YEAR THREE

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School provides a range of holistic learning experiences to enable students to:

• Participate in the life and mission of the school.
• Deepen their knowledge and engagement with the Catholic faith and tradition.
• Build capacity to continuously reason, reflectively, logically and critically.
• Embrace interdependence of human existence as global citizens, who are responsible to and for themselves and others.
• Engage in learning in a multitude of ways, through personalised and self-paced learning.

Religious Education

Unit 1: God, Religion and Life - Christian Goodness

In this unit, students will learn that they are created and loved by God. The unit introduces the second story of creation, which speaks of the creative act of God, an outpouring of divine love and goodness, in which we are all called to share. The students are encouraged to explore their giftedness and identify how they can use their gifts for the good of all. The students will explore ways they can give glory, praise, and thanks to God through prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist. The unit finally focuses on sharing God’s love, through the ways we live in the right relationship with God and other people, using Jesus as our example. 

Unit 2: The Liturgical Year - Year 3

The Liturgical Year units enable students to explore the traditions, beliefs, Scripture and events celebrated by the Catholic community throughout the Liturgical Year and especially during the time of Advent to Christmas, Lent to Holy Week and Easter to Pentecost.

English

This term the students will explore imaginative texts through quality literature and Classic Fairy Tales. Some of these texts include 'Matilda' by Roald Dahl, ‘The Wolf’s Story:  What Really Happened to Little Red Riding Hood’, 'Into The Forest' by Anthony Browne, and 'The True Story of The Three Little Pigs' by Jon Scieszka. The focus is on developing students' reading comprehension and writing, whilst exploring the author’s purpose, effective vocabulary and structure of the text. Students will follow the ‘Seven Steps of Writing program’ to assist in the structure of their written texts with a focus on writing Narratives. Students will be taught explicit skills in grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. They will also engage in the ‘Sound Waves’ spelling program that is implemented throughout the school.

Mathematics

The students are explicitly taught concepts from the NSW Mathematics K-10 Syllabus. Each class will provide differentiated activities according to their class's learning needs. The topics taught in Term 1 include Data, Representing Number Additive Relations, Multiplicative Relations Two-dimensional Spatial Structure (2D shapes) and Additive Relations Geometric Measure (Length). The students will also take part in daily review activities to help consolidate their skills.

Geography

The Geography unit for this semester is ‘Places are Similar and Different’. Students examine the natural and human features of Australia and the diverse characteristics of neighbouring countries. They will explore different climates, settlement patterns and demographic characteristics and use this information to imagine what it would be like to live in different places. Students consider how people’s perceptions of places are the basis for action to protect places and environments. 

Science and Technology

This semester students will engage in the Science and Technology unit ‘Living World’. They will focus on the classification, life cycle and survival of living things. Students will have the opportunity to plan, create and communicate information and ideas through design and production, using digital solutions and programming software. Students examine and consider the agricultural processes used to grow plants and raise animals. They are given the opportunity to design and support the growth of a plant and/or animal.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education

For sport students will be provided opportunities to develop their skills and build confidence in using their Fundamental Movement Skills. In Stage 2, students should be consolidating and/or proficient in specific Fundamental Movement Skills. Students will practise and apply these skills through various activities and games including soccer, oz tag and basketball. Students will also be exploring different dance components involving various movement patterns and sequences. 

Open Parachute will continue to be implemented K-6. Open Parachute aims to provide practical support on mental health to students. The program aims to reduce stigma and generate authentic dialogue in classrooms about the real issues students face. The psychological skills-building exercises aim to increase empathy, self-compassion, self-awareness, mental health literacy, and self-efficacy in students. 

Amadeus Music Program

Students will continue with the Amadeus Music Education Program and participate in activities in listening, performing and organising sound within their regular Classroom Music lessons. 

• It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they:
  • Arrive on time for each lesson
  • Bring their instrument and required accessories to every lesson
  • Bring their Essential Elements* music book
  • Bring a lead pencil and eraser

Creative Arts

This Term we will be exploring Colour. The students will have opportunities to recognise that making art involves consideration of subject matter and concept, techniques and issues to do with representation. They will also explore the advanced colour theory and how colours affect emotions and influence moods.

Mandarin

Our students continue to enjoy participating in the Chinese language program called the Meg Language Program. The Meg Curriculum is written by the co-author of the Australian Curriculum. All students and teachers will participate in the digital learning platform via Zoom weekly sessions with educators in China.

Homework 

It is recommended that Year 3 students spend up to 30 minutes on homework per day. This includes 20 minutes of reading every night. Students are required to record what was read in their School Diary each week. Parents are to sign their child’s diary weekly. The homework grid will be shared with the students in Week 2. A Homework book will be used to record set tasks throughout the year. 

A "Maths Plus" mentals workbook and lined homework book will be provided to all students. A weekly task will be set and we ask that this be returned each Friday. "Maths Plus" follows a graded and spiraling approach, allowing for the revision of concepts throughout the year. It will provide students with opportunities to sequentially develop, practise and master their skills and knowledge.

Miss Sophie Heighes (3Blue)

Mrs Tracey Carnegie and Mrs Nicole Pyne (3Gold)

Mr Thomas Gair (3White)

Important Dates for Year Three

Music class lessons and Library Day for Year 3 are on Wednesdays. Each week, students will have the opportunity to borrow books from our school library. Please ensure your child brings their Library Bag to school on this day.

Sport 

Sport days will be Wednesdays and Fridays

Students are to wear their sports uniform on these days.

2024 - School Term 1

 Parent calendar available at this link