Thematic 

This week in Thematic, we’ve been budding scientists, learning all about magnets. We began the week by answering the question: What are magnets and how to they behave? Children worked in small groups exploring different types of magnets and their parts, before then moving onto to investigate magnetic and non-magnetic materials. We have also spent time this week exploring magnets and their poles, and how the Earth itself acts like a magnet. The children explored compasses and how to find North. 

Next week in our thematic learning, we are embarking on a journey into the fascinating world of light! 

English 

This week in English, our children have stepped into the exciting role of journalists as they wrote newspaper reports about a key event from The Iron Man by Ted Hughes.  Our budding reporters wrote about one of the most dramatic points in the story: the moment when the earth shook and cracked, revealing the buried Iron Man.  Our Year 3’s have spent time this week exploring the layout and language features of different newspapers, and have likewise begun planning their report, thinking about how they can answer the 5Ws for the reader and include quotations from characters who witnessed the event. 

Next week, the children will be moving onto writing a non-chronological about a creature, inspired by a character in the book.

      

Remembrance Day

As we commemorated Remembrance Day this week, the children in Year 3 took part in a series of thoughtful and engaging activities across both Maths and English, helping them reflect on the importance of remembrance and the significance it holds for us all.

In Maths, pupils became enthusiastic code-crackers, solving number and symbol puzzles that revealed hidden messages related to Remembrance Day. This activity encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance, while also helping the children make meaningful connections between their learning and the values we honour at this time of year.

In English, the children explored Remembrance Day through poetry, using descriptive language, imagery, and emotion to express what remembrance means to them. Their thoughtful poems demonstrated empathy, creativity, and growing confidence as writers. Many children reflected on themes such as peace, gratitude, and hope for the future.

          

Maths 

In Maths this week, the children have been exploring addition and subtraction using three-digit numbers. They have been practising how to add and subtract multiples of 10 and 100, and developing their understanding of regrouping when numbers cross a tens or hundreds boundary. The classes have worked confidently with different strategies, including using place value charts, part-part-whole models as well as physical resources, such as dienes, to help them explain their thinking clearly.

Next week, we will be moving on to learning how to use formal written methods for addition and subtraction. This will help the children build accuracy, set their work out clearly, and prepare them for more complex calculations later in the term.

Art Competition

It’s that wonderful time of year again and what better way to celebrate than with some Christmas creativity!

This year, we’re inviting all pupils to take part in our Christmas Art Competition, with the brief of creating a Christmas decoration inspired by an artist or art style.

Your challenge is to design and make a decoration that shows both the spirit of Christmas and a link to an artist or artistic style. You can use any materials you like — card, paint, collage, recycled objects, fabric, glitter, or anything that makes your decoration shine!

Here are some ideas to inspire you, some of which we will discuss in our Christmas art assembly

• Pieter Bruegel the Elder – create a cosy winter village scene full of people and snow.

• Edward Burne-Jones (Pre-Raphaelite) – design a stained-glass-style angel using colour and pattern.

• Andy Warhol – make a Pop Art decoration with bright colours and repeating Christmas shapes.

• Yayoi Kusama – cover your bauble or star in dots and patterns like twinkling Christmas lights.

• Georgia O’Keeffe – take inspiration from nature — holly leaves, snowflakes, pinecones, or stars.

• Banksy – design something that shares a message of kindness, peace, or togetherness

To Enter:

1. Create your decoration linked to an artist or style.

2. Hand it in to Mr Mason or your class teacher, who will pass it on to him.

3. Make sure to include your name and class somewhere on your work.

4. Deadline: The last day of this term.

All entries will be displayed on our school Christmas tree art display, so everyone can admire your creativity. There will be prizes for outstanding entries. Winners will be announced in our next Art Assembly!

Home Learning 

Attached below, is the overarching Thematic Curriculum homework ideas. Please refer to the homework menu which gives a variety of creative tasks for the children to choose from. Children only need to complete one task as a minimum, but can choose to complete more if they wish. Children have been given a Home Learning book to complete their Home Learning tasks in- children will be bringing their Home Learning books home on Monday.   

Home Learning is due in on Thursday 18^th December 2025

Reading Records  

With AR Assessments complete, children will be given a new ZPD, which you will find in their Reading Record: ‘Term 2’ ZPD sticker. If children have not yet brought in their reading record to school, they need to make sure they bring it in on Monday 3^rd November, so that we can issue children with a new reading book. Please ensure children are reading every night and are likewise taking quizzes. Your child can access the quizzes here: Renaissance Learning Login

Spellings 

Children will have a spelling sheet attached in their home learning book. Each week, they will need to practise the core spellings listed using the ‘Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check’ strategy. Within your child’s home learning book, there are prompts and tips to support children in learning their spellings, along with a spelling list and an example of a table, which children can draw themselves, each time they learn a new set of spellings. Children should choose five spellings to practise at home each week. Please do speak to your child’s teacher if you have any questions.

Times Tables Rock Stars   

• Tasks to be completed online.  

• Children’s logins are stuck in their Reading journal.    

Mathletics   

• Mathletics tasks will be set from Friday to Friday.   

• Tasks will always follow the learning that week.   

• Children’s logins are stuck into their Reading journal.   

Reminders:

• STEM Challenge Day on Friday 28th November. A remnder of the letter that went out is attached, below.

• Year 3 have PE on Tuesdays and should come to school dressed in the correct school PE kit.   

• 3R and 3Y will swim on Mondays this term- children will need to come dressed in their PE kit to school on this day, and bring with them their swimming costumes to change into.    

• Swimming kit reminder: full swimming costume/swim shorts and swimming hat.   

• Children to bring in healthy snacks for breaktimes.   

• All children to have a pair of Wellington boots to keep in school. Having wellies at school means children can enjoy the outdoors, without worrying about getting their shoes muddy or wet.

• Children need to be wearing coats every day.