Drop-down Morning: geography, history & D&T
Today we had drop-down morning! We use this as an opportunity to recap and strengthen our topic knowledge from previous years.
Today we revisited:
- Geography – Where in the world am I?
- History – Romans and Anglo-Saxons
- D&T – Product design
We started with geography. We were focusing on maps and grid references. Your children had a go at reading maps, identifying and writing their own grid references.
Next, we moved onto history where we played a game of ‘hunt’. The children had a question sheet all about the Romans and Anglo-Saxons and had to hunt around the classroom, gathering the answers from their classmates. They then completed a crossword using all their historical knowledge!
Finally, in D&T we recapped all things product design! We discussed the design process that all products must go through and even had a go at ordering the design process of a new car!
Help at home: choose a product in your house and ask your child to identify some of the design criteria it might have had.
Science: Water Cycle
Year 4 are chemists!
As part of our chemistry unit, we’ve been learning about the water cycle.
- Evaporation is when water turns into water vapour from the heat of the sun.
- Condensation is when water vapour changes back into water and forms a cloud.
- Precipitation is when solid or liquid water falls from the Earth’s atmosphere.
- Collection is when water from precipitation is gather back into lakes, rivers and seas.
We also learnt about the 4 different types of precipitation – rain, snow, sleet and hail.
Your children found it fascinating how all the water on Earth is continually recycled through the water cycle. We even had some interesting discussions about whether we drink the same water that dinosaurs drank!
Help at home: ask your children to talk you through each stage of the water cycle. Make sure they use our key vocabulary:
Food Technology: Egg Pot
Today, Year 4 made egg pots in food technology! They prepared, cooked and ate their delicious snacks.
To begin, we used the bridge cutting technique when cutting our tomatoes. This was a safe method to use to stop the tomatoes slipping while we cut them.
Then, we used the microwave to heat the tomatoes and beans. We used small bursts, checking each time, to ensure we didn’t overcook them. Once they were hot, we cracked in our egg and continued cooking until the egg was opaque (not see through).
Finally, it was the best part – eating it! Most of your children loved it and were keen to make it again at home.
Your children stayed safe throughout by taking their time, concentrating, using the bridge technique when cutting and being careful handling the hot food.
Help at home: make the recipe again! Can you add something new? Maybe spinach, ham, mushrooms etc.
Writing: instructions
This week, Year 4 have been writing instructions!
Purpose: to tell the reader how to do something.
We’ve looked at the features of instructions (our R2s):
- imperative (bossy) verbs
- time connectives
- adverbs
- adjectives
- present tense
- chronological order
Your children chose what they wrote their instructions for.
How to survive a day without technology.
How to make a tuna and cucumber sandwich.
How to escape King Minos’ castle.
How to control a robot.
We planned, wrote and then edited our writing to ensure it was as fantastic as possible.
I’ve loved reading all of your children’s brilliant instructions! Later in the week, we’re going to share them with Year 3 and see if they can follow them correctly.
Help at home: ask your children to write you a simple set of instructions.
- How to get dressed for school.
- How to make their favourite meal.
- How to build a bridge in Minecraft.
- How to get ready for bed.
North East Leeds cross country
** UPDATE ** Eight of our runners have qualified for the Leeds cross country final – congratulations!
Today, thirty of our Key Stage 2 children took part in the Leeds North East School Games Cross Country festival at Roundhay High School attended by twenty nine schools.
We had a great start from our Year 3 runners with three children coming in the top 15 including an amazing third and fifth place! Then, an effortless first place by one of our Year 4 runners was a great achievement. After that, we saw some excellent efforts and determination from the rest of the children throughout the afternoon with great support and encouragement from the other pupils.
Well done to all the children who took part and represented the school. We are sure there will be some qualifiers for the next race, the Leeds final. Watch this space!
Thank you to the parents who came along to help and support at this event.
If you’re child would like to take part in cross country, have a look at our physical activity guide for details of local running clubs and junior Park Runs.
Some of the children who took part, are regular runners at the Leeds Schools Sports Association Saturday morning cross country races. Details will shortly be sent out for the next race on Saturday 14th December.
Science: conducting a fair experiment
We’re chemists!
In science, we’re learning all about the states of matter – solid, liquid and gas. We’ve also been exploring how temperature can change a material’s state. Today, we conducted a fair experiment to answer our enquiry:
Does the temperature of water affect the time it takes for ice to melt in it?
In order for this to be a fair experiment, we had to consider the variables in the experiment.
- independent variable (what we’re changing): the temperature of the water
- dependent variable (what we’re measuring): the time it takes for the ice to melt
- controlled variables (what we’re keeping the same): the volume of water and the size of the ice cube
Your children demonstrated some great scientific skills such as reading thermometers, using a stopwatch, measuring accurately and recording results.
Our conclusion: the hotter the water, the less time it takes for ice to melt in it.
Help at home: try this experiment again at home. Get your child to talk you through the independent, dependent and controlled variables.
Living & Learning: Money and Online Safety
Yesterday, Year 4 learnt all about online adverts and pop-ups as part of our L&L theme: money and online safety.
We discussed what an advert is and where we can find them. Your children came up with lots of brilliant suggestions:
- before YouTube videos
- on Roblox
- while watching TV
- when you google something
- at the cinema
Importantly, the children learnt that if an advert sounds too good to be true, it probably is and we shouldn’t click on it.
Some top tips for prevent online adverts and pop-ups:
- You can also download add-ons or adblockers to stop pop-up adverts on the sites you visit.
- Before downloading a new app, always check out the reviews in the app store. They’ll often tell you if an app has too much advertising or displays adverts that are inappropriate.
- Don’t click on the adverts or purchase anything on apps/games without talking to a trusted adult first.
- Always speak to a trusted adult about any adverts or pop-ups that you see or are unsure about.
The children then created some posters all about spotting and preventing online adverts and pop-ups – they were brilliant!
Help at home: watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRDy-2JkBtc and discuss, with your children, how they can spot and avoid online adverts and pop-ups.
Road Safety
Today, Year 4 had some visitors from Leeds City Council to deliver road safety training. We had a really insightful lesson all about road safety and sustainable travel before heading out to do some practical training.
Green Cross Code:
- Think – find a safe place to cross.
- Stop – take a 30cm step back from the road.
- Look – right then left and then all around.
- Listen – listen closely for all vehicles (especially quiet ones like electric cars).
Help at home: ask your children to explain the Green Cross Code. When you are crossing roads together, make sure you are all following the Green Cross Code.
Anti-Bullying Day
Today, we celebrated Anti-Bullying and Odd Socks Day as part of Anti-Bullying Week.
We all wore odd socks to school to show that it’s okay to be different and to stand up against discrimination and bullying. At Moortown, we always celebrate diversity and wearing odd socks was a fun way to show this today!
In Year 4, we had some important conversations around what bullying is and what to do if we experience it. We like to use the acronym STOP to help us remember.
We discussed where your children could get support regarding bullying:
- A trusted adult
- Someone in your family
- Friends
- Childline (0800 1111)
- Write a worry slip and put it in your Living and Learning box or the whole school worry box (outside the school office)
- Email stayingsafe@spherefederation.org
We attended a live online lesson held by CBBC all about friendships, conflict, respect and bullying. As part of this lesson, Year 4 came up with an acrostic poem about RESPECT.
Help at home: have an open discussion about bullying at home. What is bullying? What should you do if you experience bullying? How can bullying make somebody feel? How can we resolve conflict respectfully?
Saturday cross country runners
Well done to all our KS2 pupils who took part in the second Leeds Schools Sports Association cross country race at Cardinal Heenan on Saturday morning.
All the children ran brilliantly and improved their race positions from last time.
Thank you to parents who supported at the event.
There are two more races this season and information will be sent about these nearer the time. Please note there is a new registration system this year with all children being registered prior to their first race to take part.
