Year 3
Year 3 Teachers - Mr Taylor & Miss Smith
LSA's Miss Kautz, Ms Marston and Miss O'Brien
PPA Teachers Mrs Driscoll and Mrs Nyiri
Year 3 News - January
Our theme this term has been Dragons and together we have studied the stories of Mary Anning, St George and the Dragon, and the brilliant Philip Ridley book, Krindlekrax. The classes have also been enjoying a regular afternoon of dance and music each Thursday. Whilst the younger, fitter Miss Smith has been teaching the children the basics of Zumba dancing, Mr Taylor has been helping the children to explore the Pentatonic or Dragon Musical Scale. Later this term, Geologists from the University of Bristol will be joining 3T for a whole afternoon's workshop on the science of Rocks & Soils. 3S's workshop will be in the first week of Term 4. For more information on this term's activities, check out the lastest Newletter on the letters' page.
Anti-Bullying Week kicks off with a Real Drama!
Actors from Unique Voice Drama Group joined children from Year 3 to think about the forms and effects of bullying. After a captivating performance in which 4 performers from the group played out a story set in a primary school, both classes set to work unpicking what they had witnessed. We learnt that bullying comes in 4 main forms: emotional, physical, racial and cyber. The impact of the group's performance was very apparent as the responses that both classes gave, through their own mini dramas, songs and answers, were insightful and mature. We learnt about the three Rs: Recognise, Report & Resolve; and chose two ambassadors from each class to monitor the Three Rs Machine (see picture) which children will be using to log their feelings and experiences. We look forward to finding out more about dealing with bullying next week when our classes will be reading the Angel of Nitshill Road, by Anne Fine. 15/11/12
The Celts come to Cheddar Grove School Field!
This afternoon, both Year 3 classes gathered their buckets and spades alongside armfuls of cardboard boxes to recreate a mini Iron Age Hillfort on the school field. The Scouts' beach volleyball court doubled up as our tribal base and working in shifts teams cut defence dtiches, laid pallisade fencing and erected roundhouses. By the time it was complete, both classes had learnt a great deal about the difficulties of building such a hillfort but spontaneously began to layout new, smaller forts alongside! The hurdles woven from willow at Folly Farm came into their own to create strong yet attractive outer fences. With luck, any advancing Roman legions will think twice about mounting an attack when they see it! 16/10/12
If you'd like to visit a real Iron Age Hillfort there are several to be found locally. All are worth a look!
1) Old Sodbury Camp - next to the A46, access by two public footpaths.
2) Dolebury Warren iron age hill fort - just off the A38 beyond Churchill.
3) Stokeleigh Camp hill fort - part of Leigh Woods to the west of the Suspension Bridge.
If you'd like more details, contact Mr Taylor who can give you more detailed directions.
If you'd like to visit a real Iron Age Hillfort there are several to be found locally. All are worth a look!
1) Old Sodbury Camp - next to the A46, access by two public footpaths.
2) Dolebury Warren iron age hill fort - just off the A38 beyond Churchill.
3) Stokeleigh Camp hill fort - part of Leigh Woods to the west of the Suspension Bridge.
If you'd like more details, contact Mr Taylor who can give you more detailed directions.
Gymnastics Morning at Bedminster Down School
Last Friday Class 3T were lucky enough to be invited to join children from Parsons Street and St Peter's Primary Schools to participate in a morning of gymnastic activities. Debbie and Claire from BDS showed the children different ways to use their bodies gymnastically focussing particularly on sequences and developing core strength. After almost an hour an a half or tea cups, skydiving, crawling soldiers, saucers, angry cats, crabs and side balances, everyone was exhausted but thoroughly inpsired! Throughout, the children from Cheddar Grove stood out in terms of their listening, gymnastic abilities and awareness of those around them. It was a great pleasure to take part and we are looking forward to putting the ideas we have learnt into action during out next PE lessons. 13/10/12
Christmas Shoe Box Appeal 2012
This year Year 3 children have been asked to support this very worthwhile appeal by donating rulers, rubbers and sharpeners. These items will be parcelled up alongside donations from other year groups and passed on to the Trussell Trust. Items need to be sent in by 17th November 2012 in time to be distributed this Christmas. Many thanks for your support; it is much appreciated. 11/10/12
Year 3 Trip to Folly Farm Nr Pensford
Both Year 3 classes spent a fantastic day down at Folly Farm learning about the Celtic way of life.
As we arrived, we were met by Alana, a woman from Celtic times, who marvelled at the strange chariot (coach!) that we had arrived in. Soon all 60 of us had been led to her camp where we sat around a fire and learnt a little about the differences in the way they lived compared with our lifestyles. Next we took a walk in the woods to discover the treasures on offer: hazelnuts, sloes, rosehips and blackberries were all to be found and we collected a few natural items for weaving later on.
Then the classes split into three groups and our group was taken by a young Celt, Molloch, to help him build the walls of his round house. We got very muddy daubing onto the wattles and it took a lot of wiping of hands in the grass to get them clean. After this activity, we all had a go at making felt. Fortunately, this involved rubbing soap and hot water into layers of wool and then rolling and beating them on the work table. Not only did this make a much tighter felt, it also got the remains of Molloch's sticky daub off our fingers!
After lunch when a third Celt, Canny, told us a traditional tale, we set to work building mini hurdles. These were made from hazel sticks woven with lengths of willow. Everyone who tried this made an excellent job! Our final activity for the day involved weaving the treasures we had collected earlier on into a hazel and wool lattice. The finished items were very attractive indeed.
When our chariot finally arrived to take us back to 'our world', many children didn't want to leave. It had been a fascinating trip with so much to see, learn about and do. 30/9/2012
As we arrived, we were met by Alana, a woman from Celtic times, who marvelled at the strange chariot (coach!) that we had arrived in. Soon all 60 of us had been led to her camp where we sat around a fire and learnt a little about the differences in the way they lived compared with our lifestyles. Next we took a walk in the woods to discover the treasures on offer: hazelnuts, sloes, rosehips and blackberries were all to be found and we collected a few natural items for weaving later on.
Then the classes split into three groups and our group was taken by a young Celt, Molloch, to help him build the walls of his round house. We got very muddy daubing onto the wattles and it took a lot of wiping of hands in the grass to get them clean. After this activity, we all had a go at making felt. Fortunately, this involved rubbing soap and hot water into layers of wool and then rolling and beating them on the work table. Not only did this make a much tighter felt, it also got the remains of Molloch's sticky daub off our fingers!
After lunch when a third Celt, Canny, told us a traditional tale, we set to work building mini hurdles. These were made from hazel sticks woven with lengths of willow. Everyone who tried this made an excellent job! Our final activity for the day involved weaving the treasures we had collected earlier on into a hazel and wool lattice. The finished items were very attractive indeed.
When our chariot finally arrived to take us back to 'our world', many children didn't want to leave. It had been a fascinating trip with so much to see, learn about and do. 30/9/2012
We are really excited to have the children back- they have returned eager to get on and are ready to learn. We have been impressed to hear about all the learning the children have engaged in over summer and we are pleased to hear of their love for books. In Year 3 children will choose their own books from the appropriate level or stage with guidance from their teacher and LSA. They will change their books as regularly as possible and so we would really appreciate lots of encouragement from families and friends, particularly with comprehension skills. For example, you could talk about what might happen next, why certain things have been said or done by characters (inference skills) and how the author has developed settings or created mood. The children will be tested regularly in class to see if they can move up through the book levels.
Our main topic this term will be the Celts. This is a really dynamic topic that captures the children's attention and links well with many curriculum areas other than History. During the fourth week of this term we intend to take both year Three classes to visit Folly Farm near Pensford where they will experience a Celtic-themed day. Children will be able to learn the ancient skills of weaving, felt making and roundhouse building. You will shortly receive a letter giving further details.
Every week children will be given spellings, and times tables when appropriate. Please help them to learn these in preparation for a test on Fridays. There will also be regular Literacy, Maths or Topic homework. This will generally be set on a Friday and should be handed in by the following Thursday.
PE and games are taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please make sure your son or daughter has the correct kit ready. They should also make sure that they bring a drinking bottle with a sport-style cap.
There are some very useful web sites that you can visit in order to support your child’s learning:
www.bbc.co.uk\schools - a great site for both parents and children.
www.mathszone.co.uk -full of maths fun!
PE and games are taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please make sure your son or daughter has the correct kit ready. They should also make sure that they bring a drinking bottle with a sport-style cap.
There are some very useful web sites that you can visit in order to support your child’s learning:
www.bbc.co.uk\schools - a great site for both parents and children.
www.mathszone.co.uk -full of maths fun!