We hope families have all had a wonderful Easter break and have spent quality time, doing the things you enjoy. Despite only being back a week, the children in Year 3 have fully immersed themselves into their learning, and have been hard at work, undertaking an array of exciting and engaging activities.

Personal Development

This week, we have been exploring Personal Development, and as such, learning has focused on PSHE, well-being and online safety. The week began with the children discussing the key question: Should people have to pay for clean water?

Children have also learnt:

• How to maintain a healthy lifestyle

• About the benefits of being healthy

• How athletes keep healthy and fit

• How to help someone who has been bitten or stung

• How media might not always reflect reality

RE

This week, Year 3 have been diving into a fascinating topic in our Religious Education lessons — Islam. We've been learning all about the beliefs, practices, and traditions that are important to Muslims around the world. We started the week by discovering the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the five key duties that guide a Muslim’s faith and actions. The children were really curious about how each pillar plays an important part in everyday life — from daily prayers to helping those in need. Next, we explored Muslim birth and naming ceremonies. The class found it especially interesting to learn how a baby’s name is chosen and the special rituals that take place when a child is born. To finish the week, we learnt about the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars. We looked at the different stages of the pilgrimage and discussed why it is such a meaningful and spiritual experience.

It’s been a brilliant week of learning, with lots of thoughtful questions and respectful discussions. Year 3 have shown great curiosity and understanding, and we’re very proud of them!

Maths

This week in Maths, we’ve started our new topic: Fractions! We began by learning about the difference between parts and wholes, using lots of practical activities to help us understand how things can be split into equal parts. The children enjoyed using shapes and objects to see how fractions work in real life! Everyone has been working really hard and showing great enthusiasm for this new topic.

Next week, we will be exploring different ways to represent fractions, using diagrams, number lines, and fraction walls. We’re off to a fantastic start, and we’re excited to keep building our confidence with fractions over the next few weeks!

English

This week, Year 3 were very excited to begin our new English text — The Great Chocoplot, by Chris Callaghan! To kick things off, we immersed ourselves in the setting of the rainforest, which plays an important role in the story. We used videos, soundscapes, and pictures to help us imagine what it would be like to step into the heart of the jungle.

The children then put their imaginations to work and wrote some fantastic setting descriptions of the rainforest. They used powerful adjectives and similes to bring their writing to life — we were blown away by the creativity on show!

Next week, children will be writing a character description about one of the key people in the text- we can’t wait to see where the chocolatey adventure takes us next!

  Reading

This week, children have taken their Star Reader Assessment and have been issued with their adjusted ZPD code, which is stuck into their reading records. Children are reminded to bring their reading records in, when they have read- we expect children to read at least, three times a week.

Reminder:

Friday 2^nd May – Year 3 Kent Life trip. A copy of the letter is attached, below.

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 Friday 23^rd May.

Spellings

To support children with their spellings, we would like children to practise ‘Level 3- PATIENT POTTER Bundle’ 

To access it on a laptop, PC, Mac or Chromebook (therefore IWBs): 
1. Type in the browser itself where you normally type www (not a search engine)...app.sirlinkalot.org (with no Ws before it) 
2. Click on 'More' (top right) 
3. Click on 'Sign in' 
4. The children will then need to type in their access code  

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.

• Children to bring in healthy snacks for breaktimes.  

• 3B and 3G will have their swimming sessions on Mondays. 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.