Thematic 

STEM Challenge Day: A Day of Innovation and Fun! 

What an incredible day we’ve had in Year 3! Our STEM Challenge Day was the perfect opportunity for the children to apply all the amazing skills and knowledge they’ve developed this term. From science experiments to hands-on engineering, the classroom was buzzing with excitement, creativity, and teamwork. 

The day kicked off with a challenge to design and build periscopes. The children demonstrated their understanding of light and reflection, using mirrors to direct light in their creations. With cardboard tubes, mirrors, and plenty of perseverance, they crafted working periscopes that allowed them to see around corners and over obstacles. It was fantastic to see their problem-solving skills in action as they adjusted angles and tweaked their designs to get a clear view. If you would like to have a go at making one with your child at home, please see the attached template, below.

Next, we moved on to magnetism, a topic the children have loved learning about this term. Their task was to design and create a magnetic maze game. Using magnets, paper, and their own creative designs, the children guided small metal objects through intricate mazes. The challenge sparked lots of discussion about magnetic forces and how to balance difficulty with fun. The pride on their faces when their mazes worked was truly wonderful to see! The children also made cars, powered by magnets, which they used to guide a car around a track, which they designed.

STEM Challenge Day was a fantastic way for the children to see how science, technology, engineering, and maths come together in real-world projects. They collaborated brilliantly, demonstrating resilience and enthusiasm in every activity. 

We are so proud of their achievements and can’t wait to see how they continue to apply their skills in the future.  

Here’s to more exciting STEM adventures ahead! 

  

  

     

  

  

    

           

        

 

  

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English 

This week in Year 3, our classroom has been buzzing with excitement as we’ve turned our hands to writing our narratives inspired by The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. Building on the adventures of the mysterious, towering figure from the original story, the children have been hard at work, re-imagining what would happen to the story, if a different character was introduced.

The children focused their attention to the final chapter of the story, where they changed one of the characters, for a creature of their own design. They then began their planning discussions, which led them onto developing their ideas, thinking carefully about the dilemmas that the Iron Man would face. With their imaginations ignited, the children planned their Chapter, using story maps to outline the beginning, middle and end. 

Next week, the children will be using their plans to write their narratives. 

Maths

This week in Year 3, our mathematicians have been hard at work applying their skills when using formal written methods for addition and subtraction. These techniques are essential building blocks that will help them tackle more complex mathematical challenges in the future. It's been fantastic to see their determination as they worked through calculations with increasing independence. As the week progressed, we also introduced opportunities for peer teaching, where children explained their methods to one another. This not only reinforced their understanding but also highlighted the importance of clear communication in maths.

Next week, we will be moving onto a new topic: length and perimeter.

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:

• Wednesday 3^rd December: Open Day for prospective Year 3 children and their parents.

• Friday 5^th December: whole school trip to the Marlowe Theatre.

• Friday 12^th December: Christmas Fair and Christmas jumper day.

Year 3 classes are busy planning their stalls for their classrooms and would welcome any donations of the following:

3B: paper cups, small bouncy balls, sweets and chocolate bars

3G: sweets

3R: brussel sprouts, tin foil and bouncy balls

3Y: rich tea biscuits, icing sugar, paper plates, cake decorating ingredients (chocolate chips, hundreds and thousands, jelly sweets, food colouring)

• 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.