Term 1 Overview
English
In Year 3 students will be focussing on extending the student’s independent reading both at school and at home. During reading lessons students will learn skills in finding information through skimming and scanning, reading and responding to texts through discussion and written activities to identify point of view and draw connections. Students will be looking at recognising the audience and purpose when they write. They will focus on using language to engage the reader by learning persuasive techniques and story telling skills to apply to Persuasive and Narrative writing.
Spelling, Grammar and Handwriting will be undertaken alongside Writing and Reading in Term 1. Students will revisit and continue to perfect their NSW foundation handwriting in preparation for learning to join over the course of the year. Learning and understanding both common and proper nouns and solidifying existing grammar knowledge is the aim of Grammar in Term 1. Students will also learn to identify and use various punctuation and grammar rules to assist their reading and writing. Students will be implementing THRASS applying spelling strategies through classroom tasks and weekly spelling words.
Mathematics
In Term 1, Year 3 students will consolidate and extend their number knowledge. Students will concentrate on Place Value and understand the value of numbers to build knowledge to apply to the four operations; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The students will also be investigating measurement, geometry, statistics and probability. The students will also take part in Mathematics Groups one period per week.
Science & Technology
Unit- Feathers, Fur or Leaves? What is that? Is it alive? How is it like other things I know? Humans have always sought to make sense of the world around them by grouping things they see, for example, as edible, threatening or useful. In Science and Technology we will be looking at living things and exploring plant and animals species and how scientists classify living things. Students will have weekly Technology lessons with Ms Meagan Height where they will learn about cyber safety and develop their creative digital skills.
Visual Arts
A pretty picture? A painting? A ceramic vase? What makes something art? Students ponder the question of what is art?
In Term 1, students will explore art elements such as colour, line and pattern and how they are used to create art. Students will discuss artists and famous artworks as well as create their own masterpieces using a variety of media. They will begin the term by learning about the colour wheel and drawing a portrait with lead pencil. The students will explore cool colours creating a peacock art piece using watercolour paint and printing using shaving cream.
History
The students will look closely at our local community of Echuca Moama in Term 1. The focus is on how the Murray River has been central to the life of the local community from Indigenous times to the river trade boom and continues to be a vital tourism drawcard today. They will look at Echuca Moama before colonisation, the founders of the area, the importance of paddle steamers and the role of Echuca during the late 19th century and compare it to life today.
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Expect some keen kitchen helpers at home this term as our Year 3 students begin the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. Our budding chefs will learn about the kitchen and how to safely work within this new classroom environment. The focus of the program is to teach and nurture a love of fresh ingredients and healthy meals. Using seasonal produce often grown in our school garden, students will learn how to grate, slice, dice, cook, assemble and eat a variety of foods. The greatest part of the program is the opportunity it provides to see students move out of their comfort zone, try new foods and work together with their classmates.
Religious and Values Education
The theme for the year is the kingdom of God. The program introduces this theme looking at Old Testament kings, then Jesus as God’s perfect king and concludes with a focus on what living as a 'Kingdom Kid' looks like in everyday life. Students may also choose to attend a voluntary Christian lunchtime group on Wednesdays, called JAFFA – Jesus A Friend For All. They will also have the opportunity to explore cross-curricular units in History especially learning about the timeline of historical events.
Students will engage with the content in an active way, using worksheets, smart board, games, videos, music, stories, drama and craft activities, to explore the Christian faith and see how it is relevant today.
PDHPE
Welcome back to MAG in what promises to be an exciting, fun & productive 2021 school year. Year 3 students will enjoy a PDHPE unit called “Ready, Set, Go”. Students will commence with problem solving and cooperative games, with the focus on developing communication skills and the importance of team work. Students will also be developing their fitness for the Annual School Cross Country and completing a soccer program to develop foot invasion fundamental movement skills as well as team work. Students will also reflect upon their own and other’s technique and engage in small group workshops to better understand their own and other’s performances. The importance of sun protection, safety and inclusive peer interactions in PDHPE will be a focal theme throughout the term.
Music
This term, students in Year 3 will develop their music appreciation through a variety of activities involving singing and movement. The Term 1 topic allows students an in-depth study of Camille Saint-Säens’ orchestral work, ‘Carnival of the Animals’. During this topic focus, students will analyse and interpret the orchestral songs and discuss the composers’ intent, as well as the types of instruments featured and how they contribute to the song’s ‘story’. Students will also have opportunities for creative movement and improvisation.
Italian
Ciao! Benvenuti! Welcome to our K-6 Italian program for 2021. We will again work through each term in each level using ‘Key Questions’ to guide the curriculum. We know that the most effective way to teach children another language is to do it through fun, interactive, hands on ways including music, conversation, picture story books and drama with a strong focus on verbal communication and pronunciation. We want the students to enjoy Italian and feel confident in their ability to learn another language as well as various other cultural and geographical information. We will often send home memory/matching cards for your children to play with you which is a great way to reinforce their learning in a fun way with their family.
The Term 1 ‘Key Question’ for each Year 3 is:
Quando è il tuo compleanno? When is your birthday?
Please encourage your children to share some of the Italian words and phrases they know or ask them to sing you a song!
Pastoral Care
In Pastoral Care students will be introduced to Doug Dragster and The Get Happier Project. The program uses the story of a race car that does not always make good choices. It introduces the students to the concept of taking open roads rather than dead end roads. It focusses on the concept of using “your front wheels” – to take control of your thoughts in order to control your actions. The students will also learn about the school values of Compassion, Respect and Integrity.