Year 3
Welcome to Year 3
Welcome back to Spring Two in Year 3. This term is going to be very busy and we have lots of fun activities planned for you all to enjoy over the next 6 weeks.
We will be using our curriculum questions of ‘Where are we going and Who will we meet?’ throughout our units of work, travelling around the world and meeting many significant individuals and looking at many different places.
All of our Spring two learning is listed below. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to speak to us before or after school.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, we will be learning about money. We will be counting amounts of money, showing amounts of money in different ways, adding and subtracting money whilst calculating change and using this to solve word problems.
Next, we will move onto time, children will be able to tell the time (o’clock, half past, quarter past and to, five-minute intervals and to the nearest minute). To tell and write the time from an analogue clock, including Roman numerals from I to XII. To read and write 12- and 24-hour clocks. To know the number of seconds in a minute and the number of days in a month whilst comparing durations of events.
The children will need to access TTRS to assist with their learning for 10 minutes a night. The children will have individual logins for Times Tables Rock Stars. They can access the app at home on a tablet or through the internet. Please encourage your child to play for 10 minutes a day as by the end of Y3, the children need to be fluent in their 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 8x, and 10x tables.
Please click below to assess the TTRS website.
English
In English, the children will be reading 1 different core text: ‘Cloud Tea Monkeys’ by Mal Peet & Elspeth Graham. Whilst reading these stories, the children will be responding to and learning new language and vocabulary, writing in role, writing instructions. We will be building up to writing our own non-chronological report about tea.
Guided Reading sessions occur daily and will focus on reading comprehension by using a range of questioning techniques to develop their understanding (VIPERS). These sessions happen using a whole class approach. We will also focus on decoding and fluency if necessary. Children will have opportunities over the week to read independently, read for pleasure or read 1:1 with a member of staff. We will be reading ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ by T.S Eliot and ‘Amazing Africa’ by Atinuke.
Spellings
Children will be given a set of words to practice every Monday. This may not be in the form of a paper slip but rather through spelling shed. Spellings tests will happen weekly on Monday. To support them further, encourage your child to access Spelling Shed for 10 minutes a day. This gives the children a variety of learning games to maintain engagement and assignments to complete linked to spellings for the week.
Science
In science, we are learning about the topic ‘Forces and Magnets'. During this topic, the children will be learning what a force is and relate this to everyday life. Children will start to understand what a magnet is that it has a north and south pole and that magnets attract and repel. Our key scientist for this half-term is Magnes the Shepherd boy.
Geography
In geography, we will be learning all about rivers and the water cycle. The children will understand what a river is and its physical features. Locate rivers in the UK and famous rivers around the world as well as learn the stages of the water cycle. We will conduct fieldwork regarding to the River Roch and understand the human and physical impacts on a river.
DT
In DT, we will be learning all about ‘Constructing a castle.’ The children will learn the features of a castle. Then develop designs of a castle they would like to make. Next, we will construct the castle and then evaluate it.
Computing
In computing, we are learning all more about computer systems and networks but this time our focus is on what is inside a computer. We will learn about inputs and outputs, identifying the components inside a laptop and to understand the purpose of all the parts. Finally, decomposing a tablet computer.
Religious Education
Our focus will be:
Why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday?’
(Salvation)
Life Education
In Life Education, we will learn all about ‘Citizenship.' We will look at the UN Convention on the rights of the child and understand how both children and adults can help children benefit from these rights. We will understand the environmental benefits from recycling before looking at local community groups. We will look at how charities care for others and how people can support them. We will link this into our class charity 'The ADHD Foundation'. Finally, we will look at local democracy (British Values) and understand why we have rules and consequences.
Also we will study ‘Economics’ and develop an understanding of different ways of paying, budgeting, recognising that money has an impact of how someone can feel, understanding how ethics can influence on spending decisions. Whilst exploring jobs available and that stereotypes should not stop limit a person’s career aspirations.
French
Our focus will be:
In a French Classroom.
Music
In music, we will have Bury Music Service delivering Curriculum lessons. The children will have plenty of opportunities to perform, play, listen and appraise, and compose. This Spring Term, we are looking at 'Culture Club'- Fusion Composition focusing on World music experiences.
Physical Education
In PE, we will be focusing on 'Striking and Fielding'. The children can come into school wearing their PE Kit on the day they do PE, which for our class is Wednesday.
The children are required to wear:
Black shorts/tracksuit bottoms/leggings;
Red t-shirt;
Black trainers.
Homework
Children will have weekly homework to complete to support their learning in school. As a minimum the children have 3 main tasks to complete:
Times Tables Rock Stars – 5-10 minutes a day;
Spelling Shed – 5-10 minutes a day practising weekly spelling patterns;
Accelerated Reader Book – Read daily for 10-15 minutes.
Reading Books
Reading books will be changed as and when required by your child. If a child finishes their book, they will quiz on the book through ‘Accelerated Reader’ before choosing another book within their ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development). This ensures children are making the optimal amount of progress for their reading needs. The quizzes monitor comprehension and vocabulary, assessing whether the children have understood the book they have read.
It is very important that your child brings this book home and back to school daily as no new books will be allowed home if it is not brought in. It is equally as important that your child reads every evening for at least 10 minutes. This can be independently, with an older sibling or adult.
Please take a look at our planning documents to find out more about what we will be learning this year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to us in the morning, at the end of the school day.
Mr. Lawson and Miss. McCoy