Welcome to Nightingales Class!
Welcome to Nightingales class and to year 3. I am really looking forward to welcoming the children into Year 3 and helping them begin their first part of their journey in Key Stage Two. I am very excited to work with the children again and I am sure they will have a fantastic year, just like they did in year 1!
Your teachers in Year 3 will be:
Miss Lunn and Miss Trimble
Autumn 2
Topic
This half term, we are investigating the question: Why do people choose to live in the places they do? We will be learning about life in the time of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. In History, we will be using timelines to understand when in time the Viking and Anglo-Saxons lived and will be learning about key events during this period. In Geography, we will understand why the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons moved to Britain and will also find out what kinds of houses they lived in and what sorts of people they were. We will act like real historians, using historical evidence to find this out. In Art, we will be focusing on weaving, an art form practised by the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons We will analyse finished weaving products and then will create our own design, before carrying out our own weaving to create a final piece.
English
We are continuing with our writing scheme The Write Stuff. We want the children to love writing, as it is an invaluable life skill so please ask your child about what they have written that day and practise writing with them at home. This half term we will be witing a historical legend, ‘Beowulf’ and are also writing a diary entry in the perspective of the character, Beowulf.
Reading 
Your child will still take part in 3 Little Wandle reading session each week, whereby they read in a small group, with a teacher listening to them read individually. Each week, there will be a session focusing on decoding (reading phonetically or reading fluently), reading using expression and then a comprehension session. Alongside this, we will carry out 3 ‘Ready, Steady Comprehension’ lessons, interactive whole class reading session, with the focus on developing comprehension.
Maths 
This half term we will be embedding our understanding of place value up to 1,000. Place value is a vital part of the maths curriculum and forms the basis for all other areas of understanding. We will also be developing our knowledge of Addition and Subtraction. We will continue to carry out ‘Basic Maths’ each morning on arriving at school (8.40am) and ‘Number Sense’ lessons on an afternoon, both to practise and develop mental arithmetic skills and consolidate any learning done in main maths lessons.
Homework
Homework will be set on a weekly basis each Friday and will be due in by Thursday.
· Reading – Reading will continue using the Little Wandle reading scheme. Your child will either be continuing to read a Little Wandle Phonics book, focusing on practising and consolidating their phonics skills or will be reading a Little Wandle Fluency book, where reading fluently is the main focus. Your child will be expected to read at least 3 times at home during each week. Reading daily would be desirable, to enable your child to develop their love of reading and giving them the chance to practise the skills they have learnt at school that day in reading sessions. Please listen to your child read and make a comment in their Reading Record so they teacher can see how they have read at home. The teacher will also write comments in their Reading Record and will record any words they need to focus on reading at home.
· Spelling – Homework linked to that week’s ‘Spelling Shed’ spelling rule will be given.
· Maths – this will be linked to that week’s learning.
· Topic – this will not be set each week and when it is set, the time frame will be given.
· Just a quick reminder that children are expected to complete and hand in their homework by Thursday each week.
Science 
This half term, the Science focus will be about plants. We will be understanding what plants need to grow and understanding the functions of different parts of plants. We will carry out investigations to find out what plants need to grow.
PE
Doves will have PE on a Wednesday (outdoor) and Thursday (indoor). We are asking Year 3 children to come to school in their PE kits for the full day. Please ensure your child has the appropriate PE kit, which is a white t-shirt with no buttons, black shorts or plain black tracksuit bottoms (outdoor only) and black pump/trainers. If they do not have this kit, children will be provided with kit from school.
Water Bottles
Water bottles are to be brought in daily, labelled with the child’s name on. It is important that your child is able to drink water throughout the day. They must be taken home to be washed after school and brought in the following day.
We would also ask that all children have a water bottle that they bring to school every day.
Should you wish to ask any further questions, please contact the school office who will direct your query to myself, and I will contact you.
Miss Lunn.
