Year 3/4 - Skylarks
Summer 2010
This term we have linked our science learning with our topic of the Tudors.
The children started by creating a Tudor garden in one of the environmental area raised beds. They decided how we would look after the different plants and what they need to stay healthy and each class has a small plot within the bed that they have planted and are looking after. They thought carefully about how gardeners would have cared for their plants in Tudor times and made a plan as to how they were going to do this themselves e.g. not using pesticides and watering the plants.
They also grew some seeds in class which grew so well we have taken over another raised bed and planted these out too! We now have sage, runner beans, broad beans, radishes, peas and potatoes. We will be using these vegetables at the end of term to cook some Tudor food which will link with our D and T.
The children then started to learn about materials. They investigated changing states and dissolving and solutions. We did this by looking at the work of wise men and cunning women in Tudor times and the children had to use some modern science knowledge to help solve the mysteries of the wise men and cunning women which all turned out to be tricks!
Spring 2010
Big SchoolsÂ’ Birdwatch
We had a fantastic morning watching birds from our classroom windows and recording what we saw. The children have worked really hard on this project researching birds and making feeders and this really paid off on the survey day as we had lots to see. The children have learnt to identify lots of different species of bird and we recorded sparrows, long tailed tits, coal tits, goldfinches and blue tits to name but a few. We will be using all of this data soon in our maths when we start our data handling unit and we have also submitted our results to the RSPB.
We rounded off our hour of bird watching in true bird watching fashion with hot chocolate and biscuits.
Science
The children will be investigating bird life cycles and comparing them with those of animals from different environments. To support their learning we hope that we will get some birds nesting in our nest box with webcam.
After half term we will be learning about the skeletal system and plants.
Topic.
Our topic for this term is BidefordÂ’s geography and the local environment. We will be investigating our local geography in a variety of ways including mapping, fieldwork and looking at population data. We will then link this to how Bideford has developed as a town and how we might think it may develop in the future.
We have started our topic by looking at our local environment in science and we have been learning about the different bird species that we find in school. The children have really enjoyed finding out about garden birds and have researched, designed and made bird feeders to attract more birds to the school. They are also researching a species of bird that they are going to create a nature documentary style report about for literacy. As well as this the children have painted and drawn birds and some children have invented an imaginary bird using a variety of craft techniques. This is all in preparation for the RSPB Big SchoolsÂ’ Birdwatch which will be taking place on Wednesday the 27th of January. The whole school will watch and record the birds they see for an hour in the morning and we will then use our results in maths for data handling.
The children have really enjoyed the project so far and it is an excellent opportunity for them to gather some real data to use in their maths learning as well as contributing to the largest bird survey in the country!
Autumn 2009
Viking Boats.
On Friday 18th December, Year 3 & 4 finished their Viking topic by having a celebration, burning the boats that they made throughout the project.
Science
Over the last few weeks we have been continuing our habitat and food chains project and the children have researched different mini beasts. They are using their research to write a class information text about mini beasts and also will be using their findings to improve the bank outside the Bitterns and Skylarks hut making it a more suitable habitat for mini beasts. We hope to do this just before half term. This will create another area of the school that will help to encourage biodiversity and is also going to be where we put our bird feeder and nest-box camera so watch this space for St MaryÂ’s own version of Autumn-watch!
The children have also investigated pond habitats and food chains and we had a fantastic day pond dipping, sketching and nature trailing at Hallsannery. The children found lots of different animals in the pond and have recorded their findings on an international project database called Bucket buddies. Later this term, we will compare their findings with those of the other schools and write a short report as a class which we will also be able to post on the website.
This term, Autumn 2009, Year 3 / 4 will be learning about habitats and how animals are adapted to live in different environments.
We started our learning about habitats off by linking with our Beauty and the Beast project and designing our own beasts. We thought carefully about where our beasts live and what they might eat and made sure they had the right features and adaptations to suit their environment and diet with some very frightening results!
Here are some pictures from the Skylarks showing some puppets, story hills and art work they have produced during the Beauty and the Beast week.
Bitterns and Skylarks will be displaying their finished beasts in their very own beast cave (otherwise known as the cloakroom). You are very welcome to come along and see our imaginative creations.
Having thought about how different animals may be adapted to live in different habitats year 3 and 4 will be investigating and comparing rock pool habitats and ponds later this term. The Skylarks also spent some time in the environmental area looking for mini beasts living in different habitats.