Today in 3V we've been getting into the festive spirit by making and decorating some sparkly salt dough Christmas decorations, and taking a seasonal origami challenge...
Christmas Jumper Day!
Today at Swan Lane the children swapped their normal blue school jumpers for some festive finery in aid of the Save the Children Charity Christmas Jumper Day. The classroom was a riot of colour, with some of the jumpers even having flashing lights!
The children enjoyed wearing something exciting to school, and we raised lots of money for a very good cause too!
The Snow Queen
Today, all the children enjoyed a visit from Clive Chandler who gave a puppet show performance of The Snow Queen. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the show!
A Taste of Diwali
Today in Year 3, we continued our exploration of the Hindu faith by looking at some of the ways in which Hindus celebrate Diwali. We thought about how Hindus feel at Diwali time, when they have an opportunity to spend time with loved ones and decorate their homes with special decorations such as Rangoli patterns and diva lamps.
We began by making coloured Rangoli designs, taking inspiration from some examples shown on the board. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to sample some different Indian foods which might be enjoyed at a Diwali feast. Some of the children had tried Indian food before, but for many this was a brand new experience. The children demonstrated super table manners and were really enthusiastic about trying something new.
Literacy Work - w/b Monday 29th November 2021
Literacy Work w/b Monday 29th November 2021
For our literacy work over the next two weeks, we will be continuing our work on 'The Firework Maker's Daughter' by Philip Pullman.
In our reading lessons, we will be focusing on the use of figurative language, including onomatopoeia and personification, and how it can be used to enhance description.
At the end of the two week period, we will be writing an additional chapter for the book, and this will be the focus of the writing element of our literacy lessons. We will be looking at how a narrative piece is structured, and how to develop ideas through carefully chosen description.
Our ‘missing chapter’ will tell the (imagined) back story of the character, Razvani. You can watch an excerpt from the story, featuring Razvani, here.
In order to support your child at home, you could:
1. Practise using our word of the week, thunderous.
2. Try to imagine how Razvani came to live in Mount Merapi. Could he have been tricked and trapped by another Fire Fiend? Perhaps he tried to steal the Royal Sulphur and is imprisoned in the volcano as a punishment?
Any work that is completed at home can be used to support your child's work in school.
Many thanks,
Mrs Vaqueiro
Literacy Work - w/b 15th November 2021
For our literacy work over the next few weeks, we will be studying 'The Firework Maker's Daughter' by Philip Pullman.
You can listen to an audiobook version of the first chapter here.
This week, we will be focusing on reading comprehension skills - using the context of an unknown word to try and glean its meaning. We will also be practising using dictionaries again to check the meanings of unknown words. We will also look at some of the ways authors like Philip Pullman use figurative language to make their writing more exciting and engaging for the reader, and we will practise using some of these devices in our own writing to describe a firework display.
To help your child at home, you could:
1. Discuss the word of the week, illuminating, and try to use it in a sentence;
2. Practise using a dictionary to look up words. Focus on the first and second letters of the word to work out where to find it in the dictionary.
3. Think about the colours, shapes and sounds that fireworks make. How could we describe them?
Any work that is completed at home can be used to support your child's work in school.
Many thanks,
Mrs Vaqueiro
Hinduism Workshop
This morning, the children in Year 3 took part in a wonderful Hinduism workshop. We welcomed Indriya and Krishna from the Hinduism Education Service, who shared lots of exciting stories and activities with the children. The children were able to explore different artefacts, dress in traditional Indian costumes, and take part in drama and role play activities relating to the story of Rama and Sita and the Hindu festival of Diwali, which is the focus of our RE lessons this half term. Indriya and Krishna taught the children a traditional dance called the dandiya rasa, which included ceremonial sticks, and they shared some meditation and devotional chanting (kirtan) with the children.
The children's behaviour was exemplary and they thoroughly enjoyed their morning. It was great to see such enthusiasm for all the different activities, which really brought their learning to life.
We thank Indriya and Krishna for providing us with such an interesting and worthwhile morning's activities.