Thursday 14th May – Home Learning
Just to let you know, it’s Thursday! All the days seem to be rolling into one, don’t they? I hope the home learning continues to go well.
Just a quick reminder…if you could send me picture of your child with a piece of their home learning to t.prior@southill.dorset.sch.uk then I will make sure that it makes an appearance in the ‘end of the week’ class video. It would be great if we could see as many year three faces as possible!
In addition, thank you to those who emailed me back yesterday. Remember, it is essential to ‘check-in’ during the week so please email me to let me know that you are ok. See it as us simply taking the register.
Apart from that, have an amazing day,
Mr. Prior ?
Spellings
Here are this week’s spellings, ready for tomorrow:
certain
circle
complete
consider
continue
Challenge- find out what the spellings mean using a dictionary and try to use the words in your own brilliant sentence.
Reading
Please ensure your children reads daily for at least fifteen minutes. A combination of them reading independently, out loud to an adult and letting them listen to the story being told by the adult is advisable. Simply record any reading in your child’s reading record book. Remember to also quiz your books.
IMPORTANT REMINDER- we are still monitoring book quizzes on Star Reader so please ensure your child is still doing them. Children are more likely to do well on quizzes if they are able to quiz the book straight after reading it. Parents- you are also more than welcome to read the question out loud for your child if it helps them.
Challenge- As you have already written a film review, why not have a go at a book review as well? Think about how you are going to introduce your review and how you are going to structure it using subtitles.
Writing Task- A Letter to Teacher
Today we are going to explore letter writing. We haven’t done this before, however I know you will smash it. Before I explain this task, please read the letter below:
I would like you to write a letter in response to mine. Think about:
- How you are going to structure your letter (feel free to use mine as a guide).
- What fun things have you been up to since being at home?
- Is there a particular piece of home learning you’re really proud of?
- What has been the best thing about being at home?
- What questions would you like to ask me?
Remember to also write in the first person and, mostly, in the past tense. It would also be great if you could use impressive vocabulary and even a simile if you can!
Don’t forget the date, start with Dear Mr Prior, and write your first sentences under the comma. Remember to produce your neatest handwriting as you have the rest of the week to write this. Top tip- draft out your letter first, proof-read it, improve it and then write it into your exercise books.
I look forward to reading your letter!
Yours sincerely
Mr. Prior 🙂
P.S- If you have finished your letter, then why not write another letter to a friend? Maybe Mum or Dad can then send a picture of it to then and they can write back?
Arithmetic Task- Stairway to Success
IT’S BACK! The Stairway to Success! Mental arithmetic questions are below. If you get the answer right, you move up the stairs. Simple!
Below are a number of mental arithmetic questions you are more than welcome to use…
a) 6 x 6 = 36
b) What digit is in the tens column in the number 432 = 3
c) which number is bigger – 234 or 245 = 245
d) What is 20 – 7? = 13
e) What do we call a shape that has 5 sides? = pentagon
f) How many angles does a hexagon have? = 6
g) What do we call an angle that is bigger is exactly 90°? = right angle
h) How many legs do 3 cows have altogether? = 12 legs
I) How many cm’s are there in 1 metre? = 100cm
J) How many grams are there in 2kg? = 2000 grams
K) What is 10 x 8? = 80
L) Add together 200 and 700 = 900
M) What is half of 26? = 13
N) How many degrees are there in a full turn? = 360°
Maths No Problem Task- Comparing Angles
First of all, here are the answers to the questions from yesterday (page 149-150).
Feel free to watch this video again to remind you of important information about angles. Remember, maths is about repetition in order to help children retain information.
Recap- After watching the video, again, try to clarify some of the key points. You could even ask them what can they remember! Maths is about repetition in order to help children retain information. 🙂
-Angles are where two straight lines meet at a point (vertex if you want to be fancy).
-Angles are measured in degrees using a small circle (90°)
-A small angle (below 90°) is called acute – Awww its so cute!!!
-An angle between 90° and 180° is called obtuse – as the video says ‘this angles kinda fat it’s got a big caboose!’
-An angle that is exactly 90° is called a right angle- Show children what this is and see if they can spot any right angles around the room (pictures, mirrors, televisions etc.).
In Focus task (page 206)- To begin this lesson, show pupils the In Focus task (cover up Let’s Learn). Ask them to find all the angles they can in the letters, paying special attention to the question which asks them to find angles larger than a right angle. Tell them they will have to look very closely.
Let’s Learn (page 206)- Take a look at the letters in England together. Notice that there are obtuse angles in the letter A. Children may have found more. Recap what an obtuse angle is (an angle bigger than 90° and smaller than 180°.
Guided Practice (pages 207-208 )- in the Guided Practise, they will need to draw an obtuse angle and then identify whether angles are larger or smaller than a right angle. They will be naming all the angles they have learned, followed by finding angles on a clock face and in letters.
Workbook (pages 151-154)- Children to have a go at the problems set out in the work book. Again, ensure children read the questions carefully. Be really picky with spelling (all three angles are spelt for them in the question). Children may want to use their right angle measurer in order to determine whether the angle is an acute, right or obtuse angle.
I will post the answers to these problems on Friday
Topic-based task – Stone Henge and Casting Shadows
Stonehenge is an ancient circle of huge stone slabs and smaller bluestones. Dating from around 2800BC, Stonehenge is older than the pyramids! How Stonehenge was built is still a bit of a mystery. It’s accepted that Neolithic people could of dragged the 4-ton bluestones using tree trunks and ropes, but why they quarried them hundreds of miles away in Wales is unknown. The transportation of these bluestones took many years. Later on, the giant stones were put into place and it’s these which form the monument we see today.
Another mystery surrounding Stonehenge is what it was used for. The likely explanation is that it was a ceremonial place and a site of large gatherings and feasts. It’s almost certainly something to do with the changing seasons as its stones line up precisely with the sunrise and sunset for the solstices.
Task- your task this week is to build Stone Henge using whatever materials you can find. You could make your model out of…
Actual Stones
Jenga bricks
Lego
Toilet roll tubes/cardboard
Weetabix!
Clay
Biscuits
Playdough
That’s not all…by the end of Year 3, children need to understand that:
- they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light
- shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by a solid object
- the size of shadows can change depending on where the light source is shining from
Once your monument is built, turn out the lights and, using a torch, explore the shadows created by your mini-Stone Henge. Discuss the shadows formed and children can then write about what they have learnt about both Stone Henge and shadows to accompany the model.
I hope that they find this fun. If you find that this will take longer than a week, please let me know as I can extend this task into next week as well. I would love to see your finished projects!
Other Fun Ideas and Activities
Keen to do more? Not ready to call it a day? Then why not give some of the activities below a go (who knows, you might enjoy it)…
Science Experiments- Rummage around in the cupboards and you may like to have a go at some of these wicked science experiments! Make a massive marshmallow, create a bouncing egg, make pepper swim (link to the importance of washing hands) create a tornado in a glass, create dragon eggs, make your own slime, make a hovercraft balloon or even a skittles rainbow.
Get the children making predictions as to what may happen, draw labelled diagrams and then carry out the experiment. What did you learn from the experiment? Write a little conclusion to show what you have found out.
Want to know how to do these experiments? Visit some of the websites listed below…
https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/blog/easy-cool-science-experiments-for-kids
https://sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html
https://mashable.com/article/science-experiments-for-kids/?europe=true
JOKE BOOK- Did you enjoy video from a few weeks age? If you haven’t seen Jester Prior delivering his all-time favourite jokes yet, then visit the Year 3 news page. Why not create your very own joke book? You could create a title page and note down some of the funniest jokes you can think of. I’m sure your parents could do with a laugh! ?
Audible- a great app which you can download and contains many free books (great to listen to before bedtime).
Prior’s Top Audible Picks – Kid Normal by Radio DJ Greg James (and Chris Smith).
-Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney
-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
-The Gift of Dark Hollow (the sequel to Podkin One-Ear) by Kieran Larwood
– Slime by David Walliams
Alternatively, if you’re a real keen Walliams fan, he is currently releasing a lot of chapters of his books for free! This includes an audio story from The World’s Worst Children every day for the next 30 days! Check out this link- https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses-catch-up/
Sumdog- Online maths and literacy questions delivered through entertaining games. Simply create a login totally free of charge, create an avatar and let your children explore and play. Mr Prior’s favourite game…JUNK PILE! It’s addictive- be warned. Parents- you can also set certain questions on there for your children to focus on. Any questions, please email me.
Maths Factor- KEEN FOR EVEN MORE MATHS? Carol Vordeman has made her website free during this strange time…feel free to login and check out some of the activities- https://www.themathsfactor.com/
ICT- Fancy becoming quicker at typing and brushing up on your fine motor skills? Why not have a go at BBC Dance Mat Typing…Dancing for your fingertips…you know the drill…follow the link- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zf2f9j6/articles/z3c6tfr
French- Bonjour! This week, can you find out how to say parts of the body in French, such as:
head
legs
arms
hands
nose
eyes
feet
Lexia- If you have a Lexia account, please feel free to login and try to do it for at least 15 minutes.
The Daily Mile- If you have a garden big enough (or a quiet field nearby) why not head out for the Daily Mile? 15 minutes…how many laps can you do?
PE- Join in…You know you want to!