Science rocks!
The first week back after Christmas has been a week of starting new topics and units. This includes our new Science topic – Rocks, soils and fossils!
Our first week began with the question – How are rocks different? We made careful observations of 12 different rocks and thought about what made them special.
This included things such as;
- Colour – is it one solid colour or does it have mixed colours?
- Texture – is it smooth, rough or both?
- Crystals – does it shine or sparkle?
- Weight – is it heavy or light?
- Layers – does it have stripes or clear layers?
Here are some of the class making their observations:
We then sorted a selection of the rocks into a Venn Diagram. The children had the choice of which features to sort the rocks by.
The class loved the lesson and already had fantastic knowledge in identifying the names of some of the rocks. One person remembered that one of the rocks (Basalt rock) is in the Earth’s Crust! This was from our first Topic lesson about the Earth.
Help at home by seeing if your child can identify any of these rocks based on their appearance!
Group Reading – What do you need to know?
Year 4 have begun their group reading today!
The class have been divided into 6 groups and each group has been given a book to read at home. This will last for the next half term.
During our Book Club sessions, each group will discuss what they have read and complete activities related to their book. This will be a fantastic opportunity for the children to explore characters and storylines more than they might do normally!
Each Friday during Book Club, each group will be given a new page to read to for the next Friday.
What to remember:
- Your child has a book that they need to read every week (up to a chosen point).
- The reading record activity needs to be completed using their new book.
- Group reading books and reading records need to be brought in every Friday.
Help at home by listening to your child read their new book and ask questions about the book to help prepare them for in class discussions.
We look forward to hearing the children’s discussions next week!
The ‘Big Brain’ Art Gallery!
This morning, Year 3 and 4 hosted their first art gallery where they were able to showcase all the amazing art they have produced this half term.
We displayed all the pieces across the two classrooms and gave the children the opportunity to look around and comment on their classmates artwork.
A fantastic end to a fantastic half term!
All of the Year 3/4 team wish you a Merry Christmas and happy and healthy holiday.
See you in the New Year!
Topic – Art
During our Topic lessons, we have been learning about architecture (the history and the skills!).
Our skills lessons have been focused on creating digital art – art that is made using digital technology. We have been photographers, photo editors and graphic designers. But this week, we have been “collagers”! The children used photographs of the school and its architecture to create their own buildings. They used collage as their method.
The adults were blown away by the how fantastic they were. The children experimented with different layers and colours and building shapes. Here are just a few:
Next Friday, Year 3 and 4 will be creating their own art galleries for display. Other classes and teachers will be able to visit to celebrate their hard work! We are looking forward to it.
Living and Learning – Mental Wellbeing
What is mental health?
We all have mental health.
Mental health is about our feelings, our thinking, our emotions and our moods.
Looking after our mental health is as important as looking after our physical health – if not more!
In our Living and Learning lessons and circle times over the last three weeks, we have focused on our mental health and wellbeing. We have discussed what we can do to identify when we are feeling down or feeling a strong emotion. Then we have shared what we can do to help bring us back to feeling calm and positive: talk with friends and family; play a game; drawing; sport or go for a walk. The children then had many different ideas for how they can improve their mental wellbeing.
Our circle times have become a staple in our week where the children can listen to others, work together and understand each other on a different level. The third stage of our sessions are where they share worries and give advice. Year 4 have been mature and respectful to one another throughout each session. It’s been fantastic to watch them become more and more confident in this.
Skipping ropes
We continue to work with Skipping School as part of the Year 2 and Year 4 skipping festivals.
While you might be thinking about Christmas presents, we have skipping ropes available to purchase from school for a subsidised price of £3. These are available in two sizes and a range of colours.
Skipping School
Hello everyone,
Year 4 had a fantastic morning with Skipping School leader – Katie. She took the children through each step, such as how to hold your skipping rope in a smile shape and when to jump after the rope clicks the floor. They then worked up to doing complicated straddle jumps and crossing the skipping ropes! The children were great and were really resilient (as it can be quite tricky!) while working together and encouraging one another.
Year 4 will be participating in the Skipping School Competition after Easter which is all about getting moving and having fun while doing so! We will be practicing the skipping skills we learnt today, up until that point.
Help at home by getting the children skipping.
Science – What’s that sound?
This half term, our Science topic is called ‘What’s that sound?’. We are physicists because we are learning about physics.
So far, Year 4 have learnt how a sound travels into our ears and that is because of vibrations. For example, if an object like a car door is slammed shut, the car door vibrates and the vibrations travel through the air to our ears! To find out more, we went on a sound walk around the school to find as many different sound sources as possible.
The children heard lots of things, such as;
- children talking/shouting
- car horns
- ambulance siren
- car engines
- trees rustling
- foot steps
- fridge humming.
We worked out that we heard most of the sounds in the front playground due to being nearer the road.
Some sounds were high pitched and others were low pitched. The sounds that are there to catch our attention (ambulance sirens) are high pitched and the sounds that are more common (car engines) are low pitched.
Our second lesson was exploring sounds further and fortunately for the children, making sounds with our bodies! We tried to compose a “song” using our bodies. We clicked, stomped, hummed, thumped and shouted. We then experimented with the drums by placing rice on the top and seeing what happened when we hit it hard and hit it softly. In conclusion, the harder we hit the drum, the higher the rice flew and the softer we hit the drum, the lower the rice flew.
Have a look at us in action:
‘Me and My Community’ week!
What a week!
The first week back after half term has been a busy one with it being ‘Me and My Community’ week. This week the children were immersed in lots of activities that taught them about many different communities. Here’s just some of what we got up to!
We began with a visit from a visually impaired man, Sid and his guide dog, Jamie. It was so eye-opening for the children to see and learn how people with visual impairments live their lives to the fullest with the help of others and their dogs.
We then had visitors who were teaching the children about LGBTQ+, what it means and how we can support anyone who needs it. Year 4 really understood the importance of the information!
Linda Gledhill did a talk with the children about hearing impairments. In this session, the children learnt what they can do to help deaf or partially deaf people understand. For example, they should look directly at the person, do not over pronounciate and use hand signals if you can (sign language).
Finally, through the week, Year 4 were chosen to venture out into Moortown Park to do litter picking! Unfortunately, they found lots of litter but I’m sure the people of Moortown will be very thankful. Here’s some photos of the children in action. 
The PTA needs you..
Do you want to make a difference to our school community?
Are you able to give some, time, skills or ideas?
Existing members of the Moortown Primary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) are urgently looking for new parents to join. The PTA is a registered charity and they are looking for parents to take on the roles of three trustees; as well as these roles, they need enough people to help out so that organising and running the fundraising events is shared between more people.
They would like to invite you to join the PTA before the AGM on Tuesday 15 November. If you are interested in joining the PTA, please contact the school office and they will put you in touch with the right people.