English
In English,  students continue to engage in Daily Review each morning. This routine allows our students to practise, consolidate and build automaticity of knowledge, skills and strategies from their short term to their long term memory banks. We have been building our narrative writing skills, participating in purposeful writing opportunities. Students are also loving their Spelling Mastery lessons and it is wonderful to see them transferring this newfound knowledge into their written work.

 

Maths
Each day, students begin their mathematics lessons with a Daily Review where students use their own whiteboards to share their mathematical thinking around topics that have previously been taught. We have begun extending our learning in the area of Whole Number. Students are exploring how to vertically add and subtract a variety of two, three and four digit numbers with trading.  We manipulated different MAB materials to visually see the connection between moving the blocks and carrying out operations on numbers. The bus stop division strategy has also been introduced, with students dividing two-digit numbers using written algorithms.

Religion
This term our inquiry unit is “What is Prayer?” We have reviewed both formal and informal prayers and students have had countless opportunities to be still with Jesus and participated in mindful prayer circles. Students enjoyed writing their own thanksgiving prayer and love sharing these each morning in our prayer circle. Our hearts are always filled with so much warmth when Father Anthony comes to visit us in our classroom and we get to exchange stories and ask questions. We were lucky enough to have a visit yesterday.

Geography
‘Places are similar and different,’ here we have investigated Australia’s major natural and human features, exploring the importance of “place.” We researched the uniqueness of the Australian continent and how the Australian continent is divided into states and territories. Students learnt about our neighbouring countries and discussed what they thought it would be like to live in another country and climate. We will finish our unit by exploring the interconnections between people and place through an inquiry of a local place.

Science
During our Chemistry unit students have learnt how to classify solids, liquids and gases and acquired the ability to identify the states of matter based on their properties. Students have thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on activities this unit has provided and now have a deeper understanding of what happens to states of matter when heated or cooled. Be sure to ask us about our amazing popping candy experiment!

Creative Arts

Drama:Creating Characters
This term we are taking on the roles of different characters. Students are developing skills and techniques of voice and movement to create character, mood and atmosphere. Over the past few lessons, students improvised to perform a short skit at different scenes; classroom, bakery, doctors surgery, hairdresser shop, lounge room, gym and post office. They had to think about why their character was in that setting, what they wanted and how they felt about it. We have taken our dramatic lessons to a whole new level this term. 

Visual Arts: Landscapes
We have researched a variety of Australian Artists - Bronwyn Bancroft, Sidney Nolan and Albert Namatjira this term to complement our Geography unit. Students have created a variety of pieces and immersed themselves in the concepts and elements of art.

Alicia Hampson and Allison Lock
Year 3 Teachers