In handwriting, we began learning our new Kinetic Letters scheme. We focused on the correct pencil grip and sitting position to help us develop strong handwriting habits. We explored the Jumper Family letters and practised forming them correctly by thinking about whether the letter starts at the Scared Monkey or the Brave Monkey, such as n, h and m. To help us remember the letter movements, we practised while lying like lizards on the carpet and kneeling like meerkats at our tables. This helped us build confidence and develop correct letter formation in a fun and engaging way.

This week, Year 3 took part in an exciting School Council election. The children worked hard to write and present their own manifestos, sharing their ideas about how they could make our school even better. They spoke confidently in front of their classmates, explaining why they would make a great School Council representative.

After listening carefully to each manifesto, the children cast their votes using our voting booths, just like in a real election! Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to take part in a democratic process and have their voice heard.

We are incredibly proud of all the children for showing confidence, respect and enthusiasm throughout the election process. Well done to our newly elected School Council members, and thank you to everyone who took part! 🎉🗳️💜❤️

Year 3 had a wonderful time during their science lesson this week as they explored the fascinating world of animals and their diets. The children learned that animals can be classified into three different groups based on the food they eat: herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

We began by discussing the meaning of each group and looking at examples of animals that belong to them. The children were excited to discover that:

• Herbivores eat only plants. Examples include cows, rabbits, giraffes, and horses.
• Carnivores eat other animals. Examples include lions, tigers, sharks, and eagles.
• Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Examples include bears, foxes, humans, and chickens.

The class enjoyed sharing their own knowledge about different animals and discussing what they thought each animal might eat.

This week, Year 3 enjoyed their first lesson using Scratch programming. We began by exploring the Scratch interface and learning about sprites, which are the characters and objects that we can programme.

The children learned how to add new sprites and delete existing sprites from their projects. Using the coding blocks bank, they then programmed their sprite with three simple commands: move, turn, and point in a direction. It was great to see the children experimenting with the different commands and watching their sprites come to life on the screen.

To finish the lesson, we explored the backdrop feature and learned how to add a background to our projects. The children enjoyed selecting different backdrops to create exciting scenes for their sprites.

It was a fantastic introduction to Scratch, and the children are already looking forward to building more programmes in future lessons.

Our Year 3 and 4 children have been developing their understanding of tens and ones using practical resources such as base ten blocks, counters and Numicon. These hands-on activities help pupils visualise place value, build numbers accurately and deepen their mathematical thinking. By exploring numbers in different ways, children are gaining confidence and strengthening the foundations needed for future learning in maths.

This week in PE, Year 3 became inventors, engineers and performers as we explored the exciting theme of machines through dance.

We began by discussing different types of machines and thinking about how they move. Using our creativity, we experimented with a range of actions to represent larger machines such as planes, cars and computers. The children thought carefully about how each machine operates and used their bodies to create movements that showed spinning propellers, rolling wheels and clicking keyboards.

Next, we focused on smaller household machines. Working individually and with partners, we developed actions to represent a toaster, a microwave and a washing machine. There were lots of fantastic ideas, from popping toast and spinning drums to beeping microwave buttons. The children showed excellent imagination and confidence as they explored different ways of moving.

To finish the lesson, we learnt a choreographed dance sequence performed to a count of 8. We combined sharp, controlled movements and transformed ourselves into our very own robots! The children worked hard to remember the sequence, move in time with the music and perform with energy and enthusiasm.

During our Art Day, we explored the work of the artists and illustrators Quentin Blake and Inbal Leitner. We looked at some of the books they have illustrated and discussed their different styles and the techniques they use to bring characters and stories to life.

Next, we learned about sculptures and completed a step by step tutorial on how to create animals out of dough. This helped us practise shaping, joining and adding details to our models.

We then looked at a range of existing monster sculptures and shared our opinions about them. We discussed what we liked about the sculptures and what we would change to improve them. This helped us think carefully about design choices and creative ideas.

Using what we had learned, we planned and designed our own unique monster. We drew our ideas and considered features such as colour, shape, texture and expression. Finally, we brought our designs to life by creating our monsters from colourful plasticine. We enjoyed using our imagination and developing our sculpting skills to make creative and original pieces of art.

In our DT lesson, we learned about healthy eating and the different food groups. We made healthy wraps that included foods from all the food groups, such as fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates, protein, dairy, and healthy fats.

Before preparing the food, we learned about good hygiene by washing our hands and keeping our work areas clean. We also practised using knives safely. When cutting foods, we used the bridge hold to keep our fingers safe and help us cut carefully. We learned the correct cutting techniques and how to handle kitchen equipment safely.

Making the wraps helped us develop our food preparation skills and understand how to create a balanced, healthy meal. We enjoyed making our wraps and learning about healthy choices.

As part of our History topic on World War II, Year 3 enjoyed an exciting and informative visit to Hangar 42 in Blackpool.

Throughout the day, we learned all about what life was like during the war. We discovered how evacuees were sent away from cities to stay safe in the countryside and found out about the challenges they faced being away from their families. We also learned about The Blitz and how people showed great courage during the bombing raids.

One of our favourite parts of the visit was learning about the important role of women during the war. We were amazed to discover the many different jobs women carried out to help support the war effort, both at home and on the front line.

We also had the chance to learn about Morse code and even tried sending messages ourselves. It was great fun and helped us understand how people communicated before modern technology.

The highlight of the day came at the end of the visit when two lucky children, who scored the highest in the quiz, won the opportunity to sit inside a real Spitfire aircraft! What an unforgettable experience and a very special reward for their excellent listening and learning throughout the day.

What an exciting and energetic time Year 3 had during our Glow in the Dark Dodgeball event! The hall was transformed into a neon wonderland as the children arrived ready for action, dressed in bright neon bibs and colourful sweatbands that glowed brilliantly under the lights.

The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement from the moment the games began. The children showed fantastic enthusiasm as they competed against one another in a series of fast-paced dodgeball matches. There were plenty of dodges, catches and throws, with everyone giving their best effort while having lots of fun.

As the neon colours lit up the hall, the children worked hard to encourage their teammates and demonstrated excellent sportsmanship throughout the event. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces, cheering each other on and celebrating both victories and great individual performances.

The glow-in-the-dark theme made the experience even more memorable, creating a unique and exciting environment that the children absolutely loved. The neon bibs and sweatbands added to the fun, helping everyone get into the spirit of the event.

Most importantly, the session encouraged the children to stay active, develop their teamwork skills and build their confidence while enjoying some friendly competition with their classmates.

A huge well done to all of Year 3 for their fantastic participation, positive attitudes and excellent behaviour. It was a glowing success, and we look forward to more fun sporting events in the future! 🌟🏐💚💛🩷💙

Year 3 enjoyed a fantastic outdoor learning session, exploring the natural world around them. The children took part in a scavenger hunt, searching for different flowers, smooth and rough surfaces, and a variety of animals. They showed great enthusiasm and curiosity as they investigated their surroundings.

The children then gathered natural resources from outside to create imaginative faces. Their designs were brilliant and incredibly creative, with some children using grass to make hair and adding colourful flowers for extra detail.

To finish the session, we learnt about the work of the artist Andy Goldsworthy and explored some of his nature-inspired artwork. Using natural materials, the children recreated some of his techniques, including stacking, balancing and layering objects. They worked thoughtfully and creatively, producing some wonderful pieces inspired by the natural world.

We were so impressed with the children's teamwork, creativity and enthusiasm throughout the day! 🌿🎨🍃

This week, Year 3 enjoyed learning about the famous Hindu story of Rama and Sita. The children listened carefully to the story and discussed the important messages and values that it teaches.

As part of our learning, we explored the Hindu beliefs of Dharma and Karma. We talked about how Dharma means doing the right thing and following your duty, even when it can be difficult. The children identified examples of Rama showing Dharma through his honesty, bravery and loyalty. We also discussed Karma, the belief that actions have consequences, and considered how the choices made by different characters affected what happened in the story.

The class shared some thoughtful ideas during our discussions, making links between the story and how we can make good choices in our own lives. It was wonderful to hear the children reflecting on kindness, responsibility and doing what is right.

To bring the story to life, the children worked collaboratively in groups to retell the story using finger puppets. They had great fun acting out key events and bringing the characters to life through their performances. The classroom was filled with enthusiasm, creativity and laughter as each group shared their version of the story.

During our Year 3 science lesson, we became young botanists and carefully dissected plants to explore their parts. We learned that petals attract insects with their colours and scents, while sepals protect the bud before it opens. Inside, we found the stamen, which makes pollen, and the stigma, which catches it during pollination. We also discovered the ovary, where seeds begin to grow. It was fascinating to see how each part has an important job. We enjoyed working like scientists and sharing what we found. The lesson helped us understand how plants grow and reproduce in nature.

During Health Week in Year 3, we had lots of fun designing our own football kits. We chose bright colours, cool patterns and added our names, just like real players. It was exciting to be creative while learning about staying active and healthy. We also discovered interesting facts about famous footballers Harry Kane and Bruno Fernandez. We learned about their training, teamwork and determination, which inspired us to try our best. Everyone enjoyed sharing their designs and ideas with friends. Health Week helped us understand how sport, exercise and creativity can work together to keep our bodies and minds strong.

🌟 Year 5 Take Over Day – A Brilliant Morning! 🌟

We had a wonderful experience during Take Over Day, when two fantastic Year 5 pupils took on the roles of teacher and teaching assistant in our Reading into Writing lesson.

Our Year 5 teacher confidently introduced a WAGOLL for a balanced argument, guiding the children to identify key features within the text. The class were fully engaged and showed great understanding as they picked out important elements together.

With great teamwork, the Year 5 teaching assistant supported throughout, helping the lesson run smoothly and ensuring everyone stayed on track.

The lesson continued with an engaging guided reading session focusing on prosody, using “Devon Cream Tea”. The “I say, you say” approach encouraged expressive reading, and the classroom was filled with enthusiastic voices.

It was a fabulous morning, and the children thoroughly enjoyed having them lead the class.

A huge thank you to our Year 5 teacher and teaching assistant—you were brilliant! 👏

In our second WWII lesson, we explored the question: Why were children evacuated, and what was the experience really like?

The children worked in pairs, each with a real evacuee memory. They spoke to others on their table to gather different experiences, then judged each one as positive (+1 to +3) or negative (-1 to -3), noting key details.

We discovered that evacuation experiences were very mixed—some children were happy and well cared for, while others felt scared or lonely. We ended by discussing the stories that shocked us most, helping the children build empathy and a deeper understanding of life during the war.

Year 3 have made a wonderful start to their new Science topic all about Plants. The lesson was full of curiosity, discussion, and hands-on thinking as the children explored how plants grow and survive.

To begin, we revisited what we had already learned in Key Stage 1. The children impressed us with how much they remembered, confidently explaining that plants need water, sunlight, nutrients, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and space to grow. It was fantastic to see them building on their prior knowledge and making connections to their new learning.

We then introduced the process of photosynthesis, helping the children understand how plants make their own food. They learned that plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create the energy they need to grow. This sparked lots of great questions and showed how engaged the class were in discovering more about the natural world.

The highlight of the lesson was planning our very own scientific investigation. The children worked together to design an experiment where we will change the type of liquid given to a plant and measure how it affects its growth over time. They carefully thought about how to make the test fair and discussed what they expected might happen.

After lots of discussion, the class made a prediction that the plant given water will grow the best, showing a clear understanding of what plants need to survive.

We are very excited to carry out our experiment and observe what happens over the coming weeks.

Year 3 made an exciting start to their new history topic this week, learning all about the events leading up to World War II. The lesson was full of curiosity, thoughtful discussion, and a great deal of engagement from the children.

To begin, we revisited the concept of chronological order. The children took part in a practical table activity where they worked together to organise events into the correct sequence. This helped to refresh their understanding of how historians place events in time and see how one moment can lead to another. It was fantastic to see such teamwork and careful thinking as they discussed and justified their choices.

Building on this, the class moved on to explore the key steps that led to the outbreak of World War II, focusing on the actions of Adolf Hitler. Through age-appropriate discussion and resources, the children began to understand how decisions and events over time can have significant consequences.

A particularly thought-provoking part of the lesson was when the class considered the idea of appeasement. Together, we explored the different viewpoints—looking at reasons why some people supported appeasement, as well as arguments against it. The children showed great maturity in sharing their opinions and listening respectfully to others, demonstrating excellent critical thinking skills.

It was a brilliant first lesson that sparked plenty of interest and questions. We are looking forward to continuing our journey through this important period in history and discovering even more together. Well done, Year 3, for your enthusiasm and fantastic effort!