Year Four Team News

Hello Year Four families,

Fortnightly Curriculum Focus

Literacy: In Writing, students have learned to critique a variety of different types of media and texts including music, books and short videos. Students have been asked to share their opinions and explain why they have this thought, allowing themselves to see differing perspectives and opinions. Students will start developing plans for our upcoming stop motion task which will be incorporated into our Writing and Reading unit. In Reading, Year 4 students are continuing to develop different techniques to comprehend texts. These techniques involve visualising, understanding the choice of specific vocabulary is crucial to understand what and where events are taking place in a text. Students are continuing with our summarising strategy as well as extending their skills to grasping cause and effect. Students have concluded the text Storm Boy written by Colin Thiele. Students have reflected on this text, developing a greater understanding of a variety of characters and how the cause and effect of certain themes in the text impacts others. Students will start a new class novel, ‘The One and Only Ivan’ written by Katherine Applegate.

Numeracy: In Numeracy, Year 4 students are diving into Mass. Learning about the different ways we measure weight and how to represent the weight of different objects using grams and kilos. Students are learning topic related vocabulary and the differences between the formulas for these concepts. Students are using a variety of objects with measurement scales and balancing scales to further understand. They are also using online programs such as Essential Assessment to reinforce skills and target specific individual goals. 

Inquiry: Students are continuing to extend their understanding of ‘Space’ by looking at the Moon and its phases. Students have researched the difference between Waxing and Waning. Students have also made and used a Moon phase chart to identify the different phases, what symbolises a New Moon, why this occurs and the cycle. Students will continue this unit, looking at different space missions in the coming weeks.

Willy Kids: Our fortnightly focus has been: "Willy Kids are Honest." Students this fortnight have reflected on what honest means and different ways they can be honest and why this is important. Students have reflected on times they were honest and what outcome this led to. Students moving forward are looking at how being honest can occur in their learning.

Respectful Relationships: This term we are learning about stress management. We have focused on the following subtopics

• What is stress?
• Self calming and control techniques
• Calming and coping
• Relaxation techniques

Your child may come home with questions regarding this content. 

AFL Wheelchair ClinicStudents in Week 5 got to take part in an AFL Wheelchair Clinic. Students got placed into teams within their classes and used wheelchairs, played AFL. Students got to practising hand balling techniques as ‘kicks’ and learnt how athletes can participate in sports just in a different way. Enjoy the photos below

Reminders:

• Please bring devices to school everyday, fully charged.
• Please bring a Sunsmart hat and sunscreen as the weather is becoming warmer.

Please note, each Friday, grade 4 students will participate in a transition session

Warm regards,

The Grade Four Team - Matt Eason-Jones (4E), Rebecca Givogue & Toni Lind (4G), Brittlee Salvo (4S)