In our English lesson, we recapped the features of a letter. We imagined ourselves as scientist that have completed research on Volcanoes and are writing a letter back to head office to report on our findings.
We worked together as a class to draft write the opening of the letter.
Can you spot the sentence you shared?
We look forward to completing the letter in our next lesson.
This afternoon, the Robins in year 4 participated in a workshop with the award winning author Sophie Anderson.
Today is the launch of her fourth book ‘The Thief Who Sang Songs.’
Sophie introduced herself and her new book, along with the inspiration for the story.
She showed us the map of the world the book is set in – Morovia.
Then, our task was to design our own world based on the same map shape.
Sophie answered some of our questions.
How did you become an author?
At first Sophie was a Geologist, then she was a science teacher. At 30, she became a mum and started thinking about her grandmother’s stories. Initially she wrote the stories for her children and then began to write the stories, it took 10 years of writing and researching before being published at age 40.
What is the process of writing?
Sophie said, some writers plan their writing, she likes to write a loose plan. Then she works on trial and error, working on a first draft, which may not be great but it is a start. She adds in chapters, work on characters and progresses onto writing a third draft. In the fourth draft, she checks spellings and punctuation. This whole process might take up to 2 years.
Which is your favourite book you have written?
Sophie said she loves all of her books for different reasons. The first book (The House with Chicken Legs) has the theme of grief, it helped Sophie work through some grief. Her second book (The Girl Who Speaks Bear) is mystical, she loves her third book (The Castle of Tangled Magic) as it is magical and about castles and her fourth book (The Thief Who Sings Songs) is about being kind.
What is your favourite genre and how much do you read?
Sophie said she reads about 50 pages a day but when she’s writing, she does struggle to read. So then she tends to read non-fiction and nature books. When she’s not writing she likes reading fantasy and nature.
Do your children enjoy your books?
Sophie has 4 children, the two younger children are too young for her books, but her two older children like reading her books and drawing characters and maps for Sophie’s books.
Have you inspired your children to write?
They all like to write, they are naturally creative and natural story tellers – like all children.
How are your books linked together?
Sophie said, my books are not a series and you don’t have to read them in any order but they are links between them all, either in the people they met, places they visits or the themes.
Are you working on a fifth book?
Sophie said she is currently on a first draft, so it might take 2 years to write. She is playing with ideas and shaping a story after having a break after writing her most recent book.
Are you books movies?
No deal, yet! Watch this space. There is a play adaptation of The House With Chicken Legs in Manchester at the moment.
Sophie’s website is Books – Sophie Anderson (sophieandersonauthor.com)
Today in English we explored our new class reader. We questioned the text and made a prediction.
We then read the text and reviewed the vocabulary. Can you remember learning about Volcanoes last term?
Finally we all got to explore more of the book.
What facts can you remember?
Over this half term Robins have been through the D&T Development Process.
Today, Robins developed their D&T Cookery Skill and then evaluated what they had made.
Below is a summary of the skills everyone has developed.
To make the flatbread they followed the main instructions and then finally tailored it to meet the needs of their flatbread.
Take a look at Robins in action below! (Well done to those of you who helped wash up!)
In the afternoon, we also enjoyed tasting and evaluating.
In the past couple of lessons, Year 4 Robins have been attempting to create an Etch a Sketch game. They were shown how to program their chosen sprites to use the pen up and down blocks.
Click here to have a go at the Etch a sketch games!!
In science this week the children have been learning about diluting and dissolving.
Dissolving is a process in which a substance known as the ‘solute’ (e.g sugar) dissolves in another substance known as the ‘solvent’ (e.g water). The solute is completely broken down from larger molecules into smaller molecules after contact with the solvent.
We tested out whether a solid was soluble or insoluble by mixing it with water. Soluble solids included sugar and coffee granules. Insoluble solids included a ruler and scissors!
For diluting, we carried out an experiment to investigate how adding water affects the taste of squash.
This week we completed our school orienteering course. We needed to be able to read the maps correctly in order to find each marker and record the correct code. The markers were placed in lots of places throughout the school grounds. We were aiming to achieve the highest score in the shortest time.
Today the children had great fun recapping Boudicca’s revolt and analysed her life from her point of view. Was the significant events that happened positive or negative?
Extension: click here to review more about Boudicca and the Roman Invasion.
Robins are now confident to both sing and play, “lean on me”
Look at them progressing below!
Friday afternoon Robins played the Spelling Bee Championship.
We also gave out certificates for top Maths Shed, Spelling Shed and TT-Rockstars.
P.S Don’t we look good for Red Nose Day!?
