Year 3/4 News
ENGLISH
Reading:
This term in Reading, we focused on developing robust skills in comprehension through questioning. Students practised asking and answering questions before, during, and after reading, helping them make predictions, clarify meaning, and develop wonderings to deepen both their understanding of texts and passion for reading. Students continued to work on building their skills in summarising by identifying main ideas and key details within paragraphs and across texts. Students also spent time developing and demonstrating their love of reading across our always amazing, adventure themed, Book Week this year.
Writing:
In Writing this term, students drew on their knowledge of nonfiction texts from last term’s Reading unit to create their own information reports. They developed their skills in scholarly research by investigating their topic of interest through a variety of sources , including library books, websites, and existing reports. Students then practised the writing and publishing cycle to draft, revise and edit, and publish their final pieces. Towards the end of term students explored procedural texts, learning how to clearly and logically explain how to do or make something, along with enjoying some hands-on practice making fairy bread. In support of these major projects, students continued to build and improve on their grammar skills and understanding of nouns, verbs, adverbs, and conjunctions.
MATHEMATICS
Across this term, we focused on Multiplication and Division, Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics. In Multiplication and Division students explored using visual strategies such as arrays, diagrams and number sentences to represent real-world problems, and the area model. They developed a deeper understanding of the relationship between multiplication and division, along with learning how to estimate and check the reasonableness of their answers, and justifying their problem-solving strategies.
In Algebra and patterns, students investigated and described growing number patterns, using strategies.
INQUIRY
This term, students investigated life in Australia from before 1788 through to the 1800’s. They explored the experiences and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and new arrivals during early colonisation. Students looked at the causes and consequences of colonisation, asking historical questions and using evidence from the past to understand people’s experiences of those times. They learned how to chronologically sequence events and life stories to identify what changed or stayed the same over time. They also compared different perspectives and investigated why historical interpretations can differ. Across the unit students learned to use historical terms and sources to build their understanding of Australia’s early history and how it has shaped our present. Their investigations will culminate next term with an exciting trip to Melbourne Museum.
SCIENCE
In Science this term, Grade 3/4 students have focused on the Earth and Space Sciences unit of ‘Surface Change’. We investigated how the Earth is made up of layers, the Crust is made up of tectonic plates that are always moving and colliding, the three types of rocks and how to classify rocks into these categories using the rock’s observable properties, the Rock Cycle and how rocks change from one type to another, the different components of soil, natural forces and how they change and weather the surface of the Earth in a process called erosion, how the force of flowing water changes landscapes, and how human activity has changed the speed and way that erosion occurs. Through the erosion experiment, students developed a deeper understanding by creating a landscape and exploring the impact of water flow and how this impacts on erosion. Thank you to all the 3/4 students for contributing to class discussions and reflecting on the content learned. I am looking forward to seeing your inquisitive minds in action during Science next term.
LOTE-AUSLAN
During Term 3 Auslan, students learnt about: – Food/Dinner, School Signs, Nature Walk, Auslan Structure, Conversation, Holiday – Planning & Packing, On Holidays, HOLM + NMF –Minimal Pairs (Orientation) and Modern Technology. These new lessons showed signs that are relevant to our daily lives and the things that we do as families. We also built on our previous learning, with ‘old’ and ‘new’ signs coming together in lessons. Deaf Culture (conversation elements) and Auslan Structure (sign order) provided information related to the theory and purpose of Auslan. In role play activities the 3/4 students demonstrated good and poor conversation techniques with/for Deaf people. Using many signs learnt this term, provided experience and ongoing exposure to sign and understand the content. Hence, the students began to gain confidence, in both signing (Expressive) and understanding others’ signs (Receptive), assisting in determining the meaning, which can be a complex Auslan skill for young learners.
ART
The Year 3/4s have had an excellent term playing and discovering in the art room. We have been learning about form and texture - sharing ideas, asking questions, and building on each other’s ideas to create impressive sculptural artworks! We began the term by looking at famous examples of sculpture in art, using these as inspiration to create our own maquette (miniature) sculptures. Some of the materials that we used included wire, foil, mosaic stones, icy pole sticks, styrofoam balls, string, ribbons, pipe cleaners and buttons.
Following this, we drew designs for clay figurines. In creating our figurines, we experimented with a variety of clay tools, and learnt about clay techniques such as coil and slab building, and score and slip (creating effective joins), to form more robust and texturally detailed artworks. We especially enjoyed painting and varnishing the finished products. We’ll finish Term 3 with some digital art, exploring several new art-related apps on the iPads. I have been delighted to see your achievements this term, Year 3/4s. Thank you for your creative efforts. I cannot wait to spend more time learning and making together next term!
P.E.
Our Year 3/4 students have had an action-packed term in PE! We started by developing basketball skills, with lots of practice in dribbling, passing, and shooting. It was fantastic to see students working together as a team and building their confidence through drills and modified games. Later in the term, we shifted into tennis and badminton, where students learnt to strike with control and accuracy, showing great improvement in their coordination and movement. A highlight was seeing some of our Year 3/4s proudly represent our school in interschool sport for basketball and athletics, demonstrating not only their skills but also great sportsmanship and school pride. I’m so proud of the effort and enthusiasm all of our students have shown this term, and I can’t wait to see them continue to shine in Term 4!
MUSIC
During term 3 in music, grade 3 and 4 students learnt to play the keyboard with a focus on themes from movies, TV shows and computer games. Students learnt to play songs from movies TV shows and computer games. Some examples of songs they listened to and or learnt to play include: ‘Mission Impossible theme’, ‘Harry Potter, Hedwigs theme’, the ‘Star Wars’ theme, ‘Mario Brothers’ theme, ‘Golden’ and ‘Soda Pop’ from K pop Demon Hunters. Some students played jazz popular song ‘Fly me to the moon’ by Bart Howard as well ‘Count on me’ by Bruno Mars. Some students also learnt ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Twinkle, Twinkle little star’ on the keyboard. Students learnt the letter names of notes on the keyboard and where to place their hands as well as how to coordinate their hands at the keyboard.