Year 3 and Year 4 Master Related Facts in Maths 🔢

This week, Year 3 and Year 4 have been using their related facts knowledge to recap and deepen their understanding of number bonds to 10. Through a range of practical and engaging activities, the children explored how knowing one fact can help them quickly work out others, building confidence and fluency with number relationships.

Using their understanding of fact families, the children explained their reasoning and challenged themselves to solve problems in different ways. It was fantastic to see them spotting patterns and making connections between numbers, helping them develop strong mathematical foundations. We were impressed by their enthusiasm and teamwork as they shared strategies and supported one another's learning. ⭐➕➖

Year 4 Coding Club with Mr Taylor

This week saw the launch of our Year 4 Coding Club with Mr Taylor! Throughout the club, pupils will learn how to use Scratch, a popular programming platform, to develop their coding, problem-solving, and computational thinking skills.

In our first session, pupils were introduced to sprites and explored how code can be used to control movement, appearance, and animation. Using a range of programming blocks, the children animated letter sprites to create and display their own names on screen.

Pupils showed great creativity as they experimented with different effects, movements, and timings to bring their projects to life. They also demonstrated resilience and problem-solving skills when debugging their code and making improvements to their animations.

Coding Club is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop valuable computing skills in a fun and engaging way. We are looking forward to seeing the exciting projects they create over the coming weeks as they continue their journey into the world of programming! 

This week, Year 4 took part in a thoughtful Remembrance activity as they carefully created beautiful origami wreaths for our annual Remembrance Service. The children followed instructions with great concentration, folding and shaping each piece before working together to assemble their wreaths.

As they worked, we discussed the importance of Remembrance and reflected on the bravery and sacrifices made by those who have served our country. The finished wreaths looked fantastic, and the children were proud to contribute something so meaningful to our school’s Remembrance Service. We were impressed by their creativity, care and respect throughout the activity. ❤️🌺

Year 3 and Year 4 have been developing their prosody skills in Guided Reading, focusing on using expression, intonation and pacing to bring texts to life. The children practised reading aloud with confidence, thinking carefully about punctuation and the emotions of different characters. It was wonderful to hear everyone using their voices creatively to make their reading engaging and enjoyable for their audience!

 

Have a listen!

This morning, Year 3 and Year 4 took part in some exciting practical maths activities to strengthen their understanding of number bonds to 10. Using hands-on resources, games and partner challenges, the children worked brilliantly to find different number combinations and explain their thinking. Some groups even enjoyed a fun Halloween-themed challenge, using pumpkins, spiders and spooky number cards to make their learning extra engaging! It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm, teamwork and mathematical confidence throughout the morning. 🎃➕👻

Year 4 had great fun this week as they were introduced to using flashcards in their Mastering Number sessions! Our focus was on square numbers, and the children loved testing their speed, spotting patterns, and challenging each other to recall the answers in a flash. The room was full of excitement as pupils worked together to become square number experts. It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm while developing their mathematical fluency and confidence! 🌟🔢

As part of the Royal Ballet Company's 100 Classes for 100 Years workshop, we took part in an exciting session inspired by Alice in Wonderland. We began with a warm-up before using dramatic music to guide our movements, imagining that we were following the White Rabbit on his adventure. We listened carefully to changes in tempo, responding to fast and slow sections of the music and adapting our movements to match the growing drama of the story.

Drawing on our ballet learning from Year 3, we confidently demonstrated key ballet positions such as first position and plié. Our teacher was incredibly impressed with how much we remembered from previous lessons. Throughout the workshop, we stepped into the roles of different characters from Alice in Wonderland, including Alice herself and the White Rabbit with his famous pocket watch. To inspire us further, Miss Gough shared photographs from the Royal Ballet Company's production of Alice in Wonderland, helping us bring the story and characters to life through dance.

Year 4 have been working hard to learn our new Kinetic Letters handwriting scheme, focusing on correct letter formation, size and flow. It has been wonderful to see the children applying these skills not only in handwriting lessons but also across all of their books (look at the beautiful example in a History book today!). Their presentation is becoming increasingly neat and consistent, and they are taking great pride in their work. We are so proud of the effort and determination they are showing as they develop their handwriting confidence.

This term, Year 4 have been developing their non-chronological report writing skills through our Reading into Writing unit. We explored a variety of high-quality texts, identifying key features such as headings, subheadings, factual language and organised paragraphs.

A particular focus has been on the writing process. The children have worked hard to plan, draft and edit their reports, responding thoughtfully to teacher feedback in green pen and making improvements and refining their writing in purple pen. It has been wonderful to see pupils reflecting on their work, improving vocabulary, correcting errors and adding extra detail to make their writing even stronger.

To celebrate Black History Month, the children have been researching Viv Anderson, the first Black footballer to play for England. They have learned about the barriers he overcame, his successful professional football career and the important impact he had on increasing representation in English football.

We are extremely proud of the resilience and determination the children have shown throughout the drafting and editing process and are looking forward to reading their final polished reports. We can't wait to share their fantastic finished writing with you!

This week, Year 4 enjoyed learning about pets in French. We learned the names of different pets, including un poisson (fish), un chien (dog), un chat (cat), un hamster, un cochon d’Inde (guinea pig) and un oiseau (bird). The children practised saying the words aloud, played a dominoes game and worked hard to remember the new language. 

This week in Maths, Year 3 and 4 have been developing their understanding of subtracting 1s, 10s and 100s across a boundary. The children used place value charts to help them visualise what happens when a subtraction takes them across a tens or hundreds boundary.

We explored how numbers can be exchanged, for example exchanging 1 ten for 10 ones when there were not enough ones to subtract. Similarly, we practised exchanging 1 hundred for 10 tens when needed. The place value charts helped the children see these exchanges clearly and supported them in solving problems accurately.

The children showed great perseverance and mathematical thinking as they explained their methods and justified their answers. Well done, Year 3 and 4, for working so hard to deepen your understanding of place value and subtraction! 📚➖⭐

Excitement filled the school as our Year 3 and Year 4 pupils took part in a very special event organised by the National Literacy Trust - a nationwide attempt to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title!

The children joined thousands of pupils from schools across the country to take part in this exciting challenge. The event celebrated the joy of reading and brought together children who share a love of books, stories and learning. There was a real buzz of anticipation as everyone prepared to contribute to what could become a record-breaking achievement.

Throughout the event, the children listened carefully, participated enthusiastically and represented our school brilliantly. It was fantastic to see so many pupils engaged and excited to be part of something bigger than themselves. They demonstrated excellent behaviour, teamwork and enthusiasm, showing our school values every step of the way.

As well as being part of a potential world record, the event highlighted the importance of literacy and reading for pleasure. The children discovered that reading can connect people across the country and inspire everyone to become confident, lifelong readers.

We are incredibly proud of all our Year 3 and Year 4 pupils for taking part and embracing this unique opportunity with such enthusiasm. Now we eagerly await the official results to find out whether the nationwide challenge has successfully achieved a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title!

Well done, Year 3 and Year 4. You've already made us proud, and being part of this memorable event is an achievement in itself! 📚🌟🏆

This week in Science, Year 4 began their exciting new topic on the water cycle. We learned about the four key stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection, and discussed how water is constantly moving around our planet.

To help us understand the process, we set up our own water cycle experiment using a sandwich bag filled with a small amount of water and placed it in the classroom window. As the sun warmed the water, we observed evaporation taking place. Over time, tiny water droplets formed on the inside of the bag through condensation, just like clouds in the sky. When the droplets became larger and heavier, they trickled back down, representing precipitation, before gathering at the bottom of the bag as collection.

We are looking forward to observing our experiment over the coming weeks and seeing the stages of the water cycle happen right before our eyes! 🌎💦🔬

Using Kahoot! to Strengthen Long-Term Memory in Foundation Subjects

At our school, we are always looking for engaging ways to help children retain and apply the knowledge they learn across the curriculum. One strategy that has proven particularly effective in Foundation subjects such as Science and Religious Education is the use of Kahoot!

Kahoot! provides an exciting and interactive way for pupils to revisit previously taught content through regular retrieval practice. By repeatedly recalling key facts, vocabulary and concepts, children strengthen their long-term memory and become more confident in applying their knowledge in future lessons. Rather than learning information once and moving on, pupils have opportunities to revisit important content over time, helping knowledge to become firmly embedded.

The fun and competitive nature of Kahoot! motivates children to participate enthusiastically. Instant feedback allows pupils to recognise misconceptions and celebrate success, while the game-based format creates a positive learning environment where everyone can be involved.

Many Kahoot! activities also promote valuable personal and social skills. Team modes encourage pupils to work collaboratively, discuss possible answers and support one another. Success depends not only on subject knowledge but also on listening carefully to teammates, showing patience while others contribute and respecting different viewpoints. These experiences help pupils develop important communication and teamwork skills alongside their curriculum learning.

Whether reviewing a recent Science topic, revisiting key learning from Religious Education or recalling knowledge from previous units, Kahoot! has become a valuable tool for reinforcing learning in an enjoyable and memorable way. By combining repetitive recall with fun, collaboration and healthy competition, it helps pupils retain important subject knowledge while developing the skills needed to learn successfully together.

We look forward to continuing to use Kahoot! as part of our approach to helping children remember more and achieve more across the curriculum.

Year 4 PE: Developing Agility Through Team Games

This week in PE, Year 4 pupils focused on developing their agility by changing speed and direction while staying balanced and in control. Through a series of fun, active games using tag rugby belts, pupils learned how to transfer their weight from one side to the other and turn their head, shoulders, and hips to move quickly in a new direction.

The lesson began with a tag game, where pupils practised accelerating, decelerating, and dodging opponents. They then took part in a team game called Capture the Flag. These activities encouraged pupils to think strategically, react quickly, and create plans to outwit their opponents.

Alongside developing physical skills, pupils also focused on important personal qualities. They demonstrated fair play, showed honesty when playing games, and worked respectfully with their teammates and opponents. It was wonderful to see pupils managing both success and disappointment positively, celebrating achievements and showing resilience when things did not go their way.

Year 4 showed great enthusiasm throughout the lesson and made excellent progress in using agility, teamwork, and decision-making skills in a range of challenging activities. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏳️

Year 4 had a fantastic opportunity to explore our Romans topic using the Lancashire Museum Loan Box. The children examined a range of Roman artefacts, including army attire, pottery and writing tablets, learning more about what life was like during Roman times. They were especially excited to try on some of the replica army equipment, including helmets, shields and swords. This hands-on experience brought our history learning to life and helped the children develop a deeper understanding of the Roman Empire. Everyone showed great enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the session! 🏛️⚔️🛡️

This week, Maple Class confidently shared their school council manifestos with their classmates. Each candidate spoke about their ideas for improving the school and explained why they would make a great representative. Everyone listened carefully and showed respect for one another’s speeches. We are excited to see the voting take place next week and wish all of our candidates the very best of luck! 🌟

Year 4 Science: Investigating Gases

This week in Science, Year 4 pupils explored the fascinating properties of gases through a series of exciting investigations.

First, we investigated whether air has mass. We carefully weighed an empty balloon and found that it had a mass of 8g. We then filled the balloon with air and weighed it again. This time, it measured 9g! This simple experiment helped pupils understand that, although we cannot see air, it is made of particles and has mass.

Next, pupils combined vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to observe a chemical reaction. We knew a reaction was taking place because the mixture began fizzing and bubbling, producing a gas called carbon dioxide (CO₂).

To finish our investigation, we collected some of the carbon dioxide produced and used it to extinguish a candle flame. Pupils were amazed to see that the gas could put out the fire and discussed why this happened.

Throughout the lesson, pupils made predictions, carried out observations, and drew conclusions from the evidence they collected. It was a fantastic hands-on lesson that helped bring the science of gases to life! 🔬🎈🕯️

Year 4 have made a fantastic start to our new Guided Reading approach and are thoroughly enjoying the experience. They have been focusing on getting to know the text in depth, exploring vocabulary, characters and key events to develop a deeper understanding. The children are also learning how to answer comprehension questions effectively, using evidence from the text to support their ideas and build confidence in their reading skills.

Our Year 3 and 4 children have been developing their understanding of tens and ones using practical resources such as base ten blocks, counters and Numicon. These hands-on activities help pupils visualise place value, build numbers accurately and deepen their mathematical thinking. By exploring numbers in different ways, children are gaining confidence and strengthening the foundations needed for future learning in maths.

Year 4 Science: Investigating the Properties of Liquids

This week in Science, Year 4 pupils explored the fascinating properties of liquids through a series of practical investigations.

To begin, we created a lava lamp using oil and water. Pupils observed that the two liquids did not mix and discussed why different liquids behave in different ways. The colourful experiment sparked lots of curiosity and scientific discussion!

The children then investigated viscosity, which is a measure of how easily a liquid flows. They compared water, shampoo, washing-up liquid, and vegetable oil, making predictions before testing and observing each liquid carefully. Pupils discovered that some liquids flow much more slowly than others because they have a higher viscosity.

To deepen their understanding, pupils also explored how the particles in liquids might be arranged. They discussed how particles in more viscous liquids may have stronger attractions between them, making it harder for the liquid to flow freely.

Throughout the lesson, pupils worked scientifically by predicting, observing, recording results, and drawing conclusions from their investigations. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they developed their understanding of the amazing properties of everyday liquids.

Year 4 Reading: Building Skills with Reading Eggs

In Year 4, pupils regularly use Reading Eggs to help develop their reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence. The programme provides engaging reading activities, interactive lessons, and quizzes that support children as they become more fluent and independent readers. Reading Eggs is designed around the key elements of successful reading, including phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. 

Children enjoy working through activities at their own level, receiving instant feedback and rewards that help keep them motivated and engaged. The programme also includes a wide range of texts and comprehension tasks that encourage pupils to think carefully about what they read.

While Reading Eggs is a valuable tool in school, we encourage pupils to use it regularly at home as well. Even a short amount of practice can help strengthen reading skills and build confidence over time. Reading Eggs can be accessed on a range of devices, making it easy for children to continue their learning beyond the classroom.

We are delighted to see Year 4 pupils developing their reading skills and enjoying their Reading Eggs journey! 📚✨