Horrible Histories - Martin Brown visits

Primaries 4 - 7 were incredibly lucky today to have a visit from Martin Brown, the illustrator of the Horrible Histories books.  He spoke to us about the process he goes through to complete his drawings and also gave us some tips to use for our own drawing which were very helpful.  Martin was a really nice person and signed books for anyone who wanted him to, and he took the time to have a chat with us as he did this, even though he was late for his next visit!

If anyone has any tips or comments, please add them below!

Slideshow - Martin Brown

Skara Brae

Primary 4 had a day out on Monday this week when we went to visit Skara Brae.  The morning was lovely - we had bright sunshine and it wasn't too cold.  We split into two groups - each group went on a walk to the village and watched the video in the Visitors Centre, while the other group got some hands on experience with Tony.  Unfortunately at lunch time it became a little wetter and the rain came!  Never mind, we were tough and went to the Ring of Brodgar with the Ranger, Elaine, and played some games.

Even when it was wet and windy everyone had a good time and Ms Rendall hopes they will remember the trip with happy memories!

Slideshow - Skara Brae

Number processes

This looks like a really fun website for testing your number knowledge.  Use the menus on the left - Number problems, word problems, number bond pairs and balloons - and then use the menu on the right to choose whether you want to do the activities against a timer or not!  (there are also tabs along the top for some of the activities to change from addition / subtraction / multiplication etc)

Have fun exploring this fun website - Ms Rendall has had fun!!!

Conker maths

Chitty Chitty - again!

Here is a video taken at our dress rehearsal this morning - the music is a little faster than what you would have heard during the show itself but we wanted to share this with you!  Ms Rendall is very proud of how well Primary 4 learned the words (they were VERY tricky, especially at this speed) and how well they sang out.  If only they had remembered to smile - they all looked so serious!

 

Video - Chitty Chitty

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

Well, after all our rehearsals and practise the show is now over - and Primary 4 did fantastically (as did Primaries 5, 6 and 7!).  Here are some photos we took after the show - as you will see, we were a little excited so there are a lot of different poses!

 

Slideshow - Chitty Chitty

 

 

Well done Primary 4!

 

 

Addition and subtraction (including multiples of 10)

Here are two websites which will help you with your numbers bonds.  If you look at Level 3 you will also find a game which will help you with adding multiples of 10! 

 

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fruitshoot/fruitshoot_addition.htm

 

 

 

This page gives you the same games but this time you are taking away!

 

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fruitshoot/fruitshoot_subtraction.htm

WEBSITES - Telling the time!

Given we have been learning to tell the time earlier this term, Ms Rendall thought it would be helpful to put up some websites which may be good to help you with this:

 

http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm

 

http://www.maths-games.org/time-games.html

 

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/interactive.aspx?cat=17

 

http://www.teachingtime.co.uk/

 

http://www.primarygames.com/time/start.htm

 

WEBSITES - Money, money, money!

Primary 4 are learning about money this week, and also about calculating how much change they should get when paying for something.   Here are some websites that may help you with this tricky skill:

 

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/interactive.aspx?cat=15

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/game/ma09subt-game-change-no-timer

 

http://www.ictgames.com/moneyPage.htm

 

http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures/money.html

 

http://www.mathsisfun.com/money/money-master.html

 (please remember to choose the currency "pound" when you start the games on this website or it will be very confusing!)

 

 

Please let Ms Rendall know what you think of the games, and if you think it is helpful to have them on the main blog page like this.  If you find that this is more useful Ms Rendall could add a blog with links for each different topic we are learning.  Thank you!

Constellations

As part of our project before the holidays we were learning about constellations and what these were.  We worked in small groups to research constellations and we then made posters to show what we had learned.  Please take a look at the posters we made in the slideshow below.

 

 

Slideshow - Constellation posters

 

Primary 4 - if you have anything you would like to add please do so by  making a comment!

 

Circuits

 

As part our project this term we have been learning about electricity and where this comes from.  We have been investigating circuits and how to make these, using wires, batteries and some light bulbs.  We also figured out how to put a switch into the circuit, using a paperclip.

                              

 

           

 

Primary 4 - if you would like to let us know about anything you learned while doing this please leave a comment!

 

Sumdog

Hi!  This is a message for Primary 4 to let them know about a new webpage that has been set up for them to access.  It is called Sumdog and is a great way to practice your Maths skills!  The web address is:

 

http://www.sumdog.co.uk

 

Your user name, password and school code should be stuck in your homework diary.

 

Please don't forget about Studyladder and Skoolbo as they are great for helping with your learning too!

Scrap Pod opening

It was a very exciting day in school yesterday, when the Scrap Pod was officially opened.  It was lovely to have Mrs Holt back to cut the ribbon as we haven't seen her since she retired.  We then had a fantastic break time using all the new things from the Scrap Pod.  Please have a look at our photos by clicking on the link below.

 

 

Slideshow - Scrap Pod opening

 

If you have an exciting adventure or story from using the Scrap Pod please let us know by writing in the comments - you don't have to be from Primary 4 to do this, but please make sure to add your name and class to the comment!

 

Handwork

We are very lucky in St Andrews that we get the chance to learn to sew, knit and crochet.  Although this is tricky, it is something we all enjoy.  Here are some photos of us in action!

 

 

Slideshow - Handwork

 

We are only able to do handwork every week because of all the people who kindly come in from the community to do help us with this, so we would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who gives up their time to help us.  If you would like to help please feel free to join us on Thursday afternoons as we can never have too many helpers!

 

Christmas craft

These photos are being added on here a little late, but we have all these lovely pictures of us making Christmas crafts before the holidays, so it seems a shame not to share them!

 

 

Slideshow - Christmas crafts

Maths games

We have been learning our times tables in Primary 4 this term.  We were given a challenge to design our own game to help us learn our times tables.  It was fun but a little tricky!  When we had finished making our game we then all got to play each other's games.  We had to leave feedback about what we thought was good about the game and what could be done better next time - and we will make changes to our games and try playing them again.  We will let you know how they work once we have made our improvements!

Slideshow - Our Maths games

Fiddlers!

Douglas has been teaching a number of children in our class how to play the fiddle.  We were all very excited last week when we got a sneak preview of what they were going to play at the Christmas concert - but we weren't allowed to put it up here until after the show so we didn't spoil the surprise!

 

 

Unfortunately we can't add the second video to the blog page as it is too big, but you can see it by clicking on the link below:

 

 Hot Cross Buns video

Christmas Assembly

It was Primary 4's Assembly on the last Friday of November so we decided to have a Christmas theme given it would be December by Monday. 

 

We were talking about Christmas not being about getting presents and that there are children around the world who will not have any presents under their Christmas tree this year (or maybe they won't even have a Christmas tree).

 

We want everyone to be grateful for what they have and not to be unhappy if they do not get everything they have asked for at Christmas as there are many children who do not have anything at all.

 

 

Slideshow - Christmas Assembly

Measurement skills

As part of our learning in Maths we have been looking at measurement and the different ways we can do this.  We have looked at measuring weight, length and area so far.

 

 

These photos show us using balances to measure weight - we were trying to find objects in the classroom that were the same weight as the weights we had.  It was fun but quite tricky to find things that made the scales balance.

Maybe Primary 4 will add some comments to tell you a bit more about this!

Rugby

We have had a lot of fun this term improving our tag rugby skills.  We were out in all weathers - even when it was pouring with rain - Ms Rendall wasn't always very fond of the smell in the classroom afterwards!

 

Please click on the link below and have a look at some photos that were taken when we were practising.

 

 

Slideshow - Rugby

Can anyone explain some of the important rules and tactics in tag rugby?  Please leave a comment if you can!

First Assembly of Primary 4

We had our first Assembly two weeks ago (sorry for the delay in getting some pictures up!), where we were thinking about heroes and what it is that makes someone a hero.  When we think of heroes we often think of people having qualities such as being strong, brave, famous or rich - however this is not what we believe makes someone a hero (we also don't believe you need to wear your pants over your trousers!).

 

We think that EVERYONE can be a hero if they want to be.  We can all be heroes by doing small things for the people around us.  Here are some ideas for how we can all become heroes:

sharing with others
helping others
being kind
standing up for something we think is important
trying to make the world a better place

If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please send us a comment and we will share your ideas too.

 

 

Slideshow - Assembly