Computing – Beebots
During our Computing topic this half term we have been learning all about algorithms. These are sets of instructions and we can use them to program computers. We have practised writing our own algorithms as well as debugging (fixing) them.
So far, we have only written algorithms for games on pieces of paper so we can learn the process securely. This week we got out the Beebots and had a go at writing algorithms for it to follow. We tried to make the Beebot escape a maze, draw a square and move to our partner. We made sure to write down our algorithm first and then debug it if it went wrong. It was great fun!
Next week, we will create our own game and use the Beebot to play it! We can’t wait!
Skipping
This week, we had a fun and active afternoon of skipping with Jodi from Skipping School and she was very impressed by the skipping and effort she saw!
Jodi taught us lots of different individual and group skipping skills to practise for our Year 2 skipping festival with other schools later in the summer term.
Skipping ropes are available to buy, at a subsidised price of £3, from the office to practise these new skills at home.
Living and Learning – Health and Prevention
For the last two weeks, Year 4 have been learning about the importance of personal hygiene including handwashing and sleep.
The children have been talking and mostly (due to COVID) have been recapping what they already know about the importance of personal hygiene. Keeping ourselves clean means that we keep ourselves healthy and in turn help others around us too. This is has worked well in conjunction with our science topic which is all about micro-organisms. The children were able to identify and classify bacteria, viruses and fungi as well as talk about how some are good for us and some are dangerous. These are things that cannot be seen by the naked eye and therefore, highlighted the importance of handwashing!
Secondly, the importance of sleep was interesting because now the children are getting older, they forget just how important sleep is. Children should get around 10-12 hours sleep a night. This sounds like a lot but makes such a difference to how they feel during the day. Year 4 worked together to create their own night time routines to ensure that they get the most sleep possible! I have personally noticed a difference in the class when they have gotten more sleep so fingers crossed this continues!
Living and Learning: Personal Hygiene
This week in Living and Learning, we discussed the importance of keeping our hands clean – this has been particularly important over the last couple of years. We talked about what being healthy means and how to keep ourselves as healthy as possible.
Year 5 discussed how it is our responsibility to keep ourselves healthy – alongside parents and doctors.
We continued the lesson by learning about allergies and what we needed to do if someone was having a severe allergic reaction.
Ask your child if they can remember what to do if someone is having a severe allergic reaction.
Living and Learning: Health and prevention (sleep)
Our recent Living and Learning lesson was all about the importance of sleep.
Our learning explored why sleep is so important in our lives, how it can sometimes be difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, and how to manage this. We also considered what the children can do to help themselves have good habits that can help them to fall asleep.
Firstly, we heard a story about a girl called Mia. We had to identify the things that were STOPPING her from getting to sleep.
As a class, we had a great discussion about what can HELP Mia (and us) to get to sleep and what might STOP us from getting to sleep.
Here are some of the ideas generated.
Hopefully the children have been sharing this knowledge to help with their own bedtime routines.
For further sleep support, here are some resources you might want to look at.
• NHS sleep specific website for younger children
• Childline – for general advice about concerns
• Specific NHS advice on sleep is available here
• Sleep Charity – for sleep tips and links to other organisations
It’s Spring!
Last week we visited Moortown Park to look for signs of Spring. After a walk around the park we enjoyed some time on the playground. Back in the classroom, the children drew maps of our journey.
Literacy
Our focus book this week is ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. The children will retell the story and learn about traditional tales.
We will be planting beans and sunflowers and tidying up our outside area.
Maths
This week the children will be learning to recognise and talk about doubles within 10.
We will be using the stem sentence, ‘4 is made of 2 and 2. Double 2 is 4.’
Phonics
We are continuing to learn to read words with digraphs (two letters making one sound). This week our words will include the digraphs ai, ee and the trigraph igh.
Science!
Over the last two weeks we have been learning all about microbes in our science lessons! We have learnt that there are three main types of microbe: virus, bacteria and fungi. Last week, we made our own microbe out of playdough and gave it a name. We had some wonderful models! Well done everyone!
This week, we conducted an experiment to show us how important it is to wash out hands with soap! We first dipped a cocktail stick in water and then in water with black pepper in it. The pepper stuck to the cocktail stick just like microbes stick to our skin. Finally we dipped the cocktail stick in the soapy water and all the pepper washed away! It was great fun.
Living and Learning: Sleep
In today’s Living and Learning session, we talked all about the importance of sleep and ways to help us get a better nights sleep.
One of these is getting in a good night time routine.
“It is difficult to get to sleep when I watch TV before bed. A solution to this is to read instead,” said Jensen.
“It is difficult to get to sleep when there is too much light. A solution to this is to turn lights down on devices such as iPads,” added Ava.
“It is difficult to get to sleep when I don’t do exercise that day. A solution to this is to do some running, jumping and skipping,” commented Hidayah, happily.
“One thing I will do differently at bed time now is read a book for fifteen minutes!” stated Will.
As a class, we decided that plenty of sleep gives us these benefits:
- you’ll feel happier/less grumpy
- you’ll be more alert
- you’ll feel fresher
- it is vital for growth and development
- you’ll be more organised
Good work, Y3!
NSPCC Speak out Stay safe
During our recent Staying Safe themed week, all pupils took part in the NSPCC Speak out Stay safe learning featuring Ant and Dec and Buddy.
We are proud to receive our certificate to recognise this.
Living & Learning – I know the importance of personal hygiene.
What does being healthy mean?
Lots of us also said about the important balance of mental and physical health.
How might you know if you are ill?
More importantly, if you are ill you could:
– go to the doctors
– test yourself
– take medicine (ask a trusted adult first)
– go to the chemist or pharmacy
– rest, get enough sleep, fresh air, keep drinking water
Why is personal hygiene important?
“Otherwise, we’ll spread germs, viruses and bacteria to others around you,” said Leah.
“It keeps you clean and if you don’t you might get sick,” explained Christina.
“It keeps yourself and others safe,” said Billy.
What should you do if someone is having an allergic reaction?
“If it’s serious, call 999 or 112 and ask if they have an injection that might help. If they do, read the instructions for how to use it. See if they’re doing well. Help them to sit in a position to help them breathe. If it’s still getting worse, get ready to perform CPR,” explained Khadija.
What is a vaccine and how does it work?
Aadil says, “A person named Edward Jenner wanted to be a doctor. He practised in his home town where there was a serious virus called smallpox. There was another mild one called cowpox. The people of the town said if you got cowpox it’s very unlikely you get smallpox. He went to the gardener’s son and gave a bit of the cowpox pus to the boy. He recovered quickly. Then, he also gave the smallpox pus to the boy and amazingly he did not get infected. The name vaccine comes from the Latin word for cow which is vacca which you’d say ‘wacca’!”