How does your garden grow?
In Year 4, we always try to link our reading area to our current topic. Children are encouraged to bring books in from home to add to our library and for others to enjoy.
As we begin our new topic, Life Forces, we decided to make the reading corner into a garden. We have created a calm, relaxing garden that is full of lots of reading resources linked to life. From learning about how your body works to leaflets from the local pet shop about how to care for various pets, we have the lot!
Alongside the reading, we also have some bulbs growing on the windowsill. These are amaryllis plants and are forming a daily observation. The children will observe these plants over time, record growth, photograph, note changes, observe the roots, check water levels and much more.
The bulbs were planted in different materials.
One is in stones, gravel and decorative pebbles and the other bulb is growing in soil, stones and chalk pebbles.
Chick Cam 3!
We’ve now got seven chicks! We’ll start moving them to the breeder box today.
Chick Cam 2!
The streams on YouTube only last for 8 hours, so here’s the next one!
It’s 17:10 and we now have three chicks with one more arriving very soon! Once hatched, the chicks need to stay in the incubator for about 24 hours to ‘fluff up’ before they are moved to the breeder box.
Chick Cam!
Good morning. Click on the following link to watch the chicks in our incubator. Two chicks have hatched already and there should be more hatching today and tomorrow! Stay tuned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSUKPotLzS4&feature=youtu.be
Going underground!
This week, we came to to end of our ‘Rocks and Soils‘ mini topic. For our final two lessons, we studied the job of an archaeologist and had our very own archaeological dig.
Our first lesson focused on generating, developing and communicating our ideas through discussion.
In groups, on large paper, children were asked to answer the questions through discussion, make notes and annotations.
- What is an archaeologist?
- What is their job? What skills do you think they need?
- Is the job of an archaeologist important? Why?
- What tools are needed for this job?
The children were given sentence stems to use. This helps to evidence and back-up their ideas and reasons. For example:
- I think that an archaeologist would have to be good at maths. I think this because they would have to know about dates and times from different ages.
- If we don’t have evidence from the past, then we won’t be able to learn more about history.
For the next lesson things got MESSY! We had previously learnt that archaeologists find out about the past by discovering artefacts left behind by our ancestors, examining what they have found and then recording their discoveries for the future. With all this in mind, the children were asked to select appropriate tools for their excavation. Year 4 were able to choose suitable tools and give reasons as to why they select them.
- “You need to be very careful not to damage your fossil or artefact,” said Henry.
- “I think that a cotton bud would be useful to get into tiny areas,” commented Zara.
A container with layers of rock and sand was given to each group. The children then had to work carefully by removing tiny pieces of rock or layers of sand.
We excavated in layers rather than digging holes as this is how a real archaeologist works. When an artefact or fossil had been uncovered, the groups had to carefully clear the sand and rock from around the edges avoiding damage to the surface of the artefact itself.
After excavating in layers, the children had to make notes about each find until they reached the bottom of their container.
Once the dig had been completed, we looked at our finds and compared the details of each artefact or fossil.
We discussed things that were hard or challenging.
“I found it hard to get the fossil out in one piece. It was easier to leave room around it and then try to chip at the rock carefully,” commented Arundeep. 
Following a very successful dig, the children were asked to create a fact file for one of their finds.
The children examined their objects using a magnifying glass, measured the dimensions, sketched the find and recorded texture and appearance. In order to get an idea of the scale, we took photos of the objects alongside a ruler.
Well done to Year 4. They worked with patience and care. We all enjoyed these lessons. In fact, we have decided to make our class assembly a ‘Rocks and Soils’ themed one – YEAR 4 ROCK!
We’ll be performing this on Wednesday 17 January. We look forward to seeing you there!
Welcome back
Happy New Year and welcome back to what is set to be another very busy term!
Our first mini-topic is ‘What’s the matter?’ and is science-based. Children will learn about materials and their properties. We will explore what objects are made from and why. You can help your child learn more about this topic when choosing which clothes to wear and talking about which materials everyday objects are made from and why. Children will also ask ‘What’s the matter?’ from a social and emotional point of view, thinking about how they can solve problems.
The next big topic is Life.
Life is all around us, in plants and animals, and comes in all shapes and sizes – it’s amazing! In this biology-based topic, we find out how our body works, what all living things have in common and the differences we might notice. Amongst other things, we’ll think about why animals choose particular habitats and why a healthy diet is important. Help your child at home by naming body parts, including the parts inside that you can’t see, discussing why you breathe hard after exercise and what plants you can see when you’re out and about.
This term, Year 4 will be diving into two class novels.
The first will be a Fighting Fantasy novel, which is the title given to a series of interactive books, also known as game books, that were developed by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. This book will certainly be intriguing and memorable because the children’s participation and the choices they make directly affects the outcome of the story! Good luck!
The second will be ‘Akimbo and the Elephants’, written by Alexander McCall Smith. Here’s the blurb:
‘Ten-year-old Akimbo lives on a game preserve in Africa. His father is the head ranger, and Akimbo is eager to help him whenever he can—even if it means getting into some pretty dangerous situations.’
How can you help?
Question your child about the book. What do they know about the characters? Perhaps, look at other books in ‘The Fighting Fantasy series.’
During the next term, we will be giving some children additional or alternative homework. This is because, in lessons, there are areas in Maths and English where extra practice (at home) would be very beneficial to consolidate the learning in school.
Please support your child with this at home and if you’re not sure of how best to do this then please pop in and ask us. We’re always happy to help.
Living and Learning
- Drug, alcohol and tobacco education (DATE)
- Keeping safe and managing risk
Here are the weekly Living and Learning statements, for this half term, to support this learning.
- I don’t interrupt (with my mouth or my hand).
- I can make things better.
- I know what a drug is.
- I am aware of risks.
- I make safe choices.
- I stay safe online.
Be mindful
At this busy time of year, mindfulness can help children to take control of their emotions.
During our recent themed week, all children took part in mindfulness workshops to learn a variety of techniques to use at school and at home. Here’s a reminder of a few of them that might be useful for over the holidays. A mindfulness newsletter/parent guide will be sent out in the new year.
Breathing hug
Start with both arms in the air. Put one hand across your tummy and the other on your shoulder. Breath slowly in and out.
Breathing tree
In a standing position, raise your arms as you breath in and release your arms back down as you breath out.
‘Ok’ breathing
Make an ‘o’ sign on your tummy button to represent that it is ok to feel different emotions. Slowly breath in and out.
Mindfulness bottle
This is a bit like a snow globe. Shake it up and watch it. Simply watch the disturbance as it begins to settle – as does our mind.
Take a bottle, add glitter and food colouring and seal tightly.
Happy holidays!
What a start to the year we’ve had! It’s been a pleasure to teach such hard-working and enthusiastic children who enjoy their learning and have a little fun along the way!
We hope you all enjoy a well-deserved break and come back to school ready and fresh to learn on 02 January.
Thank you for all the lovely cards and gifts.
Happy holidays from all the Year 4 staff!
Congratulations
Many congratulations to a very talented artist.
A winning design has been chosen by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Jane Dowson, for her official Christmas card this year. The winner received a special thanks and congratulations on stage at the Lord Mayor’s Christmas carol concert on Thursday evening.
Following the Christmas card competition which was launched with Candelighters, the Lord Mayor’s chosen charity in August, over 600 entries were received from children aged up to 13 years. The only criteria given was the theme – ‘Leeds at Christmas’.
The winner created a Christmas winter scene incorporating some of the iconic buildings in Leeds. He was presented with a copy of his actual Christmas card by the Lord Mayor as well as a special prize from Candelighters.
A superb achievement – well done!