We have spent time talking about the exciting journey ahead and discussing what we would like to achieve during our time in Year 3. The children have shared their personal goals, ranging from improving their reading and writing, to challenging themselves in maths and becoming more confident in class discussions.
Together, we have also created a set of classroom expectations to guide us throughout the year. These expectations focus on showing respect, working hard, supporting one another, and always trying our best. By agreeing on these values as a class, we have built a strong foundation for a positive and productive learning environment where everyone feels encouraged to succeed.
Maths
We have started the year in maths by focusing on our Place Value topic. This has given the children the chance to build a strong foundation for their mathematical learning by understanding the importance of number value and how digits work within our number system. To support this, the children have been exploring a range of concrete resources, such as base-ten blocks, place value counters, and number lines.
English
I have chosen to share with Year 3 one of my favourite stories as our reading for pleasure book this term. It has been such a joy to introduce the class to a story that I personally love, and even more rewarding to see how much they are enjoying it too.
In our English lessons, we are currently reading UG: Boy Genius of the Stone Age by Raymond Briggs. The children have really enjoyed exploring this humorous and imaginative story, which has captured their interest with its quirky characters and playful illustrations. We have started by exploring the detailed pictures together, discussing how the illustrations add meaning, humour, and depth to the story.
As part of our sequence, the children will soon be planning and creating their very own comic strips inspired by UG. This will give them the opportunity to combine their writing skills with their creativity and artwork, experimenting with how pictures and words can work together to tell a story.
Science
In Science, Year 3 are exploring the topic Animals Including Humans. We have begun our learning by investigating the human skeleton and thinking carefully about the important role it plays in our bodies. The children have discovered how the skeleton provides support, protects vital organs, and allows us to move.
To bring this learning to life, we enjoyed a practical activity where the children created their own skeletons.
One of our Legacy principles this term is “It’s all about the team!”. To bring this to life, we have been taking part in a range of fun and engaging team building games that encourage cooperation, communication, and problem solving. During these activities, the children have had the opportunity to reflect on their emotions thinking about how they feel when working as part of a group, celebrating successes, and overcoming challenges together.
Alongside teamwork, we have also focused on two other important Legacy principles: “understanding shared goals” and “constantly strive to improve.” The children showed real determination to listen to one another, work collaboratively towards a common purpose, and think about how they could do even better next time. It has been wonderful to see how quickly they have embraced these values, putting them into practice in a supportive and positive way. Year 3 should feel very proud of how they have started to grow both as individuals and as a team.
