'In English, we have been writing a non-chronological report. We have been learning about the Shang Dynasty, which ruled ancient China. People in the Shang Dynasty worshipped many gods. The Shang priests would use oracle bones, animal bones covered in ancient writing, to communicate with gods and dead ancestors, and predict the future.
Did you know during this time these Shang soldiers wore bronze helmets?' –Albaab
'This heatwave has been causing a massive problem for all of us! I pray this heatwave goes away because I did NOT enjoy it at all! Remember everyone, bring your water bottles with you to keep yourself hydrated. The one thing I did enjoy was being under the trees for shade and leaving school early.' –Ismail
Initially, as a class, we all planted some sunflower seeds in the classroom. As they grew bigger, they needed space to grow outside. We worked with Ustadh Meveuldin and Miss Naz to plant these sunflowers. We decided it was best to plant them inside the gate as that is where the sunlight shines the most.
'We all went behind the planting gate to plant the sunflower plants. First we began by digging a large hole, then we squeezed the plant out of the pot and put it into the hole we dug. After, we put soil around the plant to cover the hole and watered the plants. My favourite part was watering the plants.' – Halima
We look forward to watching the plants flourish in the months ahead!
This term, Year 4 have been developing their artistic skills by exploring the wonderful world of watercolour painting. As part of our learning, they studied the landscape artwork of famous artists and discovered how they use colour, texture and different painting techniques to bring natural scenes to life.
They learnt that a landscape painting shows natural features such as hills, valleys, mountains, islands and coastlines. Using watercolours, they experimented with a range of techniques to create their own beautiful landscapes.
We are very proud of our finished pieces and all the new skills we have learnt. Have a look at their fantastic artwork below!
Year 4 Lychee were delighted to receive a generous donation of plants from Fatimah’s parents, who kindly gifted them to our school. With the help of Ustadh Mevludin, a group of enthusiastic children worked together to plant them in our flower beds, helping to make our school environment greener and more beautiful.
This activity also linked closely to Islamic teachings about caring for the Earth and being responsible stewards of Allah’s creation. The children reflected on the importance of looking after nature and the rewards of planting and nurturing living things.
Year 4 have been given a fantastic opportunity to grow not only plants, but also their understanding of teamwork, responsibility, and environmental care. We look forward to watching the plants flourish in the months ahead.
Year 4 recently took part in an exciting Electricity and Circuits Workshop at school, led by a visiting workshop leader. Throughout the session, the children developed their understanding of electricity through a range of engaging, hands-on activities and investigations.
The workshop gave pupils the opportunity to explore how electrical circuits work, identify the different components needed to make a circuit, and discover how electricity powers many of the devices we use every day. The children enjoyed experimenting with equipment, making predictions, and testing their ideas as they investigated how electricity flows through a circuit.
The workshop brought learning to life and helped to reinforce key scientific concepts in a fun and interactive way. Year 4 showed great enthusiasm, curiosity, and teamwork throughout the session, asking thoughtful questions and sharing their discoveries with one another.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and gained valuable knowledge that will support their learning in science. It was a fantastic experience that inspired many budding scientists!
Year 4 have been learning about Creating Media: Photo Editing in Computing. During this topic, pupils have explored how digital images can be changed and improved using a range of editing tools. They have learnt how to crop images, rotate pictures, adjust colours and brightness, and remove unwanted parts from photographs. Using laptops, the children have enjoyed experimenting with different effects and developing their creativity while also learning important digital skills. The class has shown great enthusiasm and confidence when using photo-editing software to create and improve their own images.
“In Computing we have been learning how to edit pictures and remove unnecessary things from images. We have been practising during our Computing lessons on computers. I have really enjoyed it!” – Abdulahad A.
Year 4 learnt about electrical circuits! An electrical circuit is a loop through which an electric current can flow.
It consists of:
A power source – such as a battery or a generator
Wires – which allow electric current to flow through them
Components – devices such as switches, bulbs, or motors
Year 4 Lychee had a brilliant time visiting South Park to see nature up close! We really wanted to take our current topic, "Cycles," out of the classroom and see it happening in the real world.
These places of nature are homes to so many species of animals and plants! We used binoculars to observe the different types of insects. We also looked for mini-beasts and studied their habitats. Can you imagine how many species of animals and plants are housed in the rainforest? Millions!
'For our Drop-Down Day, we visited South Park and what I enjoyed on the trip the most was when we did pond dipping. We searched for insects and bugs in the lake water. I also enjoyed it when we went to hunt for insects in the park and used a magnifying glass to see the features of the insects. I saw a real life centipede! I really enjoyed this trip!' - Aisha H
World Book Day was created to celebrate books and reading. In the UK, the focus is on encouraging children and young people to read for fun. World Book Day is celebrated by 100 countries all over the world. The aim is for children to be able to get together and celebrate a love of reading.
'For World Book day I was dressed up as Matilda, which is my favourite character and book. I enjoyed seeing my other friends dressed up as well. My friend was dressed as a stick man and I personally think she was the best dressed. We got a book token so we can buy new books at the end of the day. I am very excited about this!' - Halima S
'In Science, we learnt about eating and digestion. We explore ways of keeping our teeth healthy.
In class, we carried out the 'Apple Cavity Experiment'. Our experiment was to explore how sugar affects our teeth – using apples!
We had three apples – one clean untouched apple, one with a hole and one with a hole and sugar inside. After 24 hours, I examined the apple and found that the healthy apple was still healthy. The one with a hole changed in colour, the hole was very dark. The one with the hole and sugar made had lots of liquid (slimy).
I enjoyed how apples can be shown/revealed and linked to our teeth and the experiment we carried out.' - Muhammad H
'Ramadan is a blessed month of Islam. It is a time we only eat and drink after iftar and suhoor.
In Ramadan, I read qur'an, pray my five daily prayers. I am trying to learn the Arabic language and give salaam more often to everyone. All these things help us achieve good deeds and this is a blessing from Allah.
In this blessed Ramadan, I have enjoyed having so many good deeds, and I've enjoyed having my good deeds multiplied. This is Allah's blessing. If you eat by accident, and you're fasting, your fast is not broken. These are signs of Allah's mercy and blessings.
For suhoor I had: weetabix, nutella, cookies, milk and dates. For Iftar, I ate: dates, milk, fries, hot dogs, chicken wings nuggets, and pink milk. All this food is a blessing from Allah.
After Ramadan, we have Eid. You can eat as much as you want, especially after eid prayer – alhamdulilah!!!' - Kiswah S