Curriculum Overview
English
In English, we will be exploring the texts Piano Fingers and Rowan of Rin. Students will deepen their understanding of the textual concepts of imagery, symbol, connotation, and characterisation. They will examine how authors use imagery and symbolism in literature and identify how figurative language influences meaning. Year 3 will also experiment with salience and figurative language to create a multimodal text. Additionally, students will make personal connections to characters by composing a journal entry. Regular reading at home and in class will continue to support the development of fluency, expression, and comprehension skills.Soundwaves has been successfully incorporated into our spelling program. Students are learning to listen closely to the sounds in words and identify how different letter combinations represent those sounds. They will continue to develop their proofreading skills and apply their knowledge of spelling and punctuation. Students are also consolidating their understanding of grammar concepts and working on handwriting skills to form letters correctly in preparation for joining.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, students will continue to develop their understanding of measurement through the study of length and explore number concepts with a focus on fractions. They will also investigate position, chance, 2D shapes, and symmetry. Key number concepts such as pattern, algebra, and place value will be revised and reinforced throughout the term. The exploration of multiplication will continue, with an emphasis on learning times tables and applying this knowledge to a range of tasks, including word problems. Later in the term, students will also focus on 3D shapes, volume, capacity, and further work with fractions.Students are encouraged to practise their times tables and skip counting at home to consolidate these skills. Here are some helpful strategies: practise skip counting aloud, roll two dice or flip two cards and multiply the numbers, create a set of flashcards, or choose one set of times tables to focus on each week.
History and Geography
In History, we take a step back in time to explore the beginnings of Australia. Students will examine early Indigenous Australia to gain an understanding of what life was like before colonisation. They will explore the culture, traditions, and daily life of Indigenous Australians—including clothing, tools, and the Dreaming—to gain insight into how colonisation dramatically impacted their way of life.Australia was once seen as a great and mysterious continent that many explorers sought to discover. Students will learn about early European explorers, the significant voyages that marked ‘first contact’ with Indigenous Australians, and the journey that led to Captain Cook’s arrival and the eventual settlement of the first white inhabitants.
Science and Technology
Have you ever wondered what a shadow is or how it forms? What causes the difference between night and day? This term in Science and Technology, Year 3 students will investigate these questions as they ponder, hypothesise, and experiment with light and movement in our solar system. They will explore the roles of the Earth, Sun, and Moon in creating night and day, deepening their understanding of how these celestial bodies interact.
Pastoral Care
In Pastoral Care, Year 3 students have been exploring the concepts of resilience, grit, and perseverance. They have also reflected on classroom expectations, with a focus on respect, active listening, and becoming self-motivated learners.We continue to use Choice Theory through Doug Dragster and The Get Happier Project to help students build social skills and reflect on their actions and behaviour.This term, Year 3 will also complete the Child Safe units provided by the NSW Department of Education. These lessons will focus on respect, empathy, personal identity, and addressing gender-based discrimination.
Visual Arts
In Term 3, Year 3 students will explore storytelling through art, drawing inspiration from Dreamtime stories, weaving techniques and personal identity. The term begins with a mixed media artwork based on The Rainbow Serpent, where students will experiment with painting, drawing and collage to create a colourful, layered snake. They will learn how to use positive and negative space to enhance their compositions. Mid-term, students will explore weaving by threading coloured yarn into a cardboard loom featuring an Australian animal silhouette. In the final weeks, students will learn about portrait composition by drawing family members and overlapping them to create a group scene. This unit builds skills in storytelling, texture and visual arrangement.
Italian
In Year 3 Italian for Term 3 we will be focussing on the key theme ‘le parti del corpo’ Body parts (revisited). We will explore this through a fun, interactive and ‘hands-on’ approach using music, conversations, picture story books and drama with a strong focus on verbal communication and pronunciation. We will continue to send home memory/matching cards, song words and stories for your children to share with you which is a great way to reinforce their learning in a fun way with family.
PDHPE
In Term 3, the Year 3 students will enjoy exploring sports such as netball, hockey and volleyball in more depth which will see them continue to develop specific fundamental movement skills including passing, trapping, shooting, digging, setting and spiking and learn about different team strategies. Paramount to the students’ learning will be to grasp how empathy can have a positive impact on our relationships, why nutrition is important to our wellbeing and how a growth mindset can improve our resilience will be main themes throughout the lessons.
Music
Year 3 students will begin learning the ukulele this Term, focussing on correct technique, notes, chords, strumming patterns and songs, with some advancing to the guitar. They will also learn the notes G, A and B on the recorder to play basic songs individually and as a group, as well as allowing them to complete their own compositions. Students will engage in regular musical warm up games and singing, as well as complete music theory work in their Music for Cool Cats, Beginner Book A.
RVE
Our Religious and Values Education program this term continues the learning from Semester One. We will be discovering more about Jesus, God’s chosen King sent to rescue his people from their sins. Students will investigate the events described throughout John’s Gospel and understand how these events point to Jesus as the anointed messiah. Students will engage with the content in an active way, using worksheets, games, videos, music, stories, drama and craft activities, to explore the Christian faith and see how it is relevant today.
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden classes will be focusing on basic health and safety in the kitchen. We will learn how to communicate and work in small teams with respect, integrity and compassion. We will learn how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, nutritious, seasonal and delicious food. A selection of winter foods such as warm healthy soups, homemade breads, Chinese and Indian dishes will be cooked and eaten together.
Library
In Year 3 students will explore Picture Books, they discuss the books then cast a vote for which book they think best meets the shadow judging criteria for that award. The Book Week Theme “Book an Adventure” will also be discussed. Students will be guided by these discussions to assist with costume choices for the Character Parade which will be held on the 20th of August.To round out the term, students will be exploring different genres in the library and also revise library skills. For further Resource Centre information, including Book Fair & Book Week, keep an eye out in our section of the fortnightly newsletter.