St John the Baptist CE VA Primary School Year Four

This week Year 4 have been working on developing their group work and Oracy. Today we discussed the deforestation of the rainforests ready to prepare a debate. The children had to decide whether statements were positive or negative effects of deforestation.

We have also been enjoying lots of Book Talk in our reading lessons, analysing the text and exploring characters.

Year 4 have been busy learning about the process of digestion. We discovered this by making a sandwich then replicating its journey through our bodies. It was great fun but also made us all think a lot about what happens to our food when we eat!

We then investigated our teeth and the functions of the different types of teeth. We used play dough to make a mould of our teeth, using mirrors to help us.

This week Year 4 have been working collaboratively across the curriculum. They worked in pairs to research the Andes mountain range in South America and created mind maps with their facts.

They have also been writing stories based on Taking Flight, a film from Literacy Shed. They planned and wrote with a partner, sharing ideas and helping each other to develop their writing skills.

In PE, the children have been creating sequences of balances, using the floor and apparatus.

Year 4 really enjoyed making their pneumatic toys. They worked really well with their partners and were very proud of their finished products.

Year 4 have had a very busy week! On Tuesday we travelled with Year 3 to Hertford on the train and then went to the museum for a workshop and trail. During the workshop, we learnt more about how the Egyptians treated their dead to prepare them for the afterlife. We ‘mummified’ a life-size rag doll, then learnt about the funeral procession, including the professional mourners, who were played very well by four of Year 4!

After this we explored the museum, following a trail of questions. The children were fascinated by the toothbrushes upstairs and the cabinet of curiosities! They all loved the Zoetrope too, which just shows that they don’t always need technology to keep them entertained!

On Wednesday, we invited the parents in to see our Egyptian artwork. There was a real buzz as the children showed their adults their sketchbooks, photos and artwork.

This week Year 4 have been working collaboratively to create their plaster cast for their Egyptian art. They built up the walls around their tiles using clay, then mixed and poured plaster onto their tile. They laid layers of Modroc in to strengthen it.

Once we removed the clay and lifted the polystyrene tile, it revealed the cast underneath.

Year 4 have also been enjoying drawing Factor Bugs in maths! They have been using their understanding of factors and products and using counters to work out factor pairs.

In English, they have loved exploring Leon and the Place Between and can’t wait to create their own Place Between over the next few days.

Year 4 have been really enjoying working collaboratively on their Egyptian artwork. They have been transferring their designs from their sketch books onto the polystyrene printing sheet using tracing paper.

This week in our whole class reading lessons we have been learning about the poetry of James Carter. The children really enjoyed performing ‘Fuss, Fuss, Fuss or the Goldilocks Rap’ in their groups. They gave each other feedback and suggested what they could do to improve next time they perform.

Year 4 have been really enjoying researching Ancient Egyptian art and hieroglyphics for our history and art topics. They have brought in research from home and we have been looking at the British Museum website for inspiration! We are really looking forward to creating our own tomb painting on plaster.