Moodle

Dear parent(s),
We have been developing our ICT capabilities over the last few weeks with the introduction of a brand new Moodle. Moodle is known as a VLE or Virtual Learning Environment. RCT are investing heavily in the project and over 70 schools (out of 143) are developing Models . Each child in years 3,4 5 and 6, has been allocated a user name and they have all devised their own passwords. We have stressed the importance of keeping passwords safe and personal, however, we would encourage them to share passwords with parents so that you can see the merits of the VLE, and view the work that they are doing in the Moodle.
The Moodle can be easily accessed from the news blog called (latest school news) on our website http://www.pontyclunprimary.org.uk/
Advantages of using Moodle include;

• Online learning environment as a means of communication with pupils, parents and the wider community.

• Teachers can use the environment to support and enhance their classroom activities, allowing pupils to interact with learning materials and activities outside of school.

• With 14 of the 19 secondary schools being part of the RCT Moodle (including Y Pant), there has never been a better time to explore ways that Moodle can support and improve curriculum continuity from primary to secondary school.

• The Moodle is a safe environment for children which can only be accessed by invitation.

• Work can be set by teachers, uploaded by pupils, shared by pupils and even marked online whilst giving the pupil instant feedback.

• Moodle has a chat facility that can only be accessed by members of the VLE, thus providing a safe environment for your children to communicate with each other.

Since the introduction of blogs, we at Pontyclun Primary have had a direct and effective method of communicating with parents. In time we will hope to integrate our blog and Moodle but for the moment they will both run concurrently.

Mrs. Marlow and Miss. Davies

Geography and Derek Brockway

Year 4 were over the moon this morning after having an educational visit from the famous BBC weather man Derek Brockway.

Derek came to school thanks to Gruff in J3 who wrote him a letter asking if he could pop in to school to talk about our topic - weather.

Derek certainly provided us with plenty of information to help us with our "Weather around the world" topic.

We discussed hot and cold climates in the world and J3 and J4 had clearly been listening during lessons as they came up plenty of hot and cold countries.

The children asked Derek about extreme weather conditions and were particularly interested in tornadoes and hurricanes.

The children learnt several interesting facts about thunder and lightning. Who can remember why we count to 5 seconds after lightning?

Derek continued to talk to the children about how he became a weather forecaster, telling us he had an interest in the weather since the age of eight. He told us that he worked for the met office for a few years and he has presented the weather in Birmingham, London as well as Cardiff.

The children found Derek's job the most interesting of all. He told us that he works from 11 - 7 every day and that he prepares the forecasts all by himself. He needs to look carefully at several computers and satellite images throughout the day. He chooses the places that appear on the map of Wales/ Britain each evening himself. Derek talked to us about the difficulties of working with "green screen" where he isn't able to see where he is pointing on the weather map whilst live on TV.

Derek recommended the met office web site, explainng that it is particularly informative. It can be found by clicking on the link below:

www.metoffice.gov.uk/

We would like to express our thanks to Derek for visiting us on a work day and both classes are now even more knowledgeable about world weather. Diolch yn fawr iawn Derek.

Focus Week - Spain

Here is a little taster of the fun that we all had on during focus week. As a school, we went on a cruise around different countries. The Year 4 children started and ended in Spain but travelled to Pakistan, Italy and India throughout the week.

During their time in Spain, the children learnt about the Spanish flag, completed a quiz about Spain/ fact file using the white board about Spain.

Some of the children were set the independent task of making a sombrero - quite challenging.

We learnt about the famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso - can you remember what cubism is?

Finally, the activity that many of the children enjoyed the most was flamenco dancing in the hall. The girls were flamenco dancers and the boys were matadors. J3 and J4 performed their dance to the rest of the school during the sharing assembly on Friday.

The children also enjoyed learning about the famous fiestas that take place in Spain, especially La Tomatina in Bunol.

Geography - Weather around the world

As an introduction to our weather around the world topic, J3 and J4 used atlasesy. They were looking at world maps and identifying warm and cold climates. Counters were used for predictions with talking partners.

Some fun maths sites for you to try!

Hi year 4, here are a few maths sites for you to try. Apologies for not putting them on earlier, but I have had a busy weekend so far!

Click on this one and play number pairs:
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2numeracy.html

Try these times tables games
http://www.mad4maths.com/multiplication_table_math_games/

Here is another tables game for you
http://www.echalk.co.uk/tasters/taster3/taster.html

See you on Monday J3 and J4

Mrs Marlow

Curriculum Overview for Autumn 1

Dear Parents,

Here is an overview of the work we will be covering during the first half of the Autumn Term. Our topic for the half term is “weather."

Numeracy
• Place Value
• Multiplication/ Division
• Number Facts/ Pairs
• 2D shape and polygons

Literacy
• Performance Poetry linked to weather
• Non-Fiction Newspapers

Science
• Keeping Warm
Enquiry skills, temperature, insulators and conductors

Geography
• Weather around the world
• Weather in Wales and comparisons
• Recording and measuring weather
• Extreme weather conditions

Games
• Small sided competitive activities – focussing on throwing and catching

Gym
• Body shapes – performing sequences and movements

Welsh
• Weather – likes and dislikes.
• Discussing what we can and can’t do in certain types of weather
• Clothes appropriate to weather
• Expressing likes/ dislikes about weather with reasons

RE
• Introduction to Islam, Muhammed, the mosque and daily life.

Art
• Colour mixing
• Weather art

P.E days for both classes are Mondays (outside) and Thursdays (inside).

Your child has been given a reading day.

Mrs Marlow (J3) and Miss Davies (J4)

Welcome to Year 4

Dear Parents and pupils,

We would like to welcome all Year 4 pupils and parents to our new blog site for 2010/2011. Throughout the year you will be able to look on the blog to find out what exciting things we have been doing, important messages/events that are happening, you will even be able to find out the homework for each week!

Our topic for this half term is weather. The children are leading their own learning and have come up with 6 questions that they would like to find out about the weather. Their first question was "Where are some of the hottest and coldest places in the world?" This afternoon we got out the atlases and globes and investigated the question. We will upload some of the photographs from this mini investigation later in the week.

We will try and update the blog as often as possible and hope you will find it useful.

Mrs Marlow (J3) and Miss Davies (J4)