Year 4 Celebration 

Newsletter

We are thrilled to share with you all of the hard work and dedication that our grade 3/4 students have completed this term. 

Reading

In our reading block we have continued to explore a range of rich mentor texts. Two of our favourites this term have been ‘The Red Tree’ by Shaun Tan; and ‘We Are All Born Free’, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures. These books have allowed us to activate our prior knowledge, synthesise and determine importance.

To celebrate Book Week, our students dressed up as their favourite book characters. It was a joyful and imaginative event, with the children excitedly sharing their chosen characters and discussing their favourite stories. The enthusiasm for reading and literature was catching, and it was wonderful to see the kids engage so creatively with their favourite books.

Writing

In writing, we've been exploring the genres of poetry and historical fiction. We explored the basics of rhyme, rhythm, and imagery. We wrote several different styles including haiku, cinquain, shape poems and limericks. The students used poetry techniques such as onomatopoeia, personification and hyperbole. 

Mathematics

Students explored various strategies for solving multiplication and division problems, including using arrays, area models, and the distributive property. They engaged in hands-on activities, collaborative learning, and real-world problem-solving to make these concepts more relatable and enjoyable.

Key Objectives of the Unit included:

• Develop a strong understanding of multiplication and division concepts.
• Increase fluency with basic multiplication and division facts.
• Solve word problems involving multiplication and division.
• Recognize the relationship between multiplication and division.

Wellbeing

This term in our Wellbeing program, students have been focusing on the concept of gratitude. As part of this unit, they explored the importance of recognising and appreciating the positive aspects of their lives, no matter how big or small. To make this more interactive, the class created a "Gratitude Wall" in the classroom, where each student contributed by writing or drawing things they are grateful for. This activity encouraged self-reflection and helped foster a positive atmosphere in the classroom.

Art Show

We had a fantastic opportunity to showcase our artistic talents at the Art Show. The students’ creativity and effort were on full display, and they were incredibly proud to present their work. The art pieces were vibrant and full of imagination, reflecting the hard work and dedication of our young artists.

Inquiry

This term, our students engaged in an exciting project to deepen their understanding of sustainability. Through hands-on learning, they designed and created a model of a sustainable Olympic village. This project allowed them to explore various aspects of environmental responsibility, such as energy efficiency, renewable resources, waste management, and eco-friendly transportation. By thinking critically about how to integrate sustainable practices into the infrastructure of a global event, they demonstrated a strong grasp of how communities can thrive while minimising their environmental impact. We are proud of their creativity and commitment to building a greener future!

PERFORMING ARTS:

This term in Performing Arts, Grade Four students worked in teams to explore narrative structure and character using the dramatic conventions of ‘Tableaux’ and ‘Mime’. These forms of Drama use no words, which encouraged students to employ facial expressions and body language to tell their stories.  They enjoyed working in groups to explore concepts of status and empathy and built upon critical thinking skills when giving and receiving feedback with each other.

VISUAL ARTS

This term, students experienced how to celebrate the world of Visual Arts at our Art Show!  They shared the excitement of presenting their work with family and the community, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment. Throughout the term, Year 4 students learned to express their ideas and emotions through various artistic mediums, developing their personal voice and style. They continued to develop their creative expression, learning to demonstrate their ideas and emotions through various artistic mediums, developing their personal voice and style.

The art show was a tremendous success, highlighting our students' creativity and talent. The diverse range of artworks captivated the audience, and the enthusiastic support from families and the community made the event truly memorable. The show not only celebrated our students' artistic achievements but also strengthened appreciation for the arts within our school.

JAPANESE

This term in Japanese, the Grade 3 and 4 students developed their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills through a unit on the theme of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Students developed their vocabulary of 13 sports and 10 countries in Japanese. Students also continued to learn new hiragana and consolidate previously learned hiragana, to support their reading and writing in Japanese. Students learned about tanabata (Star Festival) which is celebrated in July in Japan.

PE 

In Grade 4 PE classes, students continued to develop their fundamental movement skills while exploring more challenging games and sports. They refined their techniques and strategies, focusing on fair play and teamwork. Students refined their skills while playing sports like badminton and volleyball.