Year 3 – Spring Newsletter 2022

Dear parents/carers,

Welcome back, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and wishing you a Happy New Year! Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you from Mrs Pemberton and myself for all our lovely Christmas gifts.

English

To begin with, we will be developing our diary skills and further work on our narrative writing. Ensuring your child reads for at least 15 minutes a day will help their reading skills to develop along with discussions around the text read. It is just as important to read to your child regularly along with listening to audio books. We enjoy finding out about new vocabulary in class and have begun using a thesaurus to improve our writing – if you are able to support your child with using a dictionary to check spelling and definition and thesaurus for improving word choices.

Maths

To begin the term, we will be continuing to deepen our understanding of multiplication and division along with developing our money skills and statistics. The children will also be developing their mathematical vocabulary to develop reasoning tasks. To assist with children’s mathematical development encourage them to handle real money and understand the value of coins and notes along with reading analogue and digital time in a 12hr and 24hr format.  Continue to practise the times tables and use Times Table Rock Stars.

History and Geography

We begin the spring term with a geography topic – Climate Zones. In history we will be exploring Anglo-Saxons and Vikings.

Science

We will be moving on to Rocks and Fossils. This will give children the opportunity to find out about different rock types and how they are formed.

Computing

We will be beginning a research unit about a chosen topic using laptops and Ipads. They will then need to create a presentation to share their research. We are hoping to use a green screen and online software to then give the children a background for their final presentation.

Art and DT

In DT we will be looking at designing, making and evaluating suitable packaging for an easter egg!

RE

In RE we will be thinking about what is philosophy? And how do people make moral decisions?

PSHE

Our PSHE learning will continue to support children’s mental health along with the topic Living in the Wider World which supports ‘Belonging to a Community: The values of rules and law; rights, freedoms and responsibilities’ and ‘Money and Work: Different jobs and skills; job stereotypes; setting personal goals.’

Music

In Music we will be developing the skills of listening and appraising, musical activities and perform and review.

PE

The children will have PE twice a week. On a Monday they will be learning tag rugby with an external coach and myself. On Thursday they will be learning netball with Mr Snelling.

French

Our French topics this term will revisit ‘Bonjour, ca va?’ and we will then move onto counting, dates and classroom vocabulary.

Homework

Learning task- Each week your child will have a learning task. This will either be linked to school English, Maths, Topic or Science. This task should take 20/30 minutes. This is set on a Friday and should be returned the following Thursday (to allow marking time!)

Spellings- These are now being sent home on a half termly basis. Your child still must learn weekly words for a weekly test. On the word sheet each week is dated based on when the spellings are set, they will be tested the following Friday.

Children have been grouped based on a diagnostic test and my assessment from their application in their work. If you feel your child can learn the words with ease, for the test, please test them on their application in a sentence. Children will be retested on a half termly basis. If children need stretching, I sent home the Year 3 Common Exception Words, these can be added to their spelling list. If anyone needs another copy at any time let me know!

Tests are on a Friday morning in a spelling book kept at school- the children will be shown their score. Children can practise their spellings using look, write, cover check at the back of their learning log.

Times Tables- It is so important all children are practicing their times tables. This should be done a minimum of 3 times a week. They should be valued in the same way as all homework activities. I will be awarding stickers/ certificates for those playing Times Table Rock Stars.

Reading- Reading is still crucial, even once on a free reader! Books and reading journals MUST be in school every day as they use these whenever there is time for quiet reading.

If you have any questions or concerns at any time, please email me via the office and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Kind Regards,

Miss Hagger