Year 3

English

Reading

In Reading this term, Grade 3 students took part in an author study where they analysed and critiqued the works of Aaron Blabey. Our students explored many of his well-known published books such as the ‘Pig the Pug’ series, and lesser-known titles such as ‘The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon’ and ‘The Brothers Quibble’. Students were able to critique and make connections with the texts by relating themes or characters with real-life experiences. Students learned to identify the different techniques that Aaron Blabey and other authors use to engage their readers. They analysed how illustrations add to the reader’s understanding of the characters, their actions, and the mood of the story. Students also inferred character traits and feelings where they looked closely at the evidence shown in the text. They also analysed how writers organise information in non-fiction texts by exploring the purpose of text features such as headings, subheadings, bolded words or images. Great work, grade 3!

Writing

The Grade 3 students began the term focusing on Persuasive texts as our major unit. We spent the first few weeks building on our ability to independently plan, draft and publish a persuasive text, where we used persuasive language and supporting evidence to strengthen our opinions and arguments. We learnt about how to group our ideas together into paragraphs so that our writing is coherent, while also focusing on using different language features to make our writing engaging, such as verbs and imaginative adjectives. We then finished the term learning about persuasive advertisements. The students learned about the persuasive techniques of using logos, slogans and exaggeration to persuade an audience to buy or remember a particular product. They had fun designing their own logos and slogans for their persuasive advertisements. The Grade 3s have worked hard in writing this term. Congratulations everyone!

Mathematics

Grade 3 students began learning about Mass in term 4, where they estimated and measured the mass of objects in grams and kilograms. They also compared and ordered objects from smallest to greatest mass. Our students then investigated the properties of 3D objects where they identified and named the key features of 3D Objects. We had several Grade 3 students represent Melton West Primary School at a special ‘Melton Maths Day’, tackling worded problems and abstract concepts as a team. They enjoyed the day immensely and it was great to collaborate with students from other local schools!

Our Fractions unit provided students with the opportunity to represent and label fractions including one half, a quarter, one third and one fifth in both fractions of a whole and of a collection. Our students then explored Money, where they represented an amount in multiple ways, calculated the change required for simple transactions to the nearest five cents, and recognised the relationship between dollars and cents. 

Our learners finished off the year with a focus on revision of place value concepts covered throughout the year which involved counting and ordering numbers to and from 10 000 and placing them accurately on a number line. What a busy and productive year of maths!

Inquiry

In Term 4, our Grade 3 learners explored the topic 'Oh the Places we Could Go’. Through research, we learnt that Australia shares many similarities and differences to its neighbouring countries such as New Zealand and Indonesia. They independently researched different aspects of life for each country including its flag’s history, the climate and terrain, customs, school and cuisine. At the conclusion of the unit, students created their own country inspired by information gained through researching the countries we learnt about. Well done Grade 3s on your efforts in inquiry this term! 

Science

It has been an exciting year in the STEM room with students getting to complete many hands-on activities. In term 3, students investigated the many ways heat is produced (via electrical, burning and friction) and how it is transferred from one medium to another. Students were able to explore these concepts by heating up different materials using warm water, sun and a hairdryer and measuring how hot the items became. In term 4, students started to investigate the common states of matter in our universe (solid, liquids and gases) and how by adding or removing heat can change an object's state. Students melted chocolate and/or ice using a heat source and froze different liquids, water, cordial and oil in the freezer, studying the changes that occurred. As the end of year fast approaches, I hope all students enjoyed their time in the STEM room and remember that “an annotated diagram needs to include labels”! Merry Christmas to one and all and enjoy the break!

LOTE - Chinese

Congratulations on such a fantastic term Grade 3s, and amazing work throughout the whole year. In term 4, the main topics for Grade3 students were colour and pets. In the topic of colour, students learnt 10 different colours, and then they learnt how to ask others and express their favourite colours. After colouring, students learnt how to pronounce pets, how to ask others if they have any pets and discuss the pets they have at home. In term 4, students also reviewed the tones about Pinyin and practiced some Chinese characters. The pictures were showing students working on origami about pets. Thanks for all your hard work Grade 3’s !

Art

The Grade 3 students have been learning about symmetry and practicing their ‘Mirror image skills’, by completing the opposite side of an image to find balance and proportion in their drawing. It has been interesting to see students who enjoy the structured mathematical side of art, as opposed to the less structured side to art, such as free drawing. We have also just celebrated spring and the beautiful ‘Cherry Blossoms’. The students have learnt to use a Japanese paint blowing method with ink, and crepe paper to represent the beautiful blooms. We have also dabbled in some ‘spooky creativity’ for Halloween at the end of October, and the students had fun using paper to create pumpkins, lanterns and masks. To wrap up the year, we are currently exploring depth and dimension through designing Graffiti block lettering, shapes and shading, to create the illusion of depth in a design, and creating design cards and decorations for someone special or for Christmas. It has been a fun and creative end to the year in Art, with the grade 3/4 students. I wish them a very happy holiday break! They have had some very creative moments this year!

P.E.

For this term the grade 3 students have focussed on the sports of badminton, hockey, and netball, being able to learn the skills linked to each of these sports and use them in a games-based approach. Students during term 4 have developed skills related to these sports and have been applying them in game-based situations. Our students have continued to learn the rules of various sports and use strategy to help them problem-solve with their peers. This was best seen during the mini games that the students participated in for each sport. They included kicking, handballing, and marking. Students have made the connection between the skill development phase and then being able to transfer the skills to game play. Students during the term were able to showcase the sport specific skills and then apply them in games. The fundamental movement skills linked to each of the sports include throwing, catching, running, jumping, dodging, and striking. Our aim is for students at grade 3 level to link skills with game play and learn about the rules relevant to the sport. Grade 3 students have continued to participate in class games throughout the term to demonstrate their ability to follow rules and instructions, these take the form in not just sports-based activities but also ICT resources using different interactive videos to assist the students. This term has been a great conclusion to the year. Congratulations grade 3 and good luck next year in grade 4!