Year 4 Blog

 Today, the children learned how to find places and objects on a map/grid using grid references.  Firstly, the children needed to understand the order in which we make a grid reference. They needed to find the eastings (along the corridor) grid reference first and then the northing ( up the stairs). Then, they used different pictures on the Interactive Whiteboard to practice finding the 4 grid references for each object. Finally, they made grids for their friends so they could identify the four grid  references. A fantastic lesson Year 4. 😊

 Due to Year 4 having their Space Camp next week, this was our last session on the BBC Ten Pieces unit. Today, they put their learning together to compose and play a short piece linked to Earth.  They had a range of instruments including xylophones, untuned percussion and even chrome music lab to add any extra elements.  It was noisy, but good fun and the children had some great imaginations when trying to put elements such as plants, oceans, and forests to music!

The lesson today was all about using the taught information to answer the question, ‘Are all deserts hot?’  The children were able to discuss everything they knew and what they had learnt in the last few weeks and they could justify their answers using lines of latitude and positional language. Well done. 

 Continuing our work on Earth through the BBC 10 Pieces, Year 4 have taken an element of something linked to Earth - we’ve had oceans, forests, life cycles, waterfalls and meadows to name a few. Children, then worked in groups to start planning how to interpret these elements through music. Thinking of sounds they might want to use, soft, loud, pitch, beats and other aspects of music. Some super ideas and were looking forward to putting actual music to this next week! 

 Year 4 sang their song and revised the names of different sports. They also revised words to express opinion: J'aime, J'adore, Je n'aime pas and Je deteste. They practised asking and answering questions, giving their opinios. They then used a given sentence structure to write sentences.

 Today the children went on a virtual tour of Antarctica: the coldest desert and nearly twice the size of Australia.  They learnt how scientists need to plan weeks before they embark on their journey. They need at least 30 pieces of equipment to ensure they have everything they need as there are no shops. once there they stay in research stations where they have everything they need to survive such harsh conditions. When the weather is good they go out on many expeditions as well as researching many subjects such as the magnetic field.  A big thank you to one student who brought in pieces of a salt basin from Portugal which we learnt about a few weeks ago. So light to hold and although the children were told not to taste them, one did and confirmed it was very salty!

 Today in Music, Year 4 were looking at creating some shimmering sounds using xylophones and the notes GABCD as they are ‘next door notes’. There was some lovely compositions. Next week we will begin to put these together to creating some depth to the music.