Happy weekend.
We have had a productive week in which we have become quite fluent in calculating area and perimeter. Today we have investigated that the area of a right angled triangle is actually just half of a rectangle and we already know how to calculate the area of a rectangle so that was some extra knowledge for free.
Next week we shall be moving onto the calculation of volume and then revising different types of measures and how we convert from one unit of measure to another. It would be a help if their attention could be drawn towards the units of measure used for everyday things such as car journeys, cooking, liquids, a packet of crisps compared with a sack of potatoes etc.
In English we have been investigating formal vocabulary in readiness for writing a police report based on the crime at the beginning of our novel ‘Smith’. Before that though, the children are going to have to improve a report that I wrote regarding a threat to a pair of eagles – they didn’t seem to think that I had done a very good job of it!
History this last week had us learning a bit about the Ottoman Empire, where it was located and when it existed. We began to discuss the achievements of the empire and will be debating which were most notable.
Finally, I have included a few photos of the gnome villages that they created during our Woodland School session this week. There are some lucky gnomes in Chagford!

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!
After my late start to the term, we now seem to be back into full swing and forging ahead with our learning.
The ‘Snow Leopard’ stories are now mostly ready for display. I have been really touched by the effort put into the descriptions in the children’s stories and also to the detailed editing that was done prior to the write-up. I can really see now that the rules of punctuation are being absorbed and demonstrated and that spelling is improving which makes the beautiful content of the stories even more pleasurable to read.
In maths, we have made a new best friend this week … 10%! Our friend has helped us be able to calculate any other fraction of an amount and we are feeling more confident. We shall be moving on to area and perimeter next.
On a lighter note, I promised the children a taste of haggis, neeps and tatties for Burns’ night next week. I shall be getting an ‘original’ and a vegetarian haggis and the tasting (on Tuesday) will not be compulsory but do drop me a line if your child has a related food allergy (I shall also check the school system for details but I thought I’d mention it anyway)
We have reached the time of year when progress really starts to become evident and I am pleased to say that everyone is taking huge strides in their learning. Well done everyone, keep up the good work and keep reading!