Autumn Term One Blog

Welcome to Class 3's first blog for the academic year, where we share all of the exciting learning experiences that have been happening in our class. It's been a busy and fantastic start to the year, with the children diving into a variety of subjects and topic. Here's a look at what we have been up to so far:

English 

We began with character descriptions inspired by The Stone Age Boy. We were hooked into our learning with some Stone Age Cave Painting Artwork before exploring the language used to bring the story's characters to life, describing the personalities, appearances and emotions. Later on in the term we enjoyed the hilarious How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth, which was the perfect starting point for learning how to write instructions. We followed both pictorial and written instructions to create art pieces or mammoths and mixtures of different animals as we recognised the use of time words to allow us to follow the steps in chronological order. The class had practiced using imperative verbs to make their instructions clear and engaging. 

Maths 

We have been strengthening our understanding on place value and practising addition and subtraction. We explored these concepts using hands-on tools like number-lines, place value charts and base-ten blocks. The children have been encouraged to explain their method and reasoning, which has helped them gain confidence in group work problem-solving and develop a deeper understanding of the processes involved.

RE

Our focus has been on Domestic Church: Family. We discussed the importance of family in our lives, explored the ideas of having a loving heart and considered what it means to be part of a community both at home and at school. We explored this further in our first liturgy of the year, where the children discussed various scriptures and their meanings.

Science

We have been getting our hands dirty as we studied rocks and soils. Through various investigations, we learnt about different types of rocks, how they are formed and the properties that make them unique. We also explored the different types of soils and what they are made up of. It's been an interesting topic that has sparked many curious questions and a new appreciation for the ground beneath our feet!

Geography

This term has been all about the United Kingdom. We explored the different countries, seas, rivers and hills that make up the UK, using maps to help us locate key physical features. The children enjoyed learning about the differences between regions and were particularly fascinated about where we live and our county. 

French

We have introduced a new language to the class this term, starting with greetings. The children have embraced the challenge, practicing how to say 'hello', 'goodbye' and asking each other how they are. It's been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they learn to express themselves in French. 

Art

Our lessons have centred around Colour Theory. The children explored primary, secondary and tertiary colours, experimented with mixing colours to create new shades and learned about warm and cool colours. We've used these skills to create some stunning artwork which is now proudly displayed. 

Guided Reading 

We've had a wonderful time with our book Bill's New Frock. The story has led to some great discussions about fairness, equality and empathy. The children were introduced to VIPERS (Vocabulary, Inference, Predict, Explain, Retrieve, Summarise) which are key skills that will help them become stronger readers.

Special Highlights

A Trip to the Tower of London

Our trip was a true highlight! The children had the chance to step back in time and learn about this historic fortress. They were particularly excited to see the Crown Jewels and hear stories about piracy and trade. It was an enriching experience that brought history to life. Thank you again to those who came and assisted on the trip.

Forest School 

We have been learning all about bats! The children discovered interesting facts about these nocturnal creatures including where they live, how they hunt and their role in the natural world. We then created our own bat figures made from pine cones and enjoyed a roast marshmallow around the fire pit. 

Swimming 

We have also started our swimming sessions this term. The children have been practicing their floating and swimming techniques as well as a bit of water safety. It's been wonderful seeing their progress each week as they gain confidence in the water. Hayden and I look forward to seeing this continue next term. 

Looking Ahead

It's been a fantastic start to the year and we are looking forward to continuing our learning journey together. The children have shown great enthusiasm and resilience and I am really impressed with what they have already achieved! There is still so much more to come and I can't wait to share more next term.

Thank you for your continued support, have a lovely half term.