Category: Uncategorized

We’ve been doing lots of work on fractions over the past few weeks. We’ve learnt to identify fractions as parts of a whole, calculate unitary fractions, the link between fractions and division and multiplication and how to calculate a whole when given a fraction. We’ve been really busy! Next we’ll be learning about decimal fractions and placing fractions on a number line.

This week we worked in teams on some fraction problem solving. We were calculating unitary fractions of large numbers. We used the a range of strategies we’ve developed over the last few weeks including use of concrete materials, sharing out on whiteboards, creating fraction stories as well as multiplication and division calculations.

If your child would like to try some fractions games at home have a look at these links:

https://www.fuelthebrain.com/games/jelly-golf/

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/fraction-matcher/latest/fraction-matcher_en.html

http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/me3us/flash/lessonLauncher.html?lesson=lessons/10/m3_10_00_x.swf

http://resources.hwb.wales.gov.uk/VTC/ngfl/ngfl-flash/fractions/fractions.html

This week we heard the final few Viking gods and goddesses presentation. P4 have worked so hard on these, coming up with loads of fascinating facts and creating amazing posters.

Well done everyone!

For homework, P4 researched a Viking god or goddess of their choice. We wrote a short talk and created fact posters too. Today and yesterday we began sharing our work with the class. We’ve worked really hard and have come up with loads of fascinating facts. So far we’ve heard about Odin, Eden, Thor, Hel, Loki and Freyja.

Big well done to everyone who’s shared their work so far. You should all be very proud of all of your hard work. We can’t wait to hear the rest on Monday!

Today is our Scots assembly, and P4 have been working hard on learning The Welly Song by Billy Connolly.

Click the link below for a look at our final rehearsal!

The Welly Song by P4B

This week we’ve been learning all about food chains. We learnt about the flow of energy, the role of the sun, predators and prey.

We had the chance to play some great food chain games set in different habitats. Have a look at the links below to construct your own food chains:

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/zcgbjty

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/z93vdxs

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/zsphrwx

Enjoy!

This afternoon we braved the cold to explore some of the habitats in our playground. We learnt that a habitat is a place where an organism lives, ranging from cracks in the pavements to burrows underneath the ground. Habitats need to provide us with shelter, food and water. We worked in pairs identifying habitats for plants and animals, and thought about what made these good habitats.

Ask us about the habitats we found and who lives there!

 

For topic today, we’ve learnt about yet another way of classifying species. We now know that vertebrates are creatures with spines and invertebrates are creatures without spines.

We watched a clip on classification and the five categories of vertebrates. Ask your child if they can remember what they are. Check the link to see if they were right: https://youtu.be/mRidGna-V4E

After that, we played vertebrate and invertebrate dominoes in groups which was lots of fun.

As part of our habitats topic, we learnt about why scientists classify living things and how they do it. We talked about different characteristics scientists could use in classification and came up with loads of great examples. We could use these in classification keys to help us categorise living things.

We watched a video to help us understand more about classification keys. We then used a classification key to organise minibeasts. Here are some photos of us hard at work.

Next we created our own classification keys for a swan, frog and crab.

We’re experts in classification keys, ask us to explain it to you!

Mrs Boyle and P4B

Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope you find the following information useful.  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Learning focus this term:

Through our Habitats topic we will be learning about/to:

• Investigate and research different habitats
• Observe how different animals and plants are suited to their environments
• How we can help our environment
• Food chains and understand the importance of how animals and plants depend on each other for food.
• Compare generations of families of human, plants and animals to understand how characteristics are inherited.

Core Literacy:

This term we will be:

• Developing our summarising skills
• Taking notes to create new texts
• Looking at figurative language and why it is used by authors
• Using the three sharings approach (puzzles, likes/dislikes, connections) to discuss our class novel
• In writing trying to increase our vocabulary using more ambitious words
• Learning to use speech marks correctly
• Looking at features of persuasive writing

Children will continue to be given books and weekly reading homework. Please ensure your child completes this at home and remember to sign their reading diary. Encourage your child to read widely for enjoyment at home and use the three sharings approach to discuss what they have read.

Core Numeracy:

This term we will be:

• Continuing to develop mental strategies for addition and subtraction
• Looking at written algorithms for addition and subtraction
• Using counting strategies to multiply, using the 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables
• Working with Mr Swan on number talks strategies for mental maths

We encourage your child to use Sumdog at home to practise their maths skills. Children should all have a copy of their usernames and passwords.

Health and Wellbeing

This term we will be:

• Participating in the Rookie Rockstars programme, which focuses on health and wellbeing as well as expressive arts and technologies. The programme will involve active learning and working collaboratively, looking at anti-bullying and promoting self-esteem, confidence and positive friendships.

This week we learnt a bit about palm oil and the impact it can have on the environment and the habitats of many animals.

First we watched Rang-Tan, a poem about the affect palm oil production has on orangutans. You can watch the clip here:

https://youtu.be/TQQXstNh45g

We learnt more about palm oil and why it is used by watching a clip by Greenpeace. We were shocked to see how many products palm oil is in- especially Nutella!

We then worked together to read through arguments on both sides of the debate and sort them into arguments for and against palm oil use. We discussed our own opinions on the debate and considered how we could support our points of view.

We then used our persuasive writing skills to create leaflets about the debate. We worked really hard on these and produced some brilliant work. Have a look at just a few examples: