Dear parents/carers,

Welcome back everyone! We do hope you all had a lovely Easter and are excited for our summer term in Class 3.

English

To begin with, we will be completing our non-chronological reports based on our work on the book “Cloud Tea Monkeys. We will then be studying the book “Our Tower” by Joseph Coelho where we will write poems, setting descriptions, diary entries and letters of thanks before an extended narrative. We will then move on to “Escape from Pompeii” by Christina Bait where we will look at descriptive writing, diaries and thoughts and newspaper reports. Later in the term we will study the book “The Zebra’s Great Escape” by Katherine Rundell in which we will create wanted posters, letters, write action scenes and dialogue before writing our own ‘great escape’ narratives.

Maths

To begin the term, we will be continuing with fractions by exploring how to partition a whole, adding and subtracting fractions as well as finding fractions of a set of objects. The children will continue to take part in a daily arithmetic and recap of previous learning in their starters. We will also be covering different types of measurement including angles, length, height, temperature and weight. We will then be completing a unit on Time. Please support your child by practising reading analogue and digital time in a 12hr and 24hr format.  Continue to practise the times tables and use Times Table Rock Stars. By playing on Times Table Rock Stars regularly, this will improve the children’s mental maths accuracy and support them with so many other areas of their learning, especially their confidence!

History and Geography

In History, we will begin our Tudor topic. We will use our historical knowledge from the year to explore timelines to support chronology and understanding of BC/AD. In Geography, our topic will focus on North America. The children will continue to use their map skills, apply their previous learning about mountains and explore physical geography.

Science

We will start the term with a topic called Animals including Humans which recaps the children’s learning from year 2 about how animals survive and stay healthy and helps children to learn more about what makes a healthy, balanced diet. They will learn about the nutrients that different foods provide and how these nutrients help our bodies. We will also explore how different animals eat different types of foods and need different proportions of nutrients. We will then be learning about Plants. The children will be identifying and describing the functions of the different parts of a plant, exploring the requirements of plants for life and growth. We will then be investigating how water is transported within plants and explore the part that flowers play in the life cycle of flowering plants including pollination and seed formation.

Computing

In Computing, we will be focusing on data. We will be using a variety of software on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs. This will include using many skills such as collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data. We will also be looking at understand computer networks especially the internet and how they can provide multiple services.

Art and DT

This term we will be looking at the proportions of figure drawing and facial features in portraits, inspired by the work of Quentin Blake.   We will move on to producing our own, simple wire sculptures, reflecting our learnings about proportion.

RE

In RE we will be continuing to look at a Theology unit based on the question ‘What do Muslims believe about God?’ This will include work around Tawhid and the Qur’an and their impact on Muslims. We will then be focusing on Muslim’s daily lives through studying their places of worship, the importance of prayer and understanding ‘The Five Pillars of Islam’.

PSHE

Our PSHE learning will continue to support children’s mental health, and we will be exploring ways to identify and talk about our feelings as well as recognising how feelings can change overtime. We will also be understanding risks and hazards and how to stay safe in our local environment as well as in unfamiliar places. Our next unit will be focusing on healthy choices linked to our physical health by exploring healthy diets and exercise. As we come closer to the end of the year, we will be focusing on our personal strengths and achievements as well as managing and reframing setbacks.

Music

In Music we will be learning brass instruments through the Wider Ops scheme. We will also be developing the skills of listening and appraising, musical activities and perform and review. The children will learn songs and explore different percussion instruments.

PE

The children will continue to have PE twice a week on Thursdays and Fridays. This half term we will be focusing on rounders and tennis. After half term, we will have lessons in cricket and athletics.  Please ensure your child has their socks and trainers in school along with appropriate kit for outdoor lessons and indoor lessons depending on the weather. Please ensure kits are in school all week.

French

In French this term, we will be continuing to develop our confidence and vocabulary, learning to describe ourselves using adjectives and learning vocabulary of the beach, with prepositions to describe the location of items. We will continue to practise our learning with impromptu questions during registration time.

Homework

Learning task– Each week your child will continue to have a learning task linked to English, Maths, Topic or Science. This is set on a Friday and should be returned the following Wednesday either submitted on teams or in class dependent on the task

Spellings– Spellings will continue to be sent home on a weekly basis. Tests will continue to be on a Thursday with new spellings sent home on a Friday.

Times Tables– It is so important all children are practicing their times tables. This should be done a minimum of 3 times a week but ideally daily. They should be valued in the same way as all homework activities. We will be continuing to award house points for those playing Times Table Rock Stars regularly and making progress. If you are using an alternative way to learn times tables, this is ok.

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. We would love every child in the class to receive their bronze, silver and maybe even their gold certificate by the end of the year so please do encourage them to complete a reading challenge after finishing a book.

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

Thank you for your continued support.

Best wishes

Mrs Tokeley and Mrs Rudkin