Year 4 Class News

This is Year 4 Class News

Living and Learning: Money Matters themed week – HotShots charity fundraising event

Posted on Wednesday 01 May 2019 by Mrs Taylor

To launch the themed week, on 20 May, we will be holding a Hotshots fundraising event, led by PE Partner, to raise money for our school charity, WWF.

During the day, each class will be able to take part in the Hotshots event, with each child having three chances to score a goal and their fastest time recorded. All children will receive a certificate with their fastest shot and medals will be awarded for the fastest boy and girl in each class.

Sponsor forms have been sent home and children are encouraged to raise money for this event. These should be returned, with any money raised, by the end of the themed week (Friday 24th May).  Please ask at the office if you need a sponsor form.

Living and Learning: Money Matters themed week 20 May

Posted on Tuesday 30 April 2019 by Mrs Taylor

Our next whole school themed week Money Matters, based around money and financial education, will be taking place from Monday 20 May 2019.  A variety of events and visitors are planned to help us deliver this key aspect of our Living and Learning curriculum.

During the week we will include looking at questions including:

  • What is money?
  • Where does money come from?
  • How do we spend money?
  • How do we manage money?

To launch the themed week, on 20 May, we will be holding a Hotshots fundraising event, led by PE Partner, to raise money for our school charity, WWF.  During the day, each class will be able to take part in the Hotshots event, with each child having three chances to score a goal and their fastest time recorded. All children will receive a certificate with their fastest shot and medals will be awarded for the fastest boy and girl in each class. Sponsor forms have been sent home and children are encouraged to raise money for this event. These should be returned, with any money raised, by the end of the themed week (Friday 24th May).

Another way we will be raising money for our school charity is by having a penny trail at the end of the week. Children are encouraged to bring in any 1ps and 2ps to their class and a trail will be created using all the money brought in at the end of the week.

Did you know we offer a School Savings Club account, in association with Leeds Credit Union, available to all pupils?  Jordan Francis, from Leeds Credit Union, will be available from 3:00pm – 3:45pm on Wednesday 22 May to give more information about the account. This will also be the regular half termly paying in session for pupils who already have an account.

Finally, if your job involves an aspect of finance and/or money and you can support our themed week by coming into school, please pass on your details to the office.

 

Living and Learning: Money Matters themed week – School Savings Club

Posted on Tuesday 30 April 2019 by Mrs Taylor

During our Money Matters themed week (20 May), we will be holding an information and paying in session for the School Savings Club account.

The account, run in association with Leeds Credit Union, is open to all pupils. Jordan Francis, from Leeds Credit Union, will be available to give out more information and application forms should you want to open an account for your child.  As there is not minimum deposit requirement, it is a great way for your child/children to learn the importance of money.  We hold paying in sessions every half term.

This session will also be for children who want to pay in to their existing accounts. If you are unable to attend in person, please hand in any money to be paid in, to the office in a sealed envelope addressed to Mrs Tiffany.

Active Schools Dance Festival

Posted on Tuesday 30 April 2019 by Mrs Taylor

As part of our involvement with Active Schools, two teams of dancers have taken part in the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 dance festival today at Ralph Thoresby.  With a total of eighteen routines performed, it was a great showcase of dance.

Congratulations to all the children who performed their routines with confidence on the ‘big stage’. A special well done to our Key Stage 1 team who won the award for ‘Best Choreography’.  A great achievement!

Thank you for Miss Marsden and Mrs Charlesworth for running the after-school clubs in preparation for the event.

Thank you as well to parents who helped with transport.

 

Homework

Posted on Friday 26 April 2019 by Mrs Freeman

Last week, the children were asked to get creative with their homework and show what they know about teeth.

A homemade mouth, toothbrush and toothpaste. “A very detailed model. Well done, Pollyanna.”
A model of a tooth. “Wow, this has been well thought through and with labels too! Well done, Felix.”

Yet again, the class produced some outstanding pieces of homework. It is always an absolute pleasure to see such amazing creations. It is clear that, the children have thought through their work and spent time reflecting on their learning.  Well done Year 4!

A model of a tooth with a cross section of the anatomy inside. “Superb, homemade model with great detail. I love the way the two halves fit together to make one tooth! Well done, Daisy.”
A Lego dental surgery. “Very clever idea! Well done, Harris.”
Different types of teeth. “Super variation of teeth. You have clearly researched the difference between human and animal teeth. Well done, Albie!”
Another dental surgery. “You have thought hard about your creation. Well done. Jess!”
A tooth embedded in an apple. “What a great idea of what may happen if you don’t look after your teeth! Well done, Will!”
Homemade buns with teeth icing. “A great idea. I love the way you have shown a healthy tooth, a bleeding one and a decaying one! They tasted great too! Well done, Emma.”
Inside of a tooth. “A carefully created model. You have remembered a lot from our lessons. Well done, Ethan!
Plaque disclosing tablet video. “Chew a tablet and let it mix with the saliva in your mouth. Then, swish the saliva around for about 30 seconds and spit it out. You can then tell whether you’ve successfully removed plaque after brushing your teeth. Always use under the supervision of an adult.” ” A great demonstration of how to keep your teeth healthy. Well done!”

 

Eggciting Investigations

Posted on Wednesday 24 April 2019 by Mrs Freeman

This week, Year 4 have begun to investigate the effects of acid on our teeth.

Sugar creates a sticky substance, called plaque, which can build on your teeth and become a home for bacteria. And guess what that bacteria does? It produces acids which act directly on your teeth, slowly eating them away.

What is tooth decay?

Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars from foods and drinks. These bacteria produce acid, which damages the outer surface of the tooth (the enamel). Saliva helps to repair this damage, but if over time there is more damage than repair, it leaves a cavity or ‘hole’ in the tooth.

 

Image result for tooth decay diagramTo begin with, we discussed what it was we wanted to find out. The children were able to generate some scientific questions. This project focuses on two different dental hygiene issues: stains and decay.

What equipment will we need?

I wonder if we should use different liquids?

How will we know that the shell has been damaged?

Teeth are made from minerals.  These minerals will begin to dissolve if exposed to acid.  We decided to use hard boiled eggs as a substitute for teeth. This may seem like an unlikely pairing for an experiment, but eggshells make a realistic model of dental enamel.

Next, we chose a scientific enquiry to help us to answer our questions.

Let’s put the eggs into the liquids and look at them at the end of the day.

“I wonder if we will see any changes straight away?

Maybe we should leave them for a week.”

We could observe the eggs every few days and record any changes.

The class decided that an ‘observation over time‘ would be the best way to get some information about tooth decay in a very visual way.

Make it a fair test

To make this a fair test, the children recorded what needed to stay the same and what could change.

The amount of liquid in each cup needs to stay the same.


Then, it was time to make some predictions.
What do you think will happen to each egg? Why?

I think the egg in the water won’t look any different.

The coke will stain the egg.

The shell will disintegrate in the vinegar.

I predict that the sugar free juice will weaken the eggshell.

The outside will become sticky and change colour

Five eggs have been placed in different liquids: coke, vinegar, low sugar juice, water and milk.  The children will observe and record any changes every couple of days.                                                  

Day one

Stay posted to find out our results.

 

 

 

Pupil voice: School Council investing their library budget

Posted on Wednesday 24 April 2019 by Mrs Taylor

Our school councillors have recently had the exciting task of ordering some new books for our school library using their library budget.  Each of the school councillors encouraged their classmates to suggest new books that they would like to see in our library and we had some fabulous suggestions.  Our final selection included books suggested by every class.
New titles include:
  • The Usborne Book of Fariytales and You Choose in Space by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart (suggested by Reception)
  • Meg & Mog Collection by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski and Geronimo by David Walliams (Y1)
  • Lego Star Wars Movie Collection (Y2)
  • Dr Who Collection and Six Animal Adventures by Michael Morpurgo (Y3)
  • Tracey Beaker Trilogy by Jacqueline Wilson and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown by Jeff Kinney (Y4)
  • The Parent Agency by David Baddiel and The Bolds Series by Julian Clary (Y5)
  • Tin Tin by Herge and Secret Nightingale Series by Lucy Strange (Y6)
…plus: Jolly Good Food Recipe Collection by Enid Blyton, Gardening for Beginners, RSPB Guide to Wildlife in Your Garden,  A Kid’s Guide to Feelings….and many more.
Look out for them appearing in the library very soon.

Living and Learning: Table Manners

Posted on Friday 19 April 2019 by Mrs Freeman

Every half term, our Living and Learning statements begin with a manners focus and this time we are looking at table manners.
Year 4 discussed different scenarios and how we would show good table manners. Following this we read a poem related to our focus.

The Goops

by Gillette Burgess

Image result for the goops poem
The Goops they lick their fingers
And the Goops they lick their knives:
They spill their broth on the tablecloth
Oh, they lead disgusting lives!
The Goops they talk while eating,
And loud and fast they chew;
And that is why I’m glad that I
Am not a Goop, are you?

We discussed the language in the poem and compared ‘old fashioned‘ manners to (what are considered to be) ‘good table manners’ today. 

The children completed a RIC activity about the poem.

Reading with R.I.C
R – Retrieve (Example: Find 3 different ways the Goops demonstrated bad table manners.)
I – Interpret (Example: What could ‘broth‘ be?)
C – Choice (Example: Why did the author choose to end the poem with a question?)

If you would like to know more about RIC reading, see the link below.

http://www.mrspteach.com/2015/08/ric-reading-lesson-starters.html

Open wide!

Posted on Thursday 18 April 2019 by Mrs Freeman

Earlier in the week, Year 4 started their new topic all about teeth.

For the next 3 weeks the children will learn that humans have 2 sets of teeth, and that teeth can be classified into different groups. We will study the locations and various functions of the incisors, canines and molars.

To begin with, we discussed what our bodies need to stay healthy. The children looked closely at ‘The Eatwell Plate‘ and we compared the sizes of the different sections.

 

Image result for eatwell plate

Following this, Year 4 were given mirrors to examine their own teeth.

My teeth are all different sizes.

Why are some teeth pointy?

How do your teeth stay strong?

I think my teeth look very healthy.

Next, using an angled dental mirror, the class examined each others teeth. This was carried out hygienically by cleaning the mirrors and not using the same one on more than one person.

Wow! I can see right to the back.

The back teeth are a different shape to the front ones.

Do different teeth have different jobs?

What does our tongue do?

Finally, to finish off our examinations, we enjoyed a little role play.

“Your teeth look very healthy. Remember to clean them twice a day and avoid sugary drinks,” recommended the dentist.

 

 

Living and Learning: Healthy Minds

Posted on Sunday 14 April 2019 by Mrs Taylor

This half term, our Living and learning theme is Healthy minds. Each week, we have a Living and Learning statement and we start off the summer term with another manners-related statement.
  • 15 April I use good table manners. Think about good table manners at home – not pointing our cutlery at someone or speaking with food in our mouths, for example.
  • 22 April I recognise emotions in myself and others.  Recognising emotions is an important first step in helping us manage our emotions. For example, it’s ok to feel angry, as long as we try to manage it in a way that doesn’t negatively affect other people. It’s great to feel proud as long as it doesn’t lead to showing off. Being aware of different emotions – both positive and negative – is an important basis for good mental health. 
  • 29 April I recognise mental health is important. Increasingly, we hear about the importance of mental health. Talk at home about different ways to help mental health. This might include restricting screen time, getting enough sleep, and taking time – even just five minutes – as a family to relax and recuperate after a busy day.
  • 07 May I can describe and use ways to calm down. We all get worked up from time to time – how do different people calm down? We’ll explore different strategies to calm down, and encourage our children to adopt one or two of these.  These may be some of the mindfulness techniques children have been taught or counting to ten, going for a walk, getting a glass of water – discuss what works for you and your child?
  • 13 May I recognise the importance of money.  In the final week of the half term, we have the second themed week of the year: a money-related week. This Living and Learning statement helps to introduce the week.
  • 20 May I make choices about my money. Linked to the Money Matters themed week, we’ll explore different choices: to spend or to save, for example.

The topic of mental health can be introduced to children through this text.

We’ll end the half term with a Money Matters themed week with a focus on money management.  Children will learn about their choices with money – saving, spending and the wider world of work.
Moneysense provides further resources to support your child to develop good money habits.
A savings account is a good way for children to recognise the importance and value of money.   In association with Leeds Credit Union, we offer the chance for children to open a Schools Savings Club account.  Over 10% of pupils hold an account and we have regular half termly paying in sessions.  If you’d like your child to open an account or you would like more information, please contact the office.