This week, the children have been focussing a lot on our new Geography topic, ‘Locational and Place Knowledge’. Within this topic, we have been exploring OS maps. We started off by learning about the different symbols that are often used on OS maps using a map key to help us. Next, we practised reading a map using a four figure grid reference to help us locate different objects and co-ordinates on a treasure map. Using all of this knowledge, we took a closer look at Lanchester on an OS map. We used co-ordinates to help locate Lanchester and our knowledge of OS symbols to locate different things such as our school and other schools in our local area, All Saints’ Church, The Post Office and the library. Mrs Patterson also very kindly shared her expertise by bringing in a range of OS maps of different areas to help the children to understand other elements and scales of OS  maps. We will use these to help us measure distances using a particular scale. The children have loved this topic so far!

Year 3 focussed on a reading comprehension this week to understand more about anti-bullying week. We learnt that this year’s theme is ‘united against bullying’ and we discussed all of the different types of bullying and what we should to do help prevent it. The children also watched a short film called ‘for the birds’ which was all about how everything and everyone is different and to celebrate the fact that nobody is the same. We then created lovely jigsaw pieces with ways in which we can help put a stop to bullying.

What a fun day Year 3 have had today! We kick started our afternoon by showing off our dance skills (we do have some very groovy dancers!). We then used our maths skills to solve the addition and subtraction Pudsey mosaics and finally we decorated gingerbread people using glitter icing, smarties and hundreds and thousands. The children couldn’t wait to take them home! We ended our day by watching a video of a child who benefits from donations from Children in Need. We are so proud of our school for raising so much money for children and families who are in need.

Well done Year 3!

To remember all of those who have lost their lives in battle and for everyone in the armed forces, Year 3 created a beautiful handprint poppy wreath to display on our classroom window. In the centre of the poppy, we included the words, ‘we will remember them’. On Remembrance Day at 11am, the Year 3 children stood respectfully outside our classroom facing our poppy wreath during our two minute silence. Afterwards, we watched a short video about a World War One soldier who described what life was like during the war. The children learnt a lot and asked very good questions such as, ‘why did WW1 begin?’, ‘did other countries help each other?’ and some children explained that a relative of theirs was a soldier in World War Two. Throughout the day, we also wrote acrostic poems, completed a Remembrance Day comprehension as well as a Remembrance Day word search.

As many of you will know, Thursday 5th November celebrated Guy Fawkes night (or bonfire night). This week, the Year 3 children wrote their very own firework poem. We firstly looked at the features of a firework poem such as adjectives, onomatopoeia, alliteration, similes, metaphors and even personification. Miss Walker and Mrs Patterson were amazed by the children’s firework poetry – they all tried so hard and their hard work certainly paid off. Here are just some examples of the amazing firework poetry Year 3 have written this week.