What's happening in our classrooms 

Grade 3

Hello to all MPS families! A special hello to the Grade 3 students, parents and extended family members who have been on this crazy remote learning journey during Term 3 with us!

Our students have displayed resilience, independence and determination during the past few weeks while we have been learning at home. We are so proud of how our students are overcoming hurdles to continue their learning journey, where ever they are! 

Here is an overview of what we have been learning about in Term 3:

Literacy

In Reading, students have been learning about the importance of using prediction and prior knowledge when we read. It is great to hear students chatting together and sharing their prior knowledge about a topic before they read. That is a bit harder to do with us while they are at home! Before your child reads a book today, have a chat with them and list all of the things that you both know about the text. It is a great way for your child to engage with a book!

In Writing, we have been working with a literacy consultant, Stephen Graham, to introduce new and exciting ways to improve our student’s writing using the Recount and Description text types. Students have been busy drafting writing pieces both at home and at school, using features such as time connective words and sequencing in their recount texts and descriptive sentences and personal opinion in their descriptive texts. Below are some amazing examples of recount texts that students in 3A and 3B have written while at home.

Numeracy

The Numeracy units that we have focussed during Term 3 have been many and varied! These have included Addition, Subtraction, Shape, Chance and Location. Phew - So much learning!!

In addition and subtraction, we have been learning to use a blank numberline to model problems. This is a great way to encourage children to skip count to find the answer, rather than counting on by 1s. 

I have attached a worksheet below with some addition problems. You might like to ask your child to model for you how to complete them using a blank number line. They can be your teacher!

As always, we are constantly working on increasing the speed and accuracy of basic number facts. Here is a fun addition facts game that you might like to play as a family. Can you BEAT THE CLOCK??

https://www.transum.org/Maths/Activity/Beat_The_Clock/ 

Inquiry

During Term 3, Grade 3 students have been working on our unit titled “Australia – Now and Then”. We have been focussing on:

• What are key celebrations and commemorations in Australia?
• Who lived here first and how do we know?
• How has our community changed?
• What features have been lost and what have been retained?
• What contributions have different groups and individuals made to our community?

We are hoping to be back at school to tie all of this learning together and to see more of Ms Kourkoulis’s photos from her trip to the Northern Territory, which will be a great addition to your child’s learning!

What a busy term the Grade 3s have had! Thank you once again for all of your support. Although we may not see you all until Term 4, we hope that day comes sooner rather than later!

Take care,

Anna Kourkoulis and Alecia Mayne.