Yr4 Curriculum Update – 13/12/19

Working together to achieve success for every child

Sharing the Planet and Literacy

Central idea:

Living things survive and thrive in specific ecosystems.

Lines of inquiry:

• Adaptation and ecosystems (form)
• Why living things survive and thrive in specific ecosystems (causation)
• Human impact on ecosystems (responsibility)

All our inquiries are culminating this week with us sharing our research findings.  First, let’s have a look at the process we took in order to be able to get to this point. Our first step was to create a question to identify what we wanted to find out, then we began researching.

“We have been researching a plant or animal adaptation using books and the internet. When researching, it is important to remember to record your information and check the accuracy by looking at different websites.”

Harper 4C

 

When we researched, we needed a way to take notes in order to be able to write our findings in our own words.

“We took notes by using wordweb or Facts/Questions/Response. We did this because we needed to find an easier way to gather information about the animal/ plant ecosystems and adaptations. For wordweb, we wrote down keywords from our research and connected them to make sentences. For FQR, we used facts from our research to help us think of questions and we tried to respond to them by using our inner voice.”

Brita 4C

 

The next step:

“We needed to choose a way to share our learning through Google slides, Google draw, our Learning Journey website or making posters. We needed to write a paragraph about animal/ plant adaptations and their ecosystems. We also needed to add pictures about our animal/plant.”

Jayden 4C

 

We are very excited to be sharing our learning throughout this week with the rest of our class. Of course, reflection is key to our learning, so in preparation for reporting to parents:

“We have carefully chosen learning from this unit to share on our online reporting system.  We needed to choose one of the pieces of learning that is related to this unit and we needed to write about it.  For example, if you chose a photo about Mr Melsom’s talk, you needed to explain what it was about, what you learned and enjoyed.”

Vandita 4C

We look forward to discussing our evidence of learning online, with you at home!

 

Maths

Throughout the last couple of weeks we have inquired into multiplication and division and how they are connected.

Central idea:

The four operations are connected to each other and are used to solve problems.

Lines of inquiry:

• Recognizing what operation is needed to solve a problem (form)
• How various strategies work to solve multiplication and division problems (function)
• How multiplication and division are connected (connection)

We have been busy flipping the learning! Students have been doing the teaching. Did you know that there is more than one way to multiply and divide, other than the column strategy?

“We learned a new strategy to multiply and divide by trying out new strategies that the student teachers taught us. First, we made videos on flipgrid to show our learning. Then, we took turns in class to be student teachers and to learn. I learned how to divide using repeated subtraction.”

Tristan 4C    

Wellbeing

Another opportunity to flip the learning and help us feel a sense of responsibility was during Year 2 PE. It’s amazing what the Year 4’s can do when given the opportunity to lead and be trusted.

Throughout the last couple of weeks, Y4 have been helping Year 2 in their PE lesson.  We needed to divide ourselves into small groups, take charge of different activities and help set up the equipment. Once the Year 2 joined us, they could choose an activity to join in and we had to play with them and make sure they didn’t hurt themselves. We had fun doing PE with the Year 2.

Tanya 4C

By the end of this week all the Year 4s would have visited Tai Po Kau forest for our end of term celebration.  Students were in charge of creating a mindful, wellbeing activity to take part in during their visit. What a wonderful way to end the term and to celebrate all the learning which has been happening so far in Year 4!

KJS Community and Upcoming Events

Students have been asked to bring their library bags everyday to school so that they can safely take their Chromebooks to Mandarin each day. Since they are walking up and down the stairs, having their library bag over their shoulder will ensure that they have their hands free to grab the handrail on the stairs.

 

Reminders

• Please help us in making sure students are given the opportunity to read everyday, either on their own or with someone at home
• Due to severe nut allergies in Y4, please do not send any food with any type of nut. Thank you for helping keep all of our students safe!
• Students are reminded to only use the central staircase in the morning and to wait until 8:15 before coming upstairs to ensure there is supervision in all the classrooms
• Students also need to bring a reusable water bottle every day, labeled clearly with their name

 

Important Dates (From KJS website)

Friday 13 December                                 Last day of term – Half day (finish at 12 pm)

16 December – 3 January                        Term Break

Monday 6 January                                    First day of Term 2

7 – 10 January                                          School Photos

Friday 17 January                                     Chinese New Year Celebration assembly