Monday 7th January 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!


Welcome back. We hope that you all had a lovely Christmas holiday and that the children are all coming back refreshed and raring to go!

Please remember that we are starting swimming this week on the 10th of January. We need a few helpers for each session. One year group leaves school at 9.30 am and the other at 10.00am. If you would like to stay in school to hear readers instead of going home again that would be a great help too.


Please can you try to ensure that you hear your child read every week. We will shortly be checking their Reading Ages and it is amazing the difference that just ten minutes reading a day can make. Helping your child develop their reading skills will open the doors to all the learning they will ever do so please persevere. Also don't forget those words at the front of their diaries. These are your child's High Frequency Words - a basic bank of words that it is important that they know how to spell for their every day writing.

THINKING SKILLS

This week we will be reviewing some of our thinking skills. Check out this questionnaire if you want to find out what type of learner you are. Find out what your strengths are and identify areas for improvement with your learning.

http://www.brainboxx.co.uk/A3_ASPECTS/pages/VAK_quest.htm - what type of learner are you?

http://www.brainboxx.co.uk/A3_ASPECTS/pages/VAK.htm - what does it all mean?

LITERACY

We will be wrapping up our work on NARRATIVE writing this week. The children will be having a go at writing an Adventure story. They will be expected to use all the tricks covered in the first half term:

VCOP - vocabulary, connectives, openers, punctuation (remember the pyramid!)

Alliteration - an anxious ant ambled along the avenue.

2A sentences - choosing and using rich ambitious vocabulary.

Starting sentences with capital letters and ending with full stops.

Writing conversation - using only a little bit in a story, using speech marks, new lines for new speaker, being clear about who is speaking and how.

We really want the children to work hard on their descriptions - thinking about close-up view and distance, using the senses to describe what's around them, etc.

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

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

http://www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/ReadingBrain.html - lots of ideas for choosing interesting words for your writing.

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/jungle/intro.htm - a choose your own adventure story - can you solve it?

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/studentssite/pokemon/intro.html - a Pokemon choose your own adventure story.

http://goodnightstories.com/stories.htm - a huge range of story activities not necessarily linked to an adventure story but you can read, see, hear, finish or decide stories.

I must include suspense in my story.

I should use powerful verbs and interesting adjectives for my descriptions.

I could start sentences in different ways, e.g. with a time phrase, an adverbial phrase, etc.

NUMERACY

Keep plugging away at learning those tables - it really does make a difference if you know them forwards, backwards, upside down and inside out and here's a reminder of a couple of sites to get you going again:

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/resources/gordon/Hit%20the%20button%20v9.swf

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

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

In Miss Robinson's group we will be exploring 2D SHAPE. The children will learn the names and properties of 2D shape, as well as investigating symmetry.


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 know that 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.



In Mrs Harding's group the children will begin to learn about FRACTIONS.

The children could be able to change an improper fraction to a mixed number and vice versa.
The children should be able to cancel a fraction down to its lowest form.
The children must be able to recognise different fractions and be able to draw them as part of a shape.


http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/fractions/index.htm - lots and lots of games to try.


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


http://www.visualfractions.com/


http://www.primarygames.com/fractions/start.htm


In Mrs Bethell's group the children will be learning about DATA HANDLING. 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 and 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://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.


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.htmlhttp://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspxhttp://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/grapher.html - have a go at creating your own graph to show information


SCIENCE

This week the children will be reviewing MELTING.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/solids_liquids.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/changing_state_fs.shtml

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/Science/changingmaterials.htm#2 - check out the Solids, Liquids and Gases section.

The children MUST know the definition for melting, and that water freezes at 0 degrees.

The children SHOULD be able to talk about what materials melt and which don't.

The children COULD know that melting occurs at different rates in different conditions.

TOPIC

This half term the children will again be swapping round all three adults. Just so you can start researching at home the topics will be:

THE SOLAR SYSTEM

THE HISTORY OF WARRINGTON THROUGH THE AGES

COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

This week the children will have a general introduction to the WORLD. They will be making a passport to help them record their learning.

http://www.coxhoe.durham.sch.uk/Curriculum/Geography.htm

R.E.


We will be moving onto the topic of CELEBRATIONS this half term. The children will be learning that community celebrations are important. It would be lovely if your child could bring in any photographs or mementos of celebrations within your family - birthday, baptism, marriage, etc...


This week we will be designing a questionnaire for the children to find out what you as parents and grandparents remember from celebrations when you were at school - so get thinking and digging through your childhood memories!


We will also be exploring the celebration of New Year in different countries around the world.

That should be enough to get us started.


Have a good week from the 3/4 team.
xxx

Monday 17th December

Welcome to our final blog of the very long term. The play that the children performed this week was excellent and people could not get over the talent and professionalism of our Year three and four children. The acting and the singing were excellent. Well done children we were very proud of you.


These are a few comments that children wrote down about the performances and practices for the play over the last three weeks:


I like the school camel in the play!


Well done to all the staff in the 3 / 4 production. I truly thought that the play was brilliant. Wilfred was the best!


We have just done our play and it was called 'A Creepy Crawlie Christmas.'
We thought it was an extremely fun play which everyone participated in!


This week I enjoyed the fantastic Christmas play we performed. I loved it!


I thought the beetles and the spiders were webtastic!

Carol Service

Please remember that the Christmas carol concert is going to be taking place up at church this year. If you haven't sent in consent forms then could you please send them in as soon as possible. Please let us know if you are available to help walk the school up to church thank you!

Swimming


Also please send in the medical forms for the swimming which is due to start on January 10th.

Other swimming dates:

17th January
24th January
31st January
7 February
21st February
28th February
6th March
13th March
20th March

Christmas party

By now the children should have given you a letter about the Christmas party on Wednesday afternoon. The children will be sitting in friendship groups to have their food. The groups have decided between themselves to bring a different food each. They will also have a disco and some party games in the hall too.

A Christmas countdown clock is available for you to check up during the week ahead! See below:
http://www.christmassantaclaus.com/clock.asp



It is amazing that Christmas is only a week and a half away. Have a look at these links about Christmas and activities.


http://www.north-%20pole.co.uk/advent_calendar/index.htmhttp://www.santasjournal.com/journal/



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



http://www.emailsanta.com/


http://www.northpole.com/


http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/


http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/meaning.htm



http://www.star28.net/snow.html?msg=they



http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/snowman_v4.html



This just leaves us to wish you a happy and holy Christmas from all the staff in the three/four team.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Monday 10th December

Christmas Play

Welcome to our blog. By now your child should have their play costume in school ready for the two performances this week. The first one is Tuesday morning at 9.30am and the other being Wednesday evening at 7pm. Please remember that the children can come into school by 6.30pm on Wednesday evening. Please do not come before as the doors will not be open. It is tradition that the children need to be in school before half past ten on the Thursday morning. If parents need to be in work then the teachers will be in school at normal time.

The children performed a dress rehearsal on Friday afternoon to all the Infant children. They did very well and hope to improve even more before the real shows. The children have worked really hard and we are really looking forward to their final performances.

Homework and keeping reading


As the last few weeks come upon us there will be no homework as things are getting really busy for everybody. We would really appreciate you still hearing your child read every day as we will be assessing their reading age in January. Please remember that being able to read opens doors to all areas of life and the curriculum. We have found very recently that being able to read fluently can really improve a child's numeracy.

M.E.N.

All the choir and the children from 5 / 6 enjoyed their experience last week at the MEN arena which was a chance of a life time for everyone to participate in such a large number of 8000 children singing together. All the staff commented on the exemplary behaviour by all the children from our school.

Theatre company visit


On Wednesday afternoon a theatre company are coming into school to perform Jack and the Beanstalk. Thank you to everyone who has sent it their contribution towards the cost.


Christmas Fayre


The Christmas Fayre was very well attended despite the torrential downpour we had. There were lots of activities and stalls and we thank everyone who helped organise the event. There was a wonderful Christmas atmosphere and a real sense of community spirit.

Lateness


We have noticed quite a few children across the school coming in late in the morning. The bell rings at 8.45am. The children are then registered as soon as they are in class. Some children are missing the start of valuable learning such as a guided reading sessions. We would really appreciate your help in getting the children into school on time.


Carol Service


It is our annual Carol Service on Friday 21st December, led by Years 5/6. This year, it will take place up at St. Joseph’s Church at 10am. The children will arrive at school as usual at 8.45am and will walk up to church for the service. Please ensure that any permission slips are returned as soon as possible, as we will be unable to take children out of school without them. As I am sure you will appreciate, we will need lots of volunteers to help walk our children up, so please do let any member of the team know if you will be able to help us with this. It is sure to be a lovely occasion, where we can all take time out from the hectic preparations and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.


Christingle Kits


These are on sale in school for 50p. This year’s Christingle service takes place on 19th December at 7.00pm at St.Joseph’s.

Christmas Activities

http://www.btinternet.com/~tony.poulter/xmas/xmastlinks.htm - a super site with lots of festive links!

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/calendar/ - lots of different activities to try out.


http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/christms/chgames.htm

http://www.themouseclub.co.uk/flash/mouseclub.html

http://www.mape.org.uk/ChristmasCrackers/

http://www.northpole.com/ - the old favourite is back!!

http://www.rockfordsrockopera.com/ - a site that has nothing to do with Christmas but is a fantastic source of fun: Rockford's Rock Opera is a FREE unique multi-media musical story, for children and adults. It features Rockford the Dog from Battersea Dogs Home and his adventures on the Island of Infinity, a bizarre world of extinct creatures, amazing music, colourful soundscapes, enchanting illustrations and lovingly animated videos.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Games/ - and here's just lots of games to enjoy playing.

It's that creative time of year with lots of glitter and paper strewn across floors and we'll be no different! We will be doing lots of crafting this week so if you could send your child in with any cardboard tubes (not toilet rolls) that would be fantastic.

And finally a letter will be coming out later on this week about the Year 3/4 Christmas party in the last week so do keep an eye out for it.

Have a safe and happy week.

We look forward to seeing you all at the performances of 'A CREEPY CRAWLY CHRISTMAS'.

Take care.

The Year 3/4 team

xxx