Monday 6th October

Welcome to this week's blog.

By now you should have received a letter about our exciting school trip to the


STOCKPORT AIR RAID SHELTERS.


We will be going in two groups. The Year 4's will be going on Friday 24th October. Year Three will be going on the 3rd November. There is a voluntary contribution of £10.00. The children may wear their own clothes and can bring a war time packed lunch:

No modern food

Spam sandwiches

Avoid bananas


The children will have a fabulous time and will enjoy the opportunity to put what they have learnt so far into a more authentic context.

UNIVERSITIES

On Thursday afternoons the children are really enjoying going to the different universities. Every body has been allocated to a group and there are lots of different activities going on in the five groups. I'm sure the children have been telling you all about the exciting activities going on. Through the course of the year the children will have the opportunity to work on each activity.

Environmental group

Comic life group

Drama

Games

Art

LITERACY

In Literacy we are continuing with recounts and this week we are learning to explore different character viewpoints and perceptions. The children will have the opportunity to perform dramas as well as write from an evacuee's point of view.

http://www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/curriculum/literacy/lit_site/html/non_fiction/war/map_uk.htm - lots of recounts about the war with comprehension style questions to go with it. Quite tricky to read so may require adult help.


This work is all building up to the children writing a newspaper article:


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

Our sentence level work this week investigates connectives. We are using Alan Peat's teaching strategy for this to aid memory.



Keep your spellings ticking over with one of our all-time favourite games -WHOMP!

http://www.fekids.com/kln/games/whomp/whomp.html


http://www.spellingcity.com/ - this is a bit American but you will find it really useful for learning spellings - it'll teach you, test you and then you can play a game...all with your own spelling words!



The children are really enjoying the Big Write and are gradually getting used to the sustained writing time. This week the story will be called 'The secret chest.'

NUMERACY

Keep your times tables going. All 3 groups are busy working on their times tables and are aiming HIGH for the AWARDS. Make sure you keep busy testing yourself using the links below:

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

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.

This week Mrs Harding's group will be continuing to work with subtraction and moving onto shape including 2D shape and the different types of triangles. The children are doing their 100 timetables every Friday and are really making progress. To help them with their tables see:

http://tutpup.com/plays/new/4-times-tables-game

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

By the end of the week the children:

COULD be able to know the names and characteristics of all 2D shapes and types of triangles .

SHOULD know what a polygon is and what a regular and irregular shape is.

MUST know the names of all 2D shapes and be able to recognise them.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/3d/index.htm

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

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/maths/maerdy_2d/e_index.html

In Miss Robinson's Numeracy Group we will be continuing to develop our addition and subtraction skills through our Mental Starters this week. We are looking for patterns and 'tricks' to help us speed up our working out using 1 digit and 2 digit numbers - e.g. finding pairs to 10, breaking numbers into smaller chunks. So keep practising your number bonds and pairs for all numbers up to and including 20!

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/numberbond.html - keep up with your number bonds.

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.

The main focus of our topic this week will be investigating 2D shape. The children will learn the names and properties of 2D shape. We may even get onto investigating symmetry.

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

http://www.interactivestuff.org/match/maker.phtml?featured=1&id=24 - can you match the name and the shape?

http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/publications/mathematics/12874/nns_useict026000carroll.swf - Matching 2d shape names to descriptions

http://teams.lacoe.edu/documentation/classrooms/amy/geometry/6-8/activities/quad_quest/quad_quest.html - Go on - challenge yourself!

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, parallel lines, and number of sides.

Mrs Bethell's group
This week we are starting work on shape, as well as continuing our work on number. Could you please help your child to learn the 2, 5, and 10 times tables and when these are secure move onto the 3 and 4 times tables.

To visualise common 2-D shapes and 3-D solids;
To sort, make and describe shapes, referring to their properties
To relate 2-D shapes and 3-D solids to drawings of them;
To describe, visualise, classify, draw and make the shapes
To derive and recall multiplication facts for the 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 times-tables

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/tabletrees.html - choose a times table to practice

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/interactivemultiplicationgrids.html - hide the multiples and see if you can remember them

http://www.ictgames.com/funkymum20.html to practice pairs to 20

http://www.ictgames.com/abacusInteger.html - say a 3 digit number and make it on the rod abacus

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

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/maths/maerdy_2d/e_index.html

TOPIC

This week the children are learning about the BLITZ and the characteristics features of it. We will be looking at video footage, photographs and war sites to learn more about what happened and what it means. To see more please see:

http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW2/blitz.htm

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/war/blitz.htm



SCIENCE

Our electricity work will be on switches this week as well as continuing to look at conductors and insulators. We will be learning that switches can break or make a circuit. We will be looking at switches on familiar things and how we turn them off and on. We will be making switches using paper clips too. The children will also learn about the functions of switches. To find out more see:

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

http://www.innovationslearning.co.uk/subjects/science/activities/circuits/circuits1.htm

http://www.learningcircuits.co.uk/


Our Science review topic this week is on sound and we will be looking at PITCH and VOLUME. To see more click on:
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=sound1f

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/Science/physical.htm#5

CITIZENSHIP

The children have been learning about political parties, their roles and their beliefs. The children have been designing a logo and a slogan for their party. They will be thinking about possible concerns for their party and thinking about five things that they can change or improve.

A final note


Thank you to all the parents who made a comment in their child's diary about the blog. Please continue to let us know what you think of this resource. If you or your child uses this during the week can you write a quick little note in your child's diary.


Thank you.
That’s all about it for this week.
Have a good week.


The Year 3 and 4 team

xxx

Monday 29th of September

Welcome to this week's blog. Who can believe that we are nearly at the end of a very busy first month of the year! Well done to all those children who have comments in their diary and also have been heard read too. Most children have been handing in their sentences too on a Thursday so that this gives the teachers a few days to get them marked before Monday.

The percentages for this week for children who have a comment in their diary and have read are:

In Mrs Harding's class 96% of children have been heard read.

In Mrs Bethell's 44% have been heard read.

In Miss Robinson's 70% have been heard read.

On Tuesday at 9.10 am there is a Harvest Mass in school and you are most welcome to attend.

On the 13th of October we are having another open day and would like everyone to spread the word especially to perspective new parents and new starters for September 2009.

LITERACY

In Literacy this week we are continuing our theme of Recounts and will be investigating the features of NEWSPAPERS. The link below is excellent if you want to have a go at becoming a journalist in the SECOND WORLD WAR:

http://www.headlinehistory.co.uk/swf/main_launcher.htm

For our sentence and word level work we are looking at verbs and whether an event has happened in the past, the future or in the present. Have a go at the links below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/tenses/getting_the_right_tense/game.shtml

http://www.crick.northants.sch.uk/assets/Flash%20Studio/cfslit/Word%20Link/word%20link.html - sorting simple verbs

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/reference/irregular.htm - irregular verbs are really tricky so try this activity.

Spellwell continues to be a big success so here is another link to keep working on your spelling patterns:

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.

This week in the Big Write we will be doing another story and it will centre round the theme of evacuation and children leaving their homes.

http://timewitnesses.org/evacuees/list.html

http://www.webquestuk.org.uk/Evacuees/Index.htm

NUMERACY

Times tables are still a high priority so keep going with them. This week try:

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.

Mrs Harding's group will be carrying on working with division and moving onto addition and subtraction. We will be doing lots of work with division with and without remainders.

By the end of the week the children:

COULD be able to divide large numbers with remainders.

COULD be able to add and subtract two and three digit numbers.

SHOULD be able to divide numbers with remainders.

MUST be able to divide numbers.

MUST be able to add and subtract hundreds and tens from and to numbers.

To have a practice please see:


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


http://fwt.txdnl.com/4-10/w/e/weddell/mw/mental/make%20100.swf


http://fwt.txdnl.com/4-10/w/e/weddell/mw/mental/make%201000.swf

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

Miss Robinson's Group will be moving on to develop their addition and subtraction skills this week. 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.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=digitmenu - practice all your skills with one game!

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

http://www.kidsnumbers.com/add_it_up.php - a test of speed and rapid recall

http://www.funbrain.com/brain/MathBrain/MathBrain.html - a whole selection of different games to test your Numeracy skills

Mrs Bethell's Group

This week homework will be sent home in a booklet which can be kept at home. Each week your child is to complete a numered task - starting with Task 1 this week. There are 20 questions each week - some word problems too. If your child has not finished all 20 after about half an hour then just hand in what they have managed. If you wish to make a comment then please do so. Thank you.
To derive and recall all addition and subtraction facts for each number to
20, sums and differences of multiples of 10 and number pairs that total 100

To round two-digit or three-digit numbers to the nearest 10 or 100 and give estimates for their sums and differences

Add or subtract mentally combinations of one-digit and two-digit numbers - pairs to10, 9, 11, 20

To recognise multiples of 2, 5 or 10 up to 1000

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/numberbond.html set the machine to 9, 10, 11 or 20

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/testtest.html - set to easier

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/additiontest.html - adding

http://www.ictgames.com/funkymum20.html - pairs to 20

http://www.ictgames.com/football2.html - 10 less than

TOPIC

We will be carrying on learning about Hitler and Churchill and lots of other information about the Second World War.

Some children have been really busy collecting together objects, finding out stories and bringing in photographs from the Second World War. Every class has a display and we would welcome any further resources or stories.


For some good sites see:

http://www.lgfl.net/lgfl/accounts/holnet/upload/learningzone/londonatwar/index.html


http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/funandgames/playgame.php?game=evacuation


MUSIC

This week we will be starting to learn some Traditional war songs such as Run rabbit run, We'll meet again, Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye just to name a few. Listen out for the children humming the songs.

SCIENCE

We are going to carrying on with our main topic conductors and insulators - an electricity topic. This week we will be exploring what materials allow and don't allow electricity through in a circuit. The children will be making circuits with wires, batteries and bulbs etc and then testing different materials in the circuit to see if the bulb still lights up.

By the end of the week the children:
COULD know what conductors and insulators are.

SHOULD be able to tell you what things electricity will flow through.

MUST know what a circuit is and be able to make one.

To find out more about electricity and conductors and insulators see below:

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/using_electricity/eng/Introduction/default.htm



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


Our review topic this week is Evaporation and we will be reviewing what this means. We will be thinking about puddles disappearing, washing drying and using a hairdryer to demonstrate the process. To find out more about evaporation please see:


http://www.fossweb.com/modules3-6/Water/index.html


A final note
Thank you to all the parents who made a comment in their child's diary about the blog. Please continue to let us know what you think of this resource. If you or your child uses this during the week can you write a quick little note in your child's diary. If there are any other things you think it might be useful to have on here let us know too.
Thank you. That’s all about it for this week.
Have a good week.
The Year 3 and 4 team.
xxx

Monday 22nd September

Wow! Welcome to our blog this week. Things are certainly getting really busy and the children are all settling into their new classes. The Year Three have really settled quickly and we are hearing lots of positive comments about how happy they are.


Nearly every child is being heard read at home. There are a few who have not been heard though. Please make sure you make a comment too. We will let you know the percentages of children who are being heard read in each class soon

LITERACY

We are continuing our work on RECOUNTS this week and will be investigating the difference between fact and opinion.

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/fact_or_opinion/eng/Introduction/default.htm - work your way through the starter, main and plenary and you'll be an expert in no time!

As well as this we will be improving our spelling skills using SPELL WELL, which all the children thoroughly enjoyed last week.

http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/auto/18/49.html - start at level 1 - how far can you get?

We will also be looking at how to write in the past tense and exploring how we can change words from the present tense into describing something that has happened in the past.

http://www.saintambrosebarlow.wigan.sch.uk/Fun_and_games/tenses.htm

This week we will restarting our BIG WRITE every Friday. The children will get a big input every week, then have a short break and then be asked to write for forty minutes. It is a very special time when all the children have special pens to write with, candles are lit, lights are dimmed and music is played. This was very successful last year and the children always like to check if we are doing it.

The theme this week will be writing a story.


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


SCIENCE

We will be carrying on with our theme of conductors and insulators. This week we will be thinking about electricity and the dangers of it. We will be looking at batteries and mains power as well as other dangers in society.
Our review topic this week is learning about the parts of a flowering plant. The children need to know the vocabulary such as stem, leaf, flower etc. Some children may review the functions of the parts and some of the more complicated names such as stamen and carpel.
To find out more about electricity and plants see below:

http://woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/Science/living.htm#plants

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

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

HISTORY

This week we will be doing about the two leaders Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler. We will be discussing facts about them. The children will be looking at all different pictures, writing down facts and note taking. To have a go at some excellent things to do with the Second World War see below:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/Britain.html - lots of facts - super site to find out what was going on!

http://www.headlinehistory.co.uk/swf/main_launcher.htm - in Literacy next week we will become journalists - this site is fantastic. Follow the WW2 links and get a head start.

http://www.diduknow.info/blitz/index.html - explore Liverpool in the Blitz

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/funandgames/playgame.php?game=evacuation - what was it like to be an evacuee - you can find out here.

RE
We will be continuing our theme of Myself. The children will be reflecting on the different emotions and the ups and downs of life. The children will also be learning how to deal with lots of different emotions.

NUMERACY

Mrs Harding’s class will be rehearse multiplication as repeated addition. We will also learning about division and being able to divide with and with out remainders. I cannot emphasis enough how important times tables are and how much the children benefit from knowing them. Timestables will really help the division topic this week.

By the end of the week the children:
COULD be able to divide 4 digit numbers with remainders and round up the answers with money.
SHOULD be able to divide 3 digit numbers with and without remainders.
MUST know that division is an inverse operation of multiplication and be able to divide whole numbers.

Here are a few links to give you all a practice:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/wholenumbers/division/mental/game.shtml

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

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/maths/contents07multiplicationdivision.htm

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/division.htm

Miss Robinson's group will be continuing to explore number, concentrating on comparing numbers, finding patterns and rounding numbers to the nearest 10 and 100.

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/greater_less_than/eng/Introduction/default.htm - look through the starter, main and plenary and you'll be an expert.

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/geniusboxing.htm - can you use <, > and = to knock out your opponent?

http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/cracker.cgi?A1=s&A2=0&A15=0 - find the missing number to finish the sequence

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/853/Postsortingv3.swf - rounding

http://www.funbrain.com/tens/index.html - a challenging game to practice rounding

By the end of the week the children in Miss Robinson's group:

must be able to use the signs <, > and = to compare numbers

should be able to identify patterns in numbers and continue the sequences

could be able to round numbers accurately to the nearest 10 and 100.

In Mrs Bethell's group this week we are continuing with learning about the number system and the value of digits in a number, as well as learning the pairs to 20 and multiples of 10 that make 100,and solving problems.

Partition three-digit numbers into multiples of 100, 10 and 1 in different ways

Add or subtract mentally combinations of one-digit and two-digit numbers

Derive and recall all addition and subtraction facts for each number to 20, sums and differences of multiples of 10 and number pairs that total 100

Describe and explain methods, choices and solutions to puzzles and problems, orally and in writing, using pictures and diagrams

http://wwwictgames.com/abacusInterger.html

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

http://www.ictgames.com/funkymummy20.html

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

http://www.ictgames.com/fairies2s3s5s10s.html

A final note

Thank you to all the parents who made a comment in their child's diary about the blog. Please continue to let us know what you think of this resource.

We are interested in finding out how useful this blogspot is all the time. If you or your child uses this during the week can you write a quick little note in your child's diary. We 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 us know too.

Thank you. That’s all about it for this week.

Have a good week.

The Year 3 and 4 team.

xxx

Monday 15th September

Welcome to this week’s blog. Thank you to all the parents who attended our Induction meeting last Wednesday. We had lots of positive feedback as to how useful it was. Some of the important issues mentioned were:

HOMEWORK

Homework will start this week. Literacy will be sentences.
Year 3 will be mostly writing five sentences. Year 4 will be putting all their spellings in a sentence. Please remember Year 4 to use punctuation, connectives and interesting vocabulary. Numeracy homework will be provided by your child’s Math’s teacher.

READING

We are trying to get 100% of children being heard read with comments in their diary every week.

P.E.

Please remember that the children need to have PE kits in school. As the weather changes they will need to have an outdoor kit too.


During these first two weeks we have set the routines and discussed class rules as well as golden rules as part of our Induction period. The children have settled very well and the Year 3's in particular have adjusted quickly to the routines and expectations of being a Junior.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

The Friends of St Vincent are having a cake sale on Thursday after school.

LITERACY


The children really enjoyed watching Carrie's War on Friday and this week we will be using the story as a starting point to learn about RECOUNTS. By the end of the week the children will know the features of a recount and will have had a go at drafting their own. They will be basing their recount on the characters seen in Carrie's War, but never fear there will be plenty of opportunity for drama, interviewing and talking about what happened first. If you want to know what a recount is all about then follow the link below to a powerpoint we will be using this week.

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/powerpoints/recount2.ppt


http://www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/curriculum/literacy/lit_site/html/non_fiction/war/index.htm

The children will be exploring adjectives this week and we will be encouraging them to write 2A sentences in their recounts. Check out the link below to find out more on 'THE GRAMMAR SHOW':


http://www.learnatglobal.com/assets/applets/grammar.swf



We are also going to be brushing up our Spellings every week with a fantastic game called SPELL WELL which I'm sure the Year 4 children may remember. Every week the children will go into small groups within the class and practise spellings appropriate to their level. Have a look at the link below to refresh your spelling knowledge:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/spellits/

NUMERACY

It's that time of year again were you need to start brushing up on your times tables facts ready for those all important BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD awards. Check out the link below - it's one of our old favourites to get you back in the mood:

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

In Miss Robinson's Numeracy Group this week we will be exploring partitioning and place value, as well as moving into comparing and rounding numbers. Play the games below to practice your skills:

http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/nonmembers/gamesroom/awards/awardc.html - want to really challenge yourself - you can choose to try to order numbers up to 1 million! All with a sporty theme.

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=ncmenu - practise using your crocodile signs. Can you complete all the levels?

I would also like to stress to my group how important we realised it was to know our number bonds to 10 with rapid recall this week. Once we know those facts we can solve so many more sums - we realised that our number bonds to 20 and 100 all rely on knowing how to make 10. Here's a site to make sure you're quick and confident with those facts.

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/Hitthebuttonv7.swf - click on number bonds and see how many MAKE 10 DIGITS you can solve in one minute. When you are feeling confident have a go with bonds to 20 and 100!

In Mrs Bethells Numeracy group the children will also be continuing to work on numbers. They will be working on:

Counting up to 100 objects by grouping them and counting in tens, fives or twos
Reading and writing two-digit and three-digit numbers in figures and words; describing and extending number sentences and recognising odd and even numbers
Reading, writing and ordering whole numbers to at least 1000 and position them on a number line; counting on from and back to zero in single-digit steps or multiples of 10
Partitioning three-digit numbers into multiples of 100, 10 and 1 in different ways
Ordering two-digit numbers and positioning them on a number line; use the greater than (>) and less than (<) signs.

The links below should be useful:

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

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

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

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

Mrs Harding's group

We will be continuing with four digit numbers. We will be rounding, ordering, partitioning and be using negative numbers too. We also started the 100 timetables test last week and the children did very well. Hopefully their scores will improve so that they will get certificates. See sites above to practise their tables.

80 - 89 correct is a bronze award.

90 - 99 correct is a silver award.

100 correct is a gold award.

The children have to get three gold awards before they move onto a division test.

By the end of the week the children:

MUST be able to partition and order a set of 4 digit numbers.

SHOULD be able to use symbols and negative numbers to understand number sentences.

COULD be able to solve number problems and be able to explain their methods.

Here are a few links to get us all started:

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=4dsequencer

http://www.321know.com/cmp33_x2.htm#section3

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/mentalmachine2.html

TOPIC
This week we will start some new topics. As I'm sure you've already heard by now our main History topic is WORLD WAR TWO.
This week we are introducing the war and key dates. The children will become more familiar with key leaders, key events and where the war took place.
To find out more click on:

http://www.nettlesworth.durham.sch.uk/time/war.html - Britain at war

http://www.worldwar2exraf.co.uk/Online%20Museum/Museum%20Docs/Homefrontmuseum.html - lots of info on WW2 generally

CITIZENSHIP
We have been learning about dictatorship and democracy. We have linked this to us voting for the class representatives for the school council. We are going to continue learning about national and local elections and voting.

SCIENCE
We are starting the topic on conductors and insulators. The children are going to learn or review what a circuit is. The children are problem solving why circuits don’t work and finding out the parts of a circuit.

By the end of the week the children:
COULD know how to construct a circuit using the correct parts.
SHOULD be able to find out why a circuit won’t work.
MUST know what a circuit is.

To find out more click on:

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


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

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Our theme for this half theme is Shelters. We will be thinking about what a shelter is and all the different types of shelters. We will be listing all different shelters such as tents, bus shelters, garden shelters, umbrellas etc.

A final note

We are 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. We 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 us know too. Thank you.

That’s all about it for this week. Have a good week.

The Year 3 and 4 team.
xxx

Monday 8th September

What a positive first few days back. Well done to all the children in Year 3 and 4 for the super start they have made to the year. All the children looked very smart (well done parents!) and their attitude in school was excellent.


We spent a lot of time last week getting to know each other and that will continue through this week too as part of our 'induction period' We go over lots of things during the induction period. Please remember to drop into see us if there are any worries or concerns. Thank you.


INDUCTION MEETING


The Induction meeting is a very important meeting when you will learn lots about the different year groups. It centres on routines and organisation of the curriculum and homework. It will be held at 3.15 on Wednesday the 10th of September in Miss Robinson's room. It is a useful meeting where you can find out what is expected through the year. It's also a good opportunity to introduce yourself and ask any questions.

THINKING SKILLS

In the first few days all the children completed a questionnaire to find out how they learn best. They found out whether they were a VISUAL, AUDITORY or KINESTHETIC learner and will be finding out what that means to their learning through the year. Many of the children looked at their results and said "Oh right, so that's why I like to do that!" 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?

DIARIES


Please could you sign your child's diary each week and hear them read every day. Please remember to write a comment in their diary too. Thank you! We check the children have their diary every day. We find the children who are heard read most often make the most progress in our assessments throughout the year. Please remember if there is an important message in their diary, remind them to put it on our desk first thing in the morning. Thank you.


HOMEWORK

The children will start homework next week ( Monday 15th) as we become used to some of the new routines. Math's homework will be provided from your child's numeracy teacher. Literacy homework is writing a number of sentences using the spelling sheets that the children are used to. We will put more details on next week and also will say something at the Induction Meeting too. Don't forget to........

READ READ READ!!!!

P.E.

Please remember that your child needs to have their PE kit in school which is a white tee shirt, blue shorts and pumps or trainers. Can we please remind you that the girls are only allowed to wear blue or black bobbles etc. No jewellery of any kind is permitted except a watch. It is vital that all uniform is labelled clearly. Please make sure that they leave their kits in school as sometimes the day changes when we do it. Outside kit is also needed this term which means pumps/trainers and a sweatshirt/jogging bottoms when the weather gets colder.

GOLDEN TIME

Golden time will be on a Thursday this year along with a university that we are going to begin in Year 3 and 4. There will be five groups with five different activities. It will be similar to what happens in Key Stage One but obviously will be adapted to suit the Junior children. We are sure it will be a great success and will provide an even richer and varied curriculum.

CURRICULUM


We will be using this week to assess what your child knows and remembers after the long summer holiday. Please encourage your child to look at the websites from last week as a review.


Have a safe and happy week.


The Year 3/4 team
xxx

Welcome back!

Welcome back everyone!!!

Who could believe that six weeks can go so fast. We hope that you have all had a super summer holiday. I bet you've been looking forward to catching up with all your friends on the first week back and tell them everything you've done.

This blogspot will be updated every week with information about what your child will be learning and doing over the coming week. It is a way to keep you informed of what is going on in school and in class throughout each term. As well as passing on information we will also be recommending relevant websites that may be useful for you to use with your child to support them in their learning. If you have any other ideas of what it might be useful to know please do tell us.

Don't forget that your child also has a diary with them which can be used to communicate with their class teacher, as well as writing in it when you hear them read or check their spellings. This is useful for if we have a message to send home, or if we have something specific to say about your child's learning, or even to be able to write in it to let you know if the have participated in a Guided Reading session. If you write a note for us to see, please remind your child to show us at the beginning of the day or leave them on their teacher's desk. With the many things that go on in school the message may get missed otherwise.

When the children start back at school they are in what we call their 'induction period'. During this time the children are given the opportunity to settle with their peers and new teacher, find their way around a new room (and for the year 3's a whole new part of the school!), establish class rules, responsibilities and expectations, as well as have the chance to talk about themselves, caring for others and ways of developing into successful learners.

Here's just a few of our favourite websites from last year just to get you back 'in the mood'.

http://www.cogcon.com/gamegoo/gooey.html - WOW! Strange games = great literacy learning!
http://www.starfall.com/index.htm - great activites for literacy 'refreshers'.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/spellits/ad_menu_flash.shtml - choose your adventure and practise your spelling.
http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ - lots of maths games for you to explore.
http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/Hitthebuttonv7.swf - Year 4's get working on those times tables again! Year 3's how many can you do in one minute?
http://www.e-gfl.org/e-gfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/teacher/other/spark/playcards/gamelaunch.html - play your cards right...We hope that you all have a happy and exciting start back to school.

Take care.

The Year 3/4 Team
xxx