Our topic this half term is all about animals including humans with a focus on nutrition and also movement. This week Year 3 have created their own human skeletons  to identify that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection and movement.

Year 3 found out more t about the different types of skeletons and sorted animals into either endoskeleton, exoskeleton  or hydrostatic  skeleton groups.  Ask Year 3 for further examples of animals that belong in each category

Year 3 created a collage of their interpretation of a human skeleton.

Did you know…

• The smallest bones are in the ear.
• Although your bones stop growing when you are around 20, they do constantly rebuild new bone cells.
• The spine is made up of 33 bones.
• If your body doesn’t have enough calcium, it will take it from your bones making your bones weaker. A good reason to drink your milk!

This half term our Science focus is on rocks. and this week Year 3 have been working on comparing and grouping together different kinds of rocks on the basis of their appearance and simple physical properties.

Year 3 have been working scientifically by first making their own predictions about which rock from chalk, slate, sandstone, marble or granite would be the hardest. Everyone’s prediction ranked the rocks from softest to hardest. Then each group needed to work collaboratively to decide how to carry out a fair test  before having a go and then making observations.

This week it has been Wellbeing Week at the Academy. Year 3 have been finding out more about how to stay safe when online. Year 3 have worked to find out more about the SMART rules for staying safe online.

S – Keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information when you’re chatting or posting online. Personal information includes your email address, phone number and password.

M – Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Only do so with your parents’ or carers’ permission and even then only when they can be present. Remember online friends are still strangers even if you have been talking to them for a long time.

A- Accepting emails, IM messages, or opening files, pictures or texts from people you don’t know or trust can lead to problems – they may contain viruses or nasty messages!

R- Someone online might lie about who they are and information on the internet may not be true. Always check information with other websites, books or someone who knows. If you like chatting online it’s best to only chat to your real world friends and family

T- Tell your parent, carer or a trusted adult if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, or if you or someone you know is being bullied online.

Have a look at our posters on display in our room or here.

Another focus Year 3 had this week has been on positive mental health. The week started by discussing what mental health is and the importance of positive mental health. Year 3 then explored different mindfulness techniques and evaluated which approach from square breathing, listening to sounds of nature or mindfulness colouring helped focus their minds.

It has been Into Faith Week across St. Clement’s with every class focusing their learning on a specific faith or religion. Year 3 have been learning all about Hinduism.

Before writing non- chronological reports, Year 3 had to read and research the necessary information and create their own plan with sub headings.

On Thursday morning Year 3 welcomed their parents to support their learning in an art lesson. After finding out more about the Hinduism creation story,  children worked to create their own images based on the animation.

Year 5 joined in the whole school celebration of Prince Harry’s and Meghan’s wedding on Saturday. We made bicuits fit for a royal wedding reception and decorated them with flags, crowns and good luck messages.

We also had challenges to complete on our home tables. Our first challenge was to design and make a wedding dress for our Meghan doll. Our second challenge was to design and build a bridge strong enough to carry our wedding car across the River Thames.

With only newspaper, lollipop sticks and sellotape, it was tricky but we did it.

In Year 5 we have been looking at forces and parachutes.  We had to plan an investigation to look at the effectiveness of parachutes.  Using the question;

What could we change to make parachutes different?

Different groups planned to change one variable only to keep the tests fair.  One group changed the size of their parachute, another group changed the material, another group change the thickness and another group used paper.  We timed how long each parachute took to fall to the ground and recorded the results. Then, we discussed them.

Year 3 have been talking during Circle Time over the last few weeks about transition and moving to Year 4. Year 3 were able to talk and share their feelings around this sometimes difficult time of the year. A range of feelings were shared from excited and happy to anxious, worried and scared.  We discussed and decided that it is ok to have these feelings and that if we do feel this way it is important to share with a trusted adult.

Year 3 then decided to help Year 2 with their transition as they knew they would be having similar feelings. Both classes got together and Year 3 were able to answer questions from Year 2. By working in smaller groups, everyone got a chance to ask their own questions. By the end of the session everyone in Year 2 was feeling a lot happier about their move into Year 3.