Welcome to Deer Class! Here we will give you an insight into life in our Year 3 classroom, including all the things we have been learning about and enjoying. Please find below links to support learning, as well as useful class information.

Class Learning
Our main topic area for Term 1 will be LIGHT. In Science, we will explore how light travels, how we see and how shadows are formed. In English, we will be studying the book “The Monster Who Ate Darkness”, which will include character description, diary entries and persuasive writing. What would life be like if it never got dark and there was no darkness to be found anywhere? That is one of the questions Year 3 will be investigating! Our Maths work will begin with revision of key skills from Year 2 before progressing to place value of three-digit numbers.
In our Wider Learning lessons, we will explore the countries that make up the United Kingdom and identify Bethersden’s place within Britain. We will be developing our drawing techniques, looking at the work of Quentin Blake, and will practise singing with appropriate pitch and melody. Our PE focus will be Athletics and we will begin introducing ourselves to the French language. It’s sure to be an action-packed term!

Home Learning:
There will be no formal home learning tasks set during Term 1.
However, children will have spellings and times tables to learn across the course of the week and practising these at home would be extremely beneficial to them. Below are some links and resources you may find useful in supporting your children with this.
Home Learning is now set on DB Primary. Your child has a copy of their personal login in their Contact Book. Home Learning will be set at different times throughout the term (after Term 1), and will usually follow on from the learning in class. However, I encourage that your child takes some time to explore the DB Primary resources – there is a wide range of Maths and English games, as well a secure messaging facility.
DB Primary: https://bethersden-kent.secure-dbprimary.com
As a school, we also have access to Spelling Shed and Times Table Rockstars (logins are again in Contact Books). Both of these websites allow your child to practise the valuable skills of spelling and times tables in a fun way. We really want to be top of the school leader board!
Spelling Shed: https://play.edshed.com/
TT Rockstars: https://ttrockstars.com/
Please continue to support your child with reading, by listening to them read regularly, supporting their word reading as well as discussing the story to improve comprehension.
Times Tables Challenge
Every Friday, children will complete a timed Times Tables Challenge. All children will begin by answering questions on their 2, 5 and 10 times tables. If children answer all questions correctly within their allotted time, they will progress to the next stage of the challenge. This may mean a shorter time limit, a broader range of questions, or a trickier times table to focus on. However, to ensure that children KNOW their times tables and are secure in that knowledge, each challenge must be passed two weeks in a row before children move on to the next level.
REMINDER:
P.E – Please ensure your child has their P.E kit in school so they are able to participate fully in our PE lessons. Children must be able to remove their own earrings or they must have micropore tape, provided from home, with which they can cover them. Our PE lessons are on Wednesdays and Fridays. Some children may prefer not to wear their earrings on these days, though please be aware that the timetable for Term 1 is flexible and there may be additional PE sessions added on other days.