Term 4 2017
Wow! Term 4 is upon us and we have an action packed 9 weeks in store here in the Middle School. Please see our learning goals for the term and the expectations for prep below.
Unit of Inquiry - The Future Planet
We Are Learning About: How our use of the planet's resources can influence its future. Some key areas will be;
The Mission: We are going to have a Middle School Science Fair in Week 8
We are going to be working hard to find an area that really interests us, that is going to help teach other people about one of the bullet points above.
We are going to use our research skills to make a presentation/display
It can also have an experiment or model of our topic area.
Some examples could be:
Wow! Term 4 is upon us and we have an action packed 9 weeks in store here in the Middle School. Please see our learning goals for the term and the expectations for prep below.
Unit of Inquiry - The Future Planet
We Are Learning About: How our use of the planet's resources can influence its future. Some key areas will be;
- Resource management finite vs infinite resources
- Recycling and up-cycling
- The environment and how it has changed/is changing
- What can we do?
- What is being done around the world to combat climate change
The Mission: We are going to have a Middle School Science Fair in Week 8
We are going to be working hard to find an area that really interests us, that is going to help teach other people about one of the bullet points above.
We are going to use our research skills to make a presentation/display
It can also have an experiment or model of our topic area.
Some examples could be:
- How to re-purpose throw away items
- How to look after our soil
- How will rising temperatures change the way we live?
- What could our future look like?
Maths: This term we are going to be focusing on Number Knowledge and Algebra. This will include proportions and Ratios and solving word problems.
Writing: WALT: Write to Persuade
We will be looking at how to shape our writing to send a clear message to our audience. To do this we will need the following.
Reading: We will be reading a variety of texts that can support our Inquiry and our Writing focus. We will be learning to use reading strategies such as key word and phrase identification, inferring, skimming and scanning and engaging prior knowledge.
Science : The weather and climate change
Precipitation (Rain), Hurricanes, tornadoes, thunder storms, snow and hail.
HOMEWORK
T4Maths - A minimum of 45 minutes on Mathwhizz each week! Make sure you are changing between the Tutor mode and the Replay mode.
Reading - 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice. Here are some suggestions.
If you are really stuck then here are some websites that have some great reading material for you boys. Just click on the links.
http://www.kidsworldfun.com/ebook-the-lost-egg.php
https://freekidsbooks.org/
http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/
Term 3 2017
Here we go boys! We are into Term 3 and you are half way through your time in Year 4. Amazing to see you all looking so confident in the middle school and I know that you will continue to build upon this!
We have some exciting learning experiences planned for you this term and the main learning goals are written below.
Unit of Inquiry: We are learning about how the way we approach Conflict influences the outcome.
To do this we will be:
Looking at personal experiences
Examples in the Community 
Examples around the world
Maths: Number Knowledge - Multiplication and Division
WALT: Use strategy to solve problems.
- Practise of family of facts up to 12 times tables
- Use place value partitioning
- Rounding and compensating
Writing: WALT: write to entertain
Features of this included
- Hook at the beginning to grasp your audiences attention
- Strong word choice
- May include dialogue
- Uses the senses to describe
- Language features such as similes and metaphors
- An end to remember, a twist, a climax or cliff hanger.
Strategies to help our understanding
- Prediction (what I think will happen)
- Prior knowledge (what you already know)
- Inferring
- Summarising
Science: WALA: Natures forces and the laws of the universe.
- Gravity - Newton's Laws
- Push/Pull
- Friction
- Magnetism
- Tension
- Spring force
- Electrical
Homework Term 3 Week 1
If your homework has not been individualised, it is as follows.
Maths: Mathwhizz - 50 mins per week in both the tutorial and replay modes.
Reading: 15 mins per night from a book of your choice.
Spelling: Weekly spelling words to be practised nightly. Here are some ideas for how.
Term 2 2017
A warm welcome back to Hereworth for term 2. We have some exciting learning experiences planned out for the term, please see our main learning objectives written below.
Writing: WALT - Write an explanation
To achieve this we will need to make sure our explanation includes the following.
- A TITLE
- Opens with a topic sentence
- Is written in the present tense
- Uses transition words - first, next, then, after, before, finally...
- Topic specific language - strong nouns, adjectives and verbs.
Reading: WALT - Read and understand the features of explanatory texts.
To achieve this we will need to practise the following
Self selecting texts to help us complete our research projects - Library, online, classroom.
Use the skimming and scanning strategy to identify key words and topic sentences.
Social Sciences: WALT
- Identify NZ iwi and hapu,
- Explain why various groups moved to NZ society
- Identify the various ethnicity that make up the current population
- Show how NZ is a progressive and innovative country.
To achieve this, we will be looking at the history of our country and the people who helped make New Zealand the country that it is today.
Science: The living world - Nature's helpers
In Science, we will be focusing on The Living World, during this time we are going to be regenerating the Hereworth Vegetable Garden. We will be looking at animals that help with pollination and animals that are detrimental to our crops growth.
Homework Term 2 week 5
Reading - 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice. Please write this into your homework book so that we can add up your time.
Science/Writing - UNIT 10 - That's Funny. Due Tuesday 06/06
Maths - Mathswhizz for a minimum of 45 mins at home.
Spelling - Practise weekly spelling words in preparation for Friday's spelling test. Your new list is dated the 29/05 in your homework book.
Homework - Term 2 week 3
Reading - 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice. Please write this into your homework book so that we can add up your time.
Science/Writing - UNIT 8 Pests. Due Monday 22/05
Maths - Mathswhizz for a minimum of 45 mins at home.
Spelling - Practise weekly spelling words in preparation for Friday's spelling test. Your new list is dated the 15/05 in your homework book.
Homework - Term 2 week 1
Reading - 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice. Please write this into your homework book so that we can add up your time.
Science/Writing - UNIT 6 New Zealand Trees. Due Monday 8/05
Maths - Mathswhizz for a minimum of 45 mins at home.
Spelling - Practise weekly spelling words in preparation for Friday's spelling test.
Term 1 2017
Welcome to your new classroom and a big step into the middle school boys! We have some terrific plans for the term and we are going to challenge ourselves with our own learning goals for the year.
Please see the link below to our class timetable.
4HTtimetable
Hi there boys and welcome to your class blog. You will now be able to access this at home on your Chrome books.
Our main WALT'S (we are learning to's) this week are as follows.
Maths: WALT use Place Value Partitioning to solve addition and subtraction problems.
Writing: WALT develop strong adjectives to use in our memoir writing.
Reading: WALT use the Prediction strategy to help us understand what we are going to be reading.
STEAM :Stop motion animation
A huge congratulations to the boys for all their efforts involved in creating their Stop Motion Animation Movies. It was great to see the boys working well in their groups, using new equipment responsibly and planning ahead.
We held a movie premiere in 4HT on Tuesday 4th of April and the audience voted for their favourite movie.
Below are the links to all the movies that the boys produced. During a post production reflection session the boys identified the steps they will take to improve them - should we have another go.
Again, well done boys and I hope this has been a learning experience that you will try at home!
Fall of Trumpet - Link to Video
Half Blood Castle - Link to Video
Nothing can go Wrong - Link to Video
Mystery Boat - Link to Video
Science: The boys, learning about how bubbles are formed and how by reducing surface tension - the bubbles last longer! Soap, being the main cause of this effect.
Ingredients for mixture: 4 cups of water, 2 cups of dish washing liquid and a table spoon of glycerin (available from most chemists).
Homework Week 8 and 9 Term 1
Reading: 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice.
Maths: Log onto the Mathwhizz website at least twice this week. Each tutorial lasts around 15 minutes. Keep working away, on Friday the student who is the highest user and who has progressed the most will be announced.
Spelling: Weekly words. Practise nightly, to see some real progress come Friday's test.
Science: Presentations on our chosen Scientist to be completed. Here is the link to the website http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts.html
Answer the following questions on either Google Slides or a Google Doc.
When was your scientist born?
Where did he/she live?
What did he/she specialize in? i.e physics, chemistry, Zoology, conservation, Astronomy
How did he/she change the way we live today?
What did he/she have that gave them their X Factor?
Homework Week 7 Term 1
Reading: 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice. Please write the time spent reading into your reading log. to go towards our 'Readometer'. This is at 70 hours so far. 80 hours to go!
Extra for experts: Into the book is a fantastic online learning tool that is designed to help build your reading comprehension. Set up an account and try the tasks that focus on Prior Knowledge.
Unit 4 - Letters: Due Monday 20/03. This includes reading, maths, handwriting, word studies and Maths.
This has been put inside your homework books.
Maths The boys have been introduced to our new interactive math programme. This is called Math-Whizz Tutoring plus https://www.whizz.com/
There are tutorials for the boys to go through and these will greatly support their in class learning.
Homework; Week 6 Term 1
Reading: 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice. Please write the time spent reading into your reading log. to go towards our 'Readometer'. This is at 70 hours so far. 80 hours to go!
Extra for experts: Into the book is a fantastic online learning tool that is designed to help build your reading comprehension. Set up an account and try the tasks that focus on Prior Knowledge.
Unit 3 - Vehicles: Due Friday. This includes reading, maths, handwriting, word studies and Maths.
This has been put inside your homework books.
Maths The boys have been introduced to our new interactive math programme. This is called Math-Whizz Tutoring plus https://www.whizz.com/
There are tutorials for the boys to go through and these will greatly support their in class learning.
Homework; Week 5 Term 1
Reading: 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice. Please write the time spent reading into your reading log. to go towards our 'Readometer'. This is at 45 hours so far. 105 hours to go!
Extra for experts: Into the book is a fantastic online learning tool that is designed to help build your reading comprehension. Set up an account and try the tasks that focus on Prior Knowledge.
------------------------>Into the book link
Unit 2 - Dogs: Due Friday, upon reflection will allow 2 weeks for completion. This includes word studies, reading task, Handwriting, Health and Maths.
This has been put inside your homework books.
Spelling: Weekly words List number 4
Maths: To reinforce the time spent on Place Value go onto this brilliant website to practise.
------------->Topmarks
Homework: Week 4 Term 1
Reading: 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice. Please write the time spent reading into your reading log. to go towards our 'Readometer'. This is at 45 hours so far. 105 hours to go!
UNIT 1 - THE BEACH - Due Friday, upon reflection will allow 2 weeks for completion. This includes word studies, reading task, Handwriting, Health and Maths.
This has been placed inside your Homework book. Now due 3/03/17
Spelling: Weekly words List number 3
Homework: Week 3 Term 1
Reading: 15 minutes of nightly reading from a book of your choice. Please can you ask a parent to add your time into your reading log. Remember every minute counts towards our team target of 150 hours in term 1!Maths: Boys - Here is a great website with some interactive games to help support your basic fact revision.
Click here ------------>Mathplayground
Spelling: Lists will be given in class and glued into our homework books. Practise your words nightly to be a spelling star.
Until then - try this website out for fun practise!
Click here ------------>spellingcity
Here are a couple of pics of our first week in 4HT! The highlight for me personally was watching the boys negotiate and work methodically throughout Friday's STEAM Challenge!
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