Year 4 Class News

Physical activity – the facts

In August 2016, the Government released its Childhood Obesity Strategy. This document outlines actions which will address the rising rates of childhood obesity.

Yorkshire Sport Foundation have produced the following poster with statistics and key information from the strategy.

We continue to monitor and improve our physical activity provision (see our current PE Provision Plan (pe-and-sport-premium-2016-2017) and our previous PE Provision Plan (pe-and-sport-premium-2015-2016).

Packed lunches

Struggling for ideas for a healthy packed lunch?

Change4life have some great tips and easy to prepare ideas based on the Eatwell Guide.

Also make reference to our Packed Lunch Guidance.

Trapped in the ice!

In this science experiment, children had to consider how they could help some goblins escape from the ice. They had to think scientifically: justifying their predictions, deciding how they’d make it a fair test and how they’d measure their results accurately.

STEM week

It’s been a busy week so far in Year 4.

At the beginning of the week, we set the children a challenge relating to our themed week: Can you design and make a doorbell for dogs? 

The children started off by learning about electrical circuits and how they work. We looked at the symbols used for this and were able to sketch a basic circuit. Using the correct scientific vocabulary, we were able to explain how the circuit worked.  Following this, we went on to build our own circuits and successfully light up a bulb.

Then came the tricky part!

How do we create a switch for a dog to press to alert the owner that the it needs to be let out into the garden?

How would the dog press the switch?

After lots of discussion, the children decided that cardboard with aluminium foil would work.

Ask your child why we used aluminium foil.

Through resilience and lots of patience, the classroom erupted with the sound of buzzers.

Lots of fun was had and the switches worked!

Here’s a selection of pictures for you to browse through.

SEAL

This week, we did an activity that focused on some dilemmas. The children had to work as a team to decide whether they thought each situation was serious and which not as serious (although still a problem).

The children ordered each scenario from 1-9 and placed them into a Diamond 9. Number 1 being the most concerning and 9 being less of a concern. We had a discussion  and each team presented their ideas.

Anti-bullying tips

Thank you, Emma (Year 2) for recommending CBBC for lots of Anti-Bullying Week advice.

Finished frames

During our topic work we have looked closely at the artwork of Quentin Blake. The children have done their own paintings in the style of this very famous artist. Adding to that, we then went on to make a frame to showcase this super artwork. Year 4 have all worked incredibly hard on designing, making and decorating their photo frames. We now have our own art gallery in the classroom. Please feel free to pop in and take a look.

PE

During this half term, we have three students from Leeds Beckett University leading our PE sessions on Fridays. The children are focusing on multi-skills, teamwork and getting enjoyment from sport. Here are a few pictures of yesterday’s lesson.

‘Power for good’

Next week is national Anti-Bullying Week.

The theme this year is ‘Power for Good‘ with the following key aims:

• To support children and young people to use their Power for Good – by understanding the ways in which they are powerful  and encouraging individual and collective action to stop bullying and create the best world possible.
• To help parents and carers to use their Power for Good – through supporting children with issues relating to bullying and working together with schools to stop bullying.
• To encourage all teachers, school support staff and youth workers to use their Power for Good– by valuing the difference they can make in a child’s life, and taking individual and collective action to prevent bullying and create safe environments where children can thrive.

Our school definition has recently been reviewed by the School Council and remains unchanged.

‘Bullying is when you hurt someone, physically or emotionally, several times on purpose.’

We also encourage children to use their ‘Power for Good’, if they were to experience or witness bullying, by using another STOP message, start telling other people.

In class, children will discuss these aspects of bullying:

• Our definition of bullying (above)
• Types of bullying – cyber-bullying and prejudice-based bullying related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion and belief, special educational need and disability
• What to do if children experience bullying. The key message is to tell someone (start telling other people)

Recently the School Council responded to this question, ‘What would you do if you were bullied‘?

• ‘Start telling other people – tell someone who I trust and who I can talk to.’
• ‘I would tell someone I trust (family member, member of staff or friend).’
• ‘If I were bullied, I’d tell my parents, a friend, a teacher and if nothing changed I would phone ChildLine (08001111).’
• ‘I’d tell a teacher, maybe a friend and put in a worry in the ‘worry box’.  Also, I’d tell a parent.’
• ‘I would tell anyone I trust: my friends, my mum or dad or a member of staff.  They could sort it straight away.’
• ‘I’d tell my mummy and daddy.’

All classes have access to their class SEAL box or a whole school worry box where they can tell an adult any concerns about bullying or any other issues.

For further support, bullying resources can be found at…

• http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/resources/disablist-bullying/resources-for-parents/
• http://www.childline.org.uk/explore/bullying/pages/bullying.aspx
• http://www.bullying.co.uk/advice-for-parents/
• http://www.youngminds.org.uk/for_parents/worried_about_your_child/bullying

Woodwork

Work has begun on making our frames that will showcase the Quentin Blake artwork completed before half term. Accurate measuring, complete concentration and staying safe were some of the skills need for this activity.

Well done to Aina, Pia and Danny who were experts at sawing and helping others. Great for building muscles!