Welcome to Year 3

with Miss Armstrong, Mrs. Belani, Mrs. Harvey and Mrs. Newitt

Topic

Over the course of the half term, children will be studying the Amazon rainforest. They will learn how to locate the rainforests around the world using maps, atlases and globes. Children will also begin to identify both human and geographical features of the rainforest, including; types of settlements, land use, climate zones and the layers of the Rainforest.

In addition, children will have the opportunity to see and learn about plants similar to those found in the rainforest during a visit the Glasshouse at Jephson Gardens.

English

In English, we will extend our topic learning by reading the book ‘The Great Kapok Tree’.

Children will consider the story from a range of viewpoints, before writing a recount as though they are a character in the story.

By reading and reflecting on this story, children will develop their moral understanding of issues such as deforestation and preservation.

Poetry

Our poetry focus this half term, stems from the beautiful ‘Lost Words Spell Book’. This book will be used as inspiration for our own ‘spells’ (poems) linking to our rainforest topic.

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar

During this half term, children will be developing their use of inverted commas (speech marks), adverbs, headings and subheadings and time conjunctions through discrete lessons. Children will also be encouraged to apply these skills within their writing.

Maths

We will be starting this half term by reading and writing numbers up to 1000 in both words and numerals, noting the value of each digit. Children will then begin to partition numbers to help them solve word problems.

We will also be adding and subtracting numbers, using both mental and written methods.

Children will revise counting in steps of 2, 3, 5 and 10 as well as finding 10 more or less than a given number.

When looking at fractions, children will begin to recognise that fractions are a part of a whole, using both objects and numbers.

In shape and measure, children will start to recognise and define the properties of 2D and 3D shapes. We will also develop of understanding of units of measure with regards to mass, ordering measurements in the correct sequence.

R.E.

In R.E. this half term, we will be learning about belonging. We will begin by exploring the different groups we belong to, considering why we think it is important to belong to a group. We will identify Baptism as the first Sacrament which welcomes Catholics into God’s family.

We will also be learning about the ways Catholics celebrate their belonging to God’s family by Celebrating Mass.

Science

In science this half term, we will be studying plants. Our key areas of focus will be; identifying parts of a plant, discovering what plants need to grow well, investigating how water is transported within plants, exploring the important role that a flower plays in the life cycle of a flowering plant and sequencing the stages of the life cycle of a flowering plant.

Children will develop their understanding of scientific processes by; setting up investigations, asking and answering scientific questions, recording their findings and presenting their results in a variety of ways, drawing conclusions based on their findings and ordering and classifying information which is presented to them.

P.E.

Children will have P.E. with Mr. Bromley on Monday and Friday afternoons.

This half term they will be developing their ball skills through practising and playing football and tag rugby.

Computing

In computing this half term, children will learn how to use a search engine safely, respectfully and responsibly, to effectively research the plants and animals of the rainforest. We will develop an understanding of the value of the internet by gathering information we might not otherwise have had access to.

Home learning

Children have received their home learning books and their home learning diary to record anything they need to remember each week.

Home learning will be set on a Thursday and must be returned the following Monday.

The purpose of tasks set for home learning will be to consolidate their school learning, so children should be able to complete it with little support.

Please check your child’s home learning tasks are completed to a high standard before it is returned to school.

Unfortunately, home learning which is not completed or is not completed to a high standard will need to be completed during your child’s break time.

Remember year 3; we always try our best.

Times tables

It is so important that your child can recall and use times tables at speed. Their ability to do this will significantly influence their learning.

Please help your child by practising with them. The internet is a great tool for finding games, songs to make this a fun thing to do together.

In year 3, children should know the 2, 5 and 10 times tables and begin to learn the 3, 4 and 8 times tables.

Reading

All children are expected to read at home every night and discuss what they have read with an adult. It is essential that your child understands the text they are reading and becomes familiar with new vocabulary. These skills are vital for children to progress across the whole curriculum.

Children’s reading records must be signed by an adult every night, please also include the page numbers read, so that we may continue reading at school.

Support at home

To help support your child’s learning, please keep an eye out for television programmes or books in the library linked to our topic, and support them with their homework tasks.

Questions

If you do have any questions or concerns, please feel free to come and see me. The end of the school day is usually the best time.

Miss Armstrong