7 Nov 2016

Yr3 Weekly Update – 11/11/16

Advancements in technology enable people to discover more about Earth’s place in the universe

Unit of Inquiry

As we approach the last week of our unit on space exploration, the children have begun work on their personal inquiries. They have chosen the technology that they are most interested in and inspired by. Over the next week they will use their research skills to write down facts which answer conceptual questions about what their technology looks like, why it is the way it is, why it has been invented, what discoveries it has already made and what possible discoveries it might make in the future. They will think about the impact this technology might have on their lives and on humankind as a whole.

Maths

The children have continued with a balance of problem solving and mental arithmetic. The focus has continued to be on multiplication – both the recall of multiplication facts as well as applying this knowledge in word problems. They are making the realization that multiplication can increase speed and decrease the effort of repeated addition. The children find the 1,2,5 and 10 times tables more familiar and easier than some of the others. To build their confidence we have begun with these and will continue to introduce and practice the remaining tables while giving them ample opportunities to show different equations using materials. This ensures that they understand the meaning behind the facts. It also helps them to see for example, that 3 X 4 is the same as 4 X 3 as the number of counters has not changed.

Some classes have made a link with telling the time and counting in fives. Other classes will make this connection next week.

Literacy

As the children learn about the features of an Information text, they are thinking about its purpose – the need to organize and describe facts. This kind of text uses technical vocabulary and a more formal style as it conveys information. Diagrams with labels may accompany it. The children have found skills such as writing an introduction, building a paragraph and writing a conclusion challenging. We have used examples of writing to break down the parts of the text to help them grasp this. Next week, they will continue to be supported as they organize the information they have researched using this writing genre.

Home learning to share with the children

Draw your child’s attention to where they might see groups of various numbers around them. They might notice them in nature or in manmade structures.

Ask them to share their findings through drawings, photographs or by writing them down.

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