Squirrel Class
Class teacher’s welcome
Welcome to Squirrel class! In Year 3, the children begin their journey through Key Stage 2. Throughout the year, we will help the children to grow and develop socially and academically, build their independence and continue to foster their love of learning.
Mrs Ed-dakhissi
latest photos:
Exploring, Creating and Discovering in Science!
The children have been busy working scientifically and having fun along the way! In one of our exciting experiments, the children tested different substances to clean old coins and we amazed to discover that ketchup worked best! We’ve also been learning about environmental responsibility by using recycled materials to create our own sea creatures for Earth Day.
To develop our understanding of shapes, we built fantastic 3D models using marshmallows and spaghetti, learning through hands-on and creative exploration.
We also brought volcanoes to life using play dough, carefully labelling each part to show our understanding of how they work. It was a fun, messy and memorable way to learn about natural disasters.
Curriculum news
Well done to all the children for their fabulous singing and reading at the Carols by Candlelight service on Tuesday 17 December – see a couple of short videos here!
At a glance – Summer 2
English: Fiction: Fables When the Giant Stirred (legend) – Poetry: Volcano Poetry (Free Verse).
Science: Working Scientifically.
RE: How do different people express their spirituality?
Geography: Mountains, Volcanoes and Earthquakes
Art: Continue 3D Sculpture and collage and painting.
Computing: Events and actions in Programs.
Music: Experimental Music in the style of STOMP (natural elements).
PSHE: Growing and Changing.
Bellow are some fun and practical home learning ideas linked to our current topics in class. These activities are designed to be creative, hands-on and enjoyable for the children to complete at home.
Please note: Some of these projects may require adult supervision and permission, especially those involving crafting tools, technology or small experiments.
Create Your Own Legend: Write or record a short story about a mythical creatute that lives in a volcano. Add drawing or a mini comic strip.
Write a free verse poem about a volcano and decorate it with fiery colours and textures using materials like tissue paper, foil and coloured pencils.
Mini Volcano experiment: Use baking soda and vinegar to create a small volcano eruption. Record the steps and results in a table or a video.
Spend a week observing something in nature (Weather, insects, plants …) and record changes with drawings and captions.
Create a Spirituality Box: Fill a small box with items that make you feel calm, inspired or connected ( photos, symbols, drawing …) and explain why you chose each item.
Interview a family member: Ask how they express their spirituality or what brings them peace and write a few sentences or draw pictures about it.
Build a model volcano or mountain: Use clay, papier mâché or Lego to make 3D model. Label parts or make a video explanation.
Earthquake Challenge: Build a structure with blocks or spaghetti/marshmallows and test how it stands during a shake. (simulate an earthquake)
Use magazine cutouts or textured paper to create a collage of a mountain or volcanic scene.
Create a simple story or animation using Scratch where an event causes something to happen ( a volcano erupts)
Create a simple timeline with photos or drawings showing how the child has changed over the years.
These projects are designed to run alongside the learning for a half-term and should be handed in on or before Monday 14th of July.
Spelling
At All Saints’ Primary School, we follow the Read Write Inc. spelling scheme throughout Key Stage 2. During the Spring term, we completed our recap units from Year 2 and began working through the Year 3 spelling units. This term, we will continue progressing through the Year 3 units, building on our knowledge and reinforcing key spelling patterns and rules.
| Word | Focus | Example |
| 21 Apr | Words ending in -ture | Adventure capture creature departure future nature picture |
| 28 Apr | Adding -ation to verbs to form nouns | Adoration admiration
alteration cancellation exploration explanation reservation plantation information observation preparation realisation
|
| 5 May | Words with the c sound spelt ch | Ache anchor
Chaos character Chemical chemist Mechanic chorus Orchestra echo School scheme stomach |
| 12 May | Words with the sh sound spelt sh | Brochure chalet
Charade chandelier Chute chef Moustache machine parachute
|
| 19 May | The short i sound spelt y | Egypt gym
pyramid mysterious mystery syllable cymbals cygnet |
| 26 May | Half term | |
| 2 June | Adding the suffix -ion | Action attraction
Collection celebration Construction concentration injection Invention exaggeration Education correction hesitation
|
| 9 June | Adding the suffix -ian | Construction electrician
Location injection Optician musician Mathematician magician politician
|
| 16 June | Adding the prefix re- | Rearrange reappear reconnect
Rebuilding redecorate recycle Redo refresh
|
| 23 June | Adding the prefix anti- | Antibiotic anticlimax antifreeze anticlockwise antiseptic
antisocial |
| 30 June | Adding the prefix super- | Superglue superhero superman
Superhuman supersize supermarket supersonic superwoman
|
| 7th July | Adding the prefix sub- | Subheading subdivide submerge
Submarine subsoil subtitle subway subzero
|
| 14th July | Homophones | whether weather, ball bawl, not knot, plain plane, scene seen, hear here, be bee
week weak, male mail Where wear, Week weak, no know write right, bear bare break brake |
Archive: Autumn patterns and example words
In addition, children in Y3 and Y4 are beginning to learn a specific word list (as set out in the National Curriculum, English Appendix 1) that can be found in the centre of the school reading record or accessed here.
Dates for the diary
PE days: Wednesday (Mr Megson), Friday (Mrs Ed-dakhissi)
Spring 1: n/a
Spring 2: Forest School (3 sessions); Tuesday 4th March: Schools’ Linking Project – host Copthorne Primary School; Tuesday 25 March: Visit to Abbey House Museum, Leeds (History: Victorian Britain)
Summer 1: Tuesday 22nd April (first day of term!): Visit to Harlow Carr (Science: Plants); Tuesday 20th May: Schools’ Linking Project – visit Copthorne Primary School
Summer 2: Tuesday 17th June: KS2 Sports Day; Wednesday 18th June (new date!): Squirrel Class Collective Worship
Links to support learning
Reading
Please encourage your child to read daily for a minimum of 10 minutes. At least 3 reading sessions per week should be recorded in the school Reading Record. Children should all have a school reading book (that can be changed regularly) but should be encouraged to read other material as well.
Read more about English in Y3 in the National Curriculum Programmes of Study
Maths
Times Table Rock Stars (login on inside front cover of Reading Record) – Y3 introduces 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables, as well as building on 2, 5 and 10 (from Y2)
Written methods for addition, subtraction and multiplication are taught as in the pictures below.
Read more about maths in Y3 in the National Curriculum Programmes of Study
Just for fun!