Thematic 

This week, Year 3 embarked on a bright and fascinating journey into the world of light! From understanding how light helps us see, our young scientists have been busy discovering the many wonders of this essential force of nature. We kicked off our learning by exploring the basics: what light is and where it comes from. Children discovered that light is a form and comes from various sources, like the sun, light bulbs, and even fireflies! Discussions centred around natural versus artificial light sources, with children enthusiastically listing examples of each. The children then turned their attention to one of light’s most important roles: helping us see. Through engaging discussions and interactive activities, Year 3 learnt about the process of light reflecting off objects and entering our eyes, enabling us to perceive the world around us. 

Next week in our thematic learning, we will be learning about shadows. 

English 

This week in English, the classrooms buzzed with imagination as the children embarked on an exciting writing project: creating their very own mythical creatures! From fire-breathing giants to underwater guardians, the young writers have been hard at work dreaming up extraordinary beings and presenting them in the form of a non-chronological report. The project began with the children mind-mapping details about their creatures' appearances, habitats, diets, powers, and even personalities. With a world of possibilities at their fingertips, no two creatures were alike! The children then created a non-chronological report in order to organise their ideas. Their task was to make their reports captivating by using descriptive language and technical vocabulary. 

Next week, the children will move onto writing a narrative, using and applying all of their writing skills from the term. 

Maths 

This week in our maths lessons, we’ve been building confidence with formal written methods for both addition and subtraction. Our focus has been on setting out calculations clearly, working carefully through each step, and understanding why the methods work, not just how to use them. We’ve spent time learning how to line numbers up correctly in columns, making sure the place value of each digit is in the right spot. When the ones or tens add up to more than 9, we’ve been using regrouping to show this clearly. Children have been working on explaining their thought process and checking their answers for accuracy. For subtraction, we’ve been focusing on exchanging (regrouping) when the top digit is smaller than the one below. Children practised taking away using the formal column method and learnt how regrouping helps us break down tricky calculations into manageable steps.

Next week, we will be moving onto using and applying our formal methods in order to solve problems.

Open Day 

Next week marks an exciting time for our school as we open our doors to welcome prospective Year 3 parents to Upton Open Days. This is a special opportunity for parents and carers to see first-hand what makes Upton such a vibrant, nurturing, and inspiring place for children to learn and grow.  

If you’re a parent of a Year 2 child and are considering the next step in their educational journey, we warmly invite you to attend our Open Day tours. We look forward to meeting you and sharing all that Upton has to offer. See you on the 3^rd December! 

Pantomime 

On Friday 5th December, the whole school are heading off to the Marlowe Theatre to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Please can all children make sure they bring a coat, a healthy snack and a treat for the pantomime that fits in their pocket. Children will also need to bring a bottle of water with them; please can they bring a disposable bottle on this occasion, rather than a re-usable one. A reminder email has gone out to all parents.  

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:

• Friday 28^th November is our STEM challenge day- children are invited to dress up if they so wish. A reminder of the letter 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.