Sports Day
Well done to all the children for showing resilience and determination in their races!
Volcano!
Last week, we were set a piece of creative homework that followed up on our work in class or recognising the features of volcanoes and how they erupt.
All the class produced stunning pieces of work at home with your support. We had: posters, poems, quizzes, rock displays and of course model volcanoes.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an accurate model if it didn’t erupt. Thanks to some extensive research, some children had found out which substances to mix to make the models erupt.
But don’t worry. No children or classrooms were harmed in the making!
Living and Learning: I recognise the importance of money.
This week, the class explored what it would have been like before money when trades people traded their goods with each other. They became a trades people and used their bargaining and persuasion skills to make trades with each other. We discussed how some things – such as a cow – were worth more than others. For instance, a bag of wheat. The children identified problems with this method and recognised how having money makes buying what you need both simpler and fairer.
Living and Learning: I know and can use ways to calm down.
This week in Living and Learning, the class worked together to list lots of ways we can calm down down when feeling upset, angry or anxious. They created a long list of strategies including: breathing techniques, counting to 10, talking to a friend, relaxing in your bedroom and exercising. Everyone then created their own poster with their favourite calming down strategies. There were some great ones!
Have a go at using some of these when you feel angry, upset, frustrated or anxious. They definitely work.
Living and Learning: I know the difference between being proud and showing off
This week, the children thought about what they are proud of and why. We talked about how it can be difficult to say what we are proud of sometimes and how it takes confidence. Everyone has lots to be proud of! During circle time, the class took turns to say what they were proud of and also what they think other children in the class are good at so giving each other a boost! The class then wrote thought bubbles to share what they are proud of. Comments on these thought bubbles included: “I’m proud of my football skills because it makes me unique” and, “I am proud of my dancing because I practise a lot and even though I’m not the best and dancing, I am still proud of what I can do so far”. Some really thoughtful and reflective comments from Year 3 and 4. Well done – you have lots to be proud of!
Arrays and factor pairs
Today, we had a very hands on practical lesson learning about factor pairs. A factor pair is two numbers that when multiplied together give a particular product. For example, the number 24 has factor pairs of: 2 and 12; 1 and 24; 3 and 8; and 4 and 6.
We used multilink cubes to make arrays that allowed us to spot the factor pairs for numbers we were given.
‘Using multilink helped me see the numbers easily’
‘I always like using apparatus to help me’
Living and Learning: I can pay and receive compliments in a sensible way.
We started our Living and Learning session this week by paying ourselves some compliments!
The children reflected on what they were good at, both in and out of school. Following this, they wrote down three compliments for themselves. We then gave each other some compliments, which the children enjoyed receiving, saying they made them feel: ‘happy, ‘warm inside’ and ‘proud’. The children wrote some lovely comments for each other and also thanked each other for their compliments.
World Book Day
Today was that time of year again, the best day of the year – World Book Day. The costumes were simply amazing and we all looked brilliant. It was also great to see some Roald Dahl Characters: Veruca Salt, The BFG and Mr Willy Wonka.
We spent part of the morning making our ‘book door’ for the whole school competition. We based it on a Wonka Bar and surrounded it with our very own Golden Tickets.
Skipping Festival
Earlier this week, we finally got the chance to show off our skipping skills at the skipping festival at Wetherby High School. We started by competing in the skills showdown. In pairs we demonstrated: speed bouncing, side swings and crossover skips. Even though only 1 minute long, each competitor was exhausted from the effort they put in.
Then we moved onto our skip dance routine. We’ve worked really hard on this over the last few weeks. It wasn’t only about showing our skipping skills; we had to count beats, watch other children move for cues and be looking where we were standing.
We came away with a haul of certificates for our efforts as well as first place in the crossover and butterfly skills.
Well done, 3/4.
Chocolate Masterteers
Finally the time came this week to make our chocolate bars! After much tasting, testing and planning, we began by melting the chocolate on the cooker with the help of Mrs Walton. We then had to rapidly mix our fillings and flavours in before the chocolate began to harden again. We finished by pouring the chocolate into moulds and allowing it to harden overnight.
Our job didn’t end there though. We then had to design the logo and the packaging to go with our chocolate. We looked into what makes a good chocolate bar name and also studied existing design. Finally, we got to take them home and devour them.
