Prep | Year 3 News
Unit of Inquiry
To finish off this semester, Year 3 begun their unit ‘How the World Works’. This unit looks into a variety of natural phenomena that occur, including natural disasters, the earth’s rotation, and the four seasons. Students will learn the difference between ‘natural processes, natural disasters, and natural phenomena. They will learn all about our world through the concepts of form (what it’s like), change (how is it changing?) and, causation (why is it like this?). Boys are encouraged to track the moon phases over the month as a learning engagement at home. This learning engagement can be found on Seesaw in the ‘activities’ section.
ENGLISH
Boys have continued with informative texts, focusing on information reports and procedures. They have used their research skills to find information on topics that interest them to write their own information reports. This includes learning about parts of the brain, heart, central nervous system, and even the digestive system.
When we return in Term 3, we will dive back into persuasive writing. This is a time where boys will enhance their previously learnt skills. Can they convince you that children should be given pocket money, or whether online gaming should be banned for children under 12?
MATHS
During this term the boys have shown great resilience in their learning of new multiplication and division strategies. Division can be a hard concept to grasp but the boys have covered it well. A popular strategy amongst the Year 3 cohort is using the inverse relationship between multiplication and division to solve problems. Boys should be able to confidently tell you the difference between multiplication and division and show you a range of strategies. There has been an emphasis on the importance of explaining how and why they got to an answer. This mathematical reasoning is key in having a true understanding of mathematical concepts.
In Term 3 we will begin looking at probability and chance. A fun strand of maths that allows the boys to explore chance through their own experiments. Boys will learn the difference between chance and probability and communicate this using the following language: chance, event, possible, impossible, likely, unlikely, less likely, more likely, most likely, least likely, equally likely, experiment, and outcome.
STEAM
During “Who We Are” in STEAM Year 3, spent time working on their self-management skills to design their own Sphero game. The boys had two weeks to begin their own inquiries into how they could use the Sphero robots to make a game. Collaborating and working as a team, the focus of these learning experiences was for the boys to form their own groups, learn how to use the robots, develop a play space and plan a game.
Additionally, Year 3 are starting to explore Scratch and how to use coding to link into their class unit of inquiry of “How The World Works”. We have started this link by developing a code that looks at the Eearth’s rotation and how the sun and moon revolve around the Earth. We look forward to continuing this inquiry next term.
PDHPE
The boys have continued to participate in PDHPE lessons with vigour, enthusiasm and tenacity. Each boy has been challenged to be responsible for his own increased levels of fitness and coordination. During these last weeks of term, PDHPE lessons have linked in with the Who We Are ongoing UOI, specifically focussing on the relationship between our bodies, health and wellbeing.
It has been a good opportunity to focus on the interrelationship between mind, body, spirit and how they can relate as well as be developed through physical activity.
The Prep School is preparing for the Jump Rope for Heart challenge next term and the boys have spent time each lesson honing their skills in readiness for next term.
Music
In classroom music, Year 3 have been learning their Stand Alone Unit of Instruments of the Orchestra, where students have inquired into the understanding of the makeup of the instruments of the orchestra with a few orchestral focus pieces. When inquiring into the orchestra, Year 3 focussed on various components including the instrumental group families, the instruments that belong within them, the tone colour and sound quality of the instruments, diagram of instruments with its parts as well as what material the instruments are made of. The focus pieces that we have been working on include ‘Ode to Joy’ – where we have played the melody and harmony parts interchangeably on the xylophones, working on ensemble and social skills to get 2 students to play two different parts at once, making sure they maintain their own part strongly and then swapping over, and reordering their playing for their canvas assessment. We also focussed on ‘Peter and the Wolf’ exploring the story, the instruments that represent the different characters, and how these recurring themes are prominent – e.g. why is the bird represented by the flute? Why is it high pitched? What dynamics are used?
Visual Arts
For students and families interested in visiting some art exhibitions during the holidays, here are a few ideas to get you started:
Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at the Art Gallery of New South Wales runs from 14th May – 28th August. The Archibald Prize for portrait painting is the country’s favourite and most significant art award. The Wynne Prize is awarded to the best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture, while the Sulman Prize is given to the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project in oil, acrylic, watercolour or mixed media. There are a number of drop in and bookings required workshops. Special mention to Austin in KL whose artwork ‘I Become Batman’ is currently on show in the Young Archie competition – congratulations Austin!
Other Possible Worlds: Contemporary Art from Thailand runs at Delmar Gallery from 25th June – 31st July, Wed – Sun, 12noon – 5pm. Other Possible Worlds presents 12 young and mid-career Thai artists enthusiastically engaged in the debates around Thailand’s present and future. The exhibition includes painting, sculpture, photography, installation, neon, video, embroidery, prints and works on paper. Information about a range of workshops, talks and discussions can be found here.
Our Journeys, Our Stories runs from 30th April – 24th July at Hurstville Museum and Gallery. The exhibition explores the Chinese migration history of the Georges River area. Interweaving social and cultural history with the work of contemporary Chinese-Australian artists Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen, Guo Jian, Lindy Lee, Xiao Lu, Jason Phu, and Guan Wei. Information about guided tours and drawing workshops with artist Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen held in July can be found at the above link.
