are going to help them to move on to the next step.

Mass

The children celebrated Mass on Wednesday afternoon with Father Richard. The Year Four children lead the Mass doing all the readings. The children's behaviour was exemplary in all the three classes. Well done children!

Uniform

Can we please remind you that uniform is a very important part of our school identity so could you please make sure your child always wears a tie and has their shirt/blouse tucked in. We do not allow nail varnish or any jewellery except a watch. If ears are newly pierced we ask they are covered up with plasters on PE days. We only allow blue/black bobbles etc and uniform colours of socks. Thank you for your support in keeping our school children looking smart.

Literacy

For our Literacy this week we will be finishing off our Big Books of Dinosaurs. The children have worked very hard writing reports to be included and this week will be working on layout and appearance of non-fiction texts. We will be having a go at writing a CONTENTS PAGE for our books, and some children may even challenge themselves in their groups to try and include a GLOSSARY, INDEX or BLURB for the back. They will also be adding pictures and diagrams that will require LABELS or CAPTIONS.

As well as all that we will be continuing to develop your child's comprehension skills - do they understand a text enough to find the answers to questions about it? Have a look at the links below for some more to try at home.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/engindex.html - lots to have a go at.

We are also continuing to enjoy playing the Spell Well game to target each child's spelling needs. Use the links below to work on them at home.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy.html - pick a pattern and have a go.

http://www.funbrain.com/words.html - lots more word level activities and games to choose from.

And finally if you just want to stretch your Literacy skills in general check out the fantastic Digger activities:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/digger/ - pick a level - can you complete all the tasks?

Numeracy

Keep going with your times tables - they are so important:

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/Hitthebuttonv7.swf - on this site you can practice your number bonds, times tables and division facts!

Miss Robinson's class will be continuing to work with measuring length. We will be looking at converting m to cm and m to cm. Some children will also be exploring km measurements too. Keep using the links from last week until you feel you are an expert.

By the end of the week the children:

MUST know the basic units of measuring length and how to read them.

SHOULD be able to estimate length and check they have measured objects accurately.

COULD be able to use decimals to show units of measurement, e.g 1m 64cm = 1.64m.

We will also be continuing with out mental maths skills but this week will be concentrating on our subtraction skills so use the sites below to practise.

http://www.sums.co.uk/playground/c1a/playground.htm

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/subtractiontest.html - can you get through all 3 levels?

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/SumSense/sumsub.html - you set the challenge - how many are you going to do in a time limit. Try to push yourself!

Mrs Harding’s Maths group will be still reviewing the 6 and 7 timetables. We have been playing lots of games and trying to beat ourselves on how many we can write down not in order in one minute using a stop watch.
This week we will be describing the names of common shapes and recognising the different types of triangles. We will also be doing addition and subtraction of two and three digit no.s.

By the end of this week your child:
Could be able to add and subtract thousands, hundreds, tens and units.
Could know the names of properties of all the different polygons.
Should be able to add and subtract tens and units and know the names of all the different triangles.
Must be able to name all the 2D shapes.

http://www.mathcats.com/explore/polygonplayground.html

http://www.mcwdn.org/Geometry/Triangles.html

http://www.mathsisfun.com/triangle.html

http://www.mathsisfun.com/timestable.html

http://www.icteachers.co.uk/children/sats/triangles.htm

http://www.prongo.com/games/ages9-12.html

Mrs Bethell’s maths group will be telling the time on digital and analogue clocks. They will be learning to tell the time in 5 minute intervals on analogue clocks and converting this into digital format. Some children will also be solving time problems - involving 5 minute intervals and hours.

I must be know that 1/4 past = __:15 in digital

1/2 past = __:30 in digital

1/4 to = __:45 in digital

I should be able to tell the time in 5 minute intervals on both analogue and digital clocks.
I could solve simple time problems.

The Woodlands Junior school has many suitable websites to use.
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm#Time

Try the games : Hickory Dickory Clock
Set the Clock
What's the Time
How much time has passed
Stop the clock - 5minute intervals

Also we will be consolidating pairs to 20 try the mummy game on
www.ictgames.com/funkymum20.html

TOPIC

Our topic work continues this week. Here is a review of some of the sites to use for each one:

Miss Robinson's topic

http://www.divediscover.whoi.edu/tectonics/pangea-animation.html - plate tectonics.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/fun-games/volcano/build-a-volcano.html - want to make your own volcano on-line and watch it grow and erupt. Fantastic site with lots to explore! Make sure you fo on the Mission - you can choose what you are going to discover.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/rocks_soils.shtml - the basic info you need to know about rocks and soils for this topic.

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/mysteries.html - all about rocks - a really interactive and interesting site. Make sure you check it out!

http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/fossils/index.htm - learn interactively about rocks and fossils.

Mrs Harding's Topic

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/6_7/electricity.shtml

http://www.andythelwell.com/blobz/guide.html

http://www.rp-l.com/rplkids.htm

http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/discover/index.cfm?menu=light&main=light/light&on=home

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

Mrs Bethell's topic

This website helps explore initial information about energy and fossil fuels.

http://www.energychest.net/energy_in_buildings/index.html

This website is for the National Coalmine Museum and gives information about mining in the past.

http://www.ncm.org.uk/index.asphttp://managenergy.net/kidscorner/en/u11/u11.html

- photos and animations

http://tiki.oneworld.net/energy/energy.html - games to play helping Tiki save energy and play renewable energy linked games.

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

Just for fun:

http://funschool.kaboose.com/time-warp/dinosaurs/games/game_dino_soars.html

http://www.merpy.com/index_stories.html

http://www.funbrain.com/brain/MathBrain/MathBrain.html - lots of Numeracy games - can you get to the end?

Have a safe and happy week.

Take care.

The Year 3/4 Team

xxx