The Science of Sound

Year 4 have been studying Sound this half term. We have learned how all sound comes from sound sources and vibrations and how it travels through the air as sound waves. 

To investigate how this works in real life we have used a number of musical instruments to study how the frequency of vibrations changes its pitch.

We also did a really enjoyable experiment on how sound travels. For this we made our very own telephones using string and paper cups. All the kids loved checking whether they could whisper to their friends down the corridor or even in different rooms!  Its was a really successful and fun experiment!

Also: Please don't forget our combined science and CCS homework is due on October 7th

Parent's week in Year 4

This week is Parent's Week for the whole school and Year 4 were very happy to welcome parents into our classrooms to give them an opportunity to see how we learn. A number of parents joined in our  classes as well as other activities during the week giving them an important chance to be a part of their child's learning. 

Children really enjoy it when they feel there is an interest in their learning and we would encourage all parents to take an active part in their children's school life. This can be through visits to the school on days like Parent's Week but more importantly  it can be shown through reading with your children at home on a regular basis, asking them how they are getting on in class and keeping up to date with their friends and interests.

Times Tables for Maths Success

As we begin Year 4 and step up a level to Key Stage 2 Maths (Years 4, 5, 6) the importance of all students knowing their times tables to a level where they can quickly and accurately recall answers grows.

Times tables can be used across many areas of maths. While their most obvious benefit is in multiplication and division problems, a less obvious benefit is that they can hugely increase a child's confidence when working with numbers. This is true for both high achievers and those students who find maths more challenging. 

To help and encourage students to practice their times tables on a daily basis we will be using the Times Tables Rockstars program. This is a fun and exciting way for students to learn their tables. Specific tables can be assigned for individual students to learn making it a very targeted learning program. Classes can also compete with each other in "battles" further increasing the fun for the students. All students, no matter their level, are included in these battles.

We hope that this constant practice of time tables is going to have a very positive effect in our maths class this year and also going forward for the students as they move up through the school.  Ask your child about their chosen Rock Star name and who they are currently "battling" at school as a nice way to encourage them and keep in touch with their maths learning at school. You could also ask them some short questions or get them to recite a particular table.  (Also please remember if a student does not have access to TT Rockstar they can practice their times tables themselves on paper or a whiteboard).

Positive Vibrations in Year 4

This term in science we are learning all about sound; where is comes from; how it can be loud or quiet; how pitch is changed and how we hear. For the start of this series of lesson we have been learning about vibrations and how all sound comes from these rapid movements. Year 4 have been looking at different musical instruments and studying how they vibrate in different ways. We have also done a tour of the school to conduct a sound survey.  For this we located and identified different sources of sound around the school and discussed what was vibrating to create the sound we could hear.