Thematic

STEM Challenge Day: A Day of Innovation and Fun!

What an incredible day we’ve had in Year 3! Our STEM Challenge Day was the perfect opportunity for the children to apply all the amazing skills and knowledge they’ve developed this term. From science experiments to hands-on engineering, the classroom was buzzing with excitement, creativity, and teamwork.

The day kicked off with a challenge to design and build periscopes. The children demonstrated their understanding of light and reflection, using mirrors to direct light in their creations. With cardboard tubes, mirrors, and plenty of perseverance, they crafted working periscopes that allowed them to see around corners and over obstacles. It was fantastic to see their problem-solving skills in action as they adjusted angles and tweaked their designs to get a clear view.

Next, we moved on to magnetism, a topic the children have loved learning about this term. Their task was to design and create a magnetic maze game. Using magnets, paper, and their own creative designs, the children guided small metal objects through intricate mazes. The challenge sparked lots of discussion about magnetic forces and how to balance difficulty with fun. The pride on their faces when their mazes worked was truly wonderful to see! The children also made cars, powered by magnets, which they used to guide a car around a track.

Finally, the children explored aerodynamics by making and launching paper air rockets. They experimented with different designs, testing how variables such as fin size and rocket length affected flight distance and stability. The playground turned into a mini launchpad, with rockets soaring through the air. There were cheers and laughter all around as they celebrated their successes and learnt from their attempts to improve their designs.

STEM Challenge Day was a fantastic way for the children to see how science, technology, engineering, and maths come together in real-world projects. They collaborated brilliantly, demonstrating resilience and enthusiasm in every activity.

We are so proud of their achievements and can’t wait to see how they continue to apply their skills in the future.

Here’s to more exciting STEM adventures ahead!

Check out Year 3 in the News: STEM learning blossoms at Upton Junior School – The Isle Of Thanet News

 

     

   

Maths

This week in Year 3, our mathematicians have been hard at work developing their skills in formal written methods for addition and subtraction. These techniques are essential building blocks that will help them tackle more complex mathematical challenges in the future. The children began the week by learning step-by-step approaches to column addition and subtraction. Using clear methods and plenty of practise, they’ve gained confidence in aligning digits correctly, carrying over, and borrowing. It's been fantastic to see their determination as they worked through calculations with increasing independence. As the week progressed, we also introduced opportunities for peer teaching, where children explained their methods to one another. This not only reinforced their understanding but also highlighted the importance of clear communication in maths.

It’s been wonderful to witness their growing confidence and teamwork. Well done, Year 3!

Next week, we will be moving onto mathematical problem solving, using and applying the methods.

English

This week in Year 3, our classroom has been buzzing with excitement as we’ve turned our hands to writing our narratives inspired by The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. Building on the adventures of the mysterious, towering figure from the original story, the children have been hard at work imagining what might happen next.

Last week, we revisited key events from the book, discussing the Iron Man’s heroic qualities and the challenges he overcame. This led to some fantastic planning discussions, which led us onto planning their ideas for new settings, characters, and dilemmas for the Iron Man to face. With their imaginations ignited, the children planned their stories using story maps to outline the beginning, build-up, problem, resolution, and ending. This week, the children used their plans to write their narratives. The children worked hard to craft vivid descriptions and powerful action scenes, using varied language to bring their ideas to life. We focused on creating exciting openings to draw readers in and developing dialogue to show how characters felt during key moments.

Next week, we will be moving onto producing a non-fiction piece of writing linked to our Thematic topic.

Christmas Fair

A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and families for your generous donations and incredible support for the Year 3 stalls. Your contributions played a huge part in making this event a resounding success!

The children had an amazing time planning, organising, and running their own class stalls. From creating their own banners and posters, to managing their stations with enthusiasm- they learnt valuable lessons about teamwork, responsibility, and communication—all while having plenty of fun!

It was truly wonderful to see so many of you come out to support the school-your presence and encouragement made the afternoon even more special for the children.

Once again, thank you for your generosity and support. Events like these remind us of the strong and supportive community we have here at our school. We’re already looking forward to the next opportunity to come together!

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- BLUE BLYTON 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  

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 and 4 Christmas disco on Monday 16^th December: 3:05pm-4:15pm.

• Year 3 have their Christmas party on Tuesday 17^th December.

• 3R and 3Y will have their final swimming session on Monday 16^th December.

• Next term, 3B and 3G will have their swimming sessions on Mondays. 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 wear coats to school.

• The school closes at 2pm on Friday 20^th December.

Have a lovely weekend!

The Year 3 team