Dear 3 / 4 Community,

Welcome to another exciting edition of our Grade 3/4 newsletter! It has been a busy and rewarding fortnight filled with rich learning experiences across all curriculum areas.

As always, thank you for your continued support. We appreciate the important role you play in your child’s learning and value the strong partnership we share between home and school.

Maths

Over the past fortnight, students have been developing their understanding of fractions, decimals and 3D shapes. The 3/4s began by comparing fractions and decimals and exploring how fractions such as tenths and hundredths can be represented as decimals. Students used visual models, number lines and fraction art to help make connections between the two forms of numbers.

We have now moved into 2D and 3D shapes, where students are learning to identify and describe the features of different shapes and objects. We have explored prisms, pyramids, cones, cylinders and spheres, using mathematical language such as faces, edges and vertices. Students have also begun investigating nets and how a flat 2D pattern can be folded to create a 3D object.

Writing

In Writing last week, we had been exploring the world of poetry through haiku. Students have learned about the special 5–7–5 syllable structure of a haiku and have been practising counting syllables and choosing words carefully. We have focused on using descriptive and sensory language to create a clear picture in the reader’s mind. Students then planned and wrote their own haiku poems about an animal or nature, before editing and illustrating their finished work.

This has been a great opportunity for students to see how a small number of carefully chosen words can create a strong image and feeling for the reader.

This week in Writing, students are becoming picture storybook authors! We are exploring what makes a great picture book, looking closely at characters, settings, problems, solutions, illustrations and descriptive language. Students will plan and draft their own narratives, experimenting with rhyme and rhythm to make their stories engaging and enjoyable to read. They will then begin organising their stories into pages, carefully considering how their words and illustrations work together to tell the story. By the end of the unit, students will have created their own picture storybooks to share and celebrate at our Week 9 Inquiry Expo!

Reading

Over the past fortnight, we have been exploring rhyme and rhythm in stories. Students have been listening carefully to the words authors choose and noticing how rhyming words and rhythm can make stories more enjoyable, memorable and engaging to read aloud. We have particularly enjoyed exploring stories by Julia Donaldson, including The Gruffalo and Stick Man.

Students have also had the opportunity to choose their own rhyming texts through Get Epic and become “rhyme detectives”, finding rhyming words and thinking about how these choices affect the way a story sounds.

Digital Technologies

This fortnight in Digital Technologies, students will continue developing their coding skills using Scratch. They will create their own Scratch project to showcase what they have learnt, while practising persistence and problem-solving as they learn new coding skills. Students will also work with a partner, practising kindness, cooperation and sharing ideas as they develop and improve their projects.

Wellbeing

Over the next two weeks in Wellbeing, students will focus on making positive choices that help everyone feel safe, respected and ready to learn. In Week 8, we will explore how our choices and behaviours can either support or disrupt learning, working together to increase our class’s effective learning time.

In Week 9, we will build on our SWPBS value of Be Kind, focusing on using respectful words and showing good sportsmanship when playing games and participating in sport.

Happenings During the Weeks!

What a jam-packed Week 7 we had celebrating Book Week! Students had a wonderful time at our Authors Restaurant, where they had the opportunity to sample and explore different genres of books. We were also very lucky to have our Authors Visit, along with an exciting visit from the Lego Masters team! There was certainly plenty of reading, creativity and inspiration throughout the week.

Thursday took us out of the classroom and into Scienceworks, where students explored all things forces and functions, making wonderful connections to our Inquiry learning. It was a fantastic day of hands-on learning and discovery!

Lastly, we would like to thank you for your continued support at home. We truly appreciate the partnership we share with our families and look forward to the last fun filled weeks of term 3!

Have a wonderful rest of the week.

Kindest wishes,
The 3/4 Team