Year 3/4 Term 4 Overview

Year 3/4  Term 4 Overview           

Welcome to Term 4!

 We hope that all families had a restful break and managed to enjoy the warm Spring air.

It was wonderful to come back to school and listen to the children reconnect and share their school holiday activities and events. We are looking forward to a busy and enjoyable term of learning to finish off our time together.

Important dates to remember:

OCTOBER

Sat 11 -   Reconciliation Commitment Mass 6pm (Please attend ONE over the weekend)

Sun 12 - Reconciliation Commitment Masses 9.45am & 11.15am (Please attend ONE over the weekend)

Mon 13 - 3/4A Assembly

Tues 14 - Division Athletics (select students only)

Tues 21 - 3/4 SWIMMING PROGRAM BEGINS (Every day except Monday)

Wed 22 - 3/4 SWIMMING

Thurs 23 - 3/4 SWIMMING

Fri 24 - 3/4 SWIMMING

Tues 28 - 3/4A Mass at 10am

                - 3/4 SWIMMING

Tues 28 - SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION 6pm

Wed 29 - 3/4 SWIMMING

Thurs 30 - 3/4 SWIMMING

Fri 31 - 3/4 SWIMMING

NOVEMBER

Mon 3 - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY (TIL)

Tues 4 - MELBOURNE CUP DAY!

Tues 11 - 3/4B Mass at 10am

Fri 14 - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY due to Fete setting up - (Staff Professional Learning Day)

Sat 15 - St John’s Fete

DECEMBER

Thurs 4 - Whole School Christmas Carols 7pm

Mon 8 - 3/4B Assembly

Mon 15 - Whole School Picnic at Halliday Park

                - Graduation & Thanksgiving Mass - 6pm

Tues 16 - Last day of Term 4 - 1pm finish

Rules and Laws

Big question: As an active citizen, how can I contribute to the development of our community?

Religious Education 

In Religious Education this term, students will be learning about the rules and laws of the Church and their importance in guiding the moral and spiritual lives of its members. They will explore how these teachings help us to live in accordance with God's will and contribute to a just and compassionate community. 

As part of this learning, students will also develop their understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They will examine its significance in the life of the Church, the steps involved in the sacrament, and how it offers an opportunity for forgiveness, healing, and a renewed relationship with God.

Inquiry 

In Inquiry this term, students will be exploring the concepts of rules and laws, fairness and equality and the role of local government. Through a range of engaging activities and discussions, they will learn why rules and laws are important, how they help create a fair and safe community, and how equality can be promoted within different settings. Students will also investigate the structure and function of local government, gaining an understanding of how decisions are made and how they impact our daily lives. 

As part of this unit, students will be encouraged to consider how they can be active and responsible participants within our school community, developing a deeper appreciation of their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

Mathematics 

This term in Mathematics, we will continue to use evidence-based, knowledge-rich and sequenced lessons. Daily reviews and spaced practice will continue to be incorporated in our Maths lessons in order to reinforce learning and ensure retention. We will use concrete materials to assist with building understanding and incorporate mental maths experiences to develop fluency of number facts. This term our topics include:

Measurement 

• Mass & Capacity
  • estimating, measuring and comparing objects using familiar metric units of mass and capacity using scaled instruments 

Statistics

• Data Representation and Investigation 
  • collecting and accessing data to address a question of interest and recording data using appropriate methods 
  • creating and comparing different graphical representations of data sets and  interpreting the data
  • analysing the effectiveness of different displays or visualisations

Space 

• 3D objects
• making, comparing and classifying objects using key features

Probability

• conducting repeated chance experiments
  • identifying and describing possible outcomes
  • recording the results
  • recognising and discussing the variation
• describing possible everyday events and the possible outcomes of chance experiments and ordering outcomes or events based on their likelihood of occurring

Number

• Multiplication & Division
  • multiplying and dividing one- and two-digit numbers by representing problems using number sentences, diagrams and arrays, and using a variety of calculation strategies
  • recalling and demonstrating proficiency with multiplication facts for 3, 4, 5 and 10 and applying facts to develop the related division facts (year 3)
  • recalling and demonstrating proficiency with multiplication facts up to 10 × 10 and related division facts (year 4)
  • developing efficient mental and written strategies for solving problems involving addition and subtraction, and multiplication and division where there is no remainder
  • solving problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples and powers of 10 without a calculator 

Literacy

In Reading this term, we will read, analyse and respond to the mentor text "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate. This novel follows Ivan, a gorilla who lives in captivity at a mall. Ivan forms close bonds with other animals, including an elephant named Stella and a dog named Bob. When a young elephant named Ruby arrives, Ivan becomes determined to find a better life for her. The book delves into themes of friendship, the desire for a better life, and exploration of the challenges faced by captive animals. 

Some of the key foci include author's purpose, character analysis, vocabulary and comprehension skills such as questioning, visualisation, and use of dialogue to convey what characters think and say. 

In Writing, we will spend the first half of the term writing persuasive letters to convey a clear point of argument in a formal tone. Our persuasive writing will directly link with our novel study and will focus on the use of animals for entertainment. The students will be explicitly taught to use an introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion and justify their opinion using evidence, supporting details, and persuasive devices such as high modality language, rhetorical questioning, referring to evidence and subtle warnings. The students will deliver their persuasive letter in a spoken presentation using knowledge of important as

We will then revisit information writing with an emphasis on the purpose, structure and features of an information report. We will focus on the use of strategies for writing effective paragraphs through topic sentences, supporting details, and concluding sentences. We will explore the use of precise vocabulary, formal tone and factual information. 

Spelling will remain a major focus, with explicit teaching of phonics, including two and three letter spelling patterns and spelling rules in the English language.  We will continue with sentence level writing including turning fragments into sentences, writing compound and complex sentences and using conjunctions and connectives. 

Social & Emotional Learning

This term in SEL, we will continue our sessions of The Resilience Project. We will explore our own emotions and identify what we notice and feel in our bodies, hearts and minds when we experience uncomfortable, painful or challenging moods or emotions. We will explore techniques and strategies that can help us process and cope with challenging moods and emotions. We will continue to learn about empathy as an important social skill in managing social relationships. Empathy involves noticing and responding to the feelings and emotions of others and we are more likely to offer help and support to someone when we can identify their feelings. 

STEM 

This term our STEM unit, ‘Properties of Materials’ is focused on Chemical Sciences and will provide the students with hands-on opportunities to:

• distinguish between natural and processed materials
• group objects based on similar materials
• justify the use of materials
• conduct fair experiments to test the effectiveness of a property
• research the ways different materials can be recycled

Specialists

Please see the timetable below for specialist lessons. All 3/4 students will be required to wear their sport uniform on Friday. Students will also need to bring in their library bag and books on their designated library days.

Sports with Cooper

Students are to also wear sports uniform on the following dates:

• Monday 13th October
• Monday 10th November

Home Learning 

Please ensure that students are recording their reading in their diaries every night. Homework will recommence in Week 2. Students are expected to complete 20-30 minutes of home learning at least 4 times per week. From their homework matrix they may complete: 4 compulsory activities - 

• Mathematics
• Spelling
• Writing
• Reading

2 x free choice activities presented in matrix fortnightly.

The connections between home and school are very important. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We can be reached via email or leave a message at the office and we will endeavour to respond in a timely manner, between 8am and 5pm on weekdays. 

3/4A - Rebecca Stuart rstuart@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au

3/4B - Nicole Webb nwebb@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au (Monday-Wednesday)

3/4B - Anna Hendy ahendy@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au (Thursday & Friday)