From the 3/4
Classrooms
It has been a busy and exciting fortnight in Team 3/4, with students developing their knowledge and skills across English, Mathematics and Science. We loved the opportunity to visit the Book Fair and celebrated Book Week!
English:
In Writing, we have been focusing on explanation texts and learning how to make our writing clear and informative. We have explored different language features used in explanation texts, including cause and effect sentences, subject-specific vocabulary, time connectives, present tense verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
A particular focus has been on sentence structure and learning how to use cause and effect sentences to explain why something happens or how one event leads to another. Students were able to apply their learning by watching a video about cyclones and then writing their own explanation of how and why cyclones occur.
At home, you might like to encourage your child to practise by choosing a topic they are interested in and writing an explanation to answer questions such as “How does it work?” or “Why does it happen?”
Reading – The Sugar Cane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat:
This week our students continued to follow the clues to work out who framed Jacob Wilson, to help prove his innocence! We practised identifying unplanned moments that build suspense in Chapter 18, then wrote short sentences using suspense vocabulary. We were also able to identify similes in Chapter 19 and write an explanation of how each simile creates vivid imagery of the setting or events. We then analysed the climax and resolution and wrote a news script describing the kids’ return and the evidence found in the dry bag.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, we have begun exploring decimals, with a focus on understanding the place value of tenths and hundredths. Students have represented decimals using Kinder Squares and decimats before connecting these representations to decimal notation.
We have also continued developing our understanding of time, with a focus on duration. Students have been estimating and sequencing the duration of different events using formal units of time, such as hours and minutes. They put their skills into practice while planning a class party, considering how long different activities would take and how they could organise the available time.
Science
In Science, we have been investigating forces through hands-on experiments. Students worked in small groups to explore different types of forces and used their observations and discoveries to categorise them.
We then took a closer look at magnetic forces and conducted a fair test to investigate whether a magnet could move an object through different materials. Students made predictions, conducted their investigations and discussed what they discovered.
This week, students worked collaboratively to explore the forces of gravity and friction by designing and creating their own marble runs. They experimented with different designs and considered how gravity makes the marble move and how friction can slow it down. It was fantastic to see students using their problem-solving, collaboration and scientific thinking skills to improve their designs!
Home Learning Reminders
To support our learning at school, we ask that students complete the following home learning each week:
- Read for 30 minutes each night
- Complete the weekly activity from the Maths Home Learning Grid that was sent home earlier in the term.
- Practise weekly spelling words each night (Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check)
- Multiplication Practice - sent home each week
The maths, spelling and multiplication sheets are glued in Home Learning books, and students should bring these each Monday to receive new home learning for the week ahead and to submit their homework for the previous week to their teachers.
Important Dates:
Friday 19th September - Last Day of Term 3 - Final Assembly (Morning) and 2.30pm dismissal
Prepared by the Grade 3/4 Teachers