Year 3/4

Welcome

Welcome to Term 4, Year 3/4 Families,

We hope that you all had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday with your children.

Please read the following information about the curriculum for Term 4 and take note of important key dates.

We look forward to an exciting and hard-working final term with the students.

Kind Regards,

Annette Howe, Emily Casaceli, Lachlan Ware, Rachel Gurvich and Tahira Tannen

English: Reading

In Term Four, students will continue working in guided reading groups to improve key reading skills and behaviours that will assist them in reading and comprehending a range of test types.

At the beginning of the term, we will focus on identifying the purpose and different sections of Explanation texts. Within these texts, students will learn to locate present tense verbs, explain the meaning of selected subject-specific words, and answer literal and inferential questions.

English: Writing

In Writing, students will be supported to write Explanation texts using the structure of:

An Identifying Statement, Explanation Sequence and Summary Statement. In these lessons, students will focus on the ‘What?’, ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ of a topic and develop their ability to write in the third person as required by the structure of Explanation texts.

Homework: Reading Daily

Thank you for helping our students complete their nightly reading and homework tasks so far this year. We would love your continued support in reminding students to read each weekday and hand in their homework every Thursday.

Students are expected to read each night for 15-20 minutes and record their reading in their diary.

Please record their reading using the following format:

Title:

Time Read:

Pages:

Parent signature:

Once the reading has been completed, it would benefit your child to talk about what they have read. This ‘verbal processing’ helps them remember and consider what is happening in the text and why. Ask questions before, during, and after a session to encourage reading comprehension.

For example:

Before: "Using clues from the title and front cover, what do you think this text will be about?"
During: "What's going on in the book? Is it turning out the way you thought it would? What do you think will happen next?"
After: "Can you summarise the book? What did you like about it? What other books does it remind you of?"

You may also like to visit the local library and select books that interest your child.

Homework tasks will be presented for the week in the classroom on Mondays. The classroom teacher will allocate the tasks based on the curriculum presented throughout the week. Allotted tasks are to take no more than 15 minutes per session.

Homework tasks commenced the week beginning Monday, October 14th. Please note that there will be no homework tasks on each term's first and last week.

Maths

In Term Four, students will further enhance their mathematical skills by applying concepts, processes, and effective mental strategies to tackle and solve problems. They will utilise concrete materials alongside digital technology to enrich their learning experience.

The term will begin with an emphasis on Multiplication and Division, followed by a variety of topics covering essential mathematical areas, including:

Multiplication & Division
Fractions & Decimals
Mass, Volume & Capacity
Angles
Chance
Counting and Place Value

Inquiry Learning

In Inquiry for Term Four, we will investigate Earth Science, specifically learning about the relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun. The students will have a chance to create models and collaborate with their peers to complete learning tasks. This term, we are also excited to be heading to Scienceworks later in the term for an excursion to have hands-on experience learning about Earth Science. We will have more information about this excursion in the next few weeks. Later in the term, we will begin to investigate the impact of extreme weather and how it affects the landscapes around it.

Religion

In Term 4, the students will explore how Catholic Social Teaching helps guide our decisions by emphasising values like respect for human dignity, the common good, and social justice. The students will learn that these teachings encourage individuals and communities to consider how their choices affect others. Students will discuss the principles based on local and global decisions, such as how to care for those less fortunate than us. We will also discuss how our decisions can lead to positive outcomes for both individuals and society, making connections that benefit us and contribute to a more just and caring world.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

This term, we have started revisiting our school-wide routines and expectations, including how we line up and transition throughout the school. We have continued focusing on Respect by keeping our hands, feet, and objects to ourselves and choosing our words carefully to ensure we speak kindly to our peers.

We will move on to demonstrating responsibility by asking a trusted adult for assistance when solving a problem. The term will finish with a focus on Resilience, where we will take ownership of our feelings and actions and try our best to work through any challenges.

SPECIALIST PROGRAMS

All Year 3/4 classes have specialist lessons on Monday.

Students are to wear their sports uniform with runners only on a Monday

Italian – Signora White

P.E. – Miss Kayla Puetz

Performing Arts - Mrs Cooper

Visual Art – Mrs Bartlett

L.O.T.E. ITALIAN

Ciao a tutti e bentornati a scuola.

Dear parents, welcome to Term 4.

The students in Years Three and Four will begin this term by revising, recycling and consolidating previously acquired language through written and oral activities. They will continue to develop their skills in Italian and build on their vocabulary knowledge by creating and writing shopping lists. They will discuss items needed to hold a masquerade /Carnevale party in pairs. The students will write the list in Italian and English and then present it as a role play where one is the shopkeeper and the other is the customer. The students will also be introduced to the Italian currency – L’euro. They will compare the Euro with the Australian dollar and thus gain an awareness of what is the same and what is different; they will also learn to compare values and the exchange rate. A particular focus will also be on correct pronunciation and expression of key Italian phrases and oral communication. During the lessons, the students will continue to sing songs and play language and grammar games and quizzes to reinforce new vocabulary and language structures.

Cordiali saluti,

Signora White

Physical Education

Welcome to the last term of the year!

The 3/4s had the wonderful opportunity to participate in an NRL clinic at the end of Term 3 and completed it on Monday, 7th October. They learnt about the rules of rugby and how listening, teamwork, and positive communication are essential in all sports. We will continue to build on these skills and use them in a variety of ways throughout the term for different sports, such as volleyball, cricket, softball, and gymnastics.

We are looking forward to a fun last term of learning!

Miss Puetz

Visual Arts

Welcome to the Art room for Term 4. We began the term by making wooden trees for the spring season using ‘slicks’ type paints. We will continue practising our cutting, pasting, collage, and drawing skills. We will also continue to use various art techniques in colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space. The students will practise their art skills and

experiment with different materials. We will also do special artwork to enhance our learning in our inquiry topic, Remembrance Day and the Season of Advent.

We plan to have lots of fun this term in the art room.

Mrs. Cathy Bartlett (Visual Arts Teacher)

Performing Arts

Welcome to the final term of 2024, 3/4 Students and Families!

This term, we’ll finalise our folk dance study by learning the scissor dance from Hungary. We’ve been looking at different cultural dances from all over the world, and students will have an opportunity to voice what they think dance means to other cultures.

Students will focus heavily on music this last term, revisiting how to read the notes on the treble clef and how to play them on different instruments, including our collection of new pianos. The 3/4s will also be able to compose a space song that aligns with their inquiry topic this term. Working in groups, they’ll write one line each, then combine to make a four-line song. After developing a rhythm and melody to their song, they’ll document it on the treble clef and then perform their piece together. I can’t wait to hear what creative songs they come up with!

Finally, towards the end of the term (but not too early), we’ll work on some Christmas carols to play and sing on various instruments. We’ll also do a lot of singing to build students’ confidence in preparation for a production next year.

Wishing students a great term 4!

Happy singing and dancing

Emma Cooper

Dates for Your Diary

October

Friday 25th - P&F Ladies Dinner - 6.00 p.m.

Saturday 26th - St Andrew’s Fun Fair - 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.

Tuesday 29th - St Andrew’s Got Talent - 2.15 - 3.05 p.m. (Juniors) 3.45 - 4.45 p.m. (Seniors)

November

Friday 1st - Whole School Assembly - 9.00 a.m.

Monday 4th - School Closure Day

Tuesday 5th - Public Holiday - Melbourne Cup Day