Spring Learning

Welcome to Class Three

We are pleased to welcome you to the Class 3 page. The main need-to-know information can be found here including up to date information about the curriculum your child will be taught, as the year progresses.

If you have a query, you can email at admin.grange@schools.sefton.gov.uk where your email will be forwarded to the appropriate staff member.

Your teaching team this year will be:

Teacher - Miss Murray

Teaching Assistant - Miss Turpin 

This term, our class topic will be continuing to learn about 'The Stone Age' and as part of the History curriculum we will be describing the changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. We will be looking at the chronological passing of British History and using historical sources to find out about Early Britain including their homes, weapons, clothing and diet. As part of our History topic, we will design, make and evaluate a stewed fruit recipe to eat as part of a celebration after hunting. In the second half of the term, we will be moving onto our Geography topic, 'Our Local Area' where we will learn to identify and use the 9 points of a compass and apply this knowledge and understanding to reading maps whilst making our own plans using symbols and keys. We will learn to locate counties and cities within the UK whilst asking geographical questions such as why the landscape is this way? How is it changing? We will identify physical and human features of our locality as we walk along the canal close to school. We will also hold discussions about different issues in our local area including the newly built road 'Brooms Cross Road' and communicate our findings to an audience. We will have the opportunity to use fieldwork instruments such as data loggers and thermometers to make comparisons between locations. 

In English we will be reading the text ‘Hansel and Gretel’. We will be using our knowledge of expanded noun phrases to create a descriptive setting. We will also be creating an advert for the Gingerbread house and thinking of our own alternative ending to the famous fairy tale.  In the second half of the term, we will be reading 'Leon and the Place Between'. We will be using the this book to explore a world of magic and create our very own magical adventure story. We will also be creating a magic poem and writing a persuasive poster. 

In Maths we will be revising and building upon our knowledge of multiplication and division. We will learn to measure in grams, kilograms, millilitres and litres. We will also learn how to work out the perimeter and compare different lengths. Lastly, we will be looking at how to work out equivalent fractions. 

In Science our focus for learning will be ‘Plants’. We will be looking and identifying the different parts and functions of a flowering plant. We will also be learning about the requirements of a plant for life and growth. In addition to this, we will be learning about the transportation of water in a plant and the part that flowers play in the life cycle of a flowering plant. For the second half of the term, we will be learning about 'Light'. This will involve looking at how darkness is the absence of light, how mirrors work, how shadows are formed and why the sun can be dangerous. 

In PE children will learning how to play handball (Tuesday afternoon). The second half of term will involve the children exploring the topic of fitness. On a Thursday, the children will be going swimming.

Children will require the following kit for Tuesday:

Indoor Kit - Red Grange PE t-shirt, black shorts and black pumps.

Outdoor Kit - A warm tracksuit and trainers.

On Thursday, the children will need the following:

Boys – tight trunks for safety – shorts are NOT permitted.

Girls must wear a one-piece costume (no bikinis or tankinis).

All children must wear a swimming cap. Children are not allowed to wear any jewellery for school swimming lessons. Children with pierced ears must be able to remove earrings independently. Goggles are allowed but must be provided from home.

In Music children will begin to develop their musicianship skills as they learn the violin. Alongside practical lessons, they will develop their skills in listening and appraising a wide range of music. In the second half of the term, the children will learn how to play the glockenspiel. 

In Art we will look closely at artwork that links to our topic, ‘Our Local Area’ We will looking at the artist Claude Monet to inspire us to create our own paintings and collages.

In RE children will be learning about what different people believe about God – this will include Muslims and Christians.  

In Computing we will be looking at what online bullying is. Children will also begin to learn how to code.

Homework

Reading - Children in Class Three are expected to read each weeknight (Monday-Friday). Your child's reading record should be dated and signed every time that they read. To develop the children's independence, we are now giving children the responsibility to change their own reading books as and when they finish a book. 

Some children in Class Three are receiving the Read Write Inc programme to develop their phonemic awareness and fluency in reading. These children on a Wednesday will receive a book bag copy of the story they have been reading in class. Children will keep hold of these books for the week and should not write in them. By re-reading the same story, children will become fluent readers without the need to decode words and can then focus on their expression and understanding of the story. We appreciate your co-operation with your child's reading. 

Spelling - Children will be tested and given a new set of spellings each Monday. Their spellings will be stuck into their homework books. Children will be required to print their spellings using the Look, Cover, Say, Write, Check method and then practise their spellings on the next blank page using the range of spelling strategies that we have introduced in class. Some spelling groups are advised to choose 2 different spellings each night and write a sentence with that spelling in to help their understanding of the vocabulary. 

Times Tables - Children will be asked to log onto TT Rockstars for at least 10 minutes during the week. It is vital that children practise their times tables for various aspects of their Maths work.  This will be checked online on a Friday.

At The Grange we believe that it is crucial to work in partnership with parents and carers. There is an expectation that you will support us by ensuring that your child completes the tasks that we set as homework. 

Obviously the level of your engagement will depend on your child's age but we expect that you take an active part in all aspects of homework and, where necessary, indicate that you have monitored the completion of it (e.g. by signing the Home/School Reading Record Book.)

The routines of reading every day, learning spellings and multiplication tables etc. can be great fun and very rewarding for all concerned. Best results are achieved when homework is not done at the last minute, but has a fixed time in a child's established home routine. Short, sharp periods of activity are preferable to prolonged periods of study where concentration can be lost.

Effective learning and consolidation of learning cannot happen in an environment with lots of distractions (e.g. television etc.) Please give some thought to where your child works at home. 

Please see below the extensive list of websites that your child can visit to consolidate and extend his/her learning.

Supporting your child at home

The following links will take you various websites which will help to support your child's learning at home. All contain numerous resources for supporting your child in areas of the school curriculum. Individual log-in details can be found in the inside cover of your child's reading records. For further information about the curriculum please go to the Curriculum section of the school website.

Supporting your child at home

The following links will take you to various websites which will help to support your child's learning at home. All contain numerous resources for supporting your child in areas of the school curriculum. Individual log-in details can be found in the inside cover of your child's reading records. For further information about the curriculum please go to the Curriculum section of the school website.