Category: Grade 4

Term 1 Literacy in Year 4

The Year Four students have had a fantastic start to their learning this year! 

In Year 4, we have reviewed strategies and skills to support fluent reading and practised a range of strategies to find meaning in new or difficult words when reading. Students have also been exploring the different ways we can make and support accurate predictions when we read. These skills, are supporting the achievement of their personal learning goals in Reading.

The students have also planned, written, edited and published some amazing narratives this term. They have created a number of books and texts with great ideas and they’ve shown their growing understanding of using different language and punctuation to help their stories make sense and engage readers.


On Wednesday 11th March, students participated in activities for Multicultural Day. They saw a performance of dances from countries around the world, had a gelato snack break and watched a comedy show performed in Italian. Some grades also had opportunities to complete some activities with their Year 2 buddy grade.

A Welcome From Our Grade 4 Teachers

Dear Parents and Carers,

The Year 4 students have had a busy start to the year as we settle into new learning spaces. We have begun to set routines and expectations in the classroom and students have made an amazing start in their learning journey this year! 

In Term 1, we will explore narrative and biographical writing. In Maths, we are revising and extending our understanding of place value, strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems and collecting, representing and interpreting data on various types of graphs. When reading, students are learning strategies to maintain fluency, find the meaning of unknown words in a text, make detailed predictions with textual evidence and make connections between a text and the world we live in. In Inquiry we are looking at Civics and Citizenship. We have been learning about rules and laws in our communities and have been practising being responsible members of our communities by participating in elections for Junior School Council.

We look forward to many great times this year including; amazing learning activities, school events, excursions, and camp!

Year 4 Teachers

4A Mrs McNiece

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Hello everyone. My name is Mrs Rochelle McNiece. I’m really excited to be teaching and coordinating the Year 4 team this year! It has been great to get to know the Year 4 cohort over the last couple of weeks. I look forward to working with the students and families to make 2020 a really positive year for everyone. I have 3 children, a son in Grade 2, a daughter in Grade 4 and a daughter in Year 7. My family love exploring the outdoors and we love caravanning with our German Shepherd, Blitz. Our favourite places to camp are Tocumwal and Echuca on the Murray River where the rest of my family go fishing and I can enjoy my other favourite pastime – reading.

4B Miss Cvek

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Hello, I’m Petrina Cvek. I hope everyone had lovely holidays and some time to relax. I’m looking forward to another great year in Grade 4, helping students grow, learn and achieve their best. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, as well as my many pets (2 dogs, 3 cats – it’s a bit of a petting zoo, I know). I love gardening, travelling and exploring new places, as well as finding somewhere to settle with a cup of tea and a great book.

4C Mr Smith

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Hi. I am Gary Smith and have been teaching longer than I care to remember. I have been at SPS for 8 years and have enjoyed my time here working with some wonderful students and families. Apart from teaching, the main passions in my life are The Melbourne Football Club and golf. I am looking forward to continuing to provide an enjoyable educational experience for the students in my care during 2020.

Grade 4 Year Reflection!

The Grade 4 team would like to thank all of our students for a wonderful year. We have had a fantastic time in Grade 4 and have enjoyed watching all the achievements every student has made. We would also like to thank all of the parents for their contributions to our school community. Thank you to all the parents who have been able to help out on our excursions, camps and school events. 

We congratulate all the Grade 4 students for their hard work and effort this year and we wish them all the best for Grade 5. Below are the Grade 4 student’s reflections from the year.

Attached are some pictures of the students’ Inquiry Rich Task projects from Term 4. 

4A

My favourite part of 2019 at school was Camp Weekaway because we had lots of fun and activities that were different to what we did at the camp in 2018. Thinal 4A

My highlight was Camp Weekaway. I really liked the flying fox and hut building because the flying fox was really high and I liked how we got wet at the end of hut building. Ben 4A

My highlight of the year was the House Athletics Carnival because I love running. I came 1st in 100m, 200m, hurdles, triple jump, high jump, I came 5th in shot put and 6th in discus. I also got to State for 200m. I was the only person in the school. I really liked the day and I can’t wait for next year! Hollie 4A

My favourite part of the year was Italian Day, I loved making passata di pomodoro, having gelato, the Italian parade, doing Italian activities and over all just celebrating Italian traditions and the flag. Safiyya 4A

My favourite part of my learning was doing a story about Captain James Cook’s voyage to Australia in 1788. I enjoyed this because it was fun drawing the map and it was interesting to find out the history of Australia’s discovery. Baran 4A

l have enjoyed the Italian Day because it was nice to learn Italian all day and Zack and I made a statue out of Lego. Jed 4A

I’m proud of the Athletics Carnival because I tried my best and I was able to win all of my races except for hurdles. The thing I was most proud about winning was high jump because I got the highest jump and no one else could jump that high. I’m really excited for next year to see what I can do then. Isabelle 4A

This year my highlight was the Specialist Showcase. I enjoyed preforming because I got to show parents and guardians how well I had learned my part on the keyboard. I enjoyed practising how to use inversions and how to move my hands up and down the keyboard. I AM SO EXCITED FOR NEXT YEAR! Amelia 4A

This year I enjoyed doing the Fun Run because I had sausages and juice for lunch and I ran 16 laps of the oval. On one of the laps, I got sprayed in my mouth and it did not taste good and then I went home. Jett 4A

My favourite part was going to Camp Weekaway because I got to go with my friends in the cabin. We got to do lots of good things like the flying fox and going on canoes and then making damper.  Lily 4A

I enjoyed the House Athletics Carnival because I came second in everything except shot put and discuss. I got into the 2nd round for long jump and then I got into Divisionals! Sadly I didn’t get into Regionals but I’m still happy that I got to Divisionals. My longest jump was 2.96 metres. Lainey 4A

My favourite part was Camp Weekaway because camp is really fun and there’s lots of activities at Camp. Another reason why I loved Camp is because the food and drinks were yummy. Camp also has bunk beds. So that’s why I love camp. James 4A

My highlight of the 2019 school year was the Cross Country where I won at the school event and came 14th at Districts. If I had done 4 places better I would’ve made it to divisional. Chase 4A

This year I enjoyed going to Camp Weekaway. I really liked all of the activities that we did and I was really happy that I got a cabin with my friends. Jess 4A

My highlight was Camp Weekaway because I did canoeing for my first time and learnt how to turn left and right, stop and go backwards. We played tiggy in the canoes and sadly I got it first because we got stuck in a ditch.  Imogen 4A

My highlight was the House Athletics Carnival because I got two 3rd place ribbons and there was no rain this year. I also had a lot of fun. Ashton 4A

I am proud of my reading and my athletics because in Reading I achieved my goal and in athletics I made it to Regionals. Holly 4A

This year I have enjoyed doing our Inquiry project because it was an amazing to learn about sustainability and making our project. I made a plastic bottle pencil case. It is made it out of recycled materials – a zip and two plastic drink bottles. Alina 4A

My highlight of this year was going to Miss Cvek’s room and reading her books on the shelf. I really like the way she grouped her books according to the alphabet. Tessa 4A

My highlight of 2019 was Camp. I liked making damper, doing the initiatives course, going on the flying fox, going across the ropes course and canoeing for the second time in my life. I enjoyed the food and roasting marshmallows. Ava 4A

4B

Maira– My favourite part of the year was the year 4 camp because there was the flying fox. I’ve also liked having most of my friends in my class with me.

Yagmur– I have enjoyed the Rich task for Term 4 Inquiry. I liked how we got to advertise and present our creations.

Renas– My favourite part of this year was meeting my class for the first time in Term 1 and playing on the new playground and basketball courts.

Leyla– My favourite part of the year was grade 4 camp because it was so exciting and there were so many activities and things to do!

Sebastian– My favourite part of this year was the Specialist Showcase because I liked performing in front of an audience.

Emily– I have enjoyed doing the Specialist Showcase because we sang songs, including ‘Uptown Funk’. I also liked the different food trucks.

Noah– I have enjoyed playing with my friends and doing science experiments.

Eren– I have enjoyed doing Inquiry because we got to do our Rich task and we did experiments like making galaxy slime.

Deniz– My favourite part of the year was doing Inquiry. I liked the presentations and creations we got to make.

Ben– A highlight of the year was playing the bass guitar at the Specialist Showcase when our class performed ‘Uptown Funk’.

Hollandia– My favourite part of the year was the Specialist Showcase because it had a lot of colours and all the artwork was amazing. I think we did pretty good with our song.

Sarah– I am proud that my work has become more accurate and I work a lot faster.

Boran– My favourite part of the year was going on the new playground and the climbing frame. It is so fun.

Hugo– My favourite part of the year was going out for lunchtime and going on the new playground.

Ellena– My highlight of the year was the Colour Run because I looked ridiculous after it.

Chloe– My favourite part of the year was making new friends and doing our Australian History Unit for Inquiry. I’m proud of getting a ribbon in the Swimming Carnival.

Jack– I am proud of winning the bat tennis competition because I’ve never won before.

Nicolette– My favourite part of the year was the Specialist Showcase because we got to play instruments and look at our wonderful artwork that we worked hard on. 

Eva– My favourite part of this year was the Specialist Showcase. I enjoyed doing my class performance and looking at the amazing artwork. 

Nicolas– My highlight of this year was the Specialist Showcase because I got to perform, and I felt really proud.

Sienna– This year I have enjoyed everything. Every single little bit of the year.

Alaz– My favourite part of the year was Grade 4 Camp because it was my first time to go to camp. I enjoyed spending time with friends and classmates while doing fun activities.

Bawer– My favourite part of the year was the school Fun Run because we got covered in paint and squirted with water.

4C 

I have enjoyed Inquiry because I love making things and I also love using my imagination. Nidal

My favourite part of the year was competing in the bat tennis tournament and playing with my friends when I wasn’t competing. Cooper 

I have enjoyed performing at the school concert this year because I got to play my favorite instrument (the guitar) in front of hundreds of people it was so fun and we got to practice for a whole term it was that important to the school and that makes me happy. Daniela

This year I have enjoyed being in Mrs Zuvela’s grade because she makes work interesting and fun. Natalia

This year I enjoyed going on Grade 4 camp to Camp Weekaway. My favourite part was staying in a cabin with all of my friends. I also enjoyed the flying fox because it was long. Joshua

My favourite part of the year was learning about the first fleet because it was interesting. Ella

My favourite part of the year was the excursion because I got to spend time with my best friends and my teacher. Sage

I am proud of making my mini banjo in Inquiry because I got to be creative. Berken

This year I was very proud of the effort I put in writing to get my full pen license (being able to write in pen) because I’ve been working hard ever since last year to improve my handwriting. Last year it took me a while to get my learners pen license. Dijle

My favourite part of the year was making new and good friends and having fun with them. Kutay

I have enjoyed performing in the Specialist Showcase concert. Hamish

I am proud of myself because this year that I have got my pen license. I am proud because I didn’t get it last year. James

My highlight of this year is getting second in the bat tennis tournament because last year I came last and now second. Cristian

My favourite part of the year has been Music because I got to learn different songs and learn how to play different instruments like the bells. Lugh

My favourite part of the year was coming here to this new school because I could experience meeting new people. Lucas

My favourite part of the year has been creating my Inquiry rich tasks. This term I created a pencil case out of repurposed materials. Kaan 

My favourite part of the year was the Specialist Showcase because I got to play my favourite instrument, a guitar. Layla

My favourite activity of the year was the Specialist Showcase because I played the keyboard on stage. Raphael

I have enjoyed playing games with my class during PLATOONS sessions because it was incredibly fun. Yagiz

My favourite activity of the year was the Athletics Carnival because instead of doing one event (like Cross Country) you have a huge variety. Oliver

My highlight of the year was the Colour Fun Run because I liked getting sprayed with colourful paint while running through the obstacles. Zahra

My favourite part of the year was camp because I got to sleep in the same cabin as my friends and watch a movie at the end. Alexis

My highlight of the year was the Specialist Showcase because I loved performing with my grade on the stage. Ruby

My favourite part of the year was the specialist showcase because I played one of my favourite instruments, the bass guitar. Charlize

CERES Excursion! Grade 4

Last Friday the Grade 4 students went on an excursion to CERES Community Environment Park to learn more about our Inquiry topic ‘Beautifully Sustainable.’ In the classrooms, students have been working on their Inquiry Rich Task, in which they are repurposing materials to create a new, environmentally friendly object. CERES provided an opportinity for students to come up with additional ideas or other ways to improve their Rich Task. 

While at CERES, students enthusiastically participated in a range of environmental education workshops. 

In the ‘Rethinker Tinker’ workshop students discussed solutions to single-use plastic. They then followed one of two designs to repurpose their old T-shirts into new reusable bags. Students were proud of their bags and will hopefully use them at home.

In the ‘Paper Making’ workshop the Grade 4s learnt about how paper is made and the impact paper production has on the environment. Students got the chance to make their own paper. They used pulp made from recycled paper and a piece of equipment called deckle. At the end of the workshop, students learnt about lots of different materials that recycled paper can be made from. 

Students enjoyed spending time in ‘Sustainable Gardening’ workshop. During this workshop, students learnt about the requirements for a healthy and productive organic garden. They investigated worm farms, companion planting, hunting for ‘minibeasts’ to feed the chickens and weeding. 

During the ‘Farm Task’ workshop, students explored a working crop farm. Students investigated the different types of crops that can be grown, seeds, importance of soil pH and how the sun can affect how crops grow. They then went into the chicken pen to learn about how chickens and bees are used at CERES to promote a sustainable and organic farm. 

Kind regards,

The Grade 4 Team

Stadium Maths

For the rest of the term on a Friday, Maths number sessions are being held inside the stadium for ‘Stadium Maths.’ This is being run with all of the Grade 4 students and teachers. The students have been given a list of maths number goals that they need to work through and achieve. These goals have been targeted to their learning needs. Throughout the Maths sessions, students will participate in at least one workshop run by the teachers. While students wait for their workshop, they rotate through a range of activities that are targeted to their maths goals. 

Once students feel they have mastered a math goal, they will demonstrate their new skills to one of the Grade 4 teachers. The teacher will sign off the goals once the students have demonstrated their understanding. Last Friday was our first session of ‘Stadium Maths’ and we have received positive feedback from the students. They have exclaimed that they like having lots of choice on their activities, interacting with students from different groups, partnering up with different learning buddies and they enjoyed that their activities are game based. 

Students have taken a photo of their goals on their iPads so that they can practise their goals at home as well. 

Italian Passports

Over the last couple of weeks, students in Grade Three and Four have been working on their Italian Passports as part of the ‘Travelling Around the World’ unit. Students included personal details such as their date of birth and address as well as their nationalities. Throughout the lessons, students learned how to write and translate all of their information into Italian! They are now ready to travel the world!

Grade 4 Shape Hunt!

This term in Mathematics, students have been developing their knowledge of 2D and 3D shapes. They are learning to name shapes and discuss their geometric properties. Last week, students were given the task to go on an exciting shape scavenger hunt around the school. Their goal was to find real life objects that represented 2D and 3D shapes. Once students located their shapes, they needed to identify the number of corners, faces, sides, edges and vertices they have. Students found many shapes in creative places around the school, including the playground and the new basketball courts. Below are some pictures from the hunt!

Grade 4 fun!

Term 4 is an exciting time for the Grade 4 students. They will continue to develop and grow their learning across the curriculum, attend excursions and incursions and prepare for next year as grade 5 students. 

Reading

Throughout the term, students will continue to develop fluency, accuracy, decoding and comprehension skills in reading. Students will explore Fountas and Pinnell reading and comprehension strategies to target their reading needs. Students will focus on critiquing, searching for and using information, summarising and word solving. Students will participate in reading activities, including Guided Reading, Literacy Circles and independent tasks to practise these skills. 

Writing

In Writing, students will be writing recounts, narratives and persuasive texts. They will continue to develop strategies to engage their readers, develop correct sentence structure and punctuation and use subject specific technical vocabulary. Students will develop their skills drafting, revising, editing and publishing texts. Students will complete weekly Home Talk in preparation for their Big Write on Thursdays and will participate in VCOP and Breakdown Buddy sessions.

Numeracy

This term in Mathematics, students will be continuing to develop their number and algebra skills. They will be developing their knowledge of money, shape, geometric reasoning, and shape transformation. Students will continue to have their learning targeted to their needs in flexible maths groups. 

Inquiry

Throughout the term, students will be exploring new concepts in Inquiry, including design technologies and sustainability. Students will explore design technologies where they will recognise the role of people in design and technology occupations and explore factors, including sustainability, that impact on the design of solutions to meet community needs.

Grade 4 Camp

During Week 6 of Term 3, the Grade 4 students had a fantastic experience attending Camp Weekaway in Benloch. After a short bus trip up the highway, students settled into their cabins and then were organised into the activity groups for the duration of the camp. 

There was a buzz of excited energy as the students eagerly awaited the first of many activities. Over the next two days, many students stepped outside of their comfort zones and demonstrated their courage and team-work skills by participating in many new experiences. These included canoeing, the initiatives course, damper making, orienteering, the low ropes course, hut building and the flying fox. 

There was also plenty to do at night time. After expending so much energy during the day’s activities, the hungry children enjoyed hearty meals of delicious lasagna and roast beef. After the duty groups had cleared the tables and washed the dishes, it was time to rug up and enjoy the outdoors at night. Children had an opportunity to roast marshmallows by the campfire before going on a bush walk. On the bush walk students searched for animals, went stargazing and learnt about the importance of bushfire to the regeneration of the Australian bush. The second night was much more relaxing with the Grade 4’s enjoying the movie Flubber before heading to bed. 

Over the 3 days, the Grade 4’s spent a lot of time walking around the camp grounds. We saw many native animals around the campsite including kangaroos with joeys, rosellas, kookaburras and the resident echidna named Spike. When they walked quietly they could also hear frogs croaking in the small creek.

After packing our bags, cleaning the cabins and going on our final bush walk, the children climbed back on the bus. On the way home, we stopped at Hanging Rock but unfortunately we were unable to hike up Hanging Rock due to strong winds. We enjoyed a nice picnic lunch at the base and learnt about the history of Hanging Rock in the Discovery Center. Even though we couldn’t climb the rock we ventured out onto the Hanging Rock racecourse to see the top of Hanging Rock. The bus trip back to school was very quiet, with students quietly talking about their experiences from camp. 

Thank-you to the parent helpers and teachers who volunteered their time to assist with camp.

Below are some photos from our time at Camp Weekaway. There are more photos displayed in each classroom. If you are at school at the end of the day, please come in and look at the photos. The children have also written about their time at camp and we have also included some of these for you to read. 

Kind regards,

The Grade 4 Team