Author: Ms Cave

As part of our new topic, Primary 4 have been learning all about climates around the world and how they affect the growth of food. We researched and described what the weather is like in polar, desert, tropical and temperate climates. We learnt that Scotland has a temperate climate, which has mild summers and cold winters.

We used our ICT and reading skills to research which foods are commonly produced in Scotland. We found that although our climate is not hot enough to grow some of the fruits that we like to eat, we can still grow lots of different things like potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and berries.  We are hoping to select and grow some of the fruit and vegetables we have found in our own school grounds this term!

This week in Science, Primary 4 have enjoyed learning about the organs of the human body. We looked at the position of the heart, lungs, brain, liver, kidneys and intestines and described the important jobs that they do.

We have also been working hard in Maths to develop our division skills. We know that we can use our times tables to find the answers and draw pictures to help us. There are lots of great games online to allow you to practise your division skills at home. Click on the links to play Division Mine and Maths Magician.

This week Primary 4 have been learning all about the skeleton. We discussed the purpose of our skeleton and learned what is inside our bones along with some of their names, including the femur, tibia, humerus, ulna, radius and fibula. Can you remember where they all are? You can find out more about the skeleton at home by visiting the Children’s University website.

In Maths, we have begun to learn about 3D shapes. We discussed how the properties of shapes differ and used what we learned to describe a shape to our peers. Explore 3D shapes by clicking on the link HERE.

As part of our work on Scottish inventors, Primary 4 have been learning all about John Logie Baird, who invented the first television. We learnt lots of facts about his life and wrote a report on what we found.

We really enjoyed creating Baird’s ‘Televisor’ with junk materials (photos to follow). You can play games and learn more about John Logie Baird at http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/famouspeople/john_logie_baird/.

In Science this week, Primary 4 have been learning all about conductors and insulators. We created a circuit using wires, a battery and a bulb then used this to help us investigate which materials conduct electricity best.

We tested lots of materials around the classroom, discovering that plastic and wooden materials are insulators and that metal materials are conductors because they allowed electricity to flow around the circuit.

This week Primary 4 have been learning all about money. We discussed the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ when spending money and then worked in groups to decide which purchases were the most important. Items like a car generated lots of interesting discussion in class as some groups decided to categorise it as a ‘want’, because you could use public transport instead, whilst others argued that it may be a ‘need’ for some people, especially if you lived in the country or had to drive for work.

Next week we will developing our money skills in Maths and learning about the importance of budgeting and saving.

To celebrate the end of our topic on the Celts, Primary 4 had their very own Celtic feast in the classroom.

During this term, we learned that the Celts had to get all of their food from the land by growing crops, picking wild berries or hunting for wild animals like boar and foxes. Unfortunately Miss Cave couldn’t find any wild boar at supermarket but we enjoyed eating  porridge, oatcakes and cheese together instead.  We also tried some nettle tea as the Celts would often collect wild plants and herbs too.