English Hook Day

Year 3 launched into their exciting new topic, Revolutionary Romans, with an immersive and action-packed Hook Day! Designed to spark curiosity and enthusiasm, the day was filled with a carousel of activities, giving children a hands-on introduction to life in ancient Rome.

They began by locating Italy and its capital city, Rome, on a world map. They then identified the United Kingdom and explored the distance between the two countries. Travelling back in time to AD43, the year the Romans invaded Britain, the children were challenged to plot a sea route by boat from Rome to the UK. As they traced their journey across Europe, they recorded the modern countries they would pass and learnt the Roman names for several key regions, helping them to understand the vast reach of the Roman Empire.

The children then explored what life was like in Rome in AD43. They learnt about Roman society and its hierarchy, discussing the roles of emperors, senators, soldiers, slaves and citizens. They compared the homes of the rich and the poor, examining the features of grand Roman villas alongside insulae (apartment buildings). Using their knowledge, the children designed and labelled their own Roman villa floor plans, carefully including key features such as the atrium, courtyard and bath areas.

To finish the day, the children learnt about daily life in a Roman town. They explored how towns were organised and the types of buildings that could be found there, including markets, bathhouses and temples. Drawing on what they had learned, they created detailed street-view illustrations of a Roman town, showcasing their understanding of Roman architecture and community life.

   

              

Throughout the term, Year 3 will explore the vast Roman Empire, learning how it expanded to become one of the most powerful civilisations in history. They will also learn about Roman Britain, discovering how the Romans influenced life in Britain and left behind a legacy that we can still see today. We can’t wait to get stuck in!

Personal Development

This week, we have been exploring Personal Development, and as such, learning has focused on PSHE and well-being, specifically, ‘Relationships’. Week, we have taken a deep dive into understanding what makes relationships healthy and meaningful. Through various activities and discussions, we explored the importance of kindness, the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships, and how to navigate the digital world safely.

Throughout the week, we examined how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in our daily interactions. Whether it’s offering a helping hand, listening with empathy, or simply giving a genuine compliment, kindness fosters connection and strengthens our bonds with others. We reflected on how being kind doesn’t just benefit the receiver but also brings joy and fulfilment to the giver.

One of the most insightful parts of the week was learning about the characteristics of healthy relationships and how they contribute to our overall well-being. By learning about and practising these characteristics, the children have explored how they can foster relationships that are positive, fulfilling, and empowering. Whether it’s with friends, family, or peers, building strong and healthy relationships enhances our lives and contributes to a happier, more connected community.

And finally, during our online safety lessons, we learnt about digital footprints—the traces of information we leave behind when using the internet. We discussed what is safe to share online and what should be kept private to protect our personal information. A key takeaway was that anything posted online, even if deleted, can still be accessed or shared by others, making it crucial to think before we post.

As we move forward, the lessons from this week remind us that relationships shape our lives in profound ways. Whether online or offline, being kind, recognising healthy and unhealthy dynamics, and practising online safety are essential skills that will serve us well throughout life. By applying these lessons, we can build stronger, more positive relationships and contribute to a kinder, more respectful community.

Maths

In Maths this week, we have been learning how to use the inverse when solving multiplication and division equations and problems. Understanding the inverse relationship between these operations helps us to check our work and solve problems more efficiently. Mastering the inverse operation makes maths more intuitive and improves problem-solving skills. As we continue our learning, we will apply this knowledge to more complex equations and real-world scenarios.

Next week, we will be moving onto a new topic in Maths, where we will be learning how to solve more complex equations, using formal written methods.

English

This week in English, we began our new text: Revolt Against the Romans. The children travelled alongside Marcus, the main character, as he journeyed from ancient Rome to Britannia. Through his adventures, they gained insights into life during that time and the challenges he faced along the way. To deepen their understanding of Marcus's experiences, the children engaged in discussions about the historical context and the significance of his journey. They considered the difficulties of traveling in ancient times, the cultural differences between Rome and Britannia, and the emotions Marcus might have felt as he ventured into unfamiliar territory.

As we continue reading Revolt Against the Romans, next week, the children will move onto writing a diary recount from Marcus's perspective, describing his perilous journey on a boat, through a fierce storm. We will also further explore Marcus’s journey, the people he meets, and the conflicts he encounters. The children will continue developing their analytical and creative writing skills, by writing character descriptions of those that Marcus meets, once he lands in Britannia.

 Notices:

Buddhism workshops

On Tuesday of next week, Year 3 will be taking part in a series of engaging Buddhist workshops designed to deepen their understanding of different faiths and cultures. During these sessions, they will learn about the key beliefs and practices of Buddhism, including the importance of kindness, compassion, mindfulness and peace. They will explore how Buddhists live their daily lives and discover the significance of special symbols, stories and places of worship.

The children will also have the opportunity to take part in guided meditation activities, helping them to experience moments of calm reflection and focus. Through these practical experiences, they will gain a better understanding of how meditation supports wellbeing and is an important part of Buddhist practice.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to broaden their knowledge of world religions, develop respect for different beliefs and cultures, and reflect on the values that connect us all.

World Book Day

On Thursday, we will be celebrating World Book Day, and we are very much looking forward to a fun-filled day of reading and creativity.

Children are invited to come to school dressed up, representing a word of their choice. This could be anything from an adjective or noun to a feeling or action; we can’t wait to see the imaginative ideas the children come up with!

We have lots of exciting activities planned throughout the day, all centred around books, storytelling and celebrating the joy of reading. The children will take part in engaging lessons and creative tasks designed to inspire their imagination and enthusiasm for books.

A reminder that the Rs and Ys will still have swimming on Thursday afternoon. Please ensure that children in these classes do not wear face paint or glitter with their costumes, as this can cause difficulties during their swimming lessons.

We are really looking forward to celebrating together and sharing our love of reading!

Reading

This week, children have taken their Star Reader Assessment and from Monday, will be issued with their adjusted ZPD code, which will be stuck into their reading records. With this in mind, please could we ask that all children bring their reading records into school on Monday. Children are reminded to bring their reading records in, when they have read- we expect children to read at least, three times a week.

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. Homework is due in on Thursday 2^nd April.

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.  

Reminder to ensure:

• Children are wearing correct school uniform and shoes.

• Children are bringing in their water bottles.

• Coats are being worn to school.

• Children to bring in healthy snacks for breaktimes.  

• 3R and 3Y will have their swimming sessions on Thursdays. 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.