MAG Primary Newsletter Year 3

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. 

NAPLAN

In May, Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students will participate in NAPLAN (National Assessment Program- Literacy and Numeracy. NAPLAN is a nationwide measure through which parents, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning.

NAPLAN is made up of tests in the four areas (or ‘domains’) of:

Writing  - Tuesday 10th May 40 minute test 9:20am start.

  • Writing  - Tuesday 10 May 40 minute test 9:20am start
  • Reading - Monday 16 May 45 minute test 9:20am start
  • Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) Tuesday 17 May 45 minute test 9:20am start
  • Numeracy  Wednesday 18 May  40 minute test 9:20am start

Students will use their class computer to complete the Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy domains and the writing test will be handwritten.

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.

Visual Arts

In Term 1, Year 3 created several masterpieces in Visual Arts. The students' main masterpiece last term was a collaborative art piece that they made as a class using a range of different mediums. 

 

In Term 2, students will explore techniques through subject matter, people, objects, places and spaces and events. They will create a Dream Time inspired art piece and will practise using lines and texture to create a platypus art piece.

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.

Science and 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 hands-on activities and experiments they will investigate the conductivity of different materials. 

Religious and Values Education

Our lessons this term introduce students to King Solomon’s wisdom and his eventual downfall as a result of disobedience to God. Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God remained faithful to his promises. 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.

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

Information Technology

For Term 2 students will continue to explore computer and internet safety. They will also continue to develop their skills using the Google Suite ie Google docs, Google drive etc. 

Music

Students will commence focusing on acquiring the skills associated with playing the recorder. Students will learn foundation skills that engage the three modes of learning: aural, visual and kinesthetic. With an emphasis on developing basic note recognition skills that assist in establishing fine motor function, students will perform a variety of simple melodies on the recorder and complete written tasks to support classroom activities through a structured music-theory program.

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, kicking and catching skills which will prepare them nicely for the Annual Athletics Carnival.   Students will also enjoy sporting activities such as Netball & Football.  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.

Italian

Benvenuti! Welcome Italian for Term 2. We will again teach each year 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. We will often send home memory/matching cards for your children to play with you which is a great way to reinforce their learning in a fun way with their family. 

The Term 2 ‘Key Questions’ for each year level are as follows….

Year 3- Che ora è? Che giorno è? What time is it? What day is it?

Students are introduced to more complex units of time and are exposed to revision from previous units in relation to days of the week and times of the day.  This unit leads into their Term 3 unit where they learn about ‘Hobbies and Pastimes’. 

Grazie,

Maestra Rachele 

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

Our budding chefs have begun to develop their kitchen skills through the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program. The focus of the program is to teach and nurture a love of fresh ingredients and healthy meals. Using seasonal produce, often grown in our school garden, students learn how to grate, slice, dice, cook, assemble and eat a variety of foods. While teaching great kitchen skills, SAKG also creates a sense of ownership, as students become a part of the process from planting seeds, watering, harvesting and then using their produce in the kitchen. The greatest part is the opportunity it provides to see students move out of their comfort zone, try new foods and work together with their classmates.

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 in the classroom and at home. 

Homework

Weekly homework sheets are given out on Monday and are due on Friday. Worksheets are to consolidate learned concepts and should be able to be completed independently and Year 3 students are expected to prepare their fortnightly talking topics to be delivered to the class. Topics are set and students are encouraged to develop their writing skills and practise their speaking skills such as intonation and voice projection. Reading a variety of texts must be occurring regularly and be recorded in their student 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.