We have had another great week in Year 4. Here is what we have been up to…

Maths

In maths this week we have been learning about money. The children have revisited the methods previously learnt for the 4 operations; addition, subtraction, division and multiplication, and applied these to problems with money. We solved division problems such as £355 ÷ 5 = using the bus stop (short division) method and multiplication problems such as 6 X £157 = using the short multiplication column method. We also added and subtracted money using the written column method where the children practised regrouping in the ones, tens and hundreds.

Next week we will be learning about volume and capacity. The children will learn to read scales on measuring containers such as jugs and measuring cylinders, convert between ml and litres, compare volumes of liquid and solve word problems involving volumes.

English

In English this week, we have continued reading ‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’. This week we have been learning how to write a formal persuasive letter. We have looked at using persuasive phrases such as ‘I would like to bring to your attention’, ‘I strongly believe that’ and ‘For these reasons’. We have also learnt how to use formal language (in contrast to last week where we used informal language in diary entries), and also how to use modal verbs (would, could, should, ought to, have to, must, might) to persuade. Lastly, we looked at how our sentence openers can be used to both be formal and persuasive e.g. Furthermore, Without a doubt, Therefore, Surely, Firstly, Secondly and so on.

Next week, we will write our showpiece for our formal persuasive letter unit and then begin to learn about newspaper reports.

Here is team Indigo's World Book Day photo. Thank you so much for all of your efforts with the costumes. We had a great day.

Thematic

In thematic this week we have completed our history learning for this unit. The children have found out about some more inventors and pioneers from the Golden Age of Islam such as Al-Razi who was a pioneering doctor of the era and Al-Khwarizmi; a mathematician who was one of the first people to use algebra. We then found out about what was happening in England during the same time period that the Islamic Empire were having a golden age of learning and knowledge. The children discovered that in England it was the Dark Ages (or medieval times) and then compared what life was like in Dark Ages England to the Golden Age in the Islamic Empire in Bagdad. In England, there were many wars, not many people could read or know about maths, water supply was dirty and caused diseases and only 20,000 people lived in London. In contrast, in Baghdad in the same time period, it was mainly peaceful, many people could read, they had many books and lots of people knew maths, they had good drainage and a good water system and over a million people lived in Baghdad. We finished off the week by looking at some sources of evidence about the Golden Age of Islam or the Dark Ages in England and deciding if they were primary or secondary sources of historical evidence. Here they are sorting the sources…

Next week we will be starting our science learning where we will find out about the incredible invention of electricity. The children will find out about electrical appliances, make simple circuits and discover which materials are electrical insulators and conductors.

Spellings

Spellings to learn this week for a test on Thursday 20^th March:

Mrs Cousin’s group: light    might    sight      right    bright    flight     high    sigh     thigh      beautiful

challenge words: midnight    tightly    brighter

Mr Oxley and Miss Stephen’s groups: medicine, mention, minute, natural, naughty, notice, occasion, occasionally, often, opposite

Love to Learn

This week’s home learning task is English.

We would like you to write some persuasive sentences using the modal verbs we learnt this week, see the picture below.

You can try to persuade your parents that they should take you on holiday to Disneyland, you could try to persuade Mrs Cousins that dogs are better than cats, you could try to persuade Mr McAuley that we need a new Key Stage 2 playground, or you can think of your own persuasive idea. We can’t wait to read them – be as persuasive as you can be!

Challenge: For an added challenge, try to write your persuasive sentences as a formal letter using the persuasive phrases we learnt this week.

Please could this challenge be handed in by Wednesday 19^th March.

Dates to remember

21st March – Red nose day/Rock your socks day for Downs Syndrome awareness. This year Red Nose Day is celebrating its 40th anniversary, originating in 1985. We would like to invite children to come into school in 1980s dress up. Children are invited to wear odd socks as part of their outfit to show support for Rock your socks Downs Syndrome awareness day.

21st March – Parents invited into school from 3.15 to look at their child’s learning prior to parent teacher consultations

24th March – Parent teacher consultation week

28th March – The Viking Speaker Final; 4 winners from Chilton to attend

3rd April – Easter Egg Hunts in school

3rd April – Last day of term. School finishes at usual time.

 

Many thanks

We hope you have a lovely weekend

Mrs Cousins and Mr Oxley