Attenborough Class
Welcome to Attenborough class. We hope you had an amazing summer and feel refreshed ready to start the new academic year. Now we are ready to tackle the autumn term with plenty of challenges and learning!
Our main autumn term topic is 'From the Stone Age to Iron Age’ in history, and we shall be answering the question, ‘Are all settlements the same?’ in geography, exploring different types of settlements, land use, and the difference between urban and rural.
In English, we will begin the term with core work on our GPS (Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling) In Active Reading, we will explore a variety of texts to develop various reading skills, (working on our Vipers). Stone Age Boy is our first text.
We will continue with Rainbow Grammar which is a fun, practical and colourful way of learning how to build different types of sentences. Revision sessions are required to consolidate previous learning.
As a reminder for Rainbow Grammar, there are eight colours and each colour represents a different part of a sentence.
The children will learn:
- How the different parts of sentences work.
- What different types of words and parts of sentences are called.
- How to join the different parts of sentences together.
- How to improve their sentences.
- How to punctuate their sentences.
Reading at home, to help your child's development, we encourage you to please read with and/or listen to your child at least five times per week. Please record in the reading journal and ensure that your child brings this to and from school every day! Each time your child reads please number it in the margin of the journal as this will be counted towards an award; 25 reads = bronze, 50 = silver and 75 = gold.
Spellings; words will be set weekly with a test the following Friday. Please see the homework books for the weekly words as well as the half-termly overview. (Homework books must come to school every day along with reading journals). In addition to spellings, we will explore monthly keywords, known as ‘wow words’ and spell common exception words, which will be highlighted at the front of journals.
Handwriting sessions will be planned for each day as we are always looking to improve letter formation and presentation.
In mathematics, we will have weekly arithmetic lessons and ongoing weekly tests. Autumn KIRFS, (Key Instant Recall Facts) are based on knowing all number bonds to 20 and learning the multiplication and division facts for the 4 times table. These will be stuck in homework books also.
Power maths begins by focusing on place value within 1,000; this unit is important as it explores 3-digit numbers in depth. For many children, it will be the first time they have met these numbers. This builds on the place value work they did in year 2 and they will extend many of the models and images that they have used previously. Addition and subtraction; Children explore additions and subtractions gradually, by considering in detail the adding of 1s, 10s and 100s separately. They then explore the need to exchange where addition or subtraction may cross the next place value column. This unit and the next unit are the real foundations for addition and subtraction for children’s whole mathematics learning.
Moving into the second half of the autumn term multiplication and division; begins by asking children to show their understanding of equal groups. They then take time to look at arrays and how they can show two different multiplications. This unit also provides the opportunity to recap multiples of 2, 5 and 10 and explore if a given number is a multiple of one of these numbers. Finally, there is an opportunity to recap work on sharing and grouping and ensure that children know the difference between the two concepts.
Maths homework will be linked to the Times Table Rock Stars (TTRS) website.
In science our unit for the first part of the autumn term will be based on animals including humans; identify that animals including humans, need the right types and amounts of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat. They will also learn how to identify that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection and movement.
The second part of autumn is studying rocks where the children learn how to compare and group different kinds of rocks on the basis of their appearance and simple physical properties. They will learn how to describe in simple terms how fossils are formed when things that have lived are trapped within rock and finally recognise that soils are made from rocks and organic matter.
Attenborough class will also be covering the following units in other areas of the curriculum;
Music – Developing singing techniques and keeping in time: The Vikings
Personal, Social. Health Education - ‘Being me in my world’
Physical Education - Netball and fitness
Religious Education – Why do we need to give thanks?
French - French greetings with puppets
Computing – Internet safety
Art, (craft and design) – Painting and mixed media; Pre-historic painting
Design and Technology – Food and eating seasonally
Finally, it would be wonderful to celebrate personal achievements so therefore any extra work the children complete at home whether it is written, maths or artwork is welcomed in class.
Reminders:
- Extended learning (homework) including spellings will be set on a Friday and books will be shared with class adults on the following Friday so all set tasks should be completed by then.
- P.E days are Monday and Friday for Autumn 1.
- Full P.E kit is needed with navy jogging bottoms/shorts/sweatshirts when the weather turns colder. Trainers keep our feet protected and ready to move!
- Hair must be tied back if shoulder length or longer and earrings must be removed for P.E. days.
- Hair should be tied back every day if longer than shoulder length.
- Ties must be worn.
- A named water bottle should come into school every day with fresh water only please (no juice).
- A healthy snack can be brought in for break time. We ask for fruits and vegetables please.
We look forward to seeing the children progress and become successful learners throughout year 3.
If you would like to speak to one of the teaching team, this can be arranged via the school office.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries.
The Attenborough Team
(Class Teachers: Mrs Moore and Miss O’Donnell)
