Another busy week in year 3! We enjoyed visiting the new library. We were amazed by the selection of books and the cosy areas to sit and enjoy the wonderful books. In our class, we have two fantastic librarians who are very knowledgeable about the library.
In RE we celebrated other faiths, and this year we learnt about Islam. Our topic was Mosques we focused on; the functions of a mosque, the geometric designs inside a mosque and the rules for entering a mosque. There were six keen children who presented this information in assembly.
We now have a wonderful new library in school and it is great to be able to spend time in our library, sharing books with friends and listening to a special story being read. Look in your child’s book bag to find a new library book that they have chosen to bring home and enjoy sharing with their family.
Next week, we are excited to be welcoming Isabel Thomas to our school. Isabel is an award-winning children’s author and science writer. Isabel will be sharing her experiences as a writer with us on Tuesday afternoon and she will also open our new library. There will be a chance to purchase some of Isabel’s fantastic books and get them signed by the author. You can learn more about Isabel’s books and her work on her website: https://isabelthomas.co.uk/
On top of all that has been happening this week, our fantastic school council organised a mufti-day and art competition in support of children in need. The children looked great and had a brilliant day. Well done, everyone!
Next week, as we prepare to mark the start of Advent, we will be making decorations to get our classroom ready for Christmas. If you have any unwanted decorations that you are able to donate to our class, it will add a spark of Christmas cheer to the weeks ahead.
This week, the children have been learning about Walter Tull, who is remembered for being one of the first professional black footballers (he played for Tottenham Hotspur) and he was also the first black army officer. The children developed their skills of historical enquiry when exploring a range of artefacts from over one hundred years ago. We had to decide whether they could have been found in Walter Tull’s suitcase or not and this resulted in lots of great discussions. We learned that Walter was recommended for a medal of bravery, but he died in the First World War and this knowledge made our Remembrance Dad service even more poignant.
A Wish for Peace
Our own Remembrance Day class liturgy
We explored Walter Tull’s suitcase to see which items he may have had and which items are from after 1917.
We found the date 1917 on this newspaper.
We thought that Walter Tull may have worn this army uniform
The date on this letter was 1917, so it could have been in Walter Tull’s suitcase.
This trumpet is made from plastic, so it shouldn’t go into Walter’s suitcase.
Hello everyone, This week the children were thinking a lot about Remembrance day. We talked about the soldiers and the war, about our families and those ones who are not with us any more. We were busy creating a lovely display by painting a poppy in our hands.
In learning through play we had red playdough and black buttons and during our funky fingers we were cutting and putting together paper poppies.
Today we joined a very special assembly and said a prayer with the rest of the school.
In Little Wandle this week we’ve learned 4 new sounds:
Please take some time and practise the new grapheme. Maybe you can think of a CVC word and use them to make some words. If you do please write them on a piece of paper and bring them to school for show and tell. We are also getting so good at writing and the children are taking any opportunity to write independently or with a support. Have a look yourself:
Please also remember to read with your child. I am pretty sure that they will be very excited to show you their blending skills. The reading practise books need to be returned by Monday!
Exciting news!!! Now when we are all settled we would like to invite you to come and read with us. As you probably already know, our brand new library is up and running and we are so excited to borrow books and share them with you. You are very welcome to come and join us every Monday afternoon, just before pick up time, at 2:30pm. Also every Friday morning we are going to have a very special Reading morning where you can come and read with your child. We will start at 8:45am and promptly finish at 9:00 am.
This week we looked at some amazing firework displays online and the children were excited to tell me about the ones they had been to see over the weekend! In the classroom this week the children had the opportunity to make their own fireworks using chalk and black paper.
On Wednesday the children had their photographs taken so we practised smiling. The Nursery children really enjoyed sitting with their siblings while they waited for their turn.
We had hot chocolate this week! Yum! We had a go at pouring the hot chocolate ourselves!
Today we talked about why today, November 11th is an important day. The children learnt we wear a poppy to remember those who had died in war. The children watched a video about Poppy’s and had the chance to make one of their own.
Today we went up the stairs to visit the new library. The children were very excited to have a look at all the new more books and I know they enjoyed sitting in the new seating area. Enjoy reading the books at home.
We are continuing to look at Baptism next week, please remember to bring in any photos in as it would be nice for the children to share them with us.
Amongst the many exciting things that we have done this week, the children were delighted to head off to the new library and choose a book to take home.
Our new librarians were really efficient and helpful in scanning out our books. We have timetabled a session in the library every Friday, so this will be the day to make sure books are in school should you want to return a title and make a new selection.
As always, the children are very welcome an d encouraged to choose a book to read from our class library or from Year 5 & 6 selection outside our classrooms. It is lovely to see so many of the children enjoying reading and the new books in the library can only add to our enjoyment.
Hello everyone, I really hope that you had a lovely half term week. We are now into Autumn 2 term and the children are all settled in, knowing our daily routines, rules and expectations. They were so excited to tell us all about their holidays and the different places they went.
This week it was a firework one! We talked about fireworks, watched some videos and discussed safety. We made fireworks with pipe cleaners, with runny glue and glitter, drew them on a colored paper. Lot’s of fun!
Little Wandle
This week we introduced 3 new digraphs: ss, ff and ll and also learned a new phoneme
We are very excited to let you know that we’ve been reading books for a very first time. It is a very challenging experience for all of us, but all we need to do is keep on trying and never giving up! Please check your child’s book bag for a reading book and a letter explaining how to successfully support your child at home. Please do not hesitate to contact me in case you have any concerns. Would be lovely to see your comments in your child’s reading record, as this would really help us plan further and be aware of any support that is needed.
Maths In Maths this week we
This week, the children continued to engage with activities that underline the purpose of counting – to find out ‘how many’ objects there are altogether. They reinforced their understanding of cardinality – that the last number in the count tells us ‘how many’ things there are altogether in a set of objects.
A key focus this week was deepening children’s understanding of 5 as a quantity by linking the number itself to the 5 fingers on one hand. The children were also exploring ways to represent numbers to 5 using both their hands.
What a busy week we have had in nursery! This week we looked at the story ‘Pumpkin Soup’ by Helen Cooper which tells the tale of three friends who live together and make pumpkin soup. The cat, the duck and the squirrel each have different job to do in order to make the soup delicious but one day the duck decides he would like to do something different.
We had pumpkins in Nursery this week, the children observed as the pumpkins were opened and then had a feel of what was inside! The children had the opportunity to explore the pumpkin independently during learning through play. The children also had an area where they could make their own pumpkin soup – yummy!
We went into the hall to do some yoga, it was a bit tricky but we managed to copy all of the yoga moves.
Winter Warmer Wednesday!
On Wednesday we had our first Winter Warmer Wednesday! For snack we had hot chocolate and a biscuit – it was lovely to sit round the table and have a chat!
The children have been getting use to playing in other areas of the Nursery including the outside idea!
Please remember to bring in any Baptism photos you may have at home – it would be lovely if the children could share them with us.
Year 3 have been conducting science experiments, testing the strengths of different magnets. The children tested the strength by seeing how many paperclips the magnet could hold. Here are some photos of what they got up to.
It is always good to wlecome the children safely back to school following the half-term break and as we begin the second half of the term, we also begin new topics across our curriculum.
Our English work for this half-term follows the theme of evolution and inheritence and we begin sharing the books, The Promise by Nicola Davies and Beetle Boy by M G Leonard. In maths, we are applying our arithmetic skills to fractions. In RE, we learn what it means to show commitment and especially the vocation of the priesthood. Science brings us to the study of living things and their habitats, whilst in Geography, we are learning about the challenges of the world’s growing population. We begin our design and technology for the year, employing our sewing and textile skills to make our own hanging Christmas decoration. Our learning in computing gives us the chance to combine our love of books and our web design skills to author our own websites using Google Sites. In music, we are looking forward to Christmas performances and to learning about jazz, whilst in PE, we hone our football and gymnastic skills.
We have a busy time ahead and I am looking forward to sharing our learning across the term with you.
