What's Happening in the Middle School
Year 3
What’s Happening in Year 3 in Weeks 1 & 2
We’re excited to see everyone refreshed and ready for another fantastic term of learning. Term 4 is always a special time as we celebrate achievements, enjoy new experiences, and prepare for the final weeks of Year 3 together. We’re especially looking forward to our upcoming camp and all the adventures it will bring. It’s going to be a great term ahead!
Wellbeing
Wellbeing this term will be focusing on setting the students up with the emotional and organisational skills to support a smooth transition into Year 4. The first two wellbeing lessons will focus on encouraging a growth mindset by understanding the difference between a fixed and growth mindset and how to flip your thinking to encourage students to challenge themselves and show greater persistence and resilience.
Literacy
We will be continuing to look at spelling changes when adding a suffix, particularly the ‘-y to i rule’. We will also look at low frequency spelling such as ‘-ar /er/, -or /er/’ and ‘/air/ (air, are, ear)’.
Literature
We will be exploring the novel The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, a touching story about friendship, freedom, and hope, told from the perspective of a gorilla. As we read the text, we will also focus on developing our grammar skills by learning about conjunctions, with a particular emphasis on subordinating conjunctions, which help us connect ideas and add detail to our writing. In addition, we will study the features of a persuasive letter, learning how to express our opinions clearly and convincingly through structure, emotive language, and strong arguments.
Maths
We will be focusing on data collection methods and students will create graphs of their own. Multiplication facts will continue to be taught. A reminder that practice at home is highly recommended.
Knowledge Unit
Our Knowledge Unit focus this term is Science. In our Science unit on Chemistry, the students will explore what science is and what it means to be a scientist. They'll have opportunities to develop their curiosity and investigative skills, and begin to think and work like real scientists.
Reminders
- Please ensure children have hats for break times.
- Please ensure Library books are brought to school to be returned or reborrowed on your child’s library day.
- It is expected that all students are reading 5 times a week for at least 20 minutes, this can be recorded in their diary and will be checked by their teacher.
Year 4
What’s Happening in Year 4 in Weeks 1 & 2
Welcome back to the final term of the year. It is difficult to believe how quickly we are approaching the final weeks of 2025.
The Year 4 teachers are looking forward to all the exciting events planned throughout the upcoming term. These include a visit to the Zoo, the Bike Education Program, as well as the annual Beaumaris Primary School Carols. Please make sure you check the Compass App regularly to stay up to date with all the information regarding these events, as they are posted.
Over the next two weeks, we will be learning about:
Wellbeing
Students will continue to listen to a podcast called ‘Grow Your Mind’ during class sessions. There will also be a review of Beaumaris Primary School Values as we move into the transition portion of the school year.
Literacy
This term, the Year 4 students will be completing another novel study. ‘Nim’s Island’ was written by Australian author, Wendy Orr and we are sure it will become a favourite literature memory with our students. Our spelling program, Word Origins will continue to be implemented throughout the second semester.
Maths
The Year 4 students will be reviewing and revising the four operations throughout the term. We will also be continuing with the daily review format that imbeds how to read and answer test and examination questions correctly. We are also continuing with times table facts on a daily basis
Knowledge Unit
Our Knowledge Unit in Term 4 is geography. Some of the questions we will be investigating include;
- How are the continents of Australia, Africa and South America similar and different?
- What are the geographical features and cultural practices that make these places unique?
- How do people and animals in different climate zones adapt to their environments?
Homework
The Year 4 students are expected to read every night and record their progress in their personal diaries. It is the responsibility of the student to bring their diary to school every day and take it home each night to log their reading. Classroom teachers will be checking and signing these diaries regularly to monitor student reading habits. The student diary will also be used to highlight important dates and reminders.
Important Year 4 Dates:
Monday 3rd November – Curriculum Day
Tuesday 4th November – Melbourne Cup Day
Friday 7th November – Visit to the Zoo