Feliz Navidad!

What a week to finish our first term together in class 4.  Our space topic was brought to a fantastic end by the launch of the rocket taking Tim Peake to Space.  After weeks of learning about life as an astronaut, researching and watching interviews about Tim Peake's preparations for space and a video conference with the National Space Centre (with an ex Fordham School pupil which we were all very excited about!), we all sat together in the hall watching and counting down to the rocket launch on Tuesday.   This was a moment I guarantee all the children and myself will remember for a long time to come.  

There is nothing like a bit of forward planning and preparation for next year, so already the children have done some research for our next topic.  For our whole school topic on 'The Americas' Class 4 will be studying Mexico.  To start our learning, children have carried out some independent research about Christmas Traditions in Mexico which has also taught them some key facts about the country already, including their favourite fact of the week, how to say Happy Christmas in Spanish- Feliz Navidad!

So on that note, it just remains to wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year and to leave you with some festive pictures from some of the children and staff in school today. 

  

Fractions won't beat Class 4!

Over the past couple of weeks in Class 4, we have been developing our learning about fractions, an area that many of us were finding challenging each week in Big Maths.  We began by revising what fractions are and finding equivalence between different fractions.  We all built a fraction wall to compare the sizes of different fractions.  We had to apply our measuring skills to measure each strip into equal sized pieces.  Some of use even made a 'super-size' fraction wall which is going to be displayed in our classroom to help us all. 

To help us practise, practise and practise equivalent fractions, we enjoyed an outdoor activity which helped us match pairs of equivalent fractions to crack a code.  The Green challenge was to then match the fractions to equivalent decimals which lots of us had a great go at too! 

We then moved on to developing our learning about adding and subtracting fractions.  This was a challenge but lots of games and practice has meant we are getting there.  We have been adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator, as well as applying our knowledge of equivalent fractions to add and subtract those with different denominators. 

I am looking forward to seeing the fraction home learning projects next week, I'm sure I will be amazed once again by the unique ideas and I hope it has helped to further consolidate the understanding of fractions.  Well done Class 4, I am very proud of you all for persevering and completing brilliant maths!