Back to school and straight back into intense thinking across all curriculum areas.

This week there has continued to be a focus on becoming more familiar with measurements and measuring with greater accuracy using the correct tools. Specifically mass (weight), capacity (liquid) and length have been our focus. We will look at other types of measurement as the year proceeds but at this stage it is now time to think more about numeracy. We will be applying the knowledge we have developed on place value to acquiring and using a number of different addition and subtraction strategies whilst continuing to develop number knowledge. By going on to http://www.nzmaths.co.nz/welcome-number-and-algebra you will find a number of activities that you could use at home to reinforce what we are doing in school. Most of our students are in the Stages 4 and 5 (NZ Maths) phases of their number development and it is important to practise, not teach, at home.

The current language genre focus is report writing and we have started by writing simple reports about something we have become very familiar with this year, water. We will soon be able to write reports about areas related to our current unit and learn to inform in a non-judgemental and factual manner. Having done a lot of non-fiction reading this year we are moving into guided reading groups to improve our vocabulary and comprehension skills using fictional stories. To help us with this we will follow through a variety of reading activities based on: knowledge, comprehension, application,analysis, synthesis, evaluation. These are aimed at bringing about higher order thinking skills in language.

We are really getting into our second unit now under the transdisciplinary theme "How we Express Ourselves"
Central Idea: "Knowing about other people’s values and beliefs develops understanding and respect within a community".

Lines of Inquiry are: What we value
How values and beliefs affect individuals and communities

Key Concepts: Connection, Perspective, Reflection

Related Concepts: traditions, beliefs, values, religion, roles, culture, heritage, spirituality, diversity, ethnicity, heritage, similarities, differences

This unit involves very deep thinking and looks closely at personal beliefs and values. By considering the things that drive the way we act within our own homes and then extend this out to the things (non-materialistic) that are really important to us in the wider world we can gain a better insight into why ourselves and others act as we do.

Please remember that we would love for volunteers to come in to share and discuss their personal beliefs and values (religious and non-religious)to help students grow their understanding about how these things drive people's lives. Please feel free to contact Isla and Viv to arrange a convenient time.



Week 8 in Year 4 on PhotoPeach