Grade 3 

Reading 

In Year 3, we have been reading the exciting story The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. The book tells the tale of a huge metal man who suddenly appears in the countryside, surprising the people and causing lots of questions.

As we read, we have been learning new vocabulary from the text. Words like stupendous, mysterious, and astronomical have helped us to expand our word knowledge and use more interesting language in our own writing.

We have also been practising important reading skills. We used predicting to guess what might happen next in the story, inferring to work out hidden meanings the author gives us through clues, and questioning to ask things we wonder about as we read. These strategies help us become stronger and more thoughtful readers.

Writing

This term in Year 3, we have been busy writing information reports all about the mineral iron. We discovered that iron is a very important metal that people all around the world use every single day.

First, we learnt about the many uses of iron. Iron can be shaped and formed into useful objects. It is used to make tools like hammers and nails, strong buildings, and even vehicles such as cars, trains and ships! We also learnt that iron is mixed with other elements to make steel, which is even stronger.

Next, we explored the locations in Australia where iron is found. Did you know that Australia is one of the world’s biggest iron producers? Most of it is mined in Western Australia, especially in a place called the Pilbara. From there, iron is sent to different countries across the world.

Finally, we learnt about how open cut mines are created. Big machines are used to dig wide, deep holes in the ground to reach the iron ore. Trucks, shovels, and drills all help with the mining process. Even though it makes the land look very different, mining is important for providing iron that we need in our everyday lives.

Numeracy

In Mathematics, our Grade 3 students have been busy exploring 3D shapes. We have been learning how to:

• Identify and name a range of 3D shapes.
• Describe their features, including faces, edges, and vertices.
• Classify and sort 3D shapes based on these features.
• Recognise 3D shapes in real-life contexts.

To put our learning into action, students took part in a 3D Shape Scavenger Hunt around the school grounds. They worked in pairs to spot and record real-life examples of 3D shapes in our environment – from cylinders in playground poles to spheres on sports equipment. This hands-on activity helped students make connections between classroom learning and the real world, reinforcing the idea that 3D shapes are all around us.

The students have enjoyed building their mathematical vocabulary and becoming more confident at explaining how 3D shapes are similar and different. It has been wonderful to see their curiosity grow as they recognise shapes in everyday objects.