CORONAVIrus
Dear Parents,
All of the work for the students to complete while school closures are running is on Google Classroom. If you child logs into Google using their school email account they can access it. Their school email account is [email protected]. For example if their name was Mary Bloggs it would be [email protected] Once logged in, go to Google's homepage and click on the nine dots in the top right corner and you will see Google Classroom. I don't plan on giving the children too much work, just enough to keep them busy. The most important thing they can do is to read as much as possible, practice their tables and write stories and recounts of their days/experiences.
Links to draw your attention to :
https://www.codingireland.ie/SchoolsOut/4thto5th (projects for students to learn about basic computer coding)
https://www.twinkl.ie/ (many teachers use this website for resources. It is free for parents at the moment)
https://www.cjfallon.ie/ (free at the moment. Lots of textbooks online)
https://www.folensonline.ie/home/ (free at the moment. Looks of textbooks online. We use Abair Liom and Planet Maths 4th class editions)
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/ordering-and-sequencing-numbers (various categories of Maths games)
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10 (fantastic resource for mental maths/tables)
https://www.gonoodle.com/(great for busy breaks/keeping active)
https://twitter.com/louthgaa?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor(Louth GAA on Twitter are putting up skills challenges for kids to try)
https://www.philosophy-foundation.org/ (Philosophical questions to get kids thinking. You will need to set up an account)
https://www.librariesireland.ie/ga/node/157 (free e-books available)
https://www.duolingo.com/course/ga/en/Learn-Irish (duolingo for learning Irish)
https://www.tg4.ie/ga/ (plently of cartoons in Irish)
http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie/
https://ncca.ie/en/primary/resources-for-parents
https://www.khanacademy.org/
These links are mainly supplementary activities. All assignments and work due will continue to be listed on your child's Google classroom account. Hopefully there is enough work for your child but if they are looking for more suggestions/activities, tell them to message me on Google classroom. I will continue to post more supplementary links as I think of them or come across them.
Regards,
Kevin Keogh
September 2019
A big welcome back to all the students in 4th class. Here are some things we got up to during the month of September!
English: The students were working on the reading strategy of 'predicting' during the month of September. They were making predictions as to what would happen next in their stories as they read them. This helps them to stay focused and interested in the story and thus improves their understanding and comprehension. The students were revising capital letters and full stops and the writing strategy for September was 'Recount'. The students wrote recounts of their summer holidays and a recount on our walking tour. There were lots of opportunity for discussion in the class as we discussed topics such as 'The Battle of the Boyne', 'Friendship' and 'Feelings'. We came across some challenging new vocabulary such as menace, melody, aristocrat and much more! Some brave students were first up to deliver a 'Friday Speech' and they did wonderfully well. They were trying to be aware of tone of voice, eye contact, body language and some other key aspects of good public speaking.
Maths: The students were working closely with Subtraction during the month of September. They were careful when doing subtraction sums that the bigger number always has to be on top. We are constantly trying to improve our speed at tables and the students played numerous games to help improve their speed at adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. We also worked on the topic of time for the month of September. We were practicing reading time off the clock and changing the time from analogue to digital and vice versa. We were doing some word problems involving time and the students we careful to remember the RUCSAC model for problem solving.
Gaeilge: We learned about the theme of 'Mé Féin' (Myself) during the month of September. The students learned how to say how many people were in their family, where they live, what they like and more. All of the boys and girls made a great effort to speak Irish as much as possible. We made a short movie in Irish based off one of the stories from our book. Maith sibh!!
SESE: We had a busy month in SESE, learning all about the Battle of the Boyne which took place at Oldbridge in 1690. The students worked in groups to research the topic and they had a great interest in the topic. We were also learning about lots of local history from Drogheda and we went on a walking tour of Drogheda, stopping off at the Old Jail, Sunday's Gate, Laurence's Gate and Magledene Tower. We also learned about jobs in the local community.
Art: The students created bridges using cardboard boxes and other materials. The students also drew some of the historical structures around Drogheda such as Laurence's Gate and the Viaduct.
PE: We were practicing Athletics for the month of September. The students were trying to improve their running technique, along with their speed, agility and stamina. There were some fantastic races out in the schoolyard.
October
English: There was great English work done in 4th class during the month of October. The students were practising the reading strategy of visualising. This is making pictures and videos as they read texts. It helps them to build on their understanding of text by making it more real and vivid. We read the story of 'The Magical Garden of Claude Monet' and the students visualised the setting and events in this story. The students spent some time working on the writing genre of Narrative. They prepared characters, a setting and a plot for their Halloween story. We came across some new and challenging vocabulary such as coincide, scamper, influence and frantic. Along with Friday speeches, we had some interesting oral language topics such as 'Japan', 'Heating' and 'Volcanoes'. Students are working hard on their joined writing in their school copies.
Irish: The themes for the month in Irish were Bia (Food) and Oíche Samhna (Halloween). The students were learning vocabulary associated with food and we practising asking questions such as 'Cad ba mhaith leat?'(What would you like?). The students were also learning the verbs Ith, Ól, Tabhair and Déan during the month of October.
Maths: The students are continuing to practice their tables and number facts as they play a very important role throughout the Maths curriculum. The topic for the month of October was Fractions. The students were learning about equivalent fractions and they were learning how to find fractions of numbers. We were also learning about how to measure and record data and how prevalent it is in daily life.
SESE: Our SESE topics for the month of October were 'Japan' and 'Volcanoes'. The students learned all about Japan by researching on Chromebooks and finding information in library books from Drogheda library. We wrote and sent letters to high school students in Japan and we are expecting to receive some letters back before Christmas. The students were also able to read some letters from other students in Japan. We tasted some Japanese food and we even made sushi in the staffroom. We learned about how Volcanoes form and erupt and we did a Science experiment that simulated a volcanic eruption.
Art: The children used materials to build their own bridges. The students also made pumpkin faces in a collage motif.
PE: The students have been attending swimming lessons at Integral Fitness Centre. The children have been improving their swimming technique week by week.
Drama: The students worked in groups over a two week period to come up with a storyline and a script for a drama. Following this, they rehearsed dialogues and acted out their scenes in front of the rest of the class.
Irish: The themes for the month in Irish were Bia (Food) and Oíche Samhna (Halloween). The students were learning vocabulary associated with food and we practising asking questions such as 'Cad ba mhaith leat?'(What would you like?). The students were also learning the verbs Ith, Ól, Tabhair and Déan during the month of October.
Maths: The students are continuing to practice their tables and number facts as they play a very important role throughout the Maths curriculum. The topic for the month of October was Fractions. The students were learning about equivalent fractions and they were learning how to find fractions of numbers. We were also learning about how to measure and record data and how prevalent it is in daily life.
SESE: Our SESE topics for the month of October were 'Japan' and 'Volcanoes'. The students learned all about Japan by researching on Chromebooks and finding information in library books from Drogheda library. We wrote and sent letters to high school students in Japan and we are expecting to receive some letters back before Christmas. The students were also able to read some letters from other students in Japan. We tasted some Japanese food and we even made sushi in the staffroom. We learned about how Volcanoes form and erupt and we did a Science experiment that simulated a volcanic eruption.
Art: The children used materials to build their own bridges. The students also made pumpkin faces in a collage motif.
PE: The students have been attending swimming lessons at Integral Fitness Centre. The children have been improving their swimming technique week by week.
Drama: The students worked in groups over a two week period to come up with a storyline and a script for a drama. Following this, they rehearsed dialogues and acted out their scenes in front of the rest of the class.