Year 3/4 Term 1 Overview

Year 3/4 2026 - Term 1 Overview               

Welcome to Term 1! This year our 3/4 teaching team consists of Sebastian Vandenberg, Nicole Webb and Anna Hendy. We will be supported by our wonderful LSOs, Lipo (3/4A) and Ruby (3/4B). We are excited to be teaching your children this year and are here to support you however we can. Please remember that hats and sunscreen are to be worn in Term 1 and there is a ‘No Hat, No Play’ policy for all students in the school. 

Important dates to remember

Tuesday 10th February - 3/4B Mass 10am

Tuesday 10th February - Parent, Teacher & Student Conferences

Wednesday 18th February - Ash Wednesday Mass 10am

Thursday 19th February - Parent Information Night 7pm

Sunday 22nd February - Founder’s Day Mass 9.45am

Monday 2nd March - Twilight Sports 4.30-7.30pm

Monday 9th March - LABOUR DAY 

Tuesday 10th March - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY!

Wednesday 11th March - Monday 23rd March - NAPLAN (Year 3)

Tuesday 17th March - 3/4A Mass 10am

Thursday 19th March - School Photos

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd March - Eucharist Commitment Masses

Wednesday 25th March - Eucharist Family Information Night 

Monday 17th March - Harmony Day

Tuesday 25th March - Year 4 Gala Day

Thursday 2nd April - End of Term 1

Monday 20th April - Term 2 begins!

Religious Education

We begin the term unpacking our whole school concept SHINE by exploring our personal strengths and how we can shine and grow to be our best selves. We will explore scripture related Shine such as ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ (Matthew 5:13-16) and what this means for us in our lives. 

Later in the term we will explore celebrations, parts of the mass and the Eucharist in preparation for the Sacrament of Eucharist for our Year 4 students early in Term 2. Towards the end of the term we will explore the events of Holy Week including the Last Supper in the lead up to Easter. 

Health

The main Curriculum focus this term is Health. Students will identify their strengths and learn how to use them positively to contribute to a healthy and caring community. This unit will explore the big question - How can I shine using my skills and strengths to contribute to a healthy community? 

• In my classroom

• In my community

• In my personal health

• In my friendships

• Through successes and challenges

Mathematics

This term in Mathematics, we will be focusing on the following areas, using evidence-based, knowledge-rich and sequenced lessons. We will be adopting the explicit instruction sequence, beginning with teacher-guided instruction, and gradually shifting responsibility for learning to students with modelling and guided practice and finally, independent practice. Students will be encouraged to be problem solvers and verbalise their thinking processes throughout the maths lessons. Daily reviews and spaced practice will also be incorporated in our Maths lessons in order to reinforce learning and ensure retention.

• Number - Counting & Place Value:

  • reading, writing, representing numbers beyond 10,000

  • comparing and ordering numbers

  • writing the expanded form for numbers beyond 10,000

  • recognising odd and even numbers 

• Number & Algebra - Addition & Subtraction 

  • adding and subtracting numbers using place value to partition, rearrange and regroup numbers

  • adding and subtracting using empty number lines

  • finding unknown values in addition and subtraction equations

  • adding and subtracting using vertical algorithm with and without regrouping 

• Measurement - Time

  • recognising and applying formal units of time

  • estimating and comparing the duration of events

  • reading the time to the nearest minute

  • solving problems involving the duration of time including situations involving ‘am’ and ‘pm’ and conversions between units of time

• Number - Multiplication & Division

  • recalling multiplication facts for 3, 4, 5 and 10 (year 3)

  • recalling multiplication facts up to 10x10 and related division facts (year 4)

  • applying multiplication facts to division and explaining patterns

Literacy

In Term 1, we will be studying the novel ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ by Michael Morpurgo. We will explore new complex vocabulary, practice notetaking, and demonstrate our comprehension through written responses. The students will discuss and respond in written tasks to the book’s themes of strength of the human spirit and the power of companionship in the face of challenges and adversity. Our writing genres are persuasive and narrative. Students will be explicitly taught to write a persuasive text using correct text layout, sentence structure and language choices. We will then focus on the narrative genre writing, practising planning, drafting and editing for a target audience. 

The students will engage in explicit teaching of Phonics spelling patterns and phonemes in class and these will also be reinforced in home learning tasks. 

Social & Emotional Learning

This term in SEL, students will be learning about the behaviour expectations of the Positive  Behaviour Matrix (PBL). This includes teaching and modelling positive behaviour when moving to a different room, using the toilet, during meditation and during our play breaks.

This year, we are continuing our partnership with The Resilience Project.  During the weekly lessons, we will engage in discussions and practical strategies that will teach the students about emotional literacy, gratitude, empathy and mindfulness. 

STEM

This term our STEM unit has a Biology focus, providing the students with the opportunity to explore the life cycles of living things and the similarities and differences between various life cycles. We will then move onto learning about the food chains of various animals and learn about producers, consumers and decomposers.  The children will use observational skills and hands-on activities to investigate and explain the different food chains and the roles consumers, producers and decomposers have within a habitat. 

Specialists

Please see the timetable below for specialist lessons. All 3/4 students will be required to wear their sport uniform on THURSDAY. Students will also need to bring in their library bag and books on their designated library days.

Weekly Timetable

Homework

Homework will start shortly so stay tuned for more information.

Year 3/4 Homework Expectations:

• 4 compulsory activities: ● Mathematics ● Spelling ● Writing ● Reading 

• 2 x free choice activities 

• presented in a matrix fortnightly 

• Recommended Time is 20-30 minutes - 4 times a week

Communication

The connections between home and school are very important. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We can be reached via email or leave a message at the office and we will endeavour to respond in a timely manner, between 8am and 5pm on weekdays. 

3/4A - Sebastian Vandenberg svandenberg@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au 

3/4B - Nicole Webb nwebb@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au (Monday-Wednesday)

3/4B - Anna Hendy ahendy@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au (Thursday & Friday)