Year 3/4 Spring Term 2010 Newsletter

Welcome back!  We hope you had a happy and enjoyable break.  Our topic this term is entitled:

Africa

This is a Geography-based topic where the children will be learning about Africa including:

• Map work
• Understanding Africa's current issues
• African animals.

In our classes, we will be reading a range of fiction and non-fiction texts. The children will create their own non-fiction books as part of our first unit! Other writing opportunities will include: writing a newspaper report, a diary of a zookeeper, letter writing and poetry.

The children will also be learning about:

 Literacy:

• Further developing comprehension skills when reading fiction &
• non-fiction.
• Writing and performing drama and poetry.
• Editing and improving work.
• Developing writing rules e.g. paragraphs, sentence structure and
• vocabulary choices.
• Spelling (Consolidating long vowel sounds, rules and conventions.)                                            

 Maths

We will be developing our mental and written calculations in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. This will include the use of number lines and other methods. As part of our approach to problem-solving this term, group-work and discussion will support children's ability to use mathematical vocabulary.

We will also be looking at:

•·         2-D and 3-D shapes;

•·         suggesting suitable units of measure and equipment to measure length;

•·         making estimations;

•·         solving money and real life problems;

•·         recognising simple fractions;

•·         developing our knowledge and understanding of data handling. 

Science

Our Science topics this term are 'Eating and Teeth' and 'Conducting Circuits'.

ICT

The children will be using a simulation program, Granny's Garden, which will help them with their problem solving skills and reading. In the second part of the term we will be looking into making a database and the skills needed for this.

Design and Technology

The children will be designing and making sandwiches, thinking about healthy eating and the digestive system. This will be linked to their Science topic.

Art

The children will be looking at tessellating shapes and producing Art work using this skill. This topic will have a cross-curricular link with Maths.

 R.E/ PSHCE

The children will be looking at the Christian faith with the topic heading 'What do we know about Jesus?' This will link into the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it.  We will also be considering the charities that support people in Africa and the reasons for this.

 P.E.

Topics for this term are:

•·         Gymnastics

•·         Dance

•·         African Dance

•·         Basketball

Please ensure that your children have their P.E. kit in school everyday, including outdoor kit and shoes suitable for the adventure trail.  If your child wears earrings you will need to sign a permission slip for them to wear them during P.E.

Other matters

Reading logs will be checked every Tuesday so please ensure your child has read and commented by this day. Like last term homework will be a series of mini projects. Please encourage your child to do their homework when we send it home.  If the homework is not handed in on the set date, children will be kept in at break time to do the required work. If you wish to talk to your child's teacher, please do not hesitate to come and see us.

Children will continue to learn Spanish as part of their curriculum this year.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

 Rebecca Slayford  Laura Brown                   Rachel White            Jane Newell

Class teacher              Class teacher                 Teaching assistant          Teaching Assistant