Year 3 Blog 2024/25

 Today, Year 3 learned all about special places!

This week, Year 3 began their new learning all about fractions! We have started to use the words 'numerator' and 'denominator' to refer to the top and bottom parts of a fraction. Now we all know that when a denominator is bigger, that means the whole has been divided into smaller parts!

In History this week, Year 3 have been learning all about 'monarchy'. We learned that a monarchy is when a country has a king or a queen. We know that we have a monarchy because of our king - King Charles III. Each of us then got into character as a real king or queen from history, and together, we made a 'human timeline'! Lots of us were called Henry!

In PSHE this week, Year 3 read a fantastic book called 'The Hueys in The New Jumper'. In this book, everybody looks the same, thinks the same and does the same things. How boring! Our main character, Rupert, decides to be a little different! He makes a new jumper and he really stands out. The children were tasked with coming up with ideas for what we could say to someone like Rupert who stands out in a crowd. How can we make someone feel welcome? We remembered that one of our school values is Belonging!  

What a fabulous lesson. The children went scavenging in the meadow to find natural elements outside which they could use to paint pictures in the style of the artist Frances Hatch   There were so many items to use. The children mixed up colours using water as well as mud and leaves. Very interesting results. 

 Year 3 revised colours and verbs to describe how the ‘ Four friends’ move. They then were introduced to the negative using ne ……pas. 

This week the children have been using UV beads to test how we can protect ourselves from UV rays. The class decided to cover some beads with sun cream and to leave some uncovered. They predicted that the sun cream would protect the beads so they would remain white, and the uncovered beads would turn pink - indicating UV rays. The children then tested their theory and found that they were correct! We then discussed how else we can protect ourselves from the sun. Children suggested: clothes, sunglasses, hats, shaded areas and staying indoors.

In History this week, Year 3 have started to learn about one of the significant people who lived in Carisbrooke Castle! The children were fascinated to learn that King Charles I became very unpopular and ended up captured by his enemies - the Roundheads. We enjoyed listening to a Horrible Histories song all about the English Civil War! 

Descriptions of The Iron Man This week, year 3 have been writing character descriptions of The Iron Man. We have spent a lot of time generating powerful and rich vocabulary to use. The children have been focusing on expanded noun phrases and adverbs. We have spoken a lot about what we can do to make our paragraphs cohesive or 'flow well'. 

In PSHE this week, Year 3 have been learning about how germs can cause us to become poorly. We have learned that the droplets of snot and saliva that come out when we sneeze can travel 8 metres through the air! We now know the importance of washing our hands with soap and warm water every time we sneeze AND every time we are about to eat!  Year 3 have made some posters to make sure that all children know to wash their hands at lunch time.

In maths this week, Year 3 have been learning all about 2D and 3D shapes. We have been so impressed by the children's use of mathematical vocabulary! They have confidently noticed parallel and perpendicular lines in the shapes that they see, as well as horizontal and vertical lines of symmetry. Today, we started to explore 3D shapes in the world around us. We took our time counting the vertices, edges and flat faces on each 3D shape.