Monday 3rd December

Hello, well here we are - less than four weeks to Christmas! The children are all very excited about the different activities going on in school at the moment.

Monday 3rd December

Some of the children in the choir are joining the Year 5/6 children on their trip to sing in the Young Voices Concert at the M.E.N. Arena. The children have all been busy learning their words (songsheets aren't allowed!) and are really looking forward to it. It will be a fantastic experience for them. They should have brought their t-shirts home this week - can you make sure they bring them to school with them on the Monday. The children will be going in their school uniform and will be getting changed just before the concert. They will also need a packed tea. They can also bring a Santa hat and a small torch. They will be leaving school at 1pm and will be returning about 10.30pm - it all depends on what order they let the 8,000 children out! If we are running late we will relay a message to school. Due to the late night the children who go do not need to be in school on Tuesday morning til 10.30am. Please remember that there is an Infant Christmas production on Tuesday morning at 9.30am and so children with younger brothers and sisters need to make sure they're in ready for the performance.

Thursday 6th December

The children will be having their Christmas lunch today!

Friday 7th December

This is a NON-UNIFORM Day - please remember to bring a contribution for the tombola.

Saturday 8th December

School Christmas Fayre - 11a.m. til 1 p.m.

COMMUNION

Year 3 Information

The dates for Sacramental preparation have now been finalised and are as follows:

Presentation Mass - Sunday 20th April 2008; 10.30a.m. St Joseph's Church

Parent's Meeting - Thursday 24th April 2008; 6p.m. at School

Away Day - 19th June 2008; 9.30a.m. - Mass in Church, Lunch in St Joseph's Centre followed by activities.

Practice in Church - Friday 20th June 2008; 9.30a.m. in St Joseph's Church

First Holy Communion - Saturday 21st June 2008 at 9.30a.m.

R.E.

In R.E. we are exploring the advent stories from the Bible. Please feel free to use the sites mentioned last week to share the story of the nativity with your child or check out:

http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/Christmas_Story/xmas_hmpg.html

http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/christmas/nativity/nativity.html - build your own nativity scene

After the incredibly busy start to the week we will be starting to think of all things to do with Christmas, so have a look at some of these links:

http://www.north-pole.co.uk/advent_calendar/index.htm

http://www.santasjournal.com/journal/

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/crafts.html

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/games.htm

LITERACY

We will be exploring ways of further improving our writing - focussing on SENTENCE STARTERS. The children will be learning how to start a sentence with an adverbial phrase. A HOW, WHEN or WHERE starter. For example:

HOW - Turning around slowly, the man began to cross the room.

WHEN - As the minutes turned to hours, the sun slowly set over the horizon.

WHERE - In the distant field, the excited children played football.

http://goodnightstories.com/stories.htm - a huge range of story activities where you can read, see, hear, finish or decide stories.

All the children are keen to improve their reading skills and so we are working on improving comprehension skills. Don't forget that their reading ages and decoding skills get assessed in January. You can help at home by checking out the sites below. There are a variety of different levels so find the one that suits where your child is at.

http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/palmasola/psmain.htm

http://www.eslbears.homestead.com/Map_and_Directions.html

We have been continuing to develop our spelling skills too - check out the language game site below for some different ways to work on your spellings.

http://resources.kaboose.com/games/read2.html - check out Aton-Ra - a word game with an Egyptian feel. There's lots more games too.

http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/gamezone2.htm

NUMERACY

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!

In the next few weeks we will be assessing the progress your child has made this term. It's so hard to fit in all the sites we've used so far. Scroll through the activity links below and choose the areas you know you want to get better at.

http://www.northwood.org.uk/times%20table%20trivia%20x%205.swf - times tables

http://www.transum.org/Software/Tablesmaster/Tablesmaster.asp - times tables

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/Flash%20Studio/cfsmaths/Digitworks/digitmenu.html - work on +, - and x.

http://www.funbrain.com/cracker/index.html - practise your number patterns.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/time/index.htm - telling the time a problem? Work through these activities and you'll be an expert!

http://www.teachingmoney.co.uk/wb/ClassPresentsUK.html - how are you at spending money?

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

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm#Measure - lots of activities on measuring

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/wordproblems/index.html - have a look at these if you want to get the hang of test style questions

That should be plenty to keep you busy this week.
Have a safe and happy week.

Take care.

The Year 3/4 Team

xxx

Monday 26th November

Hello to this week's blog!


Christmas Production


Year 4 children should have come home last week knowing what part they are in our Christmas production. We have had opportunity for a couple of read throughs (and some of the children are already doing very well learning their lines). 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 have been given out too. You will no doubt have noticed a very 'creepy crawly' theme to them. Year 3 (as I mentioned in previous weeks) will be the choir and the dancers in our show - they are already learning the songs and once the play is more prepared they will be learning their dance routines! 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. We have been really impressed by how hard they are all working and eagerly look forward to our two performances soon.


Please take the time to refresh the story of Christmas with your child. The following links should help.

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/christianity/nativity/index.htm - a simple online version of the nativity story to share with your child.
http://www.snaithprimary.eril.net/nativity.htm - another version with pictures to print out.


Holy Communion


Year 3 parents should have received a letter about what the children need to wear for their Holy Communion. Just in case it gets 'tidied safely away' here it is:


GIRLS


White dresses - knee/calf length
White head dress and veil
White socks or tights

White shoes/sandals

White cardigan (optional)

Gloves/bags/parasols/rosary beads may be used on photographs only.



Medals will be provided on the day

BOYS


Long sleeved white shirt

First Communion tie (navy blue with yellow logo - purchase from Rohan Uniform Shop)

Grey knee length shorts

Grey knee length socks

Black shoes

A gold sash and medal will be provided by school on the day. Sashes are to be returned.


We are still waiting for final confirmation of the dates for Holy Communion and we will communicate the date as soon as possible.


LITERACY

Alongside the Christmas play we will be continuing with 'normal' lessons as much as possible. We are still looking at improving our writing skills and will be challenging ourselves to use ambitious vocabulary, time phrases, connectives and speech. Have a look at the links below to inspire creative writing:

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


NUMERACY


The children are really buzzing and excited to learn their tables so here are lots of sites to keep that enthusiasm bubbling:


www.dostiey.com/addsub/mystery/M.htmwww.osmego.org/oscd-web/games/sumsense/summulti.htmwww.mathsisfun.com/timetables.html


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

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/Ghostblasters1/gbcd.html


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

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 finishing off our Data Handling topic and will be moving onto a big review of basic number skills of addition and subtraction. Mrs Bethell's group will also be reviewing and extending their skills with addition and subtraction. Make sure you have a look at the sites below:

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ - NUMBER FACTS +/- and CALCULATING MATHS +/- Section

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch1.shtml - ladybird number work - concentrates on facts up to 20.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch3.shtml - laybird addition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch2.shtml - lady bird subtraction

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=fmach - you can set the challenge for the function machine

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=PYRAMID3 - my class really enjoyed investigating pyramid numbers.

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=number%20guess2 - guess the number game.

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/gameshoweasy.html - a game to play with the whole family that practises rapid recall of basic number facts and skills.

http://www.joethedragon.co.uk/maths/addsub.html - we may get onto column addition and subtraction - this is a super site!

We also set ourselves the challenge of knowing all our number pairs to 100 - and this is a really tough challenge so any extra work that you could do at home would be fantastic and would make such a difference!

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

Mrs Harding's Math's group will be finishing off working with pictograms and moving on to the measurement of time including the twenty four hour clock. If your child has any difficulties being able to tell the time practise with them during the day.

Start off with o'clock and half past.

Next do quarter to and quarter past.

Gradually introduce all the past times and the others.


Please remember that this really works over a couple of weeks and if you keep at it you will be amazed as to how many times your child will be able to remember. Also a watch could make a great present off Santa!

By the end of the week your child: (If your child can already tell the time.)

Could be able to read time to the nearest minute on an analogue and digital clock.

Could be able to use am and pm and calculate intervals of time.

Should be able to read the time to the nearest minute on analogue and digital clocks.

Must be able to read and draw a pictogram

http://www.arcytech.org/java/clock/telling_time.html

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsE2.htm

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

http://www.cyberbee.com/games/timeteacher.html

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsF1.htm

The children had great success with answering a 100 timestables in 7 minutes. Twenty children managed to achieve one of the awards in the group. Again look out for their names in the newsletter. Well done to all children who are busy learning their tables! Parents have never seen their children so keen to learn their tables!!

SPANISH

Check that you know your colours and your numbers.

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/colour-spanish.html - colours

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/number-spanish.html - numbers

That's all for now - with all the practises for the performance this week is going to be a very busy one!

Have a safe and happy week.
Take care.

The Year 3/4 Team

Monday 19th November

Welcome to this week's blog spot! This week we will be getting very busy with the lower Juniors Christmas play. You should receive a letter about what your child has to wear. It is a tradition that most speaking parts go to the Year Four children and the Year Three do a lot of the dancing and non speaking parts. If your child does have quite a few lines to learn the class teacher may decide that their usual homework may be too much for them. Therefore, some children will not have to do their homework while they are learning lines for our play. The children always enjoy learning the songs and preparing for their performance and we look forward to seeing the final result in December.

Thank you to every one who started the traffic light signs after their numeracy homework. All children had two stickers put in their books and wrote a little note for extra guidance. If you are still confused please drop in and see one of the teachers.


RED - I found this hard.
YELLOW - I understand how to do this.
GREEN - I thought this was easy.

Other symbols that are used when the teachers mark are:

T which stands for TARGET.
This may give your child something to learn or a little guidance that will help them next time in their work.


Sp means there is a spelling error and the correct spelling is usually written next to it.

R stands for underline the date and title.

As the weather gets much colder can we please ask you to send your child with a coat. It is really important for them to get fresh air and have some exercise. Last week there were a few children without coats and it was minus 2!! Thanking you!

Don't forget the photographer is in on Tuesday morning.

On Friday this week Father Richard is coming in to talk to the children regarding our last topic in RE - signs and symbols, he will talk about what signs and symbols are important to us in the Catholic Faith and in the celebration of the Mass.

Literacy

In Literacy this week when get the chance we will be concentrating on learning how to join sentences together using different types of connectives, as always we are always trying to get the children to use adjectives in their writing too. By the end of the week the children will be given the start of a story and asked to write the end of it.

By the end of the week the children:

Must be able to use a connective to join two parts of a sentence.

Should be able to use adjectives and connectives to write sentences to form a story.

Could be able to write the end of a story using adjectives, adverbs, some speech and connectives.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/onlinestory.htm

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/text.htm#2

http://www.sln.org.uk/english/KS3,%204,%205%20pages/KS3,%204,%205%20Docs/Writing%20mats/Connectives%20mat%202.doc

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy2.htm#adj

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/lang_structure.shtml

Anti bullying week

This week we will be doing all sorts of activities linked to anti bullying week. This is a national event and the whole school will be doing work around this topic. Please don't be surprised if your child comes home and talks about some of the issues and conversations they have had. We will be doing lots of circle time and listening to different stories about children. The children will also have it reinforced about what to do if they are being bullied. To learn more about the topic click below.


http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/downloads/pdf/aba07bictop10.pdf


http://www.need2know.co.uk/beatbullying/


Tables tests


Most Year Groups in the Juniors have started to do a tables challenge. They have to try to complete a 100 timetables in a set amount of time. The younger the child the more time they have.
100 correct will get a gold certificate.

90 - 99 silver.

80 - 89 bronze.


Mrs Harding's Maths group tried the test for the first time and quite a few children got certificates including one gold! Look out for the names in the newsletter. Once the children get a gold award they are tested again but the time allowed goes down. It is great fun and the children are really keen to beat themselves next week by doing even better.

Keep using the links from previous weeks to practise your tables. Which one is your favourite?

Numeracy

This week Mrs Harding's maths group with continue working on area and perimeter. It is important that they know the difference between them both.

Area is calculating the space inside a shape and perimeter is the outside of a shape. also we will be moving onto a topic about data handling. We will be looking at all sorts of tables, frequency charts and pictograms.


By the end of the week - when possible with play practices!!
The children:


COULD be able to calculate the area and perimeter of a shape.

COULD be able to read and represent data in charts and tables.
SHOULD be able to interpret different types of charts and tables.

MUST know what a frequency table and tally chart is.

The Year Four children need to know all their tables up to 10 x 10 for their tables challenge. See previous blog spots for more sites to practise.

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsF1.htm#pictograms

http://www.coxhoe.durham.sch.uk/Curriculum/Numeracy.htm#Data%20Handling

http://www.interactive-resources.co.uk/MP3/PrimArea/JuniorArea.html

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/smart/perimeter_and_area.ppt

Miss Robinson's group will be continuing their work on DATA HANDLING. The children worked very well last week and are all confident in the differences between a Tally Chart and a Frequency Table. We will be reviewing and working on Venn Diagrams at the start of the week - moving on to Bar Charts and Pictogram by the end of the week.

The children
MUST know how to collect and use data from a Venn Diagram or Bar Chart.
SHOULD be able to answer a range of questions using data, graphs and charts.
COULD be able to interpret the information on a Pictogram accurately.

Check out the links below:
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=triangles - Venn Diagrams

http://www.lgfl.net/dbmaterial/web/learning%20objects/ls/Year%203%20Numeracy%20Handling%20Data%20QCA%201331/exercise01/ - Venn Diagrams

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/datapick.html - charts and graphs

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/bargraphs/bargraphs.html

http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/grapher.html - have a go at creating your own graph to show information.

In Mrs Bethell's group we will be focusing on right angles, locating right angles in the classroom, using right angles as a property of a 2d shape, and sorting right angles from smaller angles ( acute) and bigger angles ( obtuse).

We will also be continuing to learn our 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 10x and 4x tables and learning the opposite divisions.
2, 3,4, times tables etc

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/2xhtml
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch/uk/maths/timestable/3xhtml
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/4xhtml

fishy2's -2x table
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/fish2'shtml

2's and 5's connect the dots
www.tvokids.com/framesets/play.html?game=51&

using all tables
www.dostiey.com/addsub/mystery/M.htm

www.osmego.org/oscd-web/games/sumsense/summulti.htm

www.mathsisfun.com/timetables.html

Practice divisions on these websites

http://oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/mathmagician/maths1.html
http://oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/Mathmagician/mathsdiv.html

That's all for now.

Have a safe and happy week!

The Year 3/4 Team
xxx

Monday 12 th November

Well done to all the children who got back into the routine of homework. To help us with assessment and to find out how your child got on we are introducing a new idea. The children will have a sticker put in their books about a traffic light sign after each piece of Numeracy homework.


Some dates for your diary:


The Junior disco - 15th November 6.00pm until 7.30pm.

20th November - School photographer is in school.

22nd November -Infant disco.

27th November - Operation Christmas Child boxes to be in school.

30th November - Non uniform day for Christmas fayre tombola.

3rd December - MEN arena.

6th December - Christmas lunch.

4th, 5th and 6th December - Infant Productions.

8th December - Christmas Fayre

11th and 12th December - Lower Junior productions.

19th December afternoon - Junior Christmas parties.

21st December - close for Christmas.

LITERACY

In Literacy this week we are continuing on our NARRATIVE WRITING theme but are exploring speech and dialogue. The children will be learning the rules for writing speech:

- where to put speech marks;

- new speaker, new line;

- punctuation inside speech marks;

- different words for said;

- the importance of describing how a character says something;

- how to describe what a character is doing while they are talking;

amongst lots of other things.

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

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/powerpoint/speechmarks_PR.ppt - speech marks powerpoints.

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=seapost - writing speech activity

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/english/bgfl/dont_use_said/

http://www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/curriculum/literacy/lit_site/lit_sites/speech_marks/index.htm

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/trythis/backtalk/

We will also be investigating SYNONYMS. That is when you try to choose more interesting words that mean the same thing as a boring word.

Check out the links below:

http://www.cogcon.com/gamegoo/games/squanky2/squanky2.html - a great synonyms game

http://www.saintambrosebarlow.wigan.sch.uk/Fun_and_games/nicewords.htm - don't use nice!

NUMERACY

Keep going with your times tables. My Numeracy group are really starting to realise how important it is to 'doing' maths to be able to have you rtables at your fingertips. Here are a couple of sites to keep going on:

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' group are moving onto DATA HANDLING this week. Through the course of the week the children will learn about reading, using and making tally charts, frequency tables, and collecting data on Venn Diagrams. Check out the links below as a starting point:

http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ - check out DATA section on YEAR 3 and Year 4. If you want a real challenge try Year 5 too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/datapick.html - tally charts adn frequency tables

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/bargraphs/bargraphs.html - collect data straight into a bar chart.

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/carroll_diagrams/eng/introduct/default.htm - work your way through the different parts of the lesson in order.

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/maths/dinas_powys_sian_mansfield/venn_1.htm - a simple introduction to Venn Diagrams

http://www.lgfl.net/dbmaterial/web/learning%20objects/ls/Year%203%20Numeracy%20Handling%20Data%20QCA%201331/exercise01/ - Venn Diagrams

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/logic/logic.html - can you fix the zoo by sorting out the animals?

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ - choose and explore the games in the section HANDLING DATA.

By the end of the week the children

MUST be able to collect, read and record data on a tally chart.

SHOULD know the difference between a taly chart and a frequency table.

COULD also record data on a VENN DIAGRAM and answer questions on it.

Mrs Harding's group will be still working on measurement and will be moving onto finding the perimeter and area of shapes. The Think and Solve homework went really well and the children thought it was okay. In January we will start some children on the next book up so that they are challenged and learning new things. See below for sites on area and perimeter. For measurement see previous weeks.


http://www.interactive-resources.co.uk/MP3/PrimArea/JuniorArea.html



http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm#Area



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



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



http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/smart/perimeter_and_area.ppt



By the end of the week all children:



Children could be able to convert measurements in mm, cm, m and km.

Children could be able to calculate area and perimeter and explain the difference.

Children should be able to draw lines in cm and mm.

Children must be able to find the perimeter of a shape.

Children must be able to find the area of a shape.

Mrs Bethell's Numeracy group will be moving onto studying 2d shapes this week. We will be learning about and naming quadrilaterals ( 4 sided flat shapes).Our work will also include sorting shapes and finding shapes with right angles. Towards the end of the week we will hopefully move onto finding reflective symmetry in 2d shapes
http://www.interactivestuff.org/match/maker.phtml?featured=1&id=24

Use your memory skills to remember the sequence of 3 shapes out of a choice of 6
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/memory.html

Sort 2d shapes considering right angles
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/publications/mathematics/12882/nns_useict0260002dshapes.swf

Sorting rectangles into a carroll diagram
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/publications/mathematics/12874/nns_useict026000carroll.swf

Matching 2d shape names to descriptions
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/gp/pupils/maths/2Dshapes.htm

Reflective symmetry in 2d shapes
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/maths/greg_morgan_symmetry/index.htm
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/reflection.swf

I must be know a quadrilateral is a 4 sided 2d shape
I should be able to name the main quadrilaterals
I could sort 2d shapes according to properties such as right angles.

SCIENCE

In Science this week all classes will be learning about solid, liquids and gases.
We will be reviewing the properties of all different things that the children know. perhaps you could show your child all the different liquids that you have in your kitchen cupboard and how they move.

By the end of the lesson the children:
Could know all the differences between solids, liquids and gases and be able to tell you all their characteristics and properties.
Should know the differences between solids, liquids and gases.
Must know and be able to list examples of every day solids, liquids and gases.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/solid_liquids.shtm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/gases.shtml
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/science/powerpoint/slg.ppt

A final note

I am interested in finding out how useful this blogspot is. If you or your child uses this during the week can you write a quick little note in your child's diary. I just want to get an idea of the percentage making use of this site. If there are any other things you think it might be useful to have on here let me know too. Thank you.

Have a safe and happy week.
Take care.

The Year 3/4 Team
xxx

Monday 5th November

Welcome to our second week of the Blog spot. We would really appreciate any help in promoting the Blog spot to other children and parents in Year Three and Four. Please tell a friend so that they remember to use it every week. Thank you.


The children brought home a letter about firework safety on Friday so please make sure they read it and stick to the rules for a happy and safe Guy Fawkes night.

Learn all about the Gunpowder Plot. Can you stop Guy Fawkes blowing up the House of Parliament?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/launch_gms_gunpowder_plot.shtml

Homework starts again this week. The children should bring home:

Spellings
Homework book to write sentences in.
Numeracy homework sheet/booklet.

Please hand in on a Thursday as normal. Thank you.

The children whatever their reading capabilities should be reading every day so that their reading age goes up in January when we assess them.


LITERACY


This week in Literacy we are to continue exploring SETTINGS. The emphasis is on the importance of detailed descriptions that would help a reader see a picture in their minds. The children will be thinking as a reader and as a writer during the week. Please take the time to look back through the story links from last week.


http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/storybook/# - a great site with stories and activities.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/planning.shtml - how to plan a story.




http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/writingfun/writingfun.html - how to plan a story and lots of helpful examples.


To help us with our descriptive writing we will be focussing on adjectives this week for our sentence level work, and learning how to write complex sentences using commas as well as full stops. Don't be surprised if your children come out with some silly sentences - it's all part of their learning how to use language and have fun with it. The links below will help:



http://www.learnatglobal.com/assets/applets/grammar.swf - fantastic site - adjectives explained!!!



http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/english/caerphilly/adjectives/ - all about adjectives.



http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/literacy/wordclasses/adjectives.asp - become an adjective detective...


http://pbskids.org/readingrainbow/games/silly_sentence.html - make some silly sentences at home too.



http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/english/bridgend/verbs_nouns_adjectives.swf - can you sort your verbs from your adjectives and nouns?



http://www.kwarp.com/animations/grammarninja.html - can you become the ultimate Grammar Ninja? This is tricky stuff so only try it when you are sure you know the difference between verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/adjectives_adverbs.shtml - review your learning.


NUMERACY


Knowing your times tables as soon as possible is crucial. Your tables facts come into so many different bits of Maths - we found out that you need to know your 5 times table to work out TIME!!! Get learning....
The Ghost Game was such a success with my Maths Group this week that it's here again. Beware - it's tricky!!!

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/Ghostblasters1/gbcd.html - can you hit the right ghosts? Remember a multiple is just the times table you want to practice.

Miss Robinson's Group are continuing to investigate time this week moving onto the connection between reading analogue and digital time. Please check out the links from last week to continue your learning. Also check out the MEASURING section on:

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

You will also find it useful to check out Mrs Bethell's links this week as she is working on times table facts.

In Mrs Harding’s group this week we will be continuing with subtraction and learning about different units of measure.
Homework will be slightly different this week as we are starting to use Think and solve books task one. You may find there are a few questions that the children might not be able to do at first so please leave them empty in their books and we will go over any problems on Fridays when we mark it.

http://www.funbrain.com/measure/index.html

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

/measures/index.htm

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/powerpoint/MeasuringLength_



cm_m.ppt

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



measuring_nearesthalfcm_mm.ppt

By the end of the week the children:

Could be able to measure accurately using mm and cm.

Should be able to draw lines to the nearest cm and mm.

Must be able to identify a relevant unit for measuring something.

This week Mrs Bethell's group will continue making sure we can work out our pairs to 100 quickly in our heads by remembering the rule :
MAKE THE TENS MAKE 90 AND THE UNITS MAKE 10 .
We will be playing pairs to 100 games and bingo. Remember to use the website for pairs to 100

www.amblesideprimary.com/amblweb/mentalmaths/numberbond.html

We will also be learning our times tables - reviewing the 2's 5's and 10's and learning the 3's and 4's. We will be using the terms multiples and factors.
Multiples are the numbers made when you say the times tables eg 3,6,9,12,15 , 18 are all multiples of 3
Factors are the numbers that can be multiplied together to form a larger number
eg 3 and 10, 5 and 6, 2 and 15, are all factors of 30

2, 3,4, times tables etc

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/2xhtml
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch/uk/maths/timestable/3xhtml
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/4xhtml

fishy2's -2x table
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/fish2'shtml

2's and 5's connect the dots
www.tvokids.com/framesets/play.html?game=51&

using all tables
www.dostiey.com/addsub/mystery/M.htm

www.osmego.org/oscd-web/games/sumsense/summulti.htm

www.mathsisfun.com/timetables.html

SCIENCE

All classes in Three and Four will be learning about evaporation this week. They will be doing different experiments to understand what it is and to help them remember and understand the concept. These include using a hair dryer and thinking about puddles and washing on a line.

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/science/powerpoint/SMC_Evaporation.ppt

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/hyd/evap.rxml

By the end of the week the children:

COULD know what evaporation and condensation means.
SHOULD know the different examples of when evaporation occurs in the environment.
MUST be able to tell you what evaporation is.

SPANISH

Some of the classes are learning the colours and learning to sing a song about them. To practise more see below.

http://www.klbschool.org.uk/interactive/spanish/color.htm

Have a safe and happy week.

Take care.

The Year 3/4 Team

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