Thank You from Year 3

Year 3 parents; we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 
Thank you for all of the gifts we received.

Enjoy the holidays with your lovely children and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Miss Pearson, Miss Rooney, Miss Wright & Mrs Pitts.

Year 4 Church Performance (Mon 19/12) IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

On Monday the children of Year 4 will be performing for a special Christmas service at St George's Church on Chippenham Rd at 5pm.
At 1:30 we will be going straight to the venue, then remaining there to rehearse until the performance starts at 5pm.
Before the performance we will be ordering pizza for the whole year group.
If your child has not been involved in the school-based rehearsals and is therefore not performing at the church, you may pick them up from school on Monday either at 1:30, or the normal time of 3:15 (they will spend the final part of the day helping out in other year groups).
Finally, we invite parents and carers to come and watch the performance at 5pm. The children have been working very hard to perfect their artwork, drama, rap, poetry, dance and singing and we would love to see you there to appreciate the fruits of their effort!

Willow class star writer

Although Willow made it a particularly difficult decision this week, the wonderful Mr Ellis Drummond is our star writer. Ellis, your writing has improved significantly,  evident through your balanced argument: to conserve or develop on rainforest land. You posed an extremely powerful argument, engaging and forcing your reader to make an informed decision. You effectively used a range of rhetorical questions, implemented a variety of appropriate conjunctions and successfully used the PEE model to structure your ideas. Your writing certainly did not fall into the big L (lazy) category! This can only mean one thing Mr Drummond... Onwards and upwards!

Perimeter war in Willow!

Today in maths, Willow were faced with a challenge set by the one and only Einstein. On a previous occasion, Einstein visited Broadford, with the intention of finding two dimensional shapes around the school with a specified perimeter. Although he was close to discovering the shapes, he was not close enough. Therefore, he challenged Willow to a 'perimeter war', asking them to explore the school and investigate perimeter. Many of the children were successful and managed to find 2D shapes, which were closer in perimeter to the ones Einstein found. 

Shape Hunting in Year 3

This week, the Year 3 children have been using their investigative skills effectively to determine the different features and names of 3D shapes. Using their shape dictionary, they were able to deduce the names of the shapes by reading the definitions and comparing them with the physical shapes in front of them.

Misconceptions were identified quickly as they read each definition of the 3D shapes. 

"I didn't know that a square was just a special type of rectangle! I was confused when it said a cube had 6 rectangular faces. I now know that a square is just a rectangle with 4 equal sides." Adam, Hazel

After the children were confident in the features and names of the different shapes, they continued their hunt outside to see if they could find 3D shapes in the real world! 

"It's a bit out of shape, but this ball is definitely a sphere!" Alex, Sequoia 

Great job Year 3! I wonder if you can name any 3D shapes at home, too?

Year 3 Spellings: w/c 12.12.16

Please find below Year 3's spellings for the week below:

Willow class star writer

This week, our star writer is the amazing Abena Pim-Wusu. Evident from the balanced argument Abena  produced, it is clear that her writing has improved significantly. It is certainly one to be proud of. Successfully, Abena used a range of alternative nouns to engage her reader, used various conjunctions to link her writing and effectively implemented the PEE model to add structure to her writing. Abena, it was a pleasure to read and I hope your exceptional work ethic and attitude towards learning continues!

Tackling the tarsia

This week in maths, Willow have been recognising and identifying equivalent fractions. After the success of Tuesday's lesson, it was clear the children were ready to face a challenge... The equivalent fraction tarsia puzzle. Although it may seem simple (which it did at first to the children) they soon discovered that it required a high level of thinking, investigating and problem solving. Across the room, brains could be seen pulsating in the children's heads.

Ranita, who decided to tackle the 2 chilli tarsia, commented that:

the tarsia was so brain boggling, it actually made my head hurt. 

Despite such claims, Ranita, alongside partner Samanyu Handoo, persevered with the task and in the final minute of the lesson, managed to complete the tarsia.

Great work Willow! Keep it up.

Lucian explores the Rainforest!

Following our topic on the rainforest, Lucian Bundy has carried out extra work at home. Presented in an array of colour, Lucian has collected an endless amount of facts, facts that I certainly was not aware of. He also discovered additional facts that could support his writing this week, based on a balanced argument. That said, I can not wait to read Lucian's work tomorrow! Keep it up Lucian.

Willow recreate the digestive system!

Today, Willow experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity: recreating the digestive system, using simply a bowl full of mashed up food (which the children struggled to comprehend was JUST food), a masher, a pair of tights and a polystyrene cup. Not everyone can say they have done that can they?

As you can see below, there were some pretty diverse reactions. From the squeamish, to those who embraced the smell and willingly dug their hands in.

However, squeamish or not, it was fair to say that by the end of the lesson the children were able to correctly identify the journey food takes through our body and explain how it is eventually deposited at the end of this process. As always, great work Willow!

Christmas Leaflet Competition

A big congratulations to Ketty Omwanghe in Sequoia class, who won our Christmas Leaflet Competition. Ketty has made sure that her picture is related to the story for our Christmas Concert and has obviously put a lot of effort into making her picture look bright and colourful. Keep your eye out for her beautiful picture, which will be used on the front cover of our Christmas Concert Leaflets.

Willow class battle for the rainforest!

To conserve or to develop on rainforest land? That is the question.

This term in topic, Willow have been exploring the rainforest. Specifically, they have been investigating why animals are becoming endangered! In line with this, they have been researching why the rainforest is so important, revealing that: the rainforest provides 20% of the oxygen we breathe, many medicines (25%) have origins from plant derived sources in the rainforest and that much of the food we eat also stems from the rainforest! At this point in their learning, it seemed almost unjustified to destroy this unique ecosystem.

However, Willow soon shockingly discovered that 50 football pitches of rainforest is being destroyed every second. As Samanyu Handoo correctly calculated, that's 100 football pitches in 2 minutes! The question being: Why?

To truly understand and grasp why some people want to obliterate precious acres of flora and fauna, Willow took on the role of four different characters and sat in the hot seat: being interrogated, questioned and challenged by their fellow audience.

After this, Willow took part in... THE BIG DEBATE: To conserve or develop on the rainforest land? Although they hoped to reach a conclusion, they soon found that this proved difficult. 

What do you think?

Birch get Messy in Science

In today's science lesson, Birch Class discovered the journey that food makes once we eat it!

We mashed our food up with our teeth (the masher), then it was transported to the stomach (ziplock bag) when the enzymes (orange juice) helped break down our food molecules. From there, the good nutrients of the food was passed through the walls of the small and the large intestines (a pair of tights), then the waste was passed through the anus (polystyrene cup).

Have a look at the photos below - can you tell who is doing which function? Apologies for any dirty clothes - it did become pretty messy once we reached the small intestines!

Year 3 Spellings - w/c 5.12.16

Please find below Year 3's spellings for the week:

Can't stop Jess now!

Jessica Simpson has truly outdone herself: carrying out numerous work at home, challenging and capitalising on her learning and making her teacher especially proud! It's always great to see that children are not only extending their learning in school, but out of school as well. Jessica has exceeded this, creating her own work on the rainforest, a balanced argument and time in maths. She's more or less covered the curriculum! Keep up the great work Jessica, it is no wonder you are doing superbly in school!

Willow class star writer

This week, Willow are proud to announce Lea Cerqueira as our star writer! Lea, your writing has  improved significantly and you have made astounding developments and progress, particularly evident in your version of the utterly bizarre poem... The Magic Box.  Crazy, yet realistic you successfully incorporated the poetics devices we were aiming to use: onomatopoeia, personification, alliteration and similes. I particularly liked 'I will put in my box... A fairy flying frantically across a blanket of coal.' Not only did you use alliteration and an adverb, but you also challenged yourself to include a metaphor to describe the midnight sky. Keep up the fantastic work Lea!

Year 3 Spellings w/c: 28.11.16

Please find below this weeks spellings for Year 3:

Birch Star Writer 25/11/2016

Congratulations to Jameel Ore for winning last week's Star Writer award! His instruction piece on training a troll gave clear imperative verbs that were easy to follow. In particular, Jameel's use of alternative nouns really made this piece of work stand out. I'm sure his readers transformed their useless, bridge-dwelling oafs into handy house servants in no time! Well done Jameel - keep up this level of clarity in your writing!

Year 4 Spellings Week Commencing 28.11.16

Pleasse find below the Year 4 spellings for this week.

A	B	C	D
preservation	preservation	preservation
attentive	patched	swim	just
subversive	matched	swam	like
submissive	attached	swell	look
imaginative	latched	swag	made
assertive	snatched	swill	make
eight	eight	eight	that
weight	weight	weight	them
vein	vein	vein	then
grey	grey	grey	this
obey	obey	obey	time
balanced	balanced	balanced
argument	argument	argument
favourable	favourable	favourable
opposition	opposition	opposition
discuss	discuss	discuss
digestion	digestion	digestion
stomach	stomach	stomach
intestine	intestine	intestine
nutrients	nutrients	nutrients
uptake	uptake	uptake

Willow class star writer

Move over Miss Taylor, Miss Libby Northwood is here with an absolutely amazing set of instructions on 'how to train a troll.' Last week, during Big write, Willow focused on producing a set of high quality, clear instructions. Although everybody in Willow class achieved this (earning themselves each a merit) Libby exceeded this aim. She successfully incorporated the use of alternative nouns, included a range of sentence openers (as well as adverbials of time) and even challenged herself to use a variety of sentence types. I was particularly impressed with her 'the more, the more' and 'double ly' sentences that she threaded throughout her text. An exceptional piece of writing Libby, your best yet and you made it an absolute pleasure to read and mark. Phenomenal.

Decimal equivalent SNAP!

Decimal equivalent SNAP!... What is that?

This week in maths, Willow set have strived to convert fractions into decimal equivalents and vice versa. At first, this appeared quite a difficult topic to tackle. However, after plenty of whiteboard practice and using our place value charts, the children were quick to convert. Some children even converted decimals back into fractions and some went even further, taking on the menacing mixed fractions.

Today, we have applied our learning in a game of decimal equivalent snap. The same rules applied as traditional SNAP, but the children challenged each other to discover and SNAP fractions (including mixed numbers) to the corresponding decimal equivalents! 

It's the best game ever. I am literally shaking with excitement. Isabelle Munford

This game helps to learn more about equivalent fractions. Samanyu Handoo

This game is fun and intense but it helps you with learning. Ranita Ariyibi 

Year 3 Mirror and Match

In PE this week, year 3 have been exploring mirroring and matching each other to music. The children were required to mirror and match actions made by their partner's. Once the actions had been created and refined they put them to music. Below is a video of Adam and Matthew, from Hazel class, who worked extremely well together to create a successful sequence. The reciprocity and effort the boys showed was fantastic. Keep up the hard work boys! 

https://youtu.be/v1u-H0cM_58

Willow will put in their box...

In literacy, year 4 have been focusing on free verse poetry, incorporating the poetic devices: repetition, onomatopoeia, alliteration, similes and personification. Now, Willow have finalised their poem titled 'The Magic Box.' Following on this week, we have capitalised on our learning, collaborating effectively to produce, recite and perform a group version of The Magic Box. The quality of the poems produced was outstanding, the way you worked together was admirable and your delivery of the poems was equally incredible. An absolute pleasure to watch. Keep up the great work Willow!

 

 

Year 3 Star Writers

Our Year 3 children have been working very hard to write their own playscripts. The children have been reading a play called 'A Tune of Lies' and have had a lot of opportunities to act out parts of the play. They then had the chance to write an alternative ending to the play. It was very important that the dialogue between characters was clear and that there were stage directions to show characters' feelings and actions.

Sofia Raif and Ethan Himuyandi wrote brilliant playscripts! What brilliant writers you are! You have ensured that your stage directions are very clear to show your characters' emotions.

Sequoia's Sharing Assembly

Well done to Sequoia class today for sharing some of what they have learnt this term in their class assembly. It can be incredibly nerve wracking standing up in front of such a large room of people to speak, but Sequoia read their lines clearly and with confidence!

Thank you to all of the family members and friends that were able to make it, your continued support is appreciated!

Great job, Sequoia. You should all be very proud of yourselves! 

Instructional Texts in Year 3

This week, Year 3 have started their new non-fiction unit where they have been working towards writing their own set of instructions on how to capture a dragon!

Today, they focussed on the features of instructional texts, particularly on the importance of laying the instructions out clearly so that they are easy for the reader to follow. To demonstrate just how important this is, the children attempted to make a simple dog by folding paper. However, it wasn't as easy as they first thought as their instructions were given to them all at once and were not very clear at all! There was silence across Year 3 with an array of perplexed faces.

"We didn't really have a clue what to do! We thought Miss Rooney must be joking!" Ethan, Sequoia

"There was no way that we were going to be able to make the dog without more help!" Jaydon, Hazel

Thankfully, the Year 3 teachers had the real instructions up their sleeves all along! The children were then able to follow the instructions and make the dog with no problems.

After the children reflected, they realised just how important it is for instructions to be written step-by-step so that they can be followed easily!

"It was so much easier with the clear instructions. There were even diagrams which really helped!" Georgie,  Sequoia 

Resourceful mathematicians in year 3!

Today, the children in Sequoia and Hazel were being particularly resourcing by using their whiteboards to help draw out their fraction problems. They were able to create their own visual aid to ensure they reached the correct answer!

"I found it so much easier when I could draw out the question, I ended up getting all of the, right!" Megan, Sequoia 

"It helped me understand exactly what finding fractions of amounts means. I feel like I understand it a lot better now." Summer-Roae, Hazel 

Great job, year 3! I wonder if you can show everyone at home how to find fractions of amounts!

Year 3 Spellings - w/c: 21.11.16

Below are the Year 3 spellings for this week.

Please remind your children to look, say, cover and then write. By covering and then writing the spellings, the children will memorise and learn them much better :)

Year 4 Spellings Week Commecing 21.11.16

Please find the Y4 spellings lists for week commencing 21.11.16 below.

A	B	C	D
experimental	experimental	experimental
constructive	dipped	plan	just
destructive	chipped	plot	like
collective	clipped	plus	look
tentative	shipped	plug	made
preventative	nipped	plod	make
interrelate	interrelate	interrelate	skid
intercity	intercity	intercity	skill
intermediate	intermediate	intermediate	skull
interstellar	interstellar	interstellar	skip
interim	interim	interim	skin
endangered	endangered	endangered
deforestation	deforestation	deforestation
conservation	conservation	conservation
protected	protected	protected
species	species	species
caffeine	caffeine	caffeine
reaction	reaction	reaction
placebo	placebo	placebo
alertness	alertness	alertness
control	control	control