Year 3

Reading

This term in reading the students have been working on asking questions about a range of texts. The students worked on asking questions to clarify, predict, make inferences (judgements) and extend their thinking while they were reading. The grade three students learnt the difference between ‘thick’ and ‘thin’ questions so that they could practise asking a range of different questions while reading. The students then determined how their questions about a text were answered (whether they needed to infer the answer from the text, use their prior knowledge or gather information from an outside source).

Writing

In writing this term the students worked on understanding the structure of an information report. They recorded their wonderings about different topics and researched these topics based on questions of interest. The students then explored the features of an information report, including titles, classifications, descriptions, conclusions, subheadings and diagrams with their teacher and participated in modelled writing sessions to help them understand the structure. The students were given time to plan their own information report and research a topic of interest before they had a go at writing their own. The students followed the writing process of planning, drafting, revising, editing and publishing their writing.

Throughout term three the grade three students also be focused on how to write procedural texts. They unpacked the structure of a procedural text with their teacher to help them understand that a procedural text is made up of a title, goal, materials/ingredients, numbered steps, subheadings, and illustrations. The students then participated in modelled sessions so that they could be exposed to how they can write their own. procedural text using the correct structure. The students were then given time to write their own procedural text on a topic of their choice.

Numeracy

In maths this term the students worked on telling the time to the nearest five minutes and to the nearest minute using both digital and analogue clocks. The students also focused on ‘Data and Probability’, which helped build their understanding of how to create column and picture graph and the students made statements about the data that had been collected. The students also conducted experiments that involve chance and ordered words that are linked to chance in order of probability.

The major focus in maths this term was ‘Multiplication and Division’. The students practised using different representations of a problem to help them recall multiplication facts, for example, creating an array, writing a number sentence or using materials. Throughout this unit the students built their understanding of the multiplication facts for 2,3,4,5 and 10 and their related division facts. At the end of term three, the students also completed a unit on ‘Location and Transformation’ where they experienced making and interpreting grid maps. The students also identified the lines of symmetry in shapes and natural objects and demonstrated slides and turns.

Inquiry

This term, the Grade 3 students have been exploring Australia’s history, with a focus on the great explorations, European settlement and contact between the Indigenous Australians and the European settlers. The students examined resources, including historic paintings, videos and websites to find out more about Australia’s history. They have organised that information by taking notes. Students learned about the perspectives of different people groups. They identified reasons for the age of exploration, such as the desire for wealth and glory. The students also empathised with the Indigenous people, questioning and considering how the arrival of the Europeans affected them and thinking about how the Indigenous Australians lived before settlement. Well done on a great term of Inquiry, Grade 3!

ART

At the beginning of this term, grade 3 students were onsite and had the opportunity to make full use of the art room during those early weeks. They finished off their beautiful, “Sunset over water” reflection pieces, which demonstrated the warm and cool colour palette, Keith Haring Subway Art, and POP Art, (See below wall images).

Once we returned to online learning, students have had the opportunity to carry out their Art tasks on ‘Google classroom’. The focus of online learning for art has been about designing with lines. Lines can be used to separate, organize, emphasize, or provide a framework for the page’. Alone or as part of another graphic element, lines create patterns, set a mood, provide visual texture, create movement, and define shapes.

The walls have been draped with stunning artwork from the end of Term 2 and early Term 3:

The Grade 3 students have also been exploring and using the following line drawing techniques, during their online learning:

Anime Art: The anime art form, having originated in Japan in the early 1900s, is a uniquely stylized form of two-and three-dimensional illustration using lines and animation.

Zentangle Art: Zentangle is an American method for drawing, which not only promotes concentration and creativity but at the same time increases personal well-being.

Mandala Art: Mandala was first produced in India during the first century B.C. The mandala is a diagram, chart or geometric pattern that also promotes repetition, calm and mindfulness.

Anime, Zentangle and Quirky Art examples:

Grade 3 have done an exceptional job this term during PE. Although we had some obstacles, we were all able to get through the majority of our Australian Rules Football unit where we were able to gather a deeper understanding on AFL as a game, the rules and associated skills such as kicking, handballing and marking. Term 3 had us learning a lot online where students were given the opportunity to participate in numerous at home activities such as mini workouts, skill related activities and just getting outside to get moving! I am looking forward to seeing you all again very soon for our final term of PE for 2021!

LOTE- Chinese

In term 3, whilst onsite, students in years three and four

learnt to use simple Chinese sentence structures to describe the weather and express which country they’d like to go to. They learnt to identify the Chinese names for countries and different types of weather. During remote learning, the students had the opportunity to engage in stories about The Moon Festival, The Magic Pot and the Zodiac Animal Race. They also practiced some Chinese character writing. Well done everyone for showing such resilience and perseverance for term 3!

STEM

All I can say is, “Great job Grade 3’s”! What a fantastic effort during this remote learning period. This term the grade 3’s have been creating a straw rollercoaster using the design process. They have utilised the five design phases (problem, brainstorming, plan, create, redesign/improve) to assist in completing their rollercoasters. There are some fantastic and wacky designs and I am really looking forward to seeing our ping pong balls flying around their tracks when we get back to the classroom. Additionally, the kids have been creating some prominent landmarks such as the great pyramids using wood, Lego or Minecraft.

Pyramids created using a physical and digital approach.

All in all, a great effort from the grade 3’s for this term. Time to sit back and enjoy the September holiday break!