Poplar

Welcome to the Poplar Class page!

Teachers: Miss Henderson

Year 3 Teaching Assistants: Mrs Deverill and Miss Passmore

We are a Year 3 class at St James Church School.

Welcome and thank you for visiting our class page. 

Our Learning Expedition this term is 'Time Team'. Prepare to hear about our adventures in the make-believe T.A.R.D.I.S to investigate clues about life in the past. You can find more information about the curriculum coverage on the spring term Curriculum Learning Map below. The door is always open so if there is a problem, a question or a query, please don't hesitate to come and talk to one of the year 3 team.

P.E and Forest School

This half term (January-February half term) Poplar class have Forest School every other Wednesday afternoon and P.E every Friday afternoon. Please remember to bring the correct clothing for these days. A bag of clothing can remain in school on your peg if this makes life easier.

Dates to remember this term:

Tuesday 11th February - Safer Internet Day

Friday 14th February - Last day of term

Monday 24th February - First day back after the half term break

Thursday 5th March - World Book Day and Vocabulary Parade

Times tables 

Times tables are an essential part of every child's learning.  From this academic year, the Government have now introduced a times table check at the end of year 4. The Year 3 curriculum includes to recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables.

Times tables are practised daily in school and are tested on a Friday. The children receive a special certificate when they pass each level.

Any practice at home will really help to develop these maths skills and speed. There are many websites and apps to support learning in this area. Each child now has their own login details for Times Table Rockstar which is an interactive game that helps children with their times table recall. Login details are written inside the cover of their home learning book.

There will be various competitions in school to motivate the children.

Homework

Homework each week will comprise of reading, practising of times tables and spellings.  All homework needs to be completed and handed in each Thursday. Books are checked on a Thursday afternoon and the children stick in their new homework on a Friday.

Please pop in to see me if you need any support with homework as it is an important part of your child's learning.

Reading

In Key Stage 2 all pupils have access to Accelerated Reader. When a child has read their book (ideally more than once to develop their understanding) and it has been recorded in their home learning book, they are able to have a go at an Accelerated Reader quiz. They access this on an iPad in school time and have to answer a selection of multiple choice questions. The percentage that they get correct shows their understanding and contributes to the average class percentage.

Each child is set a termly points target on Accelerated Reader and they earn points each time they pass a quiz at school.  

Any support that can be given at home with reading is incredibly beneficial - reading together daily, discussing new vocabulary as well as making trips to the library all help. For those children that meet their reading target and complete all homework, a reading reward will take place at the end of the term.  

 Spellings 

The children learn a new spelling pattern each week and practise the bronze award spellings. Children are tested on their spelling patterns each week but our focus is on learning the rule and understanding the patterns. New spellings will go home on a Friday and will be tested the following Friday. Children will be tested on their bronze spellings each half term and will be awarded a special certificate if they get them all correct.

Please view our Curriculum Map below, which outlines our learning in each subject area for this term. 

First we collected soil and mixed it with sand, chalk and a plant based butter (as a substitute for animal fat after hunting) to create our own Stone Age paint. 

We found sticks and branches to use as painting tools.

Charcoal was used to sketch outlines of Stone Age animals and then colour was added with our batural paint. 

How you can help your child:

• Encourage mental maths skills such as adding and subtracting differing amounts.

• Rehearse times table facts and related division facts.

  (eg 3 x 9 = 27 so 27 ÷ 3 = 9)

• Practise telling the time with your child, using both an analogue and a digital clock.

• Talk about the books they are reading: What was their favourite bit? Did they have a favourite character? What do they think will happen next and why? Lots of discussion helps develop children’s language and understanding of the text.

If you have any questions or queries, you are very welcome to come in and talk to us.