Overview

English

In Year 3 students will be focussing on extending the student’s independent reading both at school and at home. Through the study of the text Fantastic Mr Fox, students will explore how narratives set up expectations for the reader using predictable structure and familiar characters and situations. Students will analyse excerpts of the text and use these as the basis for their own innovation. Students will also plan, draft and revise a narrative sequel to Fantastic Mr Fox using an orientation, complication, and resolution structure. 

Spelling, Grammar and Handwriting will be undertaken alongside Writing and Reading in Term 1. Students will revisit and continue to perfect their NSW foundation handwriting in preparation for learning to join over the course of the year. Learning and understanding both common and proper nouns and solidifying existing grammar knowledge is the aim of Grammar in Term 1. Students will also learn to identify and use various punctuation and grammar rules to assist their reading and writing. Students will be implementing the Soundwaves Spelling program through classroom tasks.

Mathematics

In Term 1, Year 3 students will consolidate and extend their number knowledge. Students will concentrate on Place Value and understand the value of numbers to build knowledge to apply to the four operations; addition, subtraction, and multiplication. The students will also be investigating data, measurement, geometry, statistics and probability. 

Geography

This term Year 3 will be focussing on Geography, where they will be concentrating on reading, creating and using a variety of maps. They will learn about the different types of maps such as political and topographical maps, weather and environment maps as well as transport, street and city maps. Students will have the opportunity to learn about Australia and its geographical features as well as world geography. Looking at the features of a world map such as the equator, tropics and the International Date Line and gain an understanding of the world’s continents and Australia’s place within a global context. This unit provides a unique opportunity to discuss travel to foreign cities and how maps are used to navigate the streets, find attractions and use public transport.

Naplan

In March, Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students will participate in NAPLAN (National Assessment Program- Literacy and Numeracy. NAPLAN is a nationwide measure through which parents, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning.

NAPLAN is made up of tests in the four areas (or ‘domains’) of:

• Writing  - 40 minute test.
• Reading - 45 minute test.
• Language Conventions 45 minute test.
• Numeracy 40 minute test.

Students will use their class computer to complete the Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy domains and the writing test will be handwritten. 

Science and Technology

Everyday we see or use things that have been melted or frozen, heated or cooled. In Science this term we will be exploring the concept of melting and the way materials can change their state under a range of different conditions. Students will learn that matter exists in various states such as solid, liquid and gas and will look at how a liquid or solid’s exposure to temperature can alter the materials appearance. Through discussion, multimedia, collaborative experiments and hands-on investigations, students will explore the concept of melting and develop their skills in applying scientific language to explain their understanding of concepts. Students will also have weekly Technology lessons with Mrs Cindy Pedrana (3B) and Miss Lauren Williams (3A) where they will learn about cyber safety and develop their creative digital skills.

Visual Arts

Welcome to a dynamic term of art exploration with our Year 3 students in the "Navigating Self, Place & Community" unit. Our journey begins with a collaborative Gum Leaf Acknowledgement of Country, fostering unity among Kindergarten to Grade 6 students. A lively art room scavenger hunt sparks creativity and introduces various materials. Students will also explore Contour Portraits, experimenting with blind continuous line drawing, marker transfer printing, and wire sculpture techniques for unique self-portraits. The unit wraps up with Community Maps, where students design and paint their maps, incorporating elements like roads and trees, experimenting with colour mixing. Throughout, students reflect on artists' motivations and the varied interpretations possible in art, fostering an appreciation for the connections between subject matter and artistic techniques. I am excited to witness the artistic growth in Year 3 this term! From Mrs Pedrana.

IPT 

Welcome to a dynamic term in our Year 3 Information and Communication Technology (IPT) classes! In Stage 2 of the Digital Technologies strand, our focus is on unravelling the intricacies of digital systems and how they transmit data. This term, students will explore the fascinating world of different data types, gaining the skills to interpret patterns and investigate visual programming. As we further develop computational thinking and abstraction, students will also master the basics of their Chromebook laptops. From navigating Google Suite applications such as Doc, Slides, and Gmail, our young tech enthusiasts are poised for a term of hands-on learning and digital discovery. Get ready for a fantastic journey into the world of computational thinking!

Religious and Values Education

Students in Year 3 will have one lesson of Religious and Values Education each week with Mrs Megan McMaster.

In Term 1 the students will be learning about the Kingdom of God. We will be exploring the idea of a kingdom and how we can apply this to Jesus as God’s perfect King and what His kingdom looks like. This leads into a discussion of Jesus as a generous King who gives his life at Easter and who through his resurrection rebuilds a relationship with humanity. 

These lessons will include worksheets, games, videos, music, stories, drama, prayer and craft activities.

Music

This term, students in Year 3 will develop their musical aptitude through a variety of activities involving singing and movement. The Term 1 topic allows students an in-depth study of Camille Saint-Säens’ orchestral work, ‘Carnival of the Animals’. During this music appreciation topic focus, students will analyse and interpret the orchestral songs and discuss the composers’ intent, as well as discuss the types of instruments featured and how they contribute to the song’s ‘story’. Students will also have opportunities for singing, creative movement and improvisation, with learning experiences based on the Kodály concept and Orff Schulwerk approach.

To learn more about our extra-curricular music program and what instruments are available to learn through private tuition, please follow this link to our school website: 

https://www.moamagrammar.nsw.edu.au/teaching-and-learning/co-curricular/music-and-performing-arts/

PDHPE

Welcome back to MAG in what promises to be an exciting, fun & productive school year. Year 3 students will enjoy a PDHPE unit called “Ready, Set, Go” that will start with a variety of team building activities that will allow them to get to know both their peers and teachers better, whilst building trust and confidence.  Students will commence with problem solving and cooperative games, with the focus on developing communication skills and the importance of teamwork. Students will also be developing their fitness for the Annual School Cross Country and hand eye coordination skills through the participation of an exciting tennis program. Students will also reflect upon their own and others’ technique and engage in small group workshops to better understand their own and others’ performances. The importance of sun protection, safety and inclusive peer interactions in PDHPE will also be a focal theme throughout the term.

Italian

Ciao! Benvenuti! Welcome to our K-6 Italian program for 2024. There is a change in teachers for Italian this year with Mrs Williams (Maestra Lorena) teaching years K-3 and Mrs Tonkin (Maestra Rachele) teaching years 4-6.

We will work through each term in each year level using ‘Key Questions’ to guide the curriculum.  We know that the most effective way to teach children another language is to do it through fun, interactive, hands on ways including music, conversation, picture story books and drama with a strong focus on verbal communication and pronunciation. 

Our wish is for our students to enjoy Italian and feel confident in their ability to learn another language as well as various other cultural and geographical information. We will often 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 their family. 

Here is the Term 1 ‘Key Question’ for Year 3:

Quando è il tuo compleanno? When is your birthday?

Please encourage your children to share some of the Italian words and phrases they know or ask them to sing you a song!

Grazie mille,

Maestra Lorena and Maestra Rachele 

(Primary Italian Teachers)

Pastoral Care

In Pastoral Care Year 3 will be learning about Growth Mindset. Recent advances in neuroscience have shown us that the brain is far more malleable than we ever knew. Research on brain plasticity has shown how connectivity between neurons can change with experience. With practice, neural networks grow new connections, strengthen existing ones, and build insulation that speeds transmission of impulses. Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts). This is because they worry less about looking smart and put more energy into learning.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG)

Expect some keen kitchen helpers at home this term as our Year 3 students begin the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. Our budding chefs will learn about the kitchen and how to safely work within this new classroom environment. The focus of the program is to teach and nurture a love of fresh ingredients and healthy meals. Using seasonal produce often grown in our school garden, students will learn how to grate, slice, dice, cook, assemble and eat a variety of foods. The greatest part of the program is the opportunity it provides to see students move out of their comfort zone, try new foods and work together with their classmates. 

Homework

In Year 3 students will complete weekly homework which will begin in week three and will be due on a Friday. Practise and preparation is part of weekly homework. Nightly reading is required to continue to improve and build reading and comprehension skills. A reading log is inside the school diary and needs to be completed each day by the student and signed by a parent. Towards the end of the term students will have Talking Topics assigned on a fortnightly basis. 

Reading aloud is still encouraged as is a variety of text types to make home reading more fun and challenging. To practise speaking and listening skills, each fortnight students will be given a set topic to present to the class. Presentations should be prepared to be given on their set day. This provides an opportunity to practice public speaking skills and share ideas, stories and thoughts about a range of topics.