We hope you have had a wonderful summer holiday and are ready for the return to school. We cannot wait to see what this year has in store for us.
This page will be updated throughout the year with information about our topics and learning that we will be focusing on. Please check out our school twitter page to see regular photos of our incredible learning journey.
Our Learning Environment
Learning in Term 1
English
This term, we will initially explore traditional tales and oral storytelling before reading a series of twisted tales and Roald Dahl’s ‘Revolting Rhymes’. The children will then create a selection of narratives in which they will be encouraged to use new sentence structures and vocabulary. To support this, each week, the class will have discrete grammar and spelling sessions in which they will explore new aspects of grammar and KS2 spelling patterns. Each week, the children will be given spellings to learn and given links to Spelling Shed so that they can practise these words.
As well-developed reading skills are vital to enabling children to access all areas of the primary curriculum, in Year 3, the children will undertake daily reading activities as well as discrete Guided Reading sessions in which they will further develop their comprehension skills by exploring a wide range of texts using ‘VIPERS’ questions. Your child will bring home a reading folder which will contact a reading record and fiction/non-fiction book. We ask that they read for 20 mins each day and would be grateful if the record could be signed to show that this has taken place. In this way, we hope to enthuse the children and make them realise that books can open up a world of endless possibilities.
Maths
In Maths this term we will begin our Power Maths learning exploring place value within 1,000 and developing our skills and knowledge on being able to confidently add and subtract with larger numbers.
As the children have entered Key Stage Two, it is even more important now that they develop a secure understanding of their times tables. The children should now have a secure understanding of their 2, 5 and 10 times tables and this year they need they should focus on learning their 3, 4 and 8 times table. Every child has access to Times Table Rockstars, which is a fantastic resource that we urge child to make the most of. The children have their own log ins inside their reading diaries. You can access TT Rockstars via this link: https://ttrockstars.com/
Wider Learning
This year we will continue to use the ‘Cornerstones curriculum’ to support our wider learning.
Our main topic across the next two terms is called ‘Through the Ages’; it is a history-based unit where we will be focusing on developing our understanding of British prehistory from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, including changes to people and lifestyle caused by ingenuity, invention and technological advancement. We will be learning about the Stone Age and their use of stone for making tools and weapons and the transition from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle to farming. Bronze Age use of metals, including bronze, to make tools, weapons and objects, and the creation of large settlements and social hierarchy. Finally, we will be learning about the Iron Age and how they used metals, including iron, to make stronger, more effective tools and weapons and fine, decorative objects. Farming became more efficient and religion was an important part of life.
Geography – Our project will be ‘One Planet, Our World’. This project teaches essential skills and knowledge to locate countries and cities, and use grid references, compass points and latitude and longitude. They learn about the layers of the Earth and plate tectonics and discover the five major climate zones. They learn about significant places in the United Kingdom and carry out fieldwork to discover how land is used in the locality.
Science- In our project, the children will learn about the role of a skeleton and muscles and identify animals with different types of skeleton. These sessions will also explore the importance of nutrition for humans and other animals through a range of fun experiments.
Foundation Subjects
Art -This project is called ‘Contrast and Complement’ and gives children the opportunity to investigate colour theory by studying the colour wheel and colour mixing. It includes an exploration of tertiary colours, warm and cool colours and how artists use colour in their artwork.
Computing – We will continue to follow the ‘Teach Computing’ Curriculum and we will start the year looking at Computing Systems and Networks. We are going developing our understanding of digital devices, with an initial focus on inputs, processes, and outputs.
R.E – Out topic is going to be ‘What do people believe about God’. We will be learning and exploring different religious and spiritual ways of life regarding diverse beliefs about God.
PSHE – We are going to be focusing on relationships and how to respond to hurtful behaviour.
P.E – We are going to be focusing on Hockey this term. Our P.E day is Tuesday, please make sure they come into school wearing their full P.E kit on this day.
Home Learning
Homework will be set on a Tuesday and is to be completed by the following Monday. This will be set on Google Classroom.
Each Tuesday the children will be set their weekly spellings on Spelling Shed
As well as your home learning we encourage children to read every day to support their reading fluency and vocabulary.
Contact us
We are always available on the playground after school if you need to talk! Alternatively, if it is not urgent, you can email the families email. This email is checked regularly and will be forwarded on to the class team. You can find the email here: families@bethersden.kent.sch.uk
We are looking forward to the exciting term ahead of us!
Otter Class Team