Term 2 Overview

English

This Term in Writing our young authors will discuss what makes a good story as they explore Narrative and Persuasive Writing. They will create their own pieces and learn to write within a set time. We will look at how authors engage the reader using interesting vocabulary, good planning and structure.

The text, “The Ghost of Annabel Spoon” will be used to explore figurative language and as a springboard to exploring and creating poetry. During group and guided reading we will continue to extend and develop our comprehension skills through a variety of activities related to the texts. Students will continue to read at school and at home to develop and polish their independent reading skills. In preparation for joining their letters students will continue to revisit and perfect their NSW foundation handwriting. To build their editing skills they are exploring parts of speech and looking closely at punctuation. Weekly spelling is aimed at learning SMART SPELLING/THRASS skills in identifying sounds in words, applying strategies and expanding their written vocabulary. 

Mathematics 

In Term 2 students will consolidate and extend their number knowledge by applying it to addition and subtraction with trading. They will continue their introduction to multiplication, division and fractions while learning to apply their operations knowledge to interpreting word problems.  We will also look at 2D and 3D shapes, time both in digital and analogue form, measurement, statistics and probability. They will continue to improve their mental maths through a variety of class tasks and games.  Continuing to practise skip counting, doing addition sums by helping add up the groceries and even learning times tables are great ways to practise maths at home. We also encourage the students to continue to practise telling the time throughout the year. If you are looking for fun activities to practise mental maths, students learn a variety of card and dice games in the classroom that can be played at home.

Addition snap: Just like snap but the first one to add it up and snap it gets the pile.

31: Each player has 4 cards, they have to put one down and pick up from the pile. The first to get to 31 is the winner.

Science & Technology

In Science and Technology this term we will be exploring the concept of heating up. Students will learn to identify heat sources and investigate how heat moves from one object to another. Through a variety of hand-on activities and experiments they will investigate the conductivity of different materials. 

Visual Arts

In Term 1, Year 3 created several masterpieces in Visual Arts. The students looked at the elements of art and used watercolours to create colourful peacocks. They drew a self-portrait using coloured pencils. 

In Term 2, students will explore techniques through subject matter, people, objects, places and spaces and events. They will create a Kandinsky inspired art piece, design mosaic landscapes and explore pottery by making a coil pot.

Geography

After exploring local Echuca-Moama history last term, in Term 2 students will be focussing on Geography. They will be concentrating on reading, creating and using a variety of maps. They will learn about the different types of maps such as political and topographical maps, weather and environment maps as well as transport, street and city maps. Students will have the opportunity to learn about Australia and its geographical features as well as world geography. Looking at the features of a world map such as the equator, tropics and the International Date Line and gain an understanding of the world’s continents and Australia’s place within a global context. This unit provides a unique opportunity to discuss travel to foreign cities and how maps are used to navigate the streets, find attractions and use public transport.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

Over this term the SAKG will look into interesting recipes that cover a wide range of seasonal vegetables for autumn. We are hoping to organise the addition of a roster where we can get parents/guardians of our Year 3 and 4 SAKG students to help out in the kitchen. The garden is just starting to bear some beautiful home grown produce and over the coming weeks the SAKG hopes to involve small groups from the SAKG students to help with the planting and care of our wonderful garden.  The SAKG project is going to plant some more seasonal seedlings over the next coming weeks so we can see our beautiful garden take on more production. The last of the tomatoes will be harvested and the boxes will be planted with some new autumn/winter produce.

Religious and Values Education

Our lessons this term introduce students to King Solomon’s wisdom and the importance of obeying God. Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God remained faithful to his promises. The students learn that God is faithful to his promises towards us too! Students will contrast the kings of the Old Testament and the people of Israel with Jesus, the perfect king and the fulfilment of God’s promise to have a king over his kingdom forever.

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.

Some students have also chosen to attend the voluntary Christian lunchtime group on Thursdays, called JAFFA – Jesus A Friend For All.

 PDHPE

A big welcome back to what will be a massive Term 2! Year 3 students will enjoy a PDHPE unit called ‘Keeping Active’ which will focus on developing and refining their running, jumping, throwing, striking, kicking and catching skills which will prepare them nicely for the Annual Athletics Carnival.   Students will also enjoy sporting activities such as Football, Tennis and Volleyball.  Students will also continue to reflect and coach each other to better understand their own and other performances and explore styles of communication and interpersonal skills that promote a greater sense of inclusion, peer interaction and belonging. Working together to achieve our best self, peers' and class performance will be a focal theme throughout the term. 

Music

Students will continue to listen to and learn about “The Carnival of the Animals’ and deepen their knowledge of the musical elements through analysing each piece. Students will commence learning the recorder together which will extend their ability to read formal musical notation.

Italian

Ciao! Benvenuti! Welcome to Term 2! We will work through the term in each level using ‘Key Questions’ to guide the curriculum.  We know that the most effective way to teach children another language is to do it through fun, interactive, hands on ways including music, conversation, picture story books and drama with a strong focus on verbal communication and pronunciation. We want the students to enjoy Italian and feel confident in their ability to learn another language as well as various other cultural and geographical information. This term’s ‘Key Question’ for Year 3 is….

Che ora è? Che giorno è? 

What is the time? What day is it?

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!

Pastoral Care 

In Term 2, Year 3 students will become better acquainted with Doug Dragster and the Get Happier Project. Alongside our Pastoral Care program that will cover perseverance and friendships, we will delve deeper into the notion of Open and Closed Roads. Students are encouraged to use the terminology and the posters to help solve problems at home and at school. Year 3 will learn about the car and the need to get on their front wheels (using their mind and body) to control their actions and feelings.  We will meet Doug Dragster with the first novel and begin our Get Happier Journal. Gratitude will be a major focus along with our school values and what they look like the classroom and at home.