Grade 4

Math

This week in Maths, we began exploring decimals to two decimal places. The students were introduced to both standard and non-standard expansion of numbers, which helped them see how decimals can be broken down into parts. For example, we looked at how 4.56 can be written as 4 + 0.5 + 0.06 (standard) or in different combinations such as 3 + 1 + 0.5 + 0.06 (non-standard). This built on our earlier place value knowledge and gave students the chance to think about numbers in flexible ways.

To make decimals meaningful and relevant, we tied this learning to money maths. Using dollars and cents helped students recognise that decimals are not just numbers on a page but are part of real-world problem solving. We practised converting between dollars and cents, adding and subtracting money amounts, and solving small shopping-style problems. For example, students worked out if they had enough money to buy certain items or how much change they would receive.

Overall, the focus was on building confidence with decimals and understanding their importance in everyday life. Students enjoyed linking their mathematical knowledge to practical, real situations that they will continue to use beyond the classroom.

Literacy

In Literacy this week, we finalised our reading of Fox by Margaret Wild. The students have really enjoyed exploring the story’s rich themes and powerful illustrations. To deepen their understanding, they took part in a range of literacy activities, including discussions about the characters, identifying key ideas, and reflecting on the messages in the text. These activities encouraged the students to think critically and to share their own perspectives with their classmates.

Alongside this, students continued developing their writing skills by working on the next paragraph of their information reports on foxes. This task allowed them to practise turning notes into well-structured sentences and paragraphs, while also learning to include key details and factual information. Their writing is beginning to show greater organisation and use of topic sentences, which is an exciting step forward. We are looking forward to seeing the finished reports in the next weeks.