It has been another busy and engaging fortnight in Grade 3/4, with students exploring history, health, literacy and mathematics through a range of hands-on learning experiences.

Literacy:

In English, students have continued exploring our mentor text 'Strangers on Country'. Through class discussions and comprehension activities, students examined themes of belonging, cultural practices and perspectives within Barbara Thompson’s story. Students have been building their understanding of how authors communicate ideas and how stories can help us connect with history and culture.

We have been continuing to look at stories being told from different perspectives.

When writing our own historical narratives, we have been focusing on using evaluative language to describe more precisely what a character is doing or how they are feeling. We have also looked at using connective words to sequence events and make our writing flow.

Numeracy

In Mathematics, students have continued developing their multiplicative thinking skills and using these skills when solving worded problems. We have also been exploring data and graphing. Students have been representing data using column graphs and pictographs, ensuring graphs include titles, labelled axes and keys where needed.

Students have also been analysing data by:

Calculating outcome totals
Identifying the most and least likely outcomes
Determining whether results show an even spread
Discussing whether experiments are fair

It has been wonderful to see students confidently interpreting and discussing data using mathematical language.

Integrated Studies:

In Integrated Studies, students have been learning how historians analyse artefacts to understand life in the past. Working with a partner, students researched First Nations Australian artefacts, investigating the materials used to create them, how they were used and why they were important. Students also explored British artefacts to compare how objects can tell stories about different cultures and time periods.

This week, students began preparing for an exciting interviewing task. They are developing thoughtful questions to ask an older person about a significant object from the past. Through this activity, students will learn how personal stories and treasured objects help us understand history and different perspectives.

Students will ask questions such as:

What is the story of this object?
When was the object made, and what was it made from?
What do you hope happens to the object when you are no longer alive?

Students are encouraged to arrange a time to interview an older family member or friend, record their interview and bring either a photograph, drawing or (if possible) the object itself to school. Next week, students will begin creating presentations to showcase their findings at our upcoming expo.

Life Education

We were very excited to welcome Harold from Life Education! During the session, students learnt about:

The features and functions of body systems including the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems
Factors that influence physical health such as nutrition, physical activity and medicines
The role nutrients play in growth and maintaining healthy body functions
The importance of sleep and rest for wellbeing

Upcoming Excursion

As families are aware, our planned excursion to Polly Woodside was unfortunately cancelled. We are pleased to announce that an alternative excursion has been organised for Wednesday 17 June 2026.

Grade 3/4 students will visit IMAX and Melbourne Museum to support their learning in Integrated Studies and Literacy, particularly their studies of First Nations history and historical perspectives.

Students will watch Australia 3D at IMAX and complete a self-directed trail through the First Peoples Exhibition at Melbourne Museum. They will also have opportunities to explore:

Melbourne Story
Our Wondrous Planet
Milarri Garden

This excursion will further support students in thinking and acting like historians as they investigate:

How and why the British colony was established in Australia
How historians tell stories about the past
The effects of first contact on First Nations Australians
Why it is important to listen to different perspectives

A reminder that permission and payment details are available via Compass. Parent helpers with a valid Working With Children Check are warmly welcomed.

Home Learning - Continues:

To support our learning at school, we ask that students complete the following home learning each week:

Read for 30 minutes each night
Complete the weekly activity from the Maths Home Learning Grid that was sent home earlier in the term.
Practise weekly spelling words each night (Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check)
Multiplication Practice - sent home each week

The maths, spelling and multiplication sheets are glued in Home Learning books, and students should bring these each Monday to receive new home learning for the week ahead and to submit their homework for the previous week to their teachers.

Important Dates:

Week 8 - King’s Birthday - Monday 8 June
Week 9 - Melbourne Museum and IMAX excursion - Wednesday 17th June
Week 9 - Expo - Friday 19 June
Week 10 - Parent/Teacher Interviews - Wednesday 24 June

Prepared by the Grade 3/4 Teachers

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