Term 3

English

In English we will be exploring the texts The Stone Lion, A Lion in Paris, A Lion in London, and a Lion in New York.  We will consider how authors tell stories using characters, justify predictions, compare text features and discuss audience and purpose. Afterwards, using the knowledge gained about Paris, we will move into writing to inform leading to our Travel Expo at the end of the term. Students will continue to read at home and in class to develop fluency and expression as well as to learn to find and apply meaning to texts. 

In writing students will learn to write and analyse informative texts. THRASS has been incorporated into the spelling program and they are learning to listen carefully to sounds in words and identify how letter combinations are connected to sounds. Students will continue to develop their ability to proofread for errors and apply their spelling and punctuation knowledge. They continue to learn and apply grammar concepts and are developing their handwriting skills to form letters in preparation for joining.

Mathematics

During Mathematics students will continue to look at measurement through length and further our knowledge of number through fraction work. They will explore 2D shapes, more specifically special quadrilaterals. Students will continue to revise aspects of number including pattern, algebra, and place value. Students will continue to explore multiplication and will focus on learning their times tables and applying their knowledge to various tasks including worded problems. Students are encouraged to practise their times tables and skip counting at home to build and consolidate these skills. Practise makes perfect: To learn your times tables practise skip counting, roll two dice or flip two cards and multiply them, make yourself a set of flashcards or pick one set of times tables to master for the week.

Science and Technology

Ever wondered what a shadow is? How does it get there? What is the difference between night and day? Year 3 students will ponder, hypothesize and experiment around this concept in Science and Technology this term. They will learn about our solar system and the role of the Earth, Sun and Moon in creating night and day.

History

In History we take a step back in time to the beginning of Australia. We explore early Indigenous Australia to gain an understanding of what life was like before colonisation. We look at the life, culture and traditions of Indigenous Australians including clothing, weapons and the Dreamtime to gain an insight into how colonisation was to dramatically impact their life. Australia was a great mysterious continent that many sought to discover,  students learn about some of the explorers and great voyages that came to be the Indigenous Australian’s “first contact” with Europeans and the voyages that led to Australia’s discovery by Captain Cook and the first white inhabitants arrival in Australia. 

Italian

Ciao! What a crazy Term 2 we had with QDL! Thank you to all of the wonderful families who were so involved in your child’s learning, we loved seeing your interactions with your children. 

Term 3 has started off nicely and it is especially lovely to be teaching face to face. 

This terms’ ‘Key Questions’ for Year 3 is Qual e il tuo passatempo preferito?  What’s your favourite pastime? 

Please encourage your children to tell you about some of the Italian words and phrases  they know or ask them to sing you a song!

Music

Year 3 will continue learning the recorder this term, as well as complete theory work in their Music for Cool Cats, Beginner Book A. 

After learning notes G and A on the recorder last term and playing the notes in a variety of songs, students will now learn more notes and play more complex songs.

PDHPE

The Year 3 students will enjoy moving and exploring to the Gymnastics and Dance unit in Term 3. Students will learn about and explore making different core gymnastic shapes, locomotor and non-locomotor movement patterns and participate in fun strength and flexibility warm-ups and learn specific gymnastic skills. Students will also be introduced to a range of dance styles that will provide an understanding of how their bodies move in and through space and how time and rhythm, dynamics and relationships influence the quality of their movement. They will have the opportunity to practice and perform a group gymnastic and dance sequence for the class. The unit will also appraise and appreciate gymnastic and dance within the wider community and from different cultural backgrounds. Paramount to the students learning will include safety considerations, body spatial awareness and working carefully, inclusively and respectfully. Discussion of why nutrition is important to our wellbeing and performance and integrating mindfulness, gratitude and empathy knowledge, understanding and skills will be a main theme throughout the PDHPE lessons. 

Religious and Values Education

Our program this term continues the learning from Semester One, discovering more about Jesus, who is God’s chosen King sent to rescue his people from their sins. Students will investigate the events described throughout John’s Gospel and understand how these events point to Jesus as the Christ. Students will engage with the content in an active way, using worksheets, smart board, games, videos, music, stories, drama and craft activities, to explore the Christian faith and see how it is relevant today.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

This term we will be venturing back into the kitchen and honing our culinary skills with a variety of dishes including: Beetroot Choc Chip Cookies, Broccoli Carbonara, Sweet Potato Chips with a Yoghurt Dipping Sauce, Spanikopita and Rainbow Pizzas. Our lunchtime garden club will also be continuing each Monday when students will plant and harvest the Kitchen Garden.

Visual Arts

In Visual Arts this term the students will be creating a range of pieces that reflect our Science and Technology Unit of Night and Day. They will use various mediums to design moonscapes, solar systems and rockets. The students will design small rockets and make a stop motion movie.  Students will create a Vincent Van Gogh piece based on his artwork, Starry Night using oil pastels. They will also create abstract portraits of the early explorer they have chosen for their History project based on the works of artists, Pablo Picasso and Paul Clee.

Pastoral Care

In Pastoral Care Year 3 students have been looking at concepts of resilience, self-esteem and perseverance. They have looked at classroom expectations focussing on respect, listening and being self-motivated learners. We continue to focus on choice theory through Doug Dragster and The Get Happier Project to allow them to build social skills and reflect on their actions and behaviour. 

Homework

Weekly homework sheets will be given out on Monday and are due on Friday. Worksheets are to consolidate learned concepts and should be able to be completed independently.  In addition, Year 3 students are expected to prepare their fortnightly Talking Topic. Students are encouraged to develop their writing skills and practise their speaking skills such as intonation and voice projection. Reading of a variety of texts must be occurring regularly and be registered in diaries at least 4 nights a week by the student. Weekly spelling words should also be practised in preparation for tests, which occur on Friday.