Year 3

English

Reading

During Reading this term, the Grade 3 students took part in an author study where they analysed and critiqued the works of Aaron Blabey. Our students explored some of his well-known books from the ‘Pig the Pug’ series, and lesser-known titles such as ‘The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon’ and ‘The Dreadful Fluff’. Students were able to critique and make connections with the texts by relating themes or characters with real-life experiences. Students learned to identify the different techniques that Aaron Blabey and other authors use to engage their readers. They analysed how illustrations add to the reader’s understanding of the characters, their actions, and the mood of the story. The students also inferred character traits and feelings where they looked closely at the evidence shown in the text. They also analysed how writers organise information in non-fiction texts by exploring the purpose of text features such as headings, subheadings, bolded words or images. The students were able to identify the purpose and audience of a variety of non fiction texts. 

Well done to our Grade 3 students!

Writing

The Grade 3 students were introduced to different forms of persuasive writing andthe different persuasive techniques they can employ for each. We spent the first few weeks building on our ability to independently plan, draft and publish a persuasive text, where we used persuasive techniques, such as high modality words and supporting evidence to strengthen our opinions and arguments. We learnt about how to group our ideas together into paragraphs so that our writing is coherent and follows the correct structure for a persuasive text. Following on from our work on writing a persuasive text, the students explored how to write a persuasive review and worked through the writing cycle to write a review that convinced their reader to play the game, read the book or watch the movie they reviewed. We finished the term learning about persuasive advertisements. The students learnt about the persuasive techniques of using logos, slogans and exaggeration to persuade an audience to buy or remember a particular product. They had fun creating their own persuasive advertisements. The Grade 3s have worked hard in writing this term. Congratulations everyone!

Mathematics

The Grade 3 students began this term by consolidating their knowledge of multiplication and division, as well as started their unit on 3D Objects. They investigated the properties of 3D objects by identifying and naming the key features. Our Fractions unit provided students with the opportunity to represent and label fractions including halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, sixths, ninths and tenths in both fractions of a whole and of a collection. They also identified equivalent fractions and when a fraction was greater than or less than another fraction. Throughout our Probability unit students participated in chance experiments and used the language of chance, e.g. certain, likely, unlikely, impossible, to predict the outcome. Our learners finished off the year with a focus on revising the concepts of measurement by participating in the Potato Olympics. Each student was asked to bring in a washed potato to compete in a variety of Olympic events. The students really enjoyed participating in the variety of events and it was great to see the students using their mathematical knowledge to determine the winner of each event. It was a fun, hands-on way to celebrate all of our work in Maths this year!  

Inquiry

This term our Grade 3 students explored the topic 'Go Green!’. They learnt about how the environment supports the lives of people and other living things by completing mini research projects on different habitats and endangered animals. In week 7 we went on an excursion to CERES Community Environment Park where we learnt about the 6 Rs - Rethink, Reduce, Refuse, Reuse, Recycle and Rot. The students were able to make their own paper from old shredded paper, learn about innovative ways to stop rubbish from entering our waterways, learn about how worms can help reduce the amount of food scraps that end up in landfill and learn about the anatomy of a worm by having the opportunity to hold one. Following our excursion the students created a plan for how they can take action to become more sustainable at school. They decided to collect items that can be recycled as part of the Victorian Government’s Container Deposit Scheme to raise money to purchase a worm farm to reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in landfill. In addition, the students audited their classroom waste each week and set goals to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill. The Grade 3 students have been able to take steps towards saving the environment. Awesome work everyone! We thank the families for your support of these initiatives.   

Science

This term in Science, Grade 3 students have focused on the Chemical Science strand. Students in Grade 3 have looked at natural and processed materials, investigated their range of physical properties and how these properties can influence the use of these materials. They have explored and worked with different materials, tested their properties through experimentation and observation. During these investigations students have continued to develop the following science inquiry skills – questioning and predicting, planning and conducting, processing and analysing data and information, evaluating and communicating.

                 LOTE - Chinese

In term 4 Grade3s did the main cities in China in Chinese, such as Beijing , Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou; 4 directions in Chinese and 4 animal signs (tu 兔 long 龙 she 蛇 ma 马). We practised those Chinese characters in mini whiteboards and typed into iPad Book Creator. We also practised those characters in iPad Blooket game.

There will be a big group project( 3 weeks’ time) presenting their 6 topics we learnt in 2023. At the end of the term, kids will get the opportunity to watch a Chinese movie to finalize the big term before Christmas holiday.

At the end of the term, kids will get the opportunity to watch a Chinese movie to finalize the big term before Christmas holiday.

P.E.

During term 4 our grade 3 students have focused on the sports of badminton, hockey, and rugby. They have been able to apply all the skills required in these sports to participate in a games-based approach to their learning in Physical Education. Students have been engaging in small-sided games (mini games) in each of these sports which has assisted them in the development of the relevant skills required to play each sport. Some of the motor skills that our students have developed are throwing, catching, striking, running, and dodging. Each student was able to use prior learning and skill development throughout the term. Students have had ample opportunity to play each of these sports and learn as they play which has been enjoyed by everyone. The grade 3 students have improved their knowledge of rules and problem-solving skills when it comes to sport. This year has been full of wonderful learning and has been so much fun. I wish all the grade 3 students all the best as they move into grade 4 next year.