Telling the time

We have been learning to tell the time using both an analogue clock and a digital clock. These are the stages we have been through:

1. Learning o'clock and half past
2. Learning quarter past and quarter to
3. Learning all past and to times, to the nearest 5 minutes
4. Converting analogue times to digital times and digital to analogue
5. Calculating time intervals, eg. How long from 10:35 to 11:10?

This website helps practise what we have learnt (there are links to many time activities from this one site):

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/measures.htm#Time

Doubling the last consonant when adding 'ing'

This week's spelling rule is when to double the last consonant before adding 'ing'.

If the verb ends in CVC (consonant, verb, consonant), the last consonant needs to be doubled before adding 'ing'. This to keep the short vowel sound.

eg. hop = hopping

If the last consonant is not doubled it becomes: hoping - which has a long vowel sound and is a very different word!

Methods for doubling and halving

Doubling is the same as multiplying by 2, so any method that works for multiplying by 2 also works for doubling. The same is true for halving and dividing by 2.

1. Use objects or fingers to help.

2. Use knowledge of 2 times table

3. Write down the number. Split it into tens and ones. Double or halve each part then add the answers back together.

Eg. doubling

Remember to separate the tens and ones to 30 and 4, not 3 and 4!

This method can also be used for halving.

If it is difficult to halve the tens, separate the tens into a 10 and the rest of the tens.

eg. halving

Doubling

This week in maths we have been doubling and halving. This website has a doubling function machine where you can put in any number and have to work it the double before the machine does: http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/double.html

Another website that uses doubling and halving strategies to reach a given target number:
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=crazyc

An easier doubling game:
http://www.ictgames.com/rhoodbeyond10.html

A great website for doubling numbers up to 100. The number is presented using place value cards showing the number made up of 10s and 1s. There are also abacuses at the top of the screen showing two lots of 10s and 1s. These can be counted to help calculate the double:
http://www.ictgames.com/woodcards.html

Chore Wars!

I have discovered a great American website designed to encourage chores to get done, including homework and reading (I'm glad for most it's not a chore!). It works a bit like a computer adventure game where each person chooses a character and earns points for things they do in the real world. A free account is set up and you choose the tasks and the points awarded and then invite people to join. These can be members of your household or include other friends or family. This could be a great way to encourage reluctant readers or those who don't like doing homework!

The website is: www.chorewars.com

Let me know if it works for you!

Adding 'ing'

This week in spellings we are adding 'ing' to words that end in 'e'.

Remember: Take off the 'e' when you add 'i' 'n' 'g'!

These websites have words you can practise on: http://www.teachingandlearningresources.co.uk/ing2.shtml
http://www.english-zone.com/spelling/ing1.html

This website has several games which use all the spelling rules for adding 'ing': http://www.northwood.org.uk/spelling%20adding%20ing.htm

multiplying

We are trying to learn our multiplication tables. However, until we have learnt them off by heart there are lots of ways we can work out the answers.

1. We can use objects to make groups then count the total number of objects. Eg. 4 x 3 = 12
Make 4 groups with 3 objects in each:

2. We can draw pictures to show the groups. Eg. 3 x 5 = 15 Draw 3 groups with 5 things in each group:

3. We can use our fingers. Eg. to work out 5 x 2 count up in 2's putting a finger up for each number until 5 fingers are up to get the answer.

times tables certificates

We are working towards getting bronze, silver and gold times tables certificates. To get the bronze certificate we need to know the 0, 1, 2, 5 and 10 times tables. To get the silver we need to know 3, 4, 9, 11 and the 6, 7, 8, 12 times tables to get the gold.

We have to be able to say the whole table correct, eg. 2 x 5 = 10, rather than just counting up in 10s. We also have to be able to quickly answer random questions to show we have learnt them off by heart.

'ought' and 'aught' words

Some groups are learning 'ought' and 'aught' words this week in spelling. Unfortunately I am unable to find any websites to help learn these spelling. However, this website has a great spelling game (choose grade 2 as this is the same as year 3!):

http://www.fekids.com/kln/games/whomp/whomp.html

Diwali Divas

In RE we are learning about the Hindu festival of Diwali. We made divas out of clay then painted them.

Rainforest clay plaques

As part of our rainforest topic we made clay plaques. We looked at photos of pots made by people who live in the rainforest, focussing on the patterns they used. We rolled out a piece of grey clay then placed red clay coils on top to make the patterns. We then rolled it all over to make the red clay sink into the grey clay.

Times tables

We are learning our times tables.

Go to this web page to find links to lots of games to practice and help learn multiplication tables:
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/interactive.htm

'ight'words

Our spellings this week are 'ight' words.

Try out this wordsearch to find 'ight' words (play game 7):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/recognising/letterpatterns/game.shtml

Practice spelling 'ight' words (select 'igh'):
http://www.ictgames.com/lcwc.html

Move the 'ight' words to go with their correct meaning (there are 2 sets):
http://www.readwritenow.ie/index.cfm?page=exercise&exerciseId=98

This website has lots of 'ight' words and a poem with lots of 'ight's:
http://www.akidjustlikeme.com/id40.htm

Watch the video to help learn how to spell 'ight' words:
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/english/ightwords.htm

Calligrams

We are learning about shape poems in literacy. Last week we looked at calligrams.

This is a wonderful site where the letters of each animal's name move into the shape of the animal:
http://www.bemboszoo.com/Bembo.swf

Sorting animals

Today in science we learnt about sorting animals into groups. We sorted a variety of animals into groups based on our own criterea.

This is a great website to practice identifying animals that have certain characteristics:
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/class.html

This website lets you sort animals into your own groups (choose activity 2):
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=variation2c

This website has a conveyor belt with animals for you to take off and put into the correct groups:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/6_7/variation.shtml

Welcome

I have created this blog to mainly provide links to the websites we are using in class. Hopefully my class will enjoy being able to use the websites at home.