Cedar Class 2023 - 2024
WELCOME TO CEDAR
Class teacher - Mr A Fowles
Learning Support Assistant - Mrs Rowlands/ Mrs Oakes
Follow us on Twitter @CedarWhitegate
Cedar class establish the values and vision that we have for our school life. In the thankfulness and honesty, we demonstrate around school, we follow our faith that making wise choices and always striving to do the right thing by ourselves and others allows us to grow in confidence and maturity. The wisdom that comes from always striving to make these wise choices enables us to endeavour as we take advantage of the many opportunities we have to shine in Cedar class.
Presently in Cedar, we will be exploring the formation of early civilisations as well as their achievements for example in mathematics, government, trade, building and art. Ancient Egypt should be studied separately with a focus on their influence on the western world.
Reading plays a fundamental part in all areas of the curriculum. Over the year, we will immerse ourselves in high quality texts which will help to drive our learning. In class we have access to a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books which we are able to use not only within our Guided Reading sessions, but also when appropriate in our curriculum lessons to support our learning. Each term we have a spotlight author who has been chosen for their high-quality texts. Our current spotlight author is Roald Dahl; we will be reading Charlie and the Glass Elevator as our class novel. Over the course of the year we will have to opportunity to listen to, read and learn more about these fantastic authors. Having this literacy-rich enviroment will encourage a positive culture of reading within our class and promote the children's enjoyment of reading.
In Maths, we will focus on securing knowledge and understanding of multiplication, followed by moving onto division.
Our Ancient Civilisation topic will take us on a journey back in time. Our history lessons will focus on what came before and after and particularly how civilisation has vastly changed. We will be investigating the achievements of the earliest civilizations: Ancient Sumer, The Indus Valley, Ancient Egypt and The Shang Dynasty. In Geography we will focus on rivers and especially the river Nile.
Firstly, in Science lessons will focus on Light. Later in the term, we will be looking at Rocks which will supplement our Geography learning. In DT, we will be creating a shaduf which was used in Ancient Egypt to transfer water from the River Nile.
In Computing, we will be using Scratch Jr to create algorithms by sequencing instructions to achieve simple objectives. Later we will be modifying and debugging algorithms. In music, we will look and listen to how music can tell a story and evoke different feelings and emotions.
In art, the children will be working on their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design. Jesus will be our focus in the spring term in RE, we will reflect upon the importance of power and the effect of betrayal, trust and forgiveness. We will explore the concept of salvation. Furthermore, focus on the significance of the incidents of betrayal and trust in the Easter story.
PE will be on a Wednesday (Swimming) and a Friday (Gymnastics), please can children come into school on Friday's already in their PE kits, thank you.
HOMEWORK, READING & SPELLINGS
Please ensure that your child reads at home at least 4 times a week; they are expected to record their reading in the home/school diary. Parents just need to sign /initial each time; reading is so important and it's amazing fun too! Please, please emphasise that reading is a hugely fun thing to do, so if they have any interests that read about at home, please put it in their home/school diary as reading is reading! 20 mins reading a magazine is still reading, especially if they can tell you all about it afterwards to ascertain their understanding.
TT Rockstars and the children's individual spellings should be practised regularly and either handed in, if written, or a note left in the home-school diary to say they have practised.
On top of the usual termly spellings and reading, a maths or English homework will be set every Monday. This will usually cover work that we have done in maths or in English that week (alternate weeks) but sometimes it may be topic based and perhaps require some research.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: YEAR 4 MULTIPLICATION TABLES CHECK
What is the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check?
The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a Key Stage 2 assessment to be taken by pupils at the end of year 4 (in June). The purpose of the MTC is to make sure the times tables knowledge is at the expected level.
What to expect:
The MTC is an online test where the pupils are asked 25 questions on times tables 2 to 12. For every question you have 6 seconds to answer and in between the questions there is a 3 second rest. Questions about the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 times table come up more often. The questions are generated randomly based on the rules of the MTC.
How to prepare:
The best way to prepare is to start early, this is why we expect Timestables Rockstars is completed at least 3 times a week as part of home learning in addition to practise in class. With regular practise children will learn all the questions and gain confidence. Do also use the web links below.
Times Table Resources:
Times Table Rockstars – (soundcheck, at least 4 times a day)
Multiplication Tables Check – 2022 – Timestables.co.uk
Times tables Speed Test X – Timestables.co.uk
Times tables games – Learn them all here!
Times Tables Games for 7 to 11 year olds (topmarks.co.uk)
Test your Multiplication – Times Tables From 2 to 15 (mathsisfun.com)
Multiplication Tables Check – Mathsframe
Files to Download
Cedar Class: Calendar items
Cedar Class Residential - Cloverley Hall, by Mrs Shephard
Cedar's Residential Sharing Assembly, by Mrs Shephard