Over the last fortnight, we have continued to show resilience and work hard in Year 4, we are all looking forward to a well deserved rest over the half term! 

In Maths over the last fortnight,we have been learning about subtraction and using the column method. Subtraction is a mathematical operation that involves taking away one number from another. The column method is a way of subtracting two numbers by lining them up in columns and subtracting each column from the bottom up.We have been practising using the column method to subtract two-digit , three-digit numbers and even four - digit numbers. We have also been working on solving word problems that involve subtraction. We encourage you to practice using the column method at home with your child. This will help them to master this important maths skill.

As part of our English lessons, we have been learning about the past perfect tense as well as the use of  in directed speech, and writing an article based on a God a local archaeologist has discovered. Directed speech is a way of reporting what someone said. When we use directed speech, we use quotation marks to indicate the speaker's words. We also need to change the verb tense to reflect the time of the speaking. Firstly, the children researched a God from a variety of God's. The children then created a God of their choosing, using physical features, attitudes and roles to support their descriptions when it comes to writing a newspaper report. 

During our Art lessons, we learned about the poem "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll. This poem is full of strange and wonderful creatures, so we decided to draw images to represent the different stanzas. In the first stanza, we drew the Jabberwock itself, a fearsome creature with flashing eyes and jaws that bite. In the second stanza, we drew the Tumtum tree, its branches twisted and gnarled. In the third stanza, we drew the Bandersnatch, a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a bird of prey. In the fourth stanza, we drew the Jubjub bird, a creature with a beak like a pair of scissors and feathers like a rusty knife. The children had a lot of fun drawing these creatures, and they were very creative in their interpretations. They proceeded to create an accordion book, where they recreated such images, they truly worked hard on these beautiful books and were resilient when they found certain creatures a challenge to draw. 

As part of our History and Georgraphy topic, we learned about what the Romans brought to Great Britain. We learned that the Romans invaded Britain in AD 43 and ruled it for over 400 years. During that time, they introduced many new things to Britain, including:

• Roads and bridges: The Romans built a vast network of roads and bridges across Britain, which helped to connect different parts of the country and made it easier for people and goods to travel.

• Cities and towns: The Romans founded many new cities and towns in Britain, including London, York, and Chester. These cities and towns became centers of trade and culture.

• Baths and aqueducts: The Romans built public baths and aqueducts to bring fresh water to their cities and towns.

• Farming and trade: The Romans introduced new farming techniques and crops to Britain. They also encouraged trade between Britain and other parts of the Roman Empire.

The Romans had a profound impact on Britain, and their legacy can still be seen today. Many of the roads and bridges that they built are still in use today, and many of the cities and towns that they founded are still thriving.To share what they learned, the children created a Flipgrid video (some children had technical difficulties and showed perseverance and team work, by working with others to create videos and assist with the issues.) In their videos, the children talked about the different things that the Romans brought to Britain and why they are important.

Throughout our Science lessons, we completed experiments to see if items were insulators and conductors. The children learnt, an insulator is a material that does not allow electricity to flow through it easily. They also learnt, a conductor is a material that allows electricity to flow through it easily.We used a simple circuit to test the items. The circuit consisted of a battery, a light bulb, and two wires. We connected one wire to the battery and the other wire to the light bulb. Then, we placed the item that we were testing between the two wires. If the light bulb turned on, the item was a conductor. If the light bulb did not turn on, the item was an insulator.We tested a variety of items, including metal, plastic, wood, and glass. We found that metals are good conductors of electricity, while plastic, wood, and glass are good insulators.The children enjoyed doing the experiments, and they learned a lot about conductors and insulators.

The children thoroughly enjoyed children Stephen Mulhern's event at Wimbledon Bookfest this week.Stephen Mulhern is a British television presenter, magician, and comedian. He is known for his work on shows such as "Catchphrase", "Saturday Night Takeaway", and "Britain's Got Talent".Stephen's event at Wimbledon Bookfest was a mix of magic, comedy, and storytelling. He told the children stories about his life and career, and he performed some of his signature magic tricks.The children were amazed by Stephen's magic tricks, and they laughed along to his jokes. They had a lot of fun, and they learned a lot about Stephen Mulhern and the world of magic.The children were amazed to learn that inside each of 'Max Magics' book, there is a secret message that will portray a life skill that is highlighted inside the story which he has written. When we look across our classrooms, we are delighted to see that many of the students have already begun reading their new books, given to them by Stephen Mulhern. 

Thank you for your continued support and as always if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. 

The Year 4 team. 

The children in Year 4, creating circuits to see if their items are electrical insulators or conductors. 

Wimbledon Bookfest with Stephen Mulhern.