***STEM*** update 18/04/23: we are now learning about pneumatics in STEM/DT and planning how to design and make a simple pneumatic toy. The children are really engaged with this! Here is a link to a great STEM teacher who covers all sorts of projects, including pneumatics.
We have had another great week of learning during this final week before the Easter break! This included finishing our 3-d dioramas of Ernest Shackleton’s ship ‘Endurance’ which the children completed brilliantly – we are sure they are now being admired at home!
English
We performed our Ernest Shackleton speeches to audiences and there was lots of persuasive language and strategies used to convince people to sign up! All the teachers were very impressed with the passion with which they were delivered.
Maths
We moved onto to learning how to calculate the perimeter of 2-d shapes, using our knowledge of rectangles to identify the length of unmarked sides, and we touched on simple calculations for area of regular rectangles.
STEM
We reviewed our learning about skeletons, diet and nutrition over the past six week by completing a class quiz and then designed and made persuasive posters using facts, statistics, bar charts and persuasive language to advise our ‘clients’ about how to improve their health and well-being.
In the week after Easter Break:
English: We will start of with a couple of weeks reading the highly-entertaining and cleverly-written book of poetry ‘Jelly Boots Smelly Boots’ by Michael Rosen. Click HERE to read some snippets and get a flavour of this funny collection! Following on from that, we will be reading ‘Varjak Paw’ by S F Said – see below.
Maths: We will be moving on to learning about simple fractions, using our knowledge and understanding of the part-whole relationship to help us get started.
Science: It’s going to be electrifying! We will be learning about electricty and simple circuits. For our first week, if children have any battery-powered electrical games at home, they are asked to bring them in for us to investigate in STEM. (The children are responsible for them!)
Guided Reading: We will be reading the book ‘Varjak Paw’: Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue kitten. He lives high up in an old house on a hill. He’s never left home, but then his grandfather tells him about the Way – a secret martial art for cats. Varjak must use the Way to survive in a city full of dangerous dogs, cat gangs and, strangest of all, the mysterious Vanishings…. Click HERE to listen to a sneak preview of Chapter 1!
Notices/ Reminders
Just a friendly reminder that on return from the break, all children need to have a full PE kit in school; we teach PE outside so please ensure that PE kits include warmer clothing if needed. Currently, all Year 3 classes have PE on a Tuesdays and Fridays.
Thank you for your support and partnership to the benefit of your child’s learning through this term; it is very much appreciated.
With best wishes for an enjoyable Easter break,
Year 3 Team