We are the Baby Blues:

We work together and succeed forever!

Welcome to Year 4     

Class information:

Mr Townsend & Mrs Naylor are our teachers. 

Mr Townsend teaches us Monday - Wednesday and alternate Thursdays.

Mrs Naylor teaches us Fridays and alternate Thursdays

Our class teaching assistant is: Miss Cupit

P.E. UPDATE - P.E: is every Wednesday and Friday this half term. 

Weather permitting, we will be learning how to play tennis (Wednesdays) – Make sure you bring warm clothing! 

We'll also be continuing our swimming lessons at Graves Leisure Centre (Fridays).

All children should bring their swimming costumes and towels in a separate bag on the day.

Goggles may be worn if so wished and a snack is permitted for when we return to school.

Homework: is set each Friday and due in by the following Friday.  

Homework tasks will be set online and log-ins for the different websites will be sent out in advance so children can access them.

Each week homework will include the following:

Reading: 1 x read and record on Seesaw / reading task/activity (15mins x 3 times per week). 

Spellings: Task set on Seesaw plus EdShed activity

Maths:  Task set on Seesaw including Weekly Skills maths questions and/or TT RockStars  

The Year 4 multiplication tables check

One of the priorities in Year 4 is gaining a firm grasp of all the multiplication times tables.  In June your child will need to take a short online test to make sure their times tables knowledge is at the expected level..

We’ve gathered together everything you might want to know about the times tables check, including what it involves, when it will take place, and how you can help your child prepare.  You will also find top tips, books, videos, activities, and games to help make your child’s times tables practice fun by clicking on the web links below.

https://thirdspacelearning.com/blog/times-tables-test-parents-guide/  Information about the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check

3 website links to help practice for the test.

https://talkingtimestables.uk/y4_ks2_mtc_practice_tests_multiplication_tables_check.php  Practice Test

https://www.timestables.co.uk/multiplication-tables-check/  Practice Test

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/477/Multiplication-Tables-Check  Practice Test

 Times Tables Songs, Games & Resources 

Times Tables Raps  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UVcNBjoxs4   

Reggae Times Tables  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uK5HaHqXFc

Multiplication Games  https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/times-tables

Our current topic is...

 Woeful World War 2 

 Spring 2  

Our topic for this half term is entitled 'Woeful World War 2'.  The topic is driven by a History focus where we will be using our history skills to explore areas such as:

• Why World War II began, know the main counties involved and order key events on a timeline
• How people on the home front contributed to the war effort during World War II.
• The roles and responsibilities of the armed forces during World War II.
• The events of the Battle of Britain and explain why it was a turning point in the war.
• What people did for entertainment during wartime Britain.
• How and why World War II events are commemorated and plan a commemorative event of our own. 

In Literacy lessons we will be using our class reader 'Carrie's War’ a children's novel set during the Second World War to inspire our WW2 diary entries.  We'll also use the bombing of Sheffield and the Blitz to create vivid setting descriptions.  Plus we'll also be writing letters as WW2 evacuees back home to our parents.

In Maths we will be focusing on Fractions including: equivalent fractions, adding & subtracting fractions and calculating fractions of a quantity. We’ll also be looking at decimals including: recognising tenths and hundredths as decimals and dividing 1- and 2-digit numbers by 10 and 100.

In Art we will use images of the Blitz and the bombing of Sheffield to create our own inspired landscape silhouettes.  We will also use a range of printing techniques to recreate our own WW2 posters.

Science will be exploring animals including humans with a particular focus on the digestive system and teeth.

In Computing we will be looking at data logging.   We'll collect data as well as access data captured over long periods of time.  We'll look at data points, data sets, and logging intervals. Plus spend time using a computer to review and analyse data. 

P.E. UPDATE - P.E: is every Wednesday and Friday this half term.  We will be developing our hand-eye coordination and racket skills whilst learning how to play tennis (Wednesdays) and we'll continue with our swimming lessons at Graves Leisure Centre (Fridays).

Music is focused around the Soul/Gospel song by Bill Withers: Lean On Me.   We'll use pulse, rhythm, pitch etc to develop our musicality whist singing and playing instruments to the song.

Useful websites to help learning at home

Please click on the links below to access useful websites for home learning:

Maths - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/times-tables

English – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zv48q6f

Topic WW2 https://www.funkidslive.com/learn/top-10-facts/top-10-facts-about-world-war-2/

Science – Animals including humans https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zcyycdm

   Blitz Artwork   

We've been learning all about how Britain's major cities were constantly bombed, night after night,  during World War 2 (The Blitz).  We've learned how terrifying it must have been and how brave all the men, women and children were during the war.  To help our learning we decided to create our own Blitz inspired artwork using chalk. 

We drew out our skylines and used the chalk to create the imagery of the city ablaze.  We added bombed buildings in the foreground and searchlights in the background.  We're really proud of our efforts and how they all turned out.  Check out our brilliant masterpieces below.

  Exploring Europe 

 Spring 1  

Our new half-term topic is entitled ‘Exploring Europe’ in which we will be exploring all about what makes our continent so wonderfully diverse and interesting.  We will be reading and exploring a range of European folk tales including those from Italy, Spain, Latvia & Russia. We’ll then write our own folk tales inspired by what we have learnt.  After that, we’ll journey on to research and write our own travel brochures for a European destination and also write diary entries based on our class novel from a European country. 

In Geography we’ll be using and annotating maps to locate the European continent and its countries in order to compare it with other continents in terms of size and features.  We’ll also choose a European country to research in detail, considering both its human and physical geography and presenting the information in different ways. 

During Design Technology lessons we’ll be investigating and evaluating a variety of European bread products according to their characteristics.  We’ll learn how bread is an important part of a balanced diet and can be eaten in different ways.  We’ll also find out which ingredients are needed to make bread and how ingredients can be altered and mixed to create different effects.  Then we’ll design a new bread product for a particular person or event.  Make the bread product based on a plan and evaluate the finished product.

In Computing sessions we’ll develop our understanding of how digital images can be changed and edited, and how they can then be resaved and reused. We’ll consider the impact that editing images can have, and evaluate the effectiveness of our choices. 

Maths will involve developing formal written methods of multiplication and division methods including two and three digit numbers.  We’ll also be counting, making and comparing the area of given shapes and then moving onto look at fractions in detail.

 P.E. UPDATE -  P.E: is every Tuesday and Friday this half term.  Weather permitting, we will be learning how to play hockey (Tuesdays) – Make sure you bring warm clothing!  We'll also begin our swimming lessons at Graves Leisure Centre (Fridays). All children should bring their swimming costumes and towels in a separate bag on the day. Goggles may be worn if so wished and a snack is permitted for when we return to school.

Science will involve exploring living things and their habitats.  We’ll identify, sort, group and classify living things from the local habitat and beyond!

We’ll be developing our French language skills, PSHE and RE too, so it set to be another action packed half-term.

Useful websites to help learning at home

Please click on the links below to access useful websites for home learning:

Maths - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/times-tables

English - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zv48q6f

Topic – Europe – Geography - https://www.ducksters.com/geography/europe.php

Where is Europe? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zsw4kty/articles/z4tg4xs

  Tasting the breads of Europe   

As part of our European Explorers topic we have been looking at, tasting and exploring the different types of bread that are produced and consumed throughout Europe. 

We recognised many, discovered quite a few and scoffed the lot! We had a lot of fun learning about where the different breads originated from and what they tasted like.

  We taste tested all the different types and compared them for taste, texture, weight and appearance.  

  Science - Living things and their habitats  

During science lessons we have been looking at living things and their habitats.  We have been classifying plants and animals into different groups such as vertebrates and invertebrates.  We were curious to see how many different invertebrates we might find in our school allotment so set out to explore.  We managed to find a wide variety and then used our classification keys to identify  which type of invertebrates they were. We all had a lot of fun learning and discovering in the great outdoors!

Our topic title for Autumn 2 is SHOCKING SOUNDS and focuses on the science of 'Electricity' and 'Sound'. 

We will be finding out how electricity is generated and identify electrical appliances and the types of electricity they use.  We'll also explore different types of electrical circuits and identify what makes good conductors and insulators before investigating different kinds of switches.  When we are studying sound we will discover how sounds are made; how sound travels and how we hear things.  We'll also explore ways to change the pitch of a sound and investigate different ways sounds can be absorbed.

During Design Technology lessons we'll have the chance to experiment with circuits and switches before taking on the challenge of designing, making and evaluating our own alarm systems for a particular purpose:- will we be guarding diamonds, apprehending burglars or improving fire security?! What will we all choose? 

Music sessions will involve exploring and developing our playing skills through the glockenspiel - Sounds like fun - Get it?!?!? 

During English lessons we will be writing our own instructions on how to build a burglar alarm and we'll be writing and performing our own performance poetry.  Our class reader this half term is 'The Firework-Makers Daughter' by Philip Pullman.  We'll use the book to create character descriptions and alternative openings.  We'll also write letters in role and create our own missing chapter from the book. 

Maths will be focusing on Measurement and in particular Length & Perimeter.  After that, we'll switch to developing our Multiplication and Division skills.

P.E. sessions will focus on dance and gymnastics at the Community Centre. Dance will take place on Monday mornings and gymnastics on Friday mornings. 

There's also French, RE and PSHE to squeeze in so it'll be Christmas before we know it!

Useful websites to help learning at home

Maths - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/times-tables

English - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zv48q6f

Science - Electricity – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zj44jxs

Science - Sound -       https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zgffr82

Science - What do fossil fuels and renewable energy mean? https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zshp34j/articles/zff4kty  

   Electrical Conductor or Insulator?    

As part of our science work this half term we have been conducting investigations aimed at discovering which materials are electrical conductors or insulators.  So we set up electrical circuits of our own and tested a range of materials including metals, glass, plastic, wood, paper and card.   We found that the metal based products conducted electricity best but there were other materials that could conduct electricity too.  Check us out in action below.

   Christmas Crafternoon   

We've all been getting into the Christmas spirit during our Christmas Crafternoon.  We have all been frantically cutting, stapling, gluing and tying in order to create our Christmas decorations.  They look great and we're sure you'd agree that they would help any home feel more festive this Christmas.  Really hope you can support the school and get your orders in asap folks! 

    3D Snowflakes    

Here's the link to the 3D Snowflake tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT2oeNkTOAk 

Our first topic of the year is entitled 'The Groovy Greeks' and is all about discovering what life was like in Ancient Greece.  In English we will be reading and writing Greek myths, comparing life for a child in Ancient Greece to life today and we'll be exploring and reporting on the Ancient Greek Olympics.  Maths will involve improving our place value and number skills e.g rounding to 10 and 100, ordering numbers and methods of adding & subtracting.  During History lessons we'll look at significant people, places and events from Ancient Greece, contrast daily life in Ancient Greece with modern day lifestyles and become familiar with historical sources, debates and accurate vocabulary relating to Ancient Greece.  Art sessions will see us drawing and painting our own Greek vases followed by a cyclopes eye - blimey!!!!  Computing will involve using the internet safely and securely.  We'll learn about who owns content on the web and what we can access, add, and create.  Finally, we'll evaluate online content to decide how honest, accurate, or reliable it is, and understand the consequences of false information.  P.E will be focused on invasion games including High 5 Netball.  

Useful websites to help learning at home

Please click on the links below to access useful websites for home learning:

Maths – https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/times-tables

English – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zv48q6f

Topic – Ancient Greece https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z87tn39  Ancient Greeks: The Argo Odyssey https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z7nrydm/articles/z2ngf82

Clothing and Fashion in Ancient Greece https://www.jomashop.com/blog/guides/clothing-and-fashion-in-ancient-greece/ 

  Ancient Greek Patterns and Pottery  

We have been learning all about Ancient Greek pottery and how the pots had different uses depending on their size and shape. 

We noticed that the Ancient Greeks decorated their pots with lots of geometric repeating patterns. 

After that, we looked at lots of different Ancient Greek patterns and tried to recreate them ourselves. 

Then we made sure our patterns were repeating and were as symmetrical as possible. 

We then created our own shades of orange by mixing red, yellow, white and black powder paints together.

After that, we applied our favourite shades of orange to our pots.  

Finally, we decorated our Ancient Greek pots with all our amazing repeating patterns.

 Meet Thaddeus - Our visitor from Ancient Greece   

We’ve had a visitor come to see us in Y4 this week - his name was Thaddeus and he came all the way from Ancient Greece – WOW!

Thaddeus gave us all a taste of Ancient Greece as he brought to life the great myths and legends of one of the world’s oldest civilisations.  He taught us all about Ancient Greek life and we discovered that there are many things in our lives today that are similar to life in Ancient Greece including clothing and some subjects taught at school.

We enjoyed creating our own statues of the Greek Gods and Goddesses.

Discovered what life was like in Athens and Sparta.

We even held our own debating forum and voted on who we thought had made the best case in the debate. Then the votes were counted to reveal who had won!

Thaddeus ended his visit by retelling us the Ancient Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus.  We all had a great afternoon and learnt so much.

Thank you Thaddeus for visiting us and good luck with your journey back to Ancient Greece!