Year 3/4 - Newsletter

Dear Parents & Carers,

What a great start we have had to Term 3. It appears that there was lots of travel, celebrations and excitement over the holidays and we do hope you all had a great break.

What's happened in 3/4 this week?

Literacy

This week, we've dived straight back into our Structured Literacy learning! We've continued exploring morphology, focusing on the Latin roots face/fact/fect/fice (meaning make) and the Greek root photo (meaning light). We have also revised several of the suffixes we explored last term.

Our grammar focus has continued with a revision of nouns and pronouns, with students learning how to identify and correctly change nouns to pronouns and vice versa.

In Reading and Writing, we have begun our new unit on Information Reports. Students have been learning how to ask purposeful questions, identify key information, and develop their note-taking skills. Using two short informative texts, they practised highlighting important information and recording concise notes. Throughout this unit, students will also continue to build their reading fluency through regular choral reading, paired reading, and individual reading activities.

Maths

This term in Mathematics, our students are exploring the big idea of Multiplicative Thinking. We have begun the term by learning and practising a range of efficient strategies to solve multiplication facts, helping students develop a deep understanding of number relationships rather than relying on memorisation alone. Building this conceptual understanding allows students to become more confident, flexible and accurate mathematicians.

Students have also continued using their XtraMaths login each day to strengthen their automatic recall of basic number facts. This short, targeted daily practice helps build speed, accuracy and confidence, freeing up students' working memory so they can focus on more complex mathematical thinking and problem-solving.

Over the coming weeks, students will also be introduced to our new whole-school Facts on Fire program. Facts on Fire provides engaging, structured practice that supports students in mastering their multiplication and division facts through regular rehearsal and achievable milestones. By combining explicit instruction with consistent fact fluency practice through XtraMaths and Facts on Fire, we are helping students develop the strong number knowledge that underpins success across all areas of mathematics.

Inquiry

This term, our Inquiry unit is Early European Explorers. Throughout the term, students will investigate why people explored new lands, what life was like for early explorers, and how these journeys have shaped the world we live in today. As part of this learning, students will also explore important questions such as:

What does the word ‘exploration’ mean to you?
Why are the achievements of Early Explorers still remembered today?
What were the conditions like in the early days of Exlporers?
How have changes in technology shaped exploration over the centuries?

Over the first two weeks, we have introduced the concept of exploration and discussed why exploration has been such an important part of history. Students have begun thinking about the challenges explorers faced, their motivations for undertaking long voyages, and the lasting impact of their discoveries.

This week, we also introduced our exciting Stop Motion Project. During Weeks 8 and 9, students will work in small groups to create a 1–3 minute stop-motion animation that tells the story of an early European explorer or demonstrates what life was like aboard an explorer's ship. Throughout the term, students will research, plan, write scripts, design sets and characters, and learn the skills needed to produce their animation. As this is a substantial project, there will be an expectation that some planning and preparation tasks are completed at home in the lead-up to filming, as well as during class time. More information and key dates will be shared as the project progresses.

Wellbeing

This term, our Wellbeing lessons are focusing on Stress Management as part of the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) program. Throughout this unit, students will develop a greater understanding of their emotions and learn practical strategies to help them manage everyday challenges in healthy and positive ways. Students will explore how different people, situations and events can influence the way we think and feel, while building a toolkit of strategies to support their emotional wellbeing. They will learn ways to manage physical, social and emotional changes, recognise situations that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe, and identify trusted adults and support networks they can turn to when needed.

Student Recognition Award

The students in 3/4 were given the opportunity to design a Digital based Student Recognition Award Certificate for Semester 2. Each individual class will vote on two of their favourite awards, with the two making their way to our final 10 across the 3/4 Level. Each student will get an opportunity to put in a vote at our Friday 3/4 Assembly this week.

We look forward to announcing it soon!!

Reminders

Cold & Flu Season

With the cold and flu season upon us, please be mindful of other children and if your child is unwell please provide them with a rest period at home.

Homework - Homework this week continues to consist of:

Minimum 4 nights reading with at least 80 minutes per week recorded in school diary (Book title, pages read, minutes read).
Diary is to be brought to school each Friday signed by parents.
Although not compulsory, we encourage your child to complete assigned Mathletics tasks.

Things to Remember:

Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th August - Stop Motion Incursion (More information on Compass soon).
Wednesday 26th August - Book Day Celebration
Friday 18th September - Last Day of Term 3

Student Awards

Refer to your classroom teacher’s email on Friday for the weekly student shoutouts!

Kind regards,

The Level 3/4 Team