It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Hello!

Just a quick blog to update on a couple of things that have been happening in Year 4 this week and last week. I want to start by saying how impressed I am with the incredible writing that was produced for our Big Write last week. Each and every child blew me away with their fictional writing skills. Well done Year Four!!

As promised, I am adding my email address to this blog as well. Please contact me if there is anything you want to let me know or you have any questions. I do check my emails regularly throughout the day - a.white@princeofwales.dorset.sch.uk

This week in Maths we have started looking at negative numbers. We have looked at this in a variety of ways by relating this is so real life contexts such as hotel floors, car park levels and also thermometers. The home learning this week will be focused on this.

We have also been busy conducting science experiments which link to the water cycle. We did three today in class which looked at evaporation and precipitation. All children enjoyed thinking scientifically and conducting experiments.

In art we have started to look at the artist Claude Monet and children have started to create their own version of the famous 'Bridge over a pond of water lilies'. These will be completed next week! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product. 

Rehearsals for the Christmas play have also started properly this week. Please can you read through any lines your child may have. Reading through the songs would also be beneficial.

Thank you!

The Year Four Team!

This week in Year Four!

Hello everyone!

Sorry we haven't posted a blog for a little while, we have all been so busy in Year 4 and it's only going to get busier as we approach CHRISTMAS.

I just want to start this blog but saying how impressed we all were with the imaginative eco-friendly inventions that were thought of. These ranged from a magnetic warehouse (to limit the electricity used) to a party bike that collected rubbish from parties and recycled this. We also wrote instructions on how to use these! We were all amazed by the children's abilities to explain how these work.

In Power Maths we have been looking at 4 digit numbers. We have been working on how to round 4 digit numbers to the nearest 1000, 100 and 10. All children have been engaged with this and are coming up with some really good explanations on how they got to their answers.

In Literacy this week we have been focusing on the book Flotsam by David Wiesner. This book has no words but pictures to tell the story. This has been the perfect book to develop imagination and ideas. On Friday we have planned in a Big Write, which will focus on what happened next in the Flotsam Story. We are really excited to see the results from this!

We have also given parts for the school musical which is Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Rehearsals have started this week for this by learning the songs. Next week we will be starting to act and place children on the stage.

Parent/Teacher consultations are also starting tonight and tomorrow. We look forward to seeing you all.

The Year Four Team.

WOW AMAZING INCREDIBLE!!

Well, I don't even know where to start with this blog as I am still in complete awe of the Year 4s or should I say professional Shakespearean actors!!

We are all so incredibly proud of the children. They blew us all away last night with their show stopping performance of Romeo and Juliet. We have all been in agreement that the performance they put on last night was the best they have ever done it, and believe me the last few rehearsals were hard to top. They have become so professional as actors and have really made themselves and us proud. WELL DONE YEAR 4!! Also a big thank you must go to all of the parents/carers who have helped the children learn their lines as there was not a missed word/line last night. To thank the children for doing so well we had a little celebration party this afternoon in class where we watched Gnomeo and Juliet .

I also want to take the opportunity to say WELL DONE to the children who have brought in their mobile water cycles so far. They are all so unique and very imaginative. I look forward to seeing the rest of them!!

Today we started our new topin, Blue Planet - Water. We started by having a discussion about what we could do as individuals to save our oceans and seas. Lots of different ideas were discussed such as limiting the use of plastics, not hunting so many sea animals and being aware of how much water we are wasting (e.g. when brushing teeth and leaving the tap on). The children produced some really good posters and seemed very passionate about it. The topic will start to unfold over the coming weeks.

One last thing. I know you all received an email about a trip on Monday. These were meant to be sent out on Tuesday, but I'm sure you can understand that with Romeo and Juliet these were not given out on time. We are sorry about this!! Some of you have already signed these sheets this morning which was perfect thank you, the rest are coming home tonight! Sorry once again.

Thank you for your continued support!
The Year 4 Team.

Year 4 - clarification of arrangements for Wednesday!

I thought I would just write a reminder blog about the arrangements for Wednesday.

Children should come to school in the morning as usual, wearing their school uniform. We will have an early lunch and then be taken to the theatre by coach. As stated in the letter sent out before half term, the time between dress/tech rehearsal and curtains up is not long so Mr. Spracklen has kindly arranged for the staff and children to go for a meal close to the theatre. We will NOT, therefore, be returning to school! Please simply arrive and make yourselves comfortable for an amazing performance! You will need to collect your child from the theatre at the end of the night, details of the logisitcs will be shared on the night.

Taking the time to reflect, wow - what a journey our 8 and 9 year olds have been on!? Learning about William Shakespeare, his plays and poems, immersing themselves in Romeo and Juliet, not only understanding many of the themes and complexities of the tragedy but also learning the Old English. Finally, performing it with such maturity in a theatre. I am not sure that many Year 4 children will have had this fantastic learning opportunity. We are VERY proud of you all Year 4!

We are looking forward to this week...............

The Year 4 Team!

Next half term!

Hello everyone. I hope you've all had a really good half term and are feeling ready for the next half term leading up to......CHRISTMAS!!

The main topic that we will be looking at is Blue Planet: Water, which was introduced in the knowledge organisers and the home learning books. I am really looking forward to seeing all of your water cycle projects!

I'm sure you are all just as excited and nervous as I am for Wednesday which is when we are performing the amazing Romeo and Juliet at The Pavilion. If you haven't already, please can you bring the forms back signed on Tuesday. It's going to be such a good production, and the children have worked so hard on it, I can't wait for you all to see it.

Just one more quick reminder from me. We are back to school on Tuesday, not Monday, as this is an inset day for all children.

Look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday!