Living and Learning – I can take part in democratic decisions.
I can take part in democratic decisions.
Today, the children had the opportunity to take part in the Junior Leadership Team elections. They were given time to prepare and deliver a speech. After the speeches, the children took part in a vote using ballot papers and the ballot box.
Well done to everyone who stood up and delivered their speech – you were all amazing.
Well done to our new class Junior Leadership Team representatives!
History debate
This week, the children took part in a History debate to discuss the question ‘Should The Elgin Marbles be returned to Greece?’. The children really engaged in the discussion and provided strong arguments to argue both sides. They spoke clearly and took turns.
Help at home by asking your child about their point of view.
Half term football opportunity
Here’s a new football venture starting locally during half term.
Living & Learning: Me and my community week 2 November
Our next whole school themed week, based around identity, diversity and community, will be taking place from Monday 2nd November. This is the first of two themed weeks in the year. In our ‘Me and My Community’ week, children will learn about what it means to belong to a community, from family to national or even international communities. Importantly, our children will also learn to respect and celebrate different communities.
Active travel in the community
We encourage children to get out in the community in an active way on their way to and from school. By walking/scooting/biking to school, families will be keeping our community safer and healthier by reducing congestion at the school gate. Maybe even pick up a piece of litter on the way. Even by parking further away from school your child could then travel the final part of their journey by foot, bike or scooter.
Email us ([email protected]) a picture of your active travel, maybe by a landmark in our community on your route to school, for the chance to win one of three vouchers. Entries to be submitted by 4pm on Thursday 5th November.
New school charity
At the end of the themed week, classes will have the chance to discuss our charity shortlist and the Junior Leadership Team will have the final vote for which charity they would like our school to support, replacing our current charity, Martin House Hospice.
Identity day
Friday 6th November will be a non-uniform Identity Day. Children are invited to dress in clothing that represents part of their identity, for example uniform from a club they attend, a team they are part of or support or traditional dress to represent their heritage. There is no donation or contribution required for this day.
SAVE THE DATE PTA coffee morning Friday 6th November 9-10am
As part of the week, we welcome all parents and carers to an informal coffee morning to meet other members of our school community including representatives from the PTA. A whole school community Wake up Shake up will follow at 9:50am in the main playground.
Can you help?
Maybe you speak another language and you would be happy to speak to children about this or you would like to share about your own family culture and heritage. If so, please contact the office to pass on your details. Also, do you have any local community links that may support our week?
Science
This half-term in Science, Year 4 are biologists and we are learning all about living things and their habitats.
Biology is the study of living things.
We’ve been grouping and classifying animals and have used classification keys to help us do so.
All animals can be classified as either vertebrates (animals with a spine) or invertebrates (animals without a spine).
There are five types of vertebrates that we’ve explored:
- mammals
- birds
- fish
- reptiles
- amphibians
A classification key helps scientists identify things using closed questions (‘yes’ or ‘no’). We’ve been using classification keys to classify a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates and writing our own yes/no questions.
Then, we used this scientific enquiry question to explore The Green.
What living things do we have in our local area and how does this change over the year?
We used a tally chart to record our findings.
How might these observations change at a different time of year?
Help at home: look at this classification key with your child. Can they complete it and explain their reasoning?
Topic – Ancient Greeks
This week, the children used drama to explore how the Ancient Greek civilisation ended. They created a freeze frame to represent one of the three reasons:
- the city states fighting against each other
- The Romans invading
- people rebelling against the ruling oligarchy
Help at home by asking your children to remember what they have learnt about the Ancient Greek civilisation including how it ended.
We’re artists
This week, the children have also been artists.
Today, they’ve explored making patterns on larger sheet of paper using charcoal.
We’re writers
This week, the children have written a recount from the point of view of an Athenian warrior returning home and marching through the streets of Athens.
They’ve included:
- prepositions
- adverbs
- written in the past tense
- checked for capital letters and full stops
- their best handwriting
The writing across Year 4 has been amazing! We’re really impressed.
Here are some quotes from their work:
Finally, I started to climb the impressive temple stairs. Ryan
Steadily, the gigantic boat glided through the bright blue sea. Eleanor
Under my feet, I felt the familiar soil. Hannah H
Well done, Year 4.
Help at home by looking at the BBC Bitesize website grammar pages. This will help to reinforce learning about the different word classes including prepositions and adverbs.
Living and Learning: Rights and responsibilities
This week, our L&L statement was: I know that rights come with responsibilities.
We all have rights but these come with certain responsibilities. In our circle time, we came up with some rights we have and the responsibilities that come with these:
- We have a right to sleep in a bedroom but a responsibility to keep it tidy.
- We have a right to come to school to learn but a responsibility to behave at school.
- We have a right to eat food but a responsibility to use good table manners when we eat it.
- We have a right to read but a responsibility to respect the books that we read.
- We have a right to watch things but a responsibility to make sure it is appropriate.
- We have a right to share our opinions in circle time but a responsibility to respect others’ opinions.
Help at home: Watch this video: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zqgm7yc#zmghp4j and ask your child what rights and responsibilities they have at home (eg. they have the right to play with their toys but a responsibility to do this safely).
Year 4 Reading Records
Thank you to everyone who brought their Reading Record in today for Book Club.
In class, we enjoyed our ‘Book Wars’ discussions. You all gave some great reasons why your book should be read by others.
Here are some fantastic examples of completed Reading Record tasks so far this year.
Well done, everyone.
Help at home by regularly listening to your child read.