Year 3-4

Dear Parents and Children,

I am pleased that the online learning platform that we setup was such a success. thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked to get it up and running. I am glad that, despite the sudden need to close the school on Monday morning, we were able to get a full week of teaching and learning in. The students were very productive and we managed to cover all the material that was planned for this week. Well done to the super-tech-smart 3-4 class for quickly learning how to use Google classroom and Meets. I had fun in our daily lesson conferences. It was impressive to be able to conduct lessons with students as they were dispersed across the world.

In English we learned new spelling words, revised adverbials and learned about pronouns in our grammar. The students tied in to their IPC learning to create wonderfully creative myth stories explaining natural phenomena. the students shared their stories with each other in the online meeting.

In Math we learned about telling the time in analogue, digital and 24 -hour format. The students are now confident in their time-telling abilities so no excuses for skipping chores or being late.

In IPC we finished off looking at natural phenomena with an awesome home- experiment where we made a tornado in a bottle. We then  progressed on to how to be safe before, during and after certain natural disasters. The irony is not lost on me.

The school will be closed until Friday 13 March as we weather the spread of the Covid-19 virus. We are set to reopen on Monday 16 March should the situation be under control. If this is not the case and it is necessary for the school to be closed for a longer period, parents will be notified by email and text message before Monday 16 March.

Take care and be safe as we wait to overcome this challenge. I look forward to everything returning to normal soon.

Mr Kearney

Spelling Year 3: phrase flexible plot translate polygon grate great plain plane piece

Spelling Year 4: phrase flexible plot translate polygon certain celebrate ceremony certify center

Dear Parents,

I am pleased that we have crammed so much fun and learning into this week. Sadly, we have had to cancel our planned trip to the Emergency Activity Center next week due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak but that won’t stop us from having a good time while learning at HFS

We started by celebrating 100 Days of school this year with exciting math games around the number 100.

in English this week we continued looking at humorous poems and learned about adverbials in our grammar.

In Math we enjoyed learning how to plot coordinates on to a grid to make shapes an then translate that shape into movement, ending off the week by making amazing emoji patterns using coordinates on our grid.

In IPC we got hands-on with tsunamis exploring the concept of wave shoaling.

We were even lucky enough to have had a glimpse of snow falling.

In P.E. we practiced our volleyball skills with balloons.

That is all for this week. Have a safe and happy weekend.

Mr. Kearney

Spelling Year 3: position displace harbor humorous powerful chef machine parachute brochure moustache

Spelling Year 4: position displace harbor humorous powerful science crescent discipline scent scissors

Dear Parents and Children,

I am pleased to report another full and busy week of learning has passed in the year 3-4 classroom.

Firstly, we were happy to welcome back Nathan after his absence. We are glad he is well.

The year 3-4 students conducted an excellent assembly about teamwork and showed off what they have been learning about in IPC. Well done to them for their hard work!

In English this week, the year 3 students learned about “ch” words that make an “sh” sound and the year 4 students learned about “sc” letters making an “s” sound. We also started a new unit on humorous poems looking at limericks and other funny poems. They got to write their own valentine’s poem using rhyme and syllable rhythm.

In Math we also started a new unit in geometry with a quick revision of 2-D and 3-D shapes and how we can see examples of these in everyday life. We moved on to understanding coordinates on a grid and the students had fun being pirates hunting for treasure.

In IPC we continued our exploration of active earth, looking at tsunamis in relation to earthquakes. In groups we created a “active earth dance showing how plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis are related.

In P.E. we started net and wall games by learning about the fundamentals of volleyball. We will look at badminton and tennis as well in the coming weeks.

That is all for this week. Have a wonderful weekend.

Mr. Kearney

Spelling Year 3: tremor boundary epicenter coordinate quadrant chorus echo stomach scheme ache

Spelling Year 4:  tremor boundary epicenter coordinate quadrant submerge submarine subway supervise supersede

Dear Parents and Children,

It is great to have a full week under our belt. We have accomplished much and had a lot of fun in the Year 3-4 class this week.

The highlight of this week was the Pajama Day today. I am pleased that so many children came dressed up in the name of a worthy cause. Well done to Anna, the winner from our class, for her amazing unicorn outfit. I am sure the students enjoyed the popcorn and juice treats, courtesy of the HFS PTA, as they watched the short movie. A great day was had by all.

In English this week the students made story maps out of our class reader, “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” and planned and started their own fantasy stories. I am excited to see what their creative minds can concoct. We also learned about “ch” words making “k” sounds and the “sub” and “super prefixes in our grammar.

In Math the students practiced their short division methods and applied that to solving word problems. They also had fun playing math games. Next week we will start on our Geometry unit looking at coordinates and axes.

We had a lot of hands-on learning fun in IPC as we explored earthquakes. The students built towns and then created earthquakes to see what would happen to them.

We then learned about how earthquakes are measured in terms of how strong they are and how long they last and made seismographs to test this.

We had a special lesson about the different types of germs and the sicknesses they cause and how they spread in light of the current corona-virus outbreak. I am glad that the students are well-informed about this situation.

On Monday the year 3-4’s will conduct the school assembly. the theme is Teamwork and they have prepared a fun activity around that topic. Join us at 1:30 pm on Monday to see that as well as the work that they have been doing these past few weeks.

That is all for this week. Have a wonderful weekend.

Mr Kearney

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Spelling Year 3: fault friction remainder comic earthquake misspell misbehave misplace mistrust misread

Spelling Year 4: fault friction remainder comic earthquake radiation translation vibration creation nation

Dear Parents and Children,

A short but busy week has passed us by in the year 3-4 Johannesburg class.

In English we have continued to read about the exploits of Mr Fox as he tries to escape the three farmers. we are almost finished the book and we are excited to see what happens. The students had fun dressing up and acting out the first part of the book.

In our grammar we learned about the prefixes “Mis” and “Dis”  and how they change the meaning of a word.

The students also learned about the “Ly” suffix and how it can be used for different purposes as an adverb.

In Math we reviewed division, first learning how to create basic division facts using our multiplication charts and understanding that division is the inverse of multiplication. We learned about the dividend and divisor and practiced short division using the bus stop method. The students then applied this to working out logical problems involving division.

In IPC we continued our exploration of our “Active Planet”, this week focusing on earthquakes. The students put together a map of the Earth’s tectonic plates and understood how, where and why earthquakes happen.

Next week we will look at how earthquakes are measured and we will build our own seismographs. The students will be required to bring a shoe-box, similar to the picture below, for the project. Please send a shoe-box to school with your child for the lesson on Tuesday.

We also looked at lava flow and completed an experiment exploring why different liquids move at different speeds.

In P.E we continued to focus on object control in games by practicing our controlled dribbling for basketball.

That is all for this week. Have a wonderful weekend.

Mr Kearney

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Spelling Year 3: Pressure chicken tectonic negative positive gardener gardening focused focusing offered

Spelling Year 4:  Pressure chicken tectonic negative positive cereal serial through threw stairs

Dear Parents and Children,

A short but eventful week has passed at HFS in the year 3 – 4 Johannesburg class.

The two big events being the open day on Monday and our Seollal celebration. I am glad that parents could get the opportunity to see our students engaging with augmented reality in the classroom. The students had fun using AR to research different countries.

The students also looked spectacular in their Hanboks and clothing from their country for our Seollal celebration.  We made posters and wish cards and the students prepared presentations about Seollal for the assembly. We then enjoyed some traditional Korean games to round-off the fun-filed program. An enjoyable day was had by all.

We kept busy the rest of the week with regular learning. In English we read through chapter 9 of “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” and the students prepared plays about the first part of the book. We will watch them next week.

In Math the students moved on from decimals to negative numbers understanding that tenths and hundredths, while very small, are still larger than 0 and negative numbers. We applied this to looking at thermometers and performing calculations in changes of temperature in degrees Celsius.

In IPC we had a blast making clay volcanoes and then watching them erupt by mixing water, baking soda, dish washing liquid and adding vinegar. The students also worked in groups researching actual volcanoes from around the world and making posters for our display board. Next week we will continue with plate tectonics and look at earthquakes.

Finally, we are all glad that Reyansh has returned (Now we can eat).

That is all for this week. Have a joyous and prosperous Seollal and Lunar New Year

Mr Kearney.

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Spelling Year 3: fantasy decimal active dormant core myth gym pyramid mystery system

Spelling Year 4: fantasy decimal active dormant core accept except affect effect aloud

Dear Parents and Children,

In our second week of term 2 we have had a lot of fun in our learning. We are glad that Leo has returned from the Winter break. The highlight of the week was no doubt the International hat day festivities. I am so impressed with the creative designs the students made for the day. Well Done Leo! Your towering colorful hat was a worthy winner from our class.

In English we began our unit on fantasy stories by reading the first few chapters of Roald Dahl’s “The Fantastic Mr Fox”. The students are enjoying each chapter as we complete comprehension questions, act out plays and create a comic book of the story. They have already made excellent wanted posters to help the farmers catch the fox.

In Math we continued with place value and decimals, learning to multiply and divide by 10 and 100 by moving the correct number of places. The students then applied that to completing word problems.

In IPC we continued with our exploration of volcanoes, understanding the parts and types of volcanoes and how they are formed. Next week we will make a lava flow and, in groups, research a volcano from around the world.

In ICT the students researched the meaning of Seollal in groups and created presentations for our Seollal celebration on Tuesday. I look forward to seeing their work.

We continued with our fundamental skills in P.E. playing 2 different games that focused on passing. These were “Bull in the Ring” and “End-Zone” – a game using bouncing basketballs.

That is all for this week. I hope to see you at the open day on Monday and our Seollal celebration on Tuesday next week.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Mr Kearney. More…

Dear Parents and Children,

Welcome back to a new term in the Year 3-4 Johannesburg class at HFS.

The students hit the ground running this week plunging straight into learning despite being away for the wonderful winter break.

We got placed into table groups and already have begun with group projects about HFS.

In learning this week, the students were busy. In English we reviewed the grammar and writing from last term, including capitals and punctuation, connectives and sentence openers. Next week we will start our unit on Fantasy stories and we will read “The fantastic Mr. Fox” by Roald Dahl which the students are sure to enjoy.

In learning this week, the students were busy. In English we reviewed the grammar and writing from last term, including capitals and punctuation, connectives and sentence openers. Next week we will start our unit on Fantasy stories and we will read “The fantastic Mr. Fox” by Roald Dahl which the students are sure to enjoy.

It was also Chris’s birthday on Tuesday which we celebrated in HFS style.

In P.E. we started our unit on fundamental control activities by focusing on two-handed throwing for accuracy.

In math we continued from fractions from last term understanding how to show fractions as decimals of tenths and hundredths and performing calculations to make whole numbers.

We started a new unit called “Active Planet” in IPC and In the coming weeks we will be exploring volcanoes, earthquakes and other phenomena that make Earth so dynamic. The students researched volcanoes and created their own glossaries of new terminology about the subject.

On Wednesday 15 January we will celebrate International Hat Day. Please encourage to make or obtain a silly hat to wear on the day. Classes will vote on the best hat and we will vote as a school for the best one out of the finalists.

That is all for this week. Have a wonderful weekend.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents and Children,

And we have come to the end of a fantastically busy, challenging and exciting term in the Year 3-4 class. As I look back on all that we have covered over the last few months I am filled with pride.

Congratulations to Seongyun and Cherry Blossom on their commendation and Citizenship awards. Your names will be up on the HFS Wall of Honour when you return.

Thank you to Lois for her thoughtful Christmas cards, it is really a touching gesture. Thank you to Logan for the candy treats. They really made the last day special.

I am so proud of the students for all their hard work this term. It was clearly visible in their biographies and news reports which everyone enjoyed. Well done to all of you! Here is a link to video 1 and video 2 and video 3

Despite it being the last week of term the students kept busy in their learning, eagerly working on their news report projects and biographies. We also had a special cultural exchange lesson with a middle school in Seoul. We got to talk to students from another school and see their presentations about their school. We  discussed ideas for what would be the perfect school. I am very glad that our students had creative and sensible ideas for creating the ideal school. Please enjoy these pictures of the learning that has taken place this week.

The students have earned a well-deserved Winter break and I hope that you have a joyous and blessed festive season. Have a wonderful holiday everyone and I will see you on for Term 2 on Monday 6 January.

Mr. Kearney More…