Thematic

This week, Year 3 embarked on a bright and fascinating journey into the world of light! From understanding how light helps us see, our young scientists have been busy discovering the many wonders of this essential force of nature. We kicked off our learning by exploring the basics: what light is and where it comes from. Children discovered that light is a form and comes from various sources, like the sun, light bulbs, and even fireflies! Discussions centred around natural versus artificial light sources, with children enthusiastically listing examples of each. The children then turned their attention to one of light’s most important roles—helping us see. Through engaging discussions and interactive activities, Year 3 learnt about the process of light reflecting off objects and entering our eyes, enabling us to perceive the world around us.

Next week in our thematic learning, we will be learning about shadows.

English

This week in English, the classrooms buzzed with imagination as the children embarked on an exciting writing project: creating their very own mythical creatures! From fire-breathing giants to underwater guardians, the young writers have been hard at work dreaming up extraordinary beings and presenting them in the form of a non-chronological report. The project began with the children mind-mapping details about their creatures' appearances, habitats, diets, powers, and even personalities. With a world of possibilities at their fingertips, no two creatures were alike! The children then created a non-chronological report in order to organise their ideas. Their task was to make their reports captivating by using descriptive language and technical vocabulary.

Next week, the children will move onto writing a narrative, using and applying all of their writing skills from the term.

Maths

In Maths this week, we've been recapping and applying different strategies when adding a one-digit number to a three-digit number. The focus has been on developing efficiency, accuracy, and confidence in tackling these calculations, when regrouping is involved. Children have been using their knowledge of known number facts to support their strategies when working mentally.

Next week, we will be moving onto subtraction, before then moving onto more formal written methods for both addition and subtraction.

Open Day

Next week marks an exciting time for our school as we open our doors to welcome prospective Year 3 parents to Upton Open Days. This is a special opportunity for parents and carers to see first-hand what makes Upton such a vibrant, nurturing, and inspiring place for children to learn and grow. 

If you’re a parent of a Year 2 child and are considering the next step in their educational journey, we warmly invite you to attend our Open Day tours. We look forward to meeting you and sharing all that Upton has to offer. See you on the 4th December!

Pantomime

On Friday 6th December, the whole school are heading off to the Marlowe Theatre to see Beauty and the Beast. Please can all children make sure they bring a coat, a healthy snack and a treat for the pantomime that fits in their pocket. Children will also need to bring a bottle of water with them; please can they bring a disposable bottle on this occasion, rather than a re-usable one. A reminder email has gone out to all parents. 

Art competition reminder:

In this term's art competition, you will get the chance to create your own Pop Art Masterpiece inspired by our artist of the term: Roy Lichtenstein!

Using Lichtenstein's style as a guide, create a work of art that uses bright colours, bold outlines, and Ben-Day dots to show an exciting scene or object from your daily life. This could be a favourite toy, a scene at school, anything that is personal to you.

The competition starts from Monday 11th November and closes Friday 20th December. Please bring all entries to Mr Mason’s art room and be sure to include your name and class on your artwork. Winners will be announced at the beginning of term 3. Good luck!

Home Learning

Attached below, is the overarching Thematic Curriculum homework ideas. Please refer to the homework menu which gives a variety of creative tasks for the children to choose from. Children only need to complete one task as a minimum, but can choose to complete more if they wish. Children have been given a Home Learning book to complete their Home Learning tasks in- children will be bringing their Home Learning books home on Monday. 

Home Learning is due in on Friday 20^th December 2024

Reading Records 

With AR Assessments complete, children will be given a new ZPD, which you will find in their Reading Record: ‘Term 2’ ZPD sticker. If children have not yet brought in their reading record to school, they need to make sure they bring it in. Please ensure children are reading every night and are likewise taking quizzes.  

Spellings

To support children with their spellings, we would like children to practise ‘Level 2- GREAT GRIMMS Bundle’ 

To access it on a laptop, PC, Mac or Chromebook (therefore IWBs): 
1. Type in the browser itself where you normally type www (not a search engine)...app.sirlinkalot.org (with no Ws before it) 
2. Click on 'More' (top right) 
3. Click on 'Sign in' 
4. The children will then need to type in their access code  

To find out more about Sir Linkalot, there is a parent workshop taking place on Tuesday 1^st October: 3pm-4pm. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Times Tables Rock Stars  

• Tasks to be completed online. 

• Children’s logins are stuck in their Reading journal.   

Mathletics  

• Mathletics tasks will be set from Friday to Friday.  

• Tasks will always follow the learning that week.  

• Children’s logins are stuck into their Reading journal.  

Reminders  

• Year 3 have PE on Tuesdays and should come to school dressed in the correct school PE kit.  

• 3R and 3Y will swim on Mondays this term- children will need to come dressed in their PE kit to school on this day, and bring with them their swimming costumes to change into.   

• Swimming kit reminder: full swimming costume/swim shorts and swimming hat.  

• Children to bring in healthy snacks for breaktimes.  

• Children must now wear coats to school.

• Friday 6^th December: whole school trip to the Marlowe Theatre. A reminder email has been sent. The children will be told about the day next week, including what to bring and what not to bring.