Summer Term 2014 Newsletter Year 3

1. Summer Term 2014 Newsletter Year 3 Welcome to the summer term and hopefully some warm, balmy days! After a week of National Tests last week, we now look forward to our new science-led topic, ‘Let’s Play!’ which is all about Forces. Hopefully the weather will be kind for all the outdoor activities we have planned! Data Den: Mathematical understanding will be developed by: Using measurements from our investigations to construct charts and graphs and reading scales accurately on forcemeters. Engineering and construction: The children will design and make a puppet theatre using magnetic characters and props. Writers’ workshop: The children will have the opportunity to apply their writing skills through many creative and information writing opportunities. They will be: Creating shape poems, writing playscripts, designing posters and writing non-chronological reports ICT: We use ICT to support our work in all areas of the curriculum and this term we will be using the internet to: research questions, find information,. We will also be using the laptops to publish written work and to produce graphs. We will be creating a short film report on school improvements so will be working on our filming and editing techniques. Welsh: The children will develop their understanding of welsh verbs and prepositions through role play and writing activities. They will also be telling the time on the hour. R.E.: Our RE topic this term is, ‘What’s special about a book?’ The children will learn how sacred texts such as the bible for Christians and the Qur’an for Muslims help guide and influence people’s lives. Literacy: Each term’s work is focused on a range of reading and writing genres. This term we will be looking at adventure stories; humorous poetry; poetry that plays with language – puns and riddles; reports; alphabetic texts – directories, encyclopaedias and indexes. We will continue to develop our dictionary and thesaurus skills and work on spelling rules and strategies in our spelling sessions. Maths: We will be: rounding and ordering 3-digit numbers; adding and subtracting 3-digit and 2-digit numbers, bridging tens; dividing 2-digit numbers and finding remainders; multiplying 2-digit numbers by 1-digit; ordering and finding fractions of numbers; reading numbered divisions on a scale; sorting data and objects; recognising properties of 2-d and 3-d shapes; solving word problems using all four number operations. Context for Learning This term our context for learning is: ‘Let’s Play’, a science-based topic focusing on ‘Forces’. The pupils will be involved in six areas of learning. Investigation and Exploration: The children will carry out a range of investigations focusing on obtaining and interpreting results. They will be looking at: Friction, magnetism, gravity and air resistance. Creative Corner: Our creative talents will be developed by: Investigating printing techniques and ‘rubbings’ and creating characters for a puppet show. Research and Information: The pupils will use a range of information books and the internet to research a given topic. They will be finding out about different materials and their properties, toys that use pushes and pulls and magnetism.

2. P.E.: Once swimming lessons finish this half term, we will return to having two lessons of PE each week. Indoor on Thursdays - Gymnastics/Dance Outdoor Games on Fridays. NB: Please could you provide a note if your child is unable to do P.E. Also, as the weather gets warmer and sunnier (fingers crossed!) they will need a hat added to their usual PE kit. Guided Reading We have fully established Guided Reading in Year 3 over the past two terms and the pupils really enjoy their sessions. We read a range of genres throughout the year but will be looking in closer detail at the skills of skimming and scanning to locate information quickly and accurately. Learning Logs/Homework: Homework will be sent home on Thursday to be returned the following Wednesday. Please encourage the children to present their written work neatly, with dates and titles underlined. Spellings will be taken home on Fridays. Support Staff: Mrs Fitter (HLTA) will continue to take year 3 on Fridays. She will be teaching RE, Welsh and one session of PE and working with the class on their ‘Beat that!’ and ‘CLIC’ tests. Please keep practising the tests at home, it helps build pupils’ confidence and increase their weekly scores! And finally… Should you have any concerns, then please do not hesitate to contact me in writing or by appointment. I look forward to your continued support. Lesley Price-Smith Year 3 teacher.