Year 3/4A
English
Our Grade 3/4 students have been making great progress in English while connecting their literacy learning with our current Science focus on rocks and Earth materials. During Oral Reading Fluency, students have been reading informative texts about thundereggs, building both their reading fluency and scientific vocabulary as they learn about how these fascinating rock formations are created.
Students have also been learning about how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have used their detailed knowledge of Country and natural resources to meet everyday needs and solve problems. In particular, we have explored how rocks have different physical properties, such as hardness, texture, shape and lustre, and how these properties can make particular rocks better suited to different purposes. Students have investigated how suitable rocks have been selected for uses such as cutting and scraping tools, stone points and grinding stones, developing an understanding of the important connection between the properties of natural materials and how they can be used.
In our reading comprehension work, students have also been exploring cause-and-effect relationships in texts. They are learning to identify why something happens (the cause) and what happens as a result (the effect), as well as recognising language that can signal these relationships. Combining our English and Science learning is giving students meaningful opportunities to build their reading skills while developing their knowledge and curiosity about the world around them.
Mathematics
Our Grade 3/4 students have been busy developing their mathematical understanding through our recent learning about symmetry and capacity. In Geometry, students have been investigating line symmetry, learning to identify lines of symmetry in different shapes, pictures and patterns. They have explored how one half of a symmetrical object is a reflection of the other and have enjoyed creating and completing their own symmetrical designs.
In Measurement, students have been exploring capacity and learning how we measure the amount a container can hold. They have developed their understanding of millilitres (mL) and litres (L), estimating and comparing the capacity of everyday containers, and learning to read scales on measuring jugs and other containers. Students have also been applying their knowledge to practical problems, including comparing different capacities and exploring the important relationship that 1000 mL is equal to 1 L. These hands-on learning experiences are helping students connect their mathematical knowledge to situations they encounter in everyday life.
Mr Durrington