This week in Base 4

We hope you had a lovely weeks half-term. Base 4 are already right back in the swing of things and to make things even better the sun has started to show its face a bit more. Here's hoping for a super sunny final few weeks.

In maths this week we have been finding equivalent fractions and learning how we can convert to a common denominator. I'm sure the children will be chanting "whatever we do to the bottom, we've got to do to the top!" in their sleep. We then used this knowledge to help us add and subtract fractions with different denominators before finally learning to add and subtract improper and mixed number fractions — phew! Huge amounts of learning took place and I think even the children were surprised by what they could do by the end of the week.

In science, the year 5's were looking at how fire fighters solve the problem of putting out different types of fires. We understood that fires need a fuel of some sort and that they need the presence of oxygen to continue to burn. It was great to see that so many could remember the important information that had been provided by the fire safety team on their recent visit with the Year 5's. We also considered how a gas can be produced as a result of a reaction and then watched with astonishment as the carbon dioxide gas produced by the reaction between vinegar and bicarbonate of soda was 'poured' over a lit candle and extinguished the small flame.

Literacy saw us completing our gorey instructions for the mummification of dead Pharaohs, although we attempted to try to lighten the mood with a more upbeat introduction section and use of our hook questions.

On a similar theme, we have been exploring the history of the pyramids and looking at how they were constructed. Often these pyramids began to be built almost as soon as the new Pharaoh took power. It must have been like your grave being dug the day you were born! Although we had some interesting ideas about how these marvels of the ancient world might have been built, it was equally interesting to find out that no-one actually knows. How people in those times managed to move such huge blocks from the quarries to the site and then hoist them into position is unknown although we found that there were some theories — but our ideas were just as good.

Have a great weekend.