Contact details
Year Leader/3BW: [email protected]
3SB: [email protected]
3TW: [email protected] or [email protected]
Useful Websites to use at home:
Accelerated Reader: https://ukhosted105.renlearn.co.uk/6708094/
Times table Rockstar: https://ttrockstars.com/
Sumdog: https://www.sumdog.com/en/
Spelling Shed: https://www.spellingshed.com/en-gb/
Myon: https://www.myon.co.uk/index.html
Overview of our current topics:
THIS TERM, OUR TOPIC IS…
An Ancient Adventure
Our next topic of the year will have a history focus and will revolve around the Ancient Egyptians. To begin this unit, we will start by taking part in Egyptian Day on the 9th November , where will explore chronology, artwork and heiroglyphics. We will then explore how the tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered and why he was famous. After this, we will then use our research skills to find out more about the pyramids and mummification.
English
To begin this half term, we will be looking at creating setting descriptions of Africa based on the story of Akimbo and the Elephants. We will explore the use of descriptive language including alliteration, collective nouns and similes as well as different sentence structures to create our writing.
We will then begin to focus on non-fiction writing and exploring biographies. We will write our own biography of a famous female sports star using different organisational devices such as paragraphs, headings and subheadings. We will also look at how language is used for effect.
In our Guided Reading lessons, we will continue our reading journey by looking at the skill of retrieving information before moving onto summarising and then inferring characters thoughts and feelings in both fiction and non-fiction texts.
Spelling
Over the year, in class, we will be using our investigation skills to explore different spelling rules including the use of prefixes and suffixes.
As weekly homework, we will also be developing strategies for learning the Year Three National Curriculum exception words which are sent home every Friday. These will then be assessed in class at the end of each half term.
The spellings that will be sent home each week in the second Autumn half term are:
Breath
Breathe
Busy
Caught
Eight
Eighth
Straight
Weight
Maths
This half term, we will continue to learn addition and subtraction skills using both mental and written strategies. Our written strategies use the column method for addition and subtraction.
Please use the links below to find out more
Addition: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zy2mn39/articles/z3kmrwx
Subtraction: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zy2mn39/articles/zc78srd
We will then move on to multiplication and division using arrays as well as focusing on our 2, 3, 4 and 8 times table and how they are related.
We all have our own Times Table Rock Star accounts which is an online game which can help us learn our times tables. It can be accessed online from both school and home. By the end of year 3, pupils should be able to recall the multiplication and division facts for the 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 times tables. This half term we will be focusing on our 4 and 8 times tables.
To support your child further with this, please consolidate reciting these facts, finding related division facts and rapid recall in a variety of ways.
Science
For our first unit of Science in Year 3, we will be learning about light. We will begin the unit by finding out what light is and why it is important. We then will learn about reflective surfaces and shadows. We will also explore why some light can be dangerous and what we can do to keep safe.
To finish our learning, how moving light sources can have an effect on shadows and the relationship between them.
After this we will look at Forces and Motion. We will explore friction and how this can affect different objects. We will explore, classify and group magnets and discover their effects on different materials.
PSHE
This half term, we will continue to explore the unit of Health and Wellbeing. We will look at the different ways we can keep safe in a variety of different situations and the people that we can call on for help. We will then move on to exploring balanced lifestyles. We will look at the benefits of a balanaced diet, exercise and sleep.
Music
This term in Music lessons, we will be learning to play African djembe drums. We will start by discussing the different types of music and instruments that we like. We will then begin to explore different pieces of African music and the different structures that are used. We will learn how to hold the instrument properly, how to play different tones, practise call and response and will finish with a class performance.
RE
For our next RE topic, all of our learning will focus around the concept of Angels. After exploring what this concept means, we will explore how angels are portrayed and what makes them important to some Christians. We will then discover the importance of angels within the Christmas story and how it might differ if there were no angels within the story.
French
In French this half term, we will continue to look at using everyday classroom commands and how they can be translated into French. We will then begin to look at colours using French phonics.
Art
Our next art topic will be printing. We will start by looking at some art work in the ancient Egyptian pyramids. During this topic, we will experiment with different printing techniques as well as thinking about colour choice and layering. We will then have a chance to practise these skills before moving on to our final printing piece.
Computing
Our first computing topic is called Technology All Around Us and looks at how technology is used in our every day life and how it is used. We will start by looking at input and output devices and how information can be processed. We will then compare how different tasks can be completed by using both technological and non-technological means.
We will then move onto Creative Computing in which the children will explore stop frame animation.
PE
PE is on Monday and Tuesday. Please arrive at school in your PE kit and remain in this for the day.
Monday’s is Outdoor PE. Unit 1 will focus on Personal Skills.
Tuesday’s is Indoor PE. Unit 1 will be Real Gym.
Each class will be taking part in Real Gym until February and these will take place in their indoor sessions. As always, the safety of our children is paramount and to ensure this remains, the PE uniform policy is listed below:
-Children must wear the correct PE uniform during Real Gym sessions; black shorts, leggings or ‘skins’ and a white tee shirt. Children cannot wear tracksuit bottoms or sweatshirts during Real Gym sessions. As we are asking your children to wear their PE kit into school, they could still wear tracksuit bottoms/sweatshirts to school in the winter months over their shorts and tee shirt. They can still wear tracksuit bottoms or sweatshirts during their outdoor PE session.
-No jewellery can be worn during Real Gym sessions, this includes any earrings, even studs. If your child cannot remove their own stud earrings for these sessions, please do not send them into school wearing them on their Real Gym days.
-Watches cannot must not be worn so we ask you not to send your child in with a watch on their Real Gym days.
-During Real Gym sessions, your child will be asked to remove their shoes and socks as this will increase their grip on the equipment greatly. If there is a medical reason why you would like your child to not go barefoot, please discuss this directly with their class teacher.
Our PE uniform for Real Gym sessions is based on advice by the British Gymnastics governing body and is designed to ensure your child is as safe as possible during their exciting Real Gym sessions.
Dates for the Diary
Egyptian Day- Thursday 9th November
INSET Day – Friday 17th November
INSET Day – Monday 27th November
INSET Day – Monday 15th January
Internet Safety Day- 02.02.24
Children’s mental health week- WB 05.02.24
INSET Day – Monday 8th July
INSET Day – Wednesday 24th July
Homework
Our homework has 3 elements:
1 – Daily reading
Regular reading of a variety of genres is an integral part of the curriculum and develops a range of skills that children can utilise on a daily basis. We expect children to read regularly and aim for at least 5 times a week.
2 – Daily times tables practise
This could be chanting, rapid recall or quick fire questions with a family member, use of Times Tables Rockstar or playing different times tables games. By the end of Year 3, Government expectations are that children will have rapid and fluent recall of at least the 2x, 5x, 10x, 3x, 4x and 8x tables.
3- Spellings
We expect children to learn the Year 3 National Curriculum spellings and each week, a new word will be sent out to learn. In addition, they will be tested on them at the end of each half term.