Science – Does the temperature of water affect the time it takes for ice to melt in it?

In our chemistry unit of learning, we are learning about states of matter.

We have created gestures to help us remember our key vocabulary of solid, liquid and gas. Now that we can confidently identify and describe these states of matter, we are considering how materials can change states.

Today we planned an experiment to answer the question:

Does the temperature of the water affect the time it takes for ice to melt in it?

We had to consider the variables in the experiment including which ones would change and which ones we would keep the same to answer our enquiry. We also had to practise some key skills including measuring accurately, reading a thermometer and measuring time using a stopwatch.

We recorded our results and came to the conclusion that “The colder the water the more time it takes for ice to melt.”

 

Maths – column addition

In maths we have been practising adding two 4 digit numbers when an exchange is required. We started by understanding the structure of the maths by using base 10 and then place value counters to represent the maths but we are now all working in the abstract using just digits.

Across school, we all set our column addition out in the same way with the exchange underneath the sum. We also cross out the exchange when we have added it (see example below).

We use stem sentences to help us think about the procedure we are undertaking.

The instructions we have written (and follow) as a class are below.  We have them on our working wall to refer to if we get stuck.

Help at home: Challenge your child to teach you how we add two 4 digit numbers using the instructions above.

Art – Architecture

This half-term we are focusing on architecture in our Art learning.

Although we will be looking at a variety of structures, the two architects we will use as inspiration for our work are Sir Christopher Wren (who designed St Paul’s Cathedral) and Zaha Hadid (who designed the Heydar Aliyev Centre). We will create a collage using a variety of techniques. Watch this space to see our creations!

Community Week – the History of Wetherby

Following a visit from the Mayor of Wetherby this morning, the children have been learning about how people chose to live in Wetherby during the Bronze Age. The location next to the River Wharfe was a significant advantage and Wetherby became even more significant when a bridge was built to cross the river.

Important places, events and people are commemorated around our market town with blue plaques.  We have enjoyed researching the blue plaques and made our own.

Help at home: Learn more about the history of our wonderful market town by following the blue plaque trail.  Further information can be found here: https://www.wetherbycivicsociety.org.uk/blueplaquetrail/

Community Week – Identity

In transition week during the Summer Term, Year 4 used the book The Barnabus Project to consider how we are all unique and are ‘perfectly imperfect’ in our own way.

It was exciting to return to this learning as part of Community Week when we considered ‘Identity’ in more detail. We enjoyed considering what makes us special and recorded this in an identity map.  The children were wonderfully creative and found lots of things that they have in common with each other as well as features of their identity that make them unique.

Community Week – healthy friendships

As part of Community Week, we have been thinking about healthy friendships.

We considered the story of Beegu who finds herself lost and without friends.  We shared some ideas of what we could do to signal to Beegu that she belonged at our school.

If you would like to listen to the story of Beegu and learn how to draw Beegu, you can watch the video from Puffin here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-8oLcy1Eow

We also had a very mature debate about the vital characteristics of a healthy friendship.  We all respectfully listened to the opinions of our classmates and enjoyed debating some of the characteristics which are less clear such as whether you should always feel happy in a healthy friendship.

With such considered opinions it is no surprise that there are so many healthy friendships in our class community to enjoy and celebrate!

Community Week – Stereotypes

As part of Community Week, we took part in a very exciting workshop led by Diversity Role Models (https://www.diversityrolemodels.org/) During the workshop we thought about where stereotypes come from and what harm they can do.

We challenged harmful stereotypes and thought about how we could turn these on their head.

Help at home: Lots of us were very passionate about standing up against stereotypes. If you would like more examples to discuss with your child you can find a video from the BBC here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/young-reporter/articles/zkttm39

Community Week – British Values

As part of our Community Week, we learnt about the importance of British Values.  We updated our Living and Learning board with an acronym to help us to remember the values (see above.)

Help at home: Discuss with your child what the British Values look like in your family community.  Do children have individual liberty to make some choices?  Do you have rules that you follow as a family?  Do you make some decisions by voting?  Do you show mutual respect and tolerance to each other?

Democracy – from Ancient Greece to St James’

Democracy is one of the British Values we learn about in school.  We found it really interesting to learn how Democracy began in Athens in Ancient Greece as part of our Topic lessons and we were really excited to see it in action as part of our JLT elections.

Our British Values are:

  • Democracy
  • Rule of Law
  • Individual Liberty
  • Respect and Tolerance

It would be great to discuss these with your child.  What does the value mean to them?  What would Britain be like if we didn’t have this value?

Harvest Festival at St James’ Church

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our Harvest Festival at St James’ Church.  We are really proud of the way the children read the prayers, performed the poems and sang our songs of celebration.

Thank you too for the food donations, it is wonderful to be able to support the local community in this way.