Today, we had maths expert Lynda Keith in school.  She spent time in our class on strategies for mental addition.

We found lots of different strategies for solving the same calculation.  Some of the strategies we used were:

• Counting on and Back (CO)
• Partitioning (splitting) a number (P)
• Rounding and Adjusting (RA) or Bridging and Adjusting (BA) – Looking for numbers that are close to a multiple of 10, so that you can round to a multiple of 10
  and then add or subtract a small number (adjusting). For example:
  64 + 79 = 143 Work this out as 64 + 80 − 1 = 143
  138 − 47 = 91 Work this out as 138 − 50 + 3 = 91

We practised using empty number lines and partition grids.

We know that we don’t always have to go straight to the column method to work out calculations.  There may be a quicker and easier mental strategy, so we should always look at the numbers first to see if we can spot any number bonds we know, any doubles, near doubles or connections.

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Today, we mapped the solar system and then took part in art activities, including beginning to make a 3D planet display using paper macher.  We still have a couple of layers to paste over our balloons before letting them dry completely and paint them to resemble the planets.  We will keep you posted on progress.

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Homework due next Monday 9th October 2017.

Literacy

Reading

• Read at least up to chapter 4 of your reading book at home.
• Wow Words – Record new and interesting words that you read, have a guess at what you think they might mean from the context of the sentence and find out their meanings.  Were you correct?
• V.I.P.s – (Very Important Points).  In class, we have been practising identifying the Very Important Points in a text i.e. The Main Points without the detail.  Record the VIPs in a list in your jotter.

Maths

Ordering  and Partitioning (Splitting up a number).

• Order the set of numbers from smallest to largest.

• Partition 6 of the numbers in your jotters:  (Choose your preferred set or try all 3!):

1. 2156,   1211,    5369,    1456,    2191,    6819,    1126,    9105,    8888,    2145,    2399, 1365,    9499,    5876,    9091,    5010,    6151,    8527,    3013.

2)   21156,        11211,       53169,        11156,      50786,       27191,       67819,       19126,      91005,       88888,    27145,     233999,     13165,      91499,      58976,     97091,      51010,     60151,     85127, 20555

3)   5.6,   4.04,    8.12,     5.3,    7.8,    1.0,    0.8,    9.4,    0.3,     8.4,      6.06,     7.7,     1, 65,      1,      0.3,     8.03,       0.4,      0.12,     2.

Space

• Research a famous astronaut / space explorer.
• Create a poster at home about this person – Remember it can be a male or female!
• Just as we have been creating planet posters in class, these astronaut posters must include: a title, subtitle, a picture / photo of your astronaut, at least 5 detailed facts about your chosen astronaut, with subtitles.
• It must also be eye-catching, neat and well presented.
• You may complete this on the computer or handwrite on paper.

Remember the Top Tip for creating a poster on word – Use Text boxes to move pictures and text around on the page.

This morning, in maths, we chose an activity related to place value and played some games with a partner.  We used game boards, dice, templates etc. to practice partitioning, making the biggest number and change the digit, change the value.

Some of us also got to further our maths skills on our favourite maths app – Sumdog!

Today we practised up-levelling sentences in our BIG writing lesson. ‘Up-levelling’ means making writing a higher level, by adding interesting and ambitious VCOP – Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation.

This was the one of the sentences we up-levelled:

‘The dog ran after the ball.’

Here are our up-levelled texts…

Please note – Homework is due on Monday 2nd October, due to September weekend.

Spelling

We have all got 10 new personal spelling words to practise at home, based on words you have misspelled in class.  Please revise these words and learn the correct spellings.  Write sentences or a short paragraph including your words.

Maths – Times Tables

We are trying to learn our times tables off by heart and back to front and in and out!  We each have a special Times Table Reward Card in class.  For each table learned by heart,  we will receive a sticker to confirm it on our target card, and an award or prize.

This is what you have to be able to do to know a certain times table ‘by heart’ (Examples given use the 6 x table) :

• Say the answers, in order, to a given multiplication without pausing e.g. 1X6 = ?, 2 x 6 = ?, 3 x 6 = ? and so on.
• Say the answers, out of order, to a given multiplication without pausing e.g. 8×6=?, 3×6=?, 6×6=?
• Say the stations of the table Forwards e.g 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36,42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72  AND Backwards e.g. 72, 66, 60, 54, 48, 42, 36, 30, 24, 18, 12, 6, 0.
• Answer tables asked with the digits in either order, without thinking e.g. 3×6=? and 6×3=?
• Answer the corresponding division facts e.g. 42 divided by 6  = ?
• Know the ‘fact family’ for each table fact e.g.

5×6=30

6×5=30

30 divided by 5=6

30 divided by 6=5

SO… That is a lot you need to know by heart for one times table!

Choose one or two times tables, of your choice, to focus on for homework to learn in this way.  Practise, practise, practise!

Ideas to practise – write them down, say them aloud, sing them, get someone at home to give you a challenge, play times tables games online, have a competition with some one at home – can you beat them?

Good Luck!  I hope I will be giving out times table awards very soon!

Health and Wellbeing – Staying SAFE!

We are learning about how to stay safe when confronted with ‘peer pressure’.

Discuss and write about a scenario where you may feel pressured into something you shouldn’t or don’t want to do.  What is the situation? How would you feel?  What would do? How could you handle the situation?

We were very busy in the first couple of weeks before the blogs were underway! Here are some of the photos from then.

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We have begun to learn about space and have recorded what we would like to find out about space.  Today we looked at different planets and created some planet art. You can see this art display in the open area outside the classroom when you come for the open evening tomorrow 3-3:30 and 6-6:30.

We all had different strategies for counting objects and multiples of objects in the school grounds.  It was interesting to hear the range of mathematical vocabulary being used.

Literacy

This week we have introduced a new BIG Writing activity, called ‘Big It Up’.  On Monday we talked about our weekend news.  However, instead of telling what actually happened to us at the weekend, we invented things that  did not really happen, but would loved to have happened.  These could include things such as:

• The queen stopped by to use the loo…
• I found a million pounds…
• The Tooth Fairy brought me…
• I found a bottle that contained a magic genie who…
• I was performing in Britain’s Got Talent when…

This technique will improve your imaginative powers.  Tell your story aloud to someone first, and then write it in your jotter.

Remember to use some WOW words and varied punctuation.  Try out your Kung Fu Punctuation when reading your story aloud!

Maths

This week is Scottish Maths Week!  We have been completing maths challenges and activities in class and outdoors.  We have also been researching famous mathematicians.

At home find out what the Fibonacci sequence is and explain it in your jotter with examples.  Include information on the famous mathematician who the sequence was named after – known as Fibionacci!

French

We have been revising our numbers to 50 in French.  In class we have been enjoying singing along and learning our numbers using the following slightly silly you tube videos…

Click on the links and have a practise at home.  The songs are slightly catchy! Write the numbers to at least 20 in French in your jotter.