St Oswald's Catholic Primary SchoolYear 4 Blog Friday 18th November 2022
Date: 18th Nov 2022 @ 3:50pm
Year 4 Blog
Friday 18th November 2022
Welcome to this week’s blog. Another super week of learning in Year 4 which included a visit from Freddie Fit – you can see some photos in our gallery.
Here’s what we have been learning this week:
In English, we started our new novel - The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. We made predictions about the book by looking carefully at different front covers and reading the blurb on the back. We also discussed which descriptive phrases we liked in Chapter 1 and their impact and effect on the reader. Following this, we rewrote the first Chapter from The Iron Man’s point of view as his body parts reconnected. Everyone was very proud of their work and used lots of vocabulary and ideas from the novel.
In Maths, we finished our addition and subtraction topic and moved onto multiplication. We started the topic by using arrays to help understand multiplication facts for the 9 and 11 times tables. Next, we used arrays to identify what the term factor means. Arrays and multiplication squares were then used to find all the factor pairs of a given number. This new learning was tricky to start with, but with perseverance we have hopefully mastered it! You can see some pictures in our gallery.
In RE, we finished our ‘Belonging’ topic. We watched a two video clips so that we could understand what happens at Confirmation, and discussed the people present and some of the key points (eg the anointing, the blessing and the name.) We also considered what it means to ‘live in the light’ and how at Confirmation, people promise to try and turn away from what is wrong and follow in God’s light.
We started our new Science topic this week – Electricity. First, we discussed what electricity is, how it is made and what it is converted into (light, heat, sound and movement). We then classified different appliances according to whether they run on mains electricity or batteries. We also learnt about the dangers of electricity and designed posters to warn children about the different ways it can be dangerous. These are going to be judged by a local electrician – we look forward to hearing what he says!
In PE we split into 2 groups. Whilst one group learnt hockey skills with Mrs Cookson, the other revised different balances and travel movements with Mrs Tipping. The children then put together a short sequence which combined balances and travel movements. They will be adding to this sequence over the coming weeks. You can see some photos here.
We made Clips videos in our PSHE session to demonstrate how to be more resilient and highlight how to ‘reframe’ unhelpful thinking. We were given a scenario and acted it out twice. The first time demonstrating what unhelpful thinking might look like, and the second time showing how to reframe the thinking in a positive way.
In Art, we continued creating our own mosaic design and also made flags using paper and creating a collage. We discussed the countries taking part in the World Cup and then chose one we wanted to collage. These will be hung up in the hall so everyone can see our work.
Home Practice
Reading
Please read for 20 minutes each evening to an adult at home. Make sure you discuss the story and the characters. Find the meaning of any new words too. Reading every night will help you read more fluently and with understanding.
Counting
This week, please practise counting in 9’s.
For example, start at 0 and count up to 108 and back again
0 9 18 27 etc 108 99 81 etc
Times tables
Please practise your individual tables target for your test next week on Wednesday (23rd November 2022). Ask someone at home to test you on your tables – can you recall them quickly and accurately?
Remember you can also practise your tables playing Hit the Button and timestables.co.uk
It is crucial that you learn all of your table facts as this will help you with many aspects of maths.
Spellings
Here are your spellings for this week. You have also brought a paper copy home with you, so that you can practise these during the week. Please remember to use neat joined up writing and check them very carefully once you have written them! We will be practising these spellings in class too. Your test will be on Friday 25th November 2022.
they weigh eight grey sleigh
young touch blood trouble country
does chef brochure parachute machine
Sumdog challenges
You have been set 3 challenges on Sumdog:
- A spelling challenge based on the spellings above
- A times tables challenge based on the 9 times tables
- A challenge based on multiplication arrays and the 3, 4 and 8 times tables
Please make sure you log on and have a go! Little and often is the key to success!
Have a great weekend
The Year 4 Team