Welcome Back!

How is it Summer term already? This year is flying by!

A big focus this half term will be on times table in preparation for the Multiplication Check in June.

PE days this half term will be Thursday and Friday, both days being outside PE.

Mrs Murphy

Update - 5th July

Last week, the children in Year 4 completed their final art pieces using the technique of pointillism, famously used by Georges Seurat.

They had opportunities to practise the skill using a variety of tools and created their own Seurat inspired landscape paintings.

Below are their final pieces.

Update - 21st June

Year 4 had a brilliant local trip to Black Dam Ponds and Crabtree Nature Reserve today, linking to their science and geography learning.

Annie and the team of rangers from Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council led the day, with activities including building rivers and labelling the parts, bug hunting and river walking and stream dipping.

Children showed great listening skills and followed instructions well, understand the safety elements of being near water and animals and being in a public place too.

All children participated well with the activities and displayed great knowledge, ensuring they asked questions too.

A big thank you to Mrs Bailey, Mr Bate and Mrs Bonney for their hard work and support on the trip today. 

Below are a rather large amount of photos; we did well remembering the iPad!

Update - 13th June

Today in PSHE, we focused on self-care and those small but enjoyable actions we can do to support our mental health and wellbeing and give ourselves time out of our busy lives.

The children were allowed to choose an appropriate action that could be replicated in the classroom/playground.

Choices included:

• board games/card games
• drawing/colouring
• sewing
• reading and sharing books
• outdoor activities
• sleeping!

Below are some photos from their self care time.

Update - 23rd May

Year 4 completed their DT unit by making 2 different types of bread today.

We started the morning with the leavened bread rolls, which involved adding yeast to strong bread flour, salt and warm water.

The children kneaded the dough and shaped their rolls before being placed in the warm kitchen to prove. The children were astonished at how large the rolls grew during proving!

Once baked, the children got to try a small bit of their bread roll after lunch and have taken the rest of it home.

This afternoon, we made unleavened bread - flat breads. We all agreed that there was far too much water in the recipe and some 'porridge' mixtures were successfully saved with the addition of more flour!

The flat breads were pan fried on our portable induction hob and the children got to try some of their group's flat bread just before assembly.

We will complete our evaluations tomorrow and discuss their bread making skills!

Below are some photos taken from the day.

Update - 22nd May

In PSHE, the children have been learning about the importance of exercise and how it can affect our mental health.

The children created a class circuit routine and today they got to partake in the circuit in the hall.

The children chose:

• squats
• push ups
• plank
• burpies
• sit ups
• high knees

I think some of them regretted the time they gave to complete each one - it was rather long! 

Update - 15th May

On Tuesday, year 4 had a practice go at the skills needed to make bread. We made salt dough as it had minimal ingredients, but still allowed the children to practise:

• using a mixing bowl and mixing ingredients
• measuring ingredients
• rolling dough into a ball
• kneading dough on a floured surface

Below are some images taken in the lesson. Yes, there is still flour on our carpet!

Update - 17th April

In DT this half term, the children are going to learn all about bread and making different types of bread.

Today, the children got to taste test 3 different types of bread - plain flatbreads, soda bread and rye bread.

They made notes about the aesthetics, cutting ability, taste and texture.

Below are some images from the lesson. 

Update - 28th March

The children have begun learning about the Vikings in History. They will continue their learning after Easter too.

Mrs Sayer taught the highly anticipated and engaging lesson all about Viking long boats and how they were used to invade Britain.

Below are some images to show the children re-enacting being on a long boat. They then labelled the various parts and discussed why the long boats were built in the manner they were and how that helped the Vikings to sail and invade.

Update - 7th March

World Book Day 2024!

Maple Class turned out amazingly in their costumes and outfits to celebrate World Book Day. There was a huge variety of books and characters chosen and the children had time in reading to share the books they have brought in with them.

The children also had an author video from Laura Ellen Anderson - author of Amelia Fang, and were also shown recommendations from other authors who had written books for World Book Day.

The children were given their £1 book tokens at the end of the day too.

Here are their characters and some of the books too.

Update - 1st March

In Science this week, the children were able to explore using circuit components to create complete circuits and debug any issues with the circuit.

The components were:

cells and batteries

wires

lamp/bulb

buzzer

motor

We also looked at circuit symbols when drawing circuits.

Update - 23rd February

This half term, the children's science unit is all about electrical circuits.

To begin the unit, the children learnt more about mains electricity and batteries and sorted devices and appliances based on how they are powered.

There was lots of good discussion around how so many devices actually use both, for example, the laptop has a built in battery that needs charging by the mains.

Below are some images from their sorting activity.

Update - 16th February

Before the half term holiday, Year 4 had been practising their wood work skills in DT. The aim was to make a pencil pot by measuring, sawing and joining wood together to create a sturdy, cube shape structure.

Below are the pictures from our DT day. The children have already used the pencil pots for Art day to put their sketching pencils in!

How to train your dragon - audiobook link

Below is a YouTube link for our reading book.

How to train your dragon

Update - 6th February

Weald and Downland Museum - Anglo Saxon trip

Today, Year 4 travelled by coach to the Weald and Downland museum in Chichester. This was to learn more about our history unit of work; the Anglo Saxons.

The children got to see replica Saxon houses, learn about materials used to make houses and clothing, tried some weaving, tried on some armour and weapons and made bread from freshly milled flour.

The volunteers at the museum were engaging, knowledgeable and taught the children about a variety of topics.

A big thank you to our parent volunteers too - Miss Bradley, Mrs Bailey and Mr Tillman. I hope you also enjoyed your day and a big thank you for allowing the children to have such a great experience.

Below are countless pictures taken across the 2 groups throughout the day!

Update - 1st February

This half term, we have been learning new yoga poses in PE. We first learnt some in Year 3 and this year we have learnt some new poses and focused on our breathing and being mindful.

Below are some images from the children's own routines that they created today.

Poses include: lizard on a rock, lotus flower, double boat, butterfly, warrior, rag doll, baby, jelly fish, tree, downward dog, upward dog, table to name a few!

Update - 25th January

Today, year 3 and 4 came together to make traditional Jewish biscuits called Hamentaschen. Both classes have been learning about Judaism and Jewish identity. They have also learnt about the festival of Purim and the Story of Esther which tells of the survival of Israelite people.

Below are the few photos we managed to capture during the biscuit making. Nearly every child tried the biscuits afterwards and there were many comment such as, "This is the best biscuit ever!" "10/10, actually, infinity out of 10!" and there were lots of comments about how exciting, interesting and enjoyable the experience had been.

I will also attach a copy of the same recipe we used, there are plenty of versions online too and more modern and less traditional takes on the fillings.

Update - 24th January

In gymnastics this half term, year 4 have been recapping the balances and shapes used previously and thinking about creative and imaginative ways to demonstrate them.

They have been using the wall bars, benches, horses and mats to showcase their ideas.

Below are some images from today's session. They are also focusing on symmetry with their partner/group. This will build up into a routine using some of the apparatus by half term.

Update - 11th January

Last week, year 4 started their new science unit all about plants. Our first lesson centred around plant reproduction and the main reproductive parts of a flowering plant.

Below are pictures of the children dissecting lilies (gloves and paper towels were a must to stop pollen going everywhere!).

The children dissected as many parts as they could and sorted them onto their label sheets.

Update - 15th December

In DT this half term (taught by Mrs Sayer), Year 4 have been progressing with their sewing skills and have made rice chicks.

Skills needed included running and blanket stitches, adding embellishments such as buttons, beads, sequins and embroidery and attaching fabric pieces to each other - wings, wattle and beak. 

Below are their finished products, which are also on display in the classroom.

Update - 15th December

Another slightly squeamish set of photographs!

This time, we recreated the digestive process that occurs in our bodies within our digestive system.

Representations included a sandwich bag as the mouth, rolling pin as teeth, water for saliva, orange juice for acid and tights for the intestines. 

The children then used the photographs to write up the digestive process in their science books. 

Update - 1st December

Look away if slightly squeamish! 

Last week, our science lessons involved an investigation over 5 days, looking at how different liquids can affect tooth rot and decay.

To speed up the process, we used hard boiled eggs and compared the shell to teeth. 

The liquids that the eggs sat in were cola, orange juice, water and coffee. 

Each day, we made observations and recorded these in our science books. We also took pictures, which I will add below as a PDF of our final results table.

On Friday, we made some final observations and concluded that the orange juice caused the quickest and most rot and decay, compared to the water and coffee.

Roll Up!! Roll Up!!

The Maple Class Fun fair has come to town!

Maple Class were treated to an immersive experience morning of going to a fun fair at school. This linked to our current reading book 'The Boy who swam with Piranhas' but also it was our first lesson for our next writing unit; a setting description of a fun fair.

The children experienced a magician show, courtesy of Magician Mills, an assortment of fun fair games including hook-a-duck, bean bag throwing, tin can alley and hoop throwing games. Alongside music, a smoke machine and announcements over the microphone, the children also smelt and tasted some snacks and the infamous fun fair treat - candyfloss! 

This experience will allow them to reflect and remember their time at the fun fair for when they start writing their setting descriptions in the next few weeks. 

I have added as many photos as possible below! The quality is a little poor as the lights were off!

Update - 17th November

Over the last week in Maths, year 4 have been recapping their shape and geometry knowledge.

They have sorted 2D and 3D shapes based on properties, identified different types of angles within 2D shapes and begun to identify lines of symmetry found in 2D shapes.

Below are some photos of their practical maths work.

Update - 10th November

In science, we are continuing to learn about digestion. Today, we looked closely at a variety of food packets and discussed the main food groups each product would fit into.

We also looked at the traffic light nutritional value system used on most packaging to discuss which foods and amounts of foods help to create a healthy, balanced diet.

Update - 31st October

Rucstall children got the opportunity to do some biscuit decorating with a Halloween theme on Tuesday.

Below are some pictures from Year 4, who showed great patience and sharing when using the decorations and also fantastic creativity! 

Update - 20th October

Today was our final lesson in Science on separating mixtures. We explored evaporation and how it can we used to separate a salt water mixture.

I demonstrated the process using a portable hob, a salt water mixture in a pan and allowing it to boil. This meant the water became steam (and produced condensation against the mirror) and left the salt in the pan. 

The children wrote up the findings in the book.

Update - 20th October

In gymnastics, the children have been creating creative routines using different balances of varying degrees of difficulty. They included transition movements between each balance and ensured safety and trust was in their groups to ensure the balances were carried out correctly and efficiently. 

Update - 20th October

Last week, the children acted out their versions of the Good Samaritan parable that they had learnt about in RE lessons. 

They thought about a scenario where there might be a victim or a sufferer and a good Samaritan to help that person.

Update - 20th October

In the last few weeks, the children have been learning about separating mixtures. In the below photos, the children explored filtration, magnetism and sieving and concluded which method was the best for separating each mixture on their table.

Flour and raisins - sieving

Elastic bands and paper clips - magnetism

compost and water - filtration

Update - 18th October

In Art with Miss Radford this half term, the children have been learning about collage and designing fashion.

Here are there finished pieces. 

Update - 11th October

Today was wellbeing Wednesday and the children had some time to talk to adults, do some mindfulness activities and share positive affirmations about their peers. It was lovely to see such wonderful comments and hear the positivity coming from Maple Class.

Update - 5th October

In maths this week, we have been learning about what happens to a number when it is divided by 10. 

We firstly looked at 3 and 4 digit numbers that ended in a 0, placing counters on a place value chart to help us understanding that dividing by 10 means the number will get 10 times smaller. This will move one place to the right on our chart.

Yesterday and today we extended that knowledge to 1 and 2 digit numbers, and also numbers that don't end in a 0. We realised that some numbers, when dividing by 10, have digits in the tenths column - meaning we needed to use a decimal point to separate the whole and the parts. 

Here are some images from the start of the week. The children have had access to place value counters and charts every lesson to reinforce their understanding and check each answer and number.

Update - 5th October

We have continued to learn about separating mixtures in Science and completed some investigations to help with our understanding of the process of dissolving.

We used skittles and observed the sugar coating dissolve in different amounts of water and also different temperatures.

We concluded that hot water dissolved the sugar coating quicker as the molecules move quicker and dissolved faster.

Below are some of the images taking during our investigation. 

Update - 5th October

In Gymnastics, we have continued to practise different balances with varying levels of balance and execution needed!

Below are some images of their balances, we really focused on support our partners legs and using our arms and hands to support ourselves. We discussed why we wouldn't use our head to hold our weight and using cooperation to ensure all balances were carried out safely and sensibly.

Update - 13th September

Last week in our first science lesson of Year 4, we started to investigate our new unit of work - separating mixtures. Firstly, we discussed what a mixture was and then we identified substances that create mixtures.

Below are the pictures of the mixtures the children used.

1 - sugar and chocolate sprinkles

2 - water and vegetable oil

3 - oats and raisins

4 - plain flour and peppercorns

5 - rice and water

6 - compost soil and sand

Times Tables poster

Here is the list of Reading for Pleasure books that are available in school for children to read. Each time a child reads one, they can talk to an adult about it and they get their card stamped. There will be rewards given for reading as many as possible. We have copies of the books in school for children to borrow.