Year 4

ACADEMIC YEAR 2016-2017

DT Challenge!

On Friday 30^th January, we had a whole morning DT challenge linked to our topic. We have been learning about the different functions of the skeleton and were focussing on how the skull protects the brain. We decided that good protection involves minimal movement, a shape which matches the object and some kind of padding or cushioning. Our challenge was to design and make a protective piece of packaging that would protect a chocolate teacake when dropped from a height! All of the groups’ teacakes successfully survived a drop of one metre, so we decided to test them more thoroughly by dropping them from the top of the outside stairs! The bigger designs worked the best because they landed gently and ensured the teacake was secured in place inside the box to minimise movement.

Autumn Term

We had a great Autumn term in Year 4 studying Horrible Histories! We started by looking at the Romans and made our own mosaics and Celtic clay pots. We then moved on to learning about the Anglo Saxons and made our own replica village, complete with animals, water sources and hills and fences for protection!

We finished our topic with a trip to the Beck Theatre to see the Barmy Britain show which took us on a whistle-stop tour of Britain through the ages and even had some 3D special effects!

Amazon Adventures!

On Friday 2^nd May, we all came to school dressed as intrepid explorers, ready to launch our new Amazon Adventures topic!

We started the day with Mr Butler teaching us how to tie different knots. We then put this knowledge to good use by building shelters in the woods using ropes, tarpaulin and anything else we could find!

Next we took part in some Bush Tucker trials! There were opportunities to earn points for good teamwork so we made sure we worked well together. The first activity tested our bravery and involved looking for objects and bugs in a bowlful of a mystery substance (jelly!)

As we were explorers, we thought about how we might get water to our campsite in the Rainforest. We worked as teams to get as much water as we could from our water source back to our base. We had to be careful to make sure we didn’t spill any!

The final trial involved finding our way around the Rainforest. We followed an orienteering course around the field, dodging obstacles such as a swamp, fallen branches, trees and a rogue jaguar!

The day ended with a safari challenge on the playground where we had to spot as many Rainforest animals as we could, learning facts about them on the way.

The team with the most points at the end of the day for excellent teamwork were; Serena, Pip, Dillon, Yoku and Jassin! Well done to all of Year 4 for getting totally stuck in!

Eco-Electrical fun!

As part of our Science learning on Electricity, we decided we wanted to find out more about renewable energy sources. We learnt how a wind turbine works and talked about where we would find them.

We worked in pairs to have a go at making our own wind turbines! There was a wide range of designs and some of us showed how successful our models were by using them to lift plastic cups with 1p coins in. 

Creative curriculum

Last week we put our learning on Electricity and Roald Dahl to the test!

We combined our knowledge on Roald Dahl with our understanding of electrical circuits to make a working Quiz Board.

First, we decided on some questions. We had to make sure we mixed up the answers so it wasn't easy to match them!

Then we used wire, wire cutters and split pins to wire up our circuits to match the right question with the right answer.

To finish our learning on Solids and Liquids, Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes, and 3d shapes and nets, we had a whole day of making our own chocolates and boxes!

 We worked in pairs to make a Revolting Recipe for our chocolates - ideas included raisins as squashed flies, strawberry laces as worms and Rice Krispies in Mr Twit's beard!

 We melted the chocolate and added different ingredients, then poured it into different shaped moulds and waited for it to solidify.

 We also produced packaging for our chocolates using our knowledge on 3d shape nets.

 Teamwork was a vital element of the day and we were fantastic at talking nicely to each other to solve problems peacefully.

 Eating the chocolates was a great end to a fantastic 

Monk's Walk Science Visit

On Tuesday 28^th January, we were lucky enough to be able to go to Monk’s Walk School to have a Science lesson in one of their labs!

As our current topic is Solids and Liquids, we were set the challenge to filter some dirty water through pebbles, sand and moss to make it clean. We had to try it quite a few times as it got clearer each time we poured it through. The teacher was impressed at how successful we were!

The session ended with some exciting demonstrations. We saw ice melt into water, which then evaporated into water vapour – it was heated with a Bunsen burner! We also saw how iodine turns straight from a solid to a purple gas without bothering to turn into a liquid! The best bit was when we had to hold a chocolate button on our tongues and feel it melt – it was difficult not to just eat it! 

• Responsibility
• A good sense of humour
• Being a helping hand
• Being there for each other
• Hard work

A Cracking Day in Year 4!

In Science, we have been learning all about forces. On Thursday 5th December, we spent the whole day making parachutes to learn more about Air Resistance. Our challenge was to get a boiled egg to the floor without it cracking! We discussed lots of approaches to our investigation and decided that we wanted to find out which was the best material to use for a parachute. To make it a fair test, we all made our parachutes to the same size and could choose a material from paper, bin liners, dishcloths and cellophane.

Once our parachutes were made, we tested them by dropping them off the outside stairs and seeing how damaged the eggs were once they reached the floor. We were up against very windy conditions and some were more successful than others! One egg made it to the ground completely in tact. Well done to all of Year 4 for their hard work and scientific approach! 

On Thursday 28th November, Year 4 were transported back to Tudor times on their school trip to Hatfield House. 

We started the day by listening to a Minstrel play music to us and tell us all about the upcoming visit from Henry VIII. Lady Brian also came to speak to us and told us she was worried about the future as she might be asked to leave her job where she looks after Henry VIII's children.

We then prepared to go into the hall to see Henry VIII. We entertained him by singing (we had been practising our song at school!) and also gave him water to wash his hands, bread to eat and mead to drink.

Next, a soldier told us all about the longbow which was a successful Tudor weapon and we learned all about the different battles from Tudor times.

We then had a tour of the gardens and saw a very old Oak tree where Henry's daughter Elizabeth was sitting when she learned she would be Queen! 

Finally, we were lucky enough to be able to watch some people playing a game of Tudor tennis which was indoors and very different to today's game.

The day finished with a picnic lunch and a play in the miniature Hatfield House adventure playground. 

Tudor Times

On Thursday 14th November, Year 4 took a step back in time to live life as Tudors. It was the perfect way to launch the second part of our Horrible Histories topic!

We started the day by playing Tudor children's games such as Nine Men's Morris, Fivestones, Hopscotch, Quoits and Hoop and Stick. We thought it was a great way to have fun with such simple objects!

Next, we prepared for our banquet by making our own marzipan fruits, which Tudors would have used to show off their wealth. We then turned into Henry VIII's royal portrait painters and made sure he had a picture to hang in the gallery!

To celebrate the crowning of the new King, we learned some Tudor dances called Farandoles which was lots of fun. We then ended the day with a delicious banquet in King Henry VIII's honour. 

Creative Curriculum Launch day

Year 4 had a fantastic day launching the first part of their Horrible Histories topic....The Rotten Romans!

We started the day by dressing up in Roman togas and wreath headdresses to look rich and important. We then moved on to planning our banquet and made authentic Roman honey cakes to be served for our dessert course.

Next, we transformed ourselves into Roman soldiers by putting on our own armour and helmets and practised using our shields in different defense formations. The most effective was the Tortoise Formation which we reenacted out on the playground!

We ended the day with a Roman banquet which we had planned to look as authentic as possible, consisting of our own versions of Jellyfish Eggs, Stuffed Dormice, Honey Cakes and Wine!