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3B Autumn 2 Week 5 

English

We have immersed ourselves in the Fox text once more, although this time we have a different writing purpose and outcome. In this unit, the purpose of our writing will be to inform, and our outcome will be an information report about foxes.

The class enjoyed listening to a woodland soundscape whilst we had a scavenger hunt around the classroom, looking for vocabulary words that could describe a fox in a positive or negative way. As a class, we discussed the meaning of each of these words and sorted them into the correct categories. During our lesson, a letter arrived! Year 3 were very excited to receive another letter, and we were surprised to discover, this time, it was from Fox. We read the letter and discussed whether we believed it was true that foxes are always represented as sly and unpleasant and explored examples in books and films where this has happened.

I enjoyed moving around the classroom during the scavenger hunt to find the words to describe a fox. A fox could be described as sly and devious, in a negative way. But it could also be described as graceful and playful, in a positive way. – Lyric

In book, foxes are described as sly and cunning like the fox in Peter Rabbit but in real life, foxes are just animals and not sly. I also liked being chosen to read the letter. I was very excited, and I loved seeing everybody’s reaction. – Kashana

In the gingerbread man story, the fox is also seen in a negative way because he tricks the gingerbread man to take a ride on his back across the river, but instead, he tries to throw him into the air and eat him. – Brooke

 

Year 3 has also learnt that there has been significant debate about foxes in the UK, with some people feeling that they should be labelled as vermin. While fox hunting is banned in the UK, some feel that this should be allowed again, as it was once traditionally a sport. Year 3 spent some time sharing their initial thoughts on this. We also discussed if we believe whether foxes are dangerous to humans. As part of a drama opportunity, the children took on roles of various members of the public, such as farmers, gardeners and animal protection officers. The children enjoyed creating a debate about these issues, taking turns to verbalise the facts they have learnt to support the different sides of the argument.

I enjoyed debating and acting in the role of somebody who might think differently to us and have different opinions. We enjoyed it so much that me and Kashana carried on debating about foxes on the yard at break time.  – Charlie

 

Maths

This week we have started our new unit, Time. We have practised counting in 5s with actions to mirror a clock turning clockwise. We also turned the minute hand and hour hand on analogue clocks to show o’clock and half past times.

I liked changing the clocks to different times. – Arlo

I like standing up and doing the actions to counting in 5s. – Brooke

 

 

Science

Year 3 have been working like scientists by investigating the properties of rocks this week. They conducted a scratch test to assess the hardness of each rock by determining whether a fingernail, nail or other rock would leave a scratch on its surface. They then ordered slate, marble, basalt, chalk and sandstone from softest to hardest. We discussed whether these rocks were sedimentary, metamorphic or igneous and what they could be used for.

I liked that we were able to investigate how hard each rock was. – Shaheer

I knew when a rock was soft because it would break off, like chalk. – Amelia

 

 

3B Autumn 2 Week 4 

Phonics

This week we have been practising phase 5 sounds, and we have been reading a non-fiction book called ‘Beetles around the World’. The class enjoyed recalling GPCs, words and tricky words. They have been decoding the words in the book, reading with prosody and using their comprehension skills to recall facts.

When you use prosody, the reader can make what they are saying more exciting, which is more interesting for the people who are listening. – Kashana

I have learnt that the male Oddest Beetles use their necks to fight. – Charlie

I have learnt that Deadly Beetles get the poison from the plants they eat . – Shaheer

 

Science

This week we have been exploring how different rocks are formed, and the children enjoyed learning about which types of rock are igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary. The class touched different types of rocks and described their qualities. They then compared the different types of rocks as part of a scientific investigation.

I was very interested in how different rocks are formed and how they are used. – Charlie

I like touching and feeling the rocks, it helped me learn what each rock was called and how they looked and felt. – Brooke

I enjoyed looking at granite as I recognised that rock because I have a granite worktop in my kitchen. – Amelia

The word metamorphic is very similar to metamorphosis. Metamorphic means when rocks change into different types of rocks because they have been put under a lot of heat and pressure and metamorphosis is when a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. They both mean when something changes into something else. – Daniel

 

English

This week has been writing week! The children have enjoyed exploring our new book Fox and have been writing their own fables using their plans. Miss Barnes and Mrs Rawlings have been blown away with the children’s use of exciting adjectives, similes and alliteration to describe the setting and main characters. We have also been impressed with the accurate punctuation being used.

3B Autumn 2 Week 3 

 

Children In Need

We enjoyed dressing in yellow and spots and made some donations to Children In Need today! The class loved learning all about the amazing things this charity does for people across the UK and, of course, Year 3 enjoyed speaking about Pudsey!

History

This term we have been exploring our new unit of the Stone Age. Year 3 have been learning about cave paintings and flutings. The class learnt that these pieces of artwork would usually be of animals or hunters painted with natural colours from mineral pigments. The children created their own artwork inspired by these cave paintings and flutings using charcoal.