We are getting quick with our recall of times tables. We can use our knowledge of times tables to show our thinking and quickly write the fact family for each table. We can represent multiplication in different ways and have enjoyed playing strategy games to practise with partners.

In our grammar lessons we have been learning to use inverted commas for direct speech. We have been practising what we have learnt in our own writing. We loved using macaroni to see where we needed to add speech marks and remembering to "burst the speech bubble and pop the full stop" for a comma.

We loved visiting P1 again to spend time reading together. Primary 4 listened to the P1s reading their reading books and then chose picture books to read together. The P4s were very supportive of their P1s, asked very good questions and didn't want the time to end - definitely a few future teachers in this class!

This term we are focussing on multiplication and division. We will be practising our times tables and building our understanding of multiply and divide. We started by reminding ourselves how to count in 2s, 5s and 10s and making equal groups. We have been making arrays with cubes and enjoyed playing "array battle" with a partner. Help at home by asking us to count on and back and practising times tables in and out of sequence.

Primary 4 and Primary 1 have paired up to read together. P4 were very impressed with the primary 1's reading their reading books and then they read their buddy a picture book and talked about the story. We are looking forward to more shared reading in the new year.

We have enjoyed working with fractions. Using playdough we have split a whole in to equal parts and have been using the correct mathematical vocabulary to halves, quarters, thirds, fifths etc. We can explain that a fraction is part of a whole and that the parts must be equal. Ask us to show you our learning. We have been challenging ourseves with finding fractions of an amount.

Thinking about Remembrance Day, we created our own poppy fields using watercolour. We used mixing and blending to created the background. We demonstrated patience as we waited for each stage to dry before adding the details. While waiting we read books for enjoyment and listened to instrumental music. We found painting slowly relaxing!

We carried out an experiment to learn about friction. We talked about a "fair test" and only changing on variable, we decided to change the surface to see what would happen to how things move. Using a plastic numicon we slid it across carpet, a table, a wet surface and on the floor. We discovered that the smoother the surface the easier the numicon moved, the rougher the surface the slower it moved or even stopped. We know that friction is a force that stops objects from moving.

We started our forces and magnets learning by using playdough to investigate how push, pull and twist forces work. We realised that a force can change the shape, direction and speed of an object. We learned that we cannot see forces but we can see the effect a force has. we are looking forward to more experimenting this term!

Inspired by the artist Yayoi Kusama and the world of Dr Seuss, we created our own abstract flower art. We used mixed media and collage to combine wax resist paint background with a pen and crayon flower. We think they look very effective and enjoyed adding patterns of circles to our flowers.

Working in groups, we talked about how we wanted our classroom to look, sound and feel. We thought about our rights and which rights would be most important to us in our classroom. We have agreed to respect one another, always try our best, listen and value everyone's voices and to have fun together this year. 🙂