Learning Space News
Year 3/4
Term 3 has been filled with many exciting learning experiences and highlights for our Year 3/4 students.
English
Students have completed their second class novel for the year, ‘The Wild Robot’ by Peter Brown. Throughout the novel, students developed their comprehension skills by exploring a variety of strategies and reflecting on important themes including family, relationships, community and identity. We have thoroughly enjoyed using these rich texts to expand our vocabulary and have further explored interesting and challenging words through our morphology and Sounds-Write lessons. We have now begun our next English unit, which focuses on poetry. Students will explore a variety of poetic forms and identify the different structures and features of each. They will examine how authors use descriptive and imaginative language to enhance a reader's enjoyment and understanding of a text, while also considering the author's purpose and message. Students will investigate poetic devices including alliteration, similes, metaphors and rhyme. They will then apply their learning by creating their own poems in a range of forms, including free verse, haiku and diamante poetry.
Earlier in the term, students also developed their opinion-writing skills by writing reviews on a range of topics, including food, games, books, apps and music. Fun and engaging language experiences provided meaningful opportunities for students to develop their vocabulary, express their ideas and participate enthusiastically. They learnt to provide a summary, describe qualities, make comparisons and support their opinions before giving a personal recommendation and star rating.
Maths
Students have been developing their understanding of fractions, learning to recognise and represent fractions in a variety of ways, including through shapes, number lines and collections. They have explored combining fractions, identifying equivalent fractions and making connections between fractions and decimal notation. Learning has now progressed into place value, where students are deepening their understanding of tenths and hundredths and exploring how these values relate to our number system.
Students have been exploring the properties of two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects. They have investigated composite shapes and considered where these shapes and objects can be found in real-life contexts.
Students have also been investigating data, collecting information through observations and surveys to answer questions of interest. They have represented their findings using a range of displays, including many-to-one pictographs, column graphs and bar graphs. Students have developed their ability to interpret and analyse data, discussing what graphs tell us and considering which types of displays are most effective for presenting and comparing information.
Inquiry
The focus for this term has been on the diversity of places and environments around the world. Students have explored major geographical divisions and investigated the similarities and differences between Australia and its neighbouring countries. They have compared aspects of daily life in different places and explored how climates and environments vary across regions. Students have considered how these differences can influence the ways in which people live, work and interact with their surroundings.
One of the highlights was our excursion to CERES Community Environment Park in Brunswick, which connected beautifully with our Inquiry topic, ‘Australia and its Neighbours’. Students participated in a range of engaging, hands-on experiences, educational activities and cultural experiences. They enjoyed playing Indonesian games, learning Indian dances, listening to Indigenous storytelling and taking part in a bush tucker walk. It was a wonderful day of learning, exploration and fun, and students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn about and celebrate different cultures.
SEL
Students have continued to develop their understanding of positive and respectful relationships. They have explored how gender norms can influence attitudes, opportunities and behaviours, while developing an understanding of gender equality, inclusion and human rights. Students have reflected on the importance of building relationships that are respectful, inclusive and accepting of people of all genders.
It has been a busy and rewarding term, filled with opportunities for students to learn, explore, collaborate and grow. We are very proud of the enthusiasm and curiosity our Year 3/4 students have shown throughout Term 3.