Class Teachers - Mrs Roberts / Mrs Vanderbrink (3L) and Mrs Morcom-Lewis / Mrs Vanderbrink (3O)

• January - Determination and Perseverance

• February - Honesty and Trust 

• March - Learning and Effort

During Literacy, Language and Communication lessons, pupils will study the book 'Escape from Pompeii' by Christina Balit. Pupils will explore the historical context of Pompeii and how the natural disaster impacted the local area of Pompeii and the world then and now. Pupils will be provided the opportunity to read as a whole class and then perform dramatic versions of parts of the text, acting in role and considering how people may have been feeling during the disaster. Pupils will convey their opinions using inference and deduction of the text and begin to formulate their ideas into written form. This term, pupils will be working more independently on their written tasks, with a focus on sentence structure, accurate punctuation and appropriate word choices. The culmination of the study ends with pupils creating a newspaper report to tell of the disaster, including the impact on humans and the facts that we remember today. 

The children will also study 'Small in the City' by award-winning author-illustrator Sydney Smith. This picture book shows children that sometimes we can all feel a little overwhelmed. Told as much through the monochrome illustrations as the words on the page, the story provides gentle reassurances for how to survive when we experience those moments of feeling small. However, the revelation on the last page of the book is where most of the discussion will start! Children will continue to make inferences and predictions about the story, writing a letter of advice to the main character and a diary entry in role before discussing the final twist in the story. Children will finish by retelling the events in the narrative, but from an alternative point of view. 

Alongside Literacy lessons, pupils will also be participating in daily Guided Reading sessions. This is an opportunity for teachers to listen to pupils read and discuss elements of the text in a small group. Teachers will check for understanding and ensure pupils can find information, skim and scan, and identify key points from the text. The two books that pupils will be studying are 'Earth-Shattering Events' and 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin'. Earth Shattering Events is a non-fiction text, focusing on technical and scientific language and vocabulary. Pupils will have the opportunity to learn about a range of natural and man-made disasters and deduce information using the text. The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a traditional story, but this version, retold by Michael Morpurgo, uses rich language that brings this historical story to life. 

Welsh lessons will focus on 'Y Cartref', to begin with, progressing through the term into speaking and writing in the third person to ask and answer questions. Pupils will play games, complete written activities and speak and listen to a range of Welsh language sentences to build and develop confidence.  As the term develops we will move onto 'Beth sy'n bod?' and 'Beth wyt ti'n hoffi?' in the written form, using extended sentences. 

During the start of the Spring Term, pupils will continue to develop their understanding of multiplication at a greater depth. They will explore the 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables within a range of problems and contexts. Moving on through the term, pupils will begin to investigate division and, in turn, consider how this relates to multiplication facts. They will recall facts from the given times tables to solve problems involving everyday scenarios. 

Pupils will then further build on their understanding of geometry by exploring the area of shapes. Pupils will begin by counting squares, extending to using multiplication to find the area of simple and compound shapes. 

Continuing into the latter half of the Spring Term, pupils will investigate fractions, focusing on halves, quarters, thirds, fifths and tenths. Pupils will grasp the concept of fractions as being a part of a whole, order, compare and count in steps of given fractional amounts. As pupils become increasingly sophisticated in using fractions, they will begin to find fractions of amounts and use their knowledge to solve problems related to everyday scenarios. 

Towards the end of the Spring Term, pupils will consider how we use graphs to collect and record data. Pupils will collect data, record findings and answer questions based on a given data set.

Across the term, pupils will continue to develop resilience, perseverance and independent working skills. We will encourage pupils to problem solve and make appropriate decisions in a safe environment, with and without support as required, to promote independence and reflection on their actions. 

Children will continue to have PE sessions on Wednesday afternoons. This term we will focus on gymnastics and fitness. The children will use the apparatus to explore sequences and travel and also positively evaluate their friends' sequences, in order to share ideas and improve their presentation skills. The children will enjoy fitness sessions using appropriate exercises in a 'circuit type' rotation.

Throughout all lessons, pupils will continue to develop their skills of relationship building and conflict resolution, whilst maintaining a focus on Thrive-based approaches. 

Pupils will also be able to build on their understanding of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, exploring how the UNCRC affects their everyday lives. 

After half -term, as the weather hopefully improves, we will be running outdoor sessions focusing on hands-on learning in natural environments. These sessions will have a specific focus on building collaborative skills and supporting emotional and physical well-being. We believe that connecting with nature and working as a team helps our children grow into confident, caring, and resilient individuals – and we can’t wait to see all the wonderful things they’ll achieve together.

Building Strong Teams

Outdoor activities naturally encourage collaboration. From planning a route on a nature walk to working in small groups to create a "mini-beast hotel" or solve a scavenger hunt puzzle, pupils will learn to communicate clearly, listen to each other’s ideas, and support their classmates. 

Well-being at Heart

Spending time in nature has been proven to reduce stress, improve focus, and boost overall happiness in children. Whether we’re exploring local green spaces, identifying plants and wildlife, or simply enjoying the changing seasons, these activities will give children a chance to step away from desks and screens, connect with the world around them, and develop a sense of calm and curiosity.

Our sessions will include:

• Team challenges like orienteering and outdoor art projects

• Wildlife spotting and habitat creation

• Seasonal activities like planting bulbs or collecting natural materials for crafts

Our unit of work this term is Sunrise to Stardust and this builds on the work completed in Year 2.  The children will complete an investigation into gravity, working in a group and recording the results independently. They will use the results to construct a graph and interpret their findings. The children will explore the features of the Moon and what keeps the Moon orbiting around Earth. They will discover how different seasons occur in various parts of the world and what causes hurricanes and tsunamis. The children will explore extreme weather events and climate zones. We will discuss the impact of construction and large-scale farming on the environment and whether the negative consequences can be reversed.  The children will use a range of skills to record their ideas and develop their discussion and empathetic understanding.

Children will also celebrate St. David's Day by participating in 'Welsh Week' and take part in Welsh based activities to celebrate the Eisteddfod and St. David's Day. Children will be able to wear House Colours or Welsh Costumes to join in the celebrations. on March 2nd. 

The school PE kit should be worn to school on Wednesdays, and suitable trainers are also required, please. 

Children should bring a water bottle to school with them every day; this should be a sufficient amount to last them the whole day. 

Children should bring their reading books to school with them if they have an individual reading day, and also remember to bring in their reading logs, please.

Please ensure that all school uniform is clearly labelled with your child’s name.

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