Welcome back to spring term 2. We have some exciting events to look forward to this half term and the children are really excited  about them. We are  we are particularly excited in year 3 because we have started to learn to play the ukelele. All children in year 3 will have weekly lessons for ten weeks.

 

 

 

Topic

 

This half term we will be focusing on the Tudors as our history topic.  So far, the children have learned about how the Tudor period began, through learning about the War of the Roses and the impact they have on our lives today.  As part of this topic, we will be visiting the National Portrait Gallery to look at portraits of the Tudor Monarchs. Look out for the pictures next week.

Writing

In writing, children will learn write letters using the  Tudor period as a  context and a recount of the British Navy’s battle with the Spanish Armada .

Maths

We will be learning about fractions and measurement. Much of the learning for the spring term closely links to your child’s knowledge and understanding of their multiplication and division facts, so it is important that you ensure that your child practices his or her times table at home.

P.E.

P.E. will now take place every Wednesday this half term.  Please ensure that your child has their full P.E. kit on that day.

Science

For science this half term, we will be learning about the function of the human skeleton and muscles.  They will also learn about the function of plants and the different ways they disperse their seeds.  Maybe you could support your child by asking them how the acronym SPaM is used to help them remember the function of the skeleton.

Reading

Finally, I would like to remind you about reading.  Children’s books are changed every Tuesday and Friday.  Please could you ensure that your child reads every day and that their reading records are signed. Thank you to all of you who have chosen to do this regularly.

 

Family Learning Activities over the half-term

 

Family learning February 2024 (2)

Our science topic this term is ‘Forces and Magnets‘.

We have learnt that a force can be a push or a pull. We investigated the effects of friction on different surfaces. A force meter was used to measure the amount of force required to drag an object across different surfaces.

This week, we explored magnetic force. What fun we had exploring the properties of magnets and learning that magnetism doesn’t need contact in order for the force to be applied!

We were able to see that the same two sides of a magnet repel but the opposite sides of a magnet attract. Did you know that a magnetic field is created between the two poles of a magnet? When the different poles (north and south) of two magnets face each other, the magnetic lines of force are going in the same direction, and so the different poles attract each other. When the poles are facing each other the magnetic lines of force are going in different directions, so they push each other apart. 

 

 

Topic and Writing Outcomes

This half term we will be travelling back in time to  the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age to learn about life before written history.  We will find out the difference between primary and secondary sources of historical evidence and understand why one is more reliable than the other.

We have already made a great start to our learning during our immersion afternoon.  We had great fun making our own den art and  Stone Age tools.  We even tried our hand at excavating artefacts from our excavation trays.  At the end of this topic, we will be designing, making and evaluating our own prehistoric jewellery.

In our writing outcomes for this  topic, we will  be writing a non chronological report and a narrative about life during that period.

     Maths

In Maths, we will be adding and subtracting 3-digit numbers.  This will  build on the learning from  year 2, so to  be successful in this unit,  children will need to be secure in their knowledge of place value and addition and subtraction facts for numbers up to 20.

Science

In Science, we will be finding out about forces, friction and magnetic forces in particular.  As part of this unit, we will be conducting fair tests to investigate how forces act upon everyday objects.

Things to Remember

Books are changed every Tuesday and Thursday.  Children must attempt three of the questions at the front of their reading record per week.  For the autumn term, adults are expected to sign reading records every day.

P.E. is every Monday (Orion) and Friday (Columbia).  On those days children are expected to bring their full P.E. Kits.