Winchester Science Centre

To begin with, Winchester Science Centre was a really fun place to go to. We went there with Mr Scullin who is normally our gymnastics teacher. When we arrived at the Centre we sorted out our groups and my group captain was Naimah. The group captain was in charge of keeping their group together.

First of all, we went to the planetarium and we learnt a lot about the sun and the stars. Did you know that the sun’s core is 15 million degrees? Also we learnt that the stars make shapes and one of them is called the big dipper. We also did an activity about night time and  the daytime.
                                                                        
After the planetarium, we were allowed to explore the lower half of Winchester Science Centre. Firstly, what we did was the barcode scanning. The barcode scanning almost felt like we were shopkeepers. What we had to do was scan lots of objects. We only got 8 out of 10 right. The next thing we did was a temperature scanning machine. You had to stand in front of it and it would scan your temperature. Luckily half of our body was hot and half was cold.

As you may already know, after the lower half we went to the top half. The first thing that we did was the Mind-ball game. In the Mind-ball game, we have to get the ball from one side to the other using our mind; that was our favourite game.

Mind-ball Game

We also spent a lot of our time on the race track, which timed how fast you could run.

On the race track

In conclusion, in Winchester Science Centre, we went to four different sections and we had lots of fun. We are very lucky in Springhill as we get to go to Winchester Science Centre every year!

Jeff and Tessa

Coke Explosion!!

When we were learning about volcanoes in Geography, we learnt that they use a lot of force when they explode. To prove this, we decided to do a science experiment, which used a bottle of Coke and a packet of Mentos. During this experiment, we made a model city out of toys around the bottle of Coke to show the impact of a volcano on a local village. Firstly we put 5 Mentos into a tube which  emptied into the bottle of Diet Coke. After about 2 to 3 seconds, the coke exploded out of the bottle. When it was over we saw that every part of the model village had toppled over. If I were in that city at that time, I would be sure to be dead. After this extraordinary experiment, all the information that we had gathered was very useful seeing as we were still on the topic. Now we realise just how powerful volcanoes are!

Chloe and Griffin

Perimeter and Area Lesson

To begin with, a few weeks ago, I taught some children in 4CD maths class about perimeter and area. First, I explained I was finding it hard and I had to have extra help with Miss Bedford, who is my maths teacher. I went home, feeling unhappy about the topic. I told my mum about it and, luckily, she offered to help me with it. My hopes were raised and I skipped downstairs to get a pad and pen. From that day on, I was confident in maths and did two PowerPoints on the topic!

Working out perimeter and area

My theme of the lesson for 4CD was the Lego movie, and I gave the children some Lego to help them. 

Calculating the area of Lego shapes

We did questions such as “Emmet built a car. All the lengths were 4cm. What was the perimeter and what was the area?”. After we did that, I asked if anybody knew that perimeter and area was part of maths before I gave the lesson and nobody put their hands up. I then asked who knew it now; guess what, everybody put their hand up! It was the best day of my life!!! 

Bethany

Fencing

Practising lunging

 

Recently, some Year 4 pupils went to Solent University to do fencing with a coach. Before we had to learn how to fence, we had to work on our footwork and learn the different types of swords. After that, we put on our helmets and got our épée swords (a special fencing sword). Later, we started learning how to lunge, which is an important move in this sport. In order to practise the move, we found a partner to lunge with. After practising, we had to find a partner from other schools so we could have a fencing match. During the match, we had to remember to keep our left hand out of the way because it might get injured by the swords. The matches lasted for around 10 minutes each and were scored much like an Olympic fencing match would be. It was a great day and we really enjoyed it!

Alphen and Nicholas

 

  

Football Captain!

Hello my name is Jamie and I’m football captain for the year 3/4 football team. At Test Park, Springhill had a football tournament with lots of different matches involving football. The first game we played was against Sholing and we won 3-0; I scored two and Josh (3PK) scored one, which I set up. The second match we played was against Basset Green; for this one you have to pass it through a set of gates. We won 17-13 and it was really fun. Next, we played with a mini football and we won 4-0 and we all scored a goal. My favourite game was the final match on the big pitch and I scored a goal and so did Ryan R.

P.S it’s awesome to be football captain and support my team!

Star Writer

 

Hello my name is Joshua and I am writing to you to tell you how it feels to be star writer. You can be a star writer when your big write, which can be fiction or non-fiction, is an excellent piece of work. When you become star writer, you get to wear a crown, a sash and have a red sparkly cloth on your chair.

Star Writer for the day!

 

Being star writer makes you feel very proud of yourself! People have to bow when they pass you. Also, when you are getting told who is going to be star writer we have music which is cool.

My work

 

 

Joshua and Natacha

Maths week

To start off, the first thing we did for maths week was a maths assembly.

During  the assembly, the teachers (with children) played BINGO. After that, we talked about problems around the school, which we had to solve in our own time. Also Mrs Moody announced who won the big maths week problem which was to guess how many sweets there were in a red jar.

 

Finally, Mrs Moody (the maths teacher) gave out the Mathletics certificates. Surprisingly there was a GOLD!


After the assembly, we came back to class and Miss Duddy explained what  year 4 were going to do. We were so lucky because we were going to make things and raise money for CAFOD to  make a profit. The things that we were going to make were Mother’s day cards and pictures with materials such as, ribbons, buttons and many more. With these, we would sell them to family and friends to raise money for CAFOD. Maths week ROCKED !

 

by Maya and Joel

Scratch

Hello our names are Naimah and Zihana and we are going to tell you about Scratch.  Scratch is a program where you can make your character move, walk or talk. For example, you can make it do a 90 degree turn left or a 90 degree turn right. You can import pictures, backgrounds and people or you can draw them. 

The main idea for scratch is to learn how to program your character. If you want your character to move go to the left top corner and click on control, you drag the word with the green flag or space onto the right hand side. You start the movements by pressing the green flag on the right top hand side or press space.

Our latest project on Scratch is creating our own toy. First of all, we planned our own toy on paper, then drew it on Scratch. We also created a PowerPoint about our toy and how we did it. On the program, we were able to change the background, but it had to fit in with the theme of our characters. After this, we print screened our new toy onto our PowerPoint to show the final result. 

Screen shot of our programming instructions

                            CRACK THE CODE

First of all, crack the code is when we answer questions that include multiplication, division and fractions. Then  we look at a piece of paper  which will have the answer on it. Below the answer is a letter and all the letters will form a word of a place in the school. Once we have cracked the code, we have to find Elsa somewhere in the school.

Everyone loves doing this activity because it is fun , educational and we get a treat when we find a picture of Elsa. Miss Duddy promises us that we will do crack the code every maths lesson this week. We were all elated when she told us this fabulous news. Once,  when we found Elsa, behind her was the tasty treat of chocolate fingers. Also, there was a letter thanking us for rescuing her. Everybody in Miss Duddy’s maths jumps for joy when we find out were Elsa is hiding. This is what happens when you mix children and chocolate together!!

by Finola, Eva and Aaron

My retelling of 'The Steadfast Soldier'

My name is Layla and I am in Miss Duddy's class. My teacher and I are really proud of this writing because I think it is my best piece ever. First of all, we watched a video called 'The Steadfast Soldier' and then we wrote about it.

The story is about a soldier with one leg, a jack-in-the-box with no legs and a ballerina with two legs. The ballerina likes the soldier and the soldier likes the ballerina but the evil jack-in-the-box is jealous of the soldier because he likes the ballerina too. I enjoyed doing this work because I love writing and I really liked the story.

 

 

 

Layla

 

Scoring my first goal for the football team!

Last week I played a match against a football team called Meon Cross. It was fun! I was very tense during the journey because when I got there (Test Park) I was on the bench. Then I swapped with Megan. Soon after, I had got the ball from Anna. I ran up the side of the pitch, tried to pass to Anna however it came out of the blue - it was our corner! Everyone held their breath as Anna stepped up to take the corner; before I knew it the ball was at my feet and I was thundering towards the goal. BANG! Back of the net - I had scored. My heart was about to burst and I had a grin from ear to ear! This was a really special day for me as it was the first time I had scored for Springhill! The final score was 4-2  to Springhill.        

Springhill Girls' Football Team

Charlie

An Audience with John Denham - Book Week

On Friday 16^th January, in our school, an MP called John Denham came to visit.

 

Year 4 asked him questions and he answered all of them. One thing that we talked about was democracy. If you don’t know what this means already, it is when people vote for the people who lead their country. One question you might be thinking is if Springhill has democracy. The answer is YES! Our school council is democratic because each class votes for their member.

When everyone finished asking questions, Miss Duddy, our class teacher, went towards the MP. “One boy in my class wants to be an MP or Prime Minister and he would like to ask a question,” she told Mr Denham and all of the children.  I knew it was me! Since everyone was looking at me, I knew I had to speak. With my most sensible voice, I asked him a question.

“Have you ever went against your party on an important idea?”

I was surprised at his reaction because he thought it was an excellent question as he had disagreed with his party. “Yes, I have- when I was in cabinet, I disagreed with the Prime Minister so strongly about the war in Iraq that I actually left government, “ he told us. I was quite surprised. I suppose that would be like me leaving school council if I didn’t agree with something they had decided to do!

Also, we learnt that in Britain, we have laws that mean everyone gets treated equally. It doesn’t matter what colour or religion you are, what country you come from or if you have a disability- everyone must be treated with respect.

In Springhill, we have the same rules because our motto is “together we will do our best for Jesus” and Jesus taught us to treat each other as we would like to be treated.

To sum up, I really enjoyed Mr Denham’s visit as it has inspired me even more to be a politician. It would be great if I did become an MP but I’ll stick to school council… for now! Watch out, David Cameron, Alphen is coming!!!

 

Alphen

 

Book Week 2015

Hi ! I’m Mia and this week its book week!
To start off the week, we had a little quiz about Roald Dahl. We ALL were so excited as the teachers played as well ! Except for reception, the whole school had reading partners to read with. I’m in year 4 and we get year 1, who were so cute ! Also, Chris Wormell, who is an author and illustrator, came to visit us! He read us a few books of his like The Saddest King, drew us an animal made of different creatures and gave us tips for writing a book. Everyone wanted to be an author and draw illustrations for books.

Chris Wormell

The most exciting day of the week is Friday because we get to dress up as someone from a book! This time, each year group has a theme and our theme is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  

Another exciting part is the parents come and do a quiz with us in our class all about books. In addition, there is the extreme reading challenge where people can take photos of themselves reading in weird places like the swimming pool! Finally, there is a competition board which has photos of the teachers as babies with books and the children have to guess the teacher!  I love book week and I love reading.

Mia
 

My first Gymnastics Competition

I recently did a gymnastics competition with my partner Katie. We were against 4 partnerships and came first with a score of 27.34.We performed a grade 2  routine with grace, style and personality. Our coaches were very proud of us since it was our first ever competition together.

 I wasn’t nervous because once I got started  on the floor I forgot about all my  nerves.

My winner's medal

My parents say I was born to perform. I have performed lots of times  in shows but this was my first ever competition! I was 7 when I started gymnastics and this school introduced it to me. We went  to Redbridge school to perform a small and very simple sequence that I enjoyed a lot and because of this I asked my Dad if I could start gymnastics. After many weeks  of persuading, he finally said yes and I  ended up in a recreational class. I am now 9 and  I’m in a higher squad.

 

Eva Year 4