What is peer pressure?
As part of our RSE learning, we talked about peer pressure and used our ever-improving dramatic skills. We discussed what peer pressure is, when it might happen, different ways it can happen and how we might deal with it.
In groups, we then acted out scenarios in which somebody is being put under pressure by their peers but in all sorts of different ways.
EU. Are you in or are you out?
We’ve had a heated couple of lessons over the last two days exploring the key issues that are central to the most topical question in Britain right now:
Should Britain remain in the European Union?
We started off by making sure we all knew what the EU was and what the referendum was all about before discussing five key issues: immigration, terrorism and security, jobs and employment, economy and the cost of being in the EU. In groups, we found out more about the remain and leave opinions on these matters and started developing our own opinions.
The following day, we decided which side we’d like to debate on (and interestingly had a 50:50 split) and prepared our group for a debate.
We’re all seasoned debaters now so we took to the stage like naturals to argue it out with our opposition and convince the audience to vote like us.
Then, having learnt about both sides ourselves and debated our hearts out, we gave our final vote.
History – toys
We are continuing to learn about the history of toys and how toys have changed over time. Today, we looked at how some toys have survived the test of time but that have still evolved in some way. Examples are dolls, teddy bears and toy cars. The children looked at pictures of these toys from the early 1900s – present day and ordered them using their historical knowledge.
Then, we looked at a painting entitled ‘Children’s Games’ which was painted by Pieter Bruegel in 1560. It shows over 80 games being played in a town square, some of which children still play today. The class really enjoyed searching for all the games being played using magnifying glasses.
Perhaps you could create the opportunity for your child to ask grandparents or older relatives about toys which they played with when they were young.
English – instructions
We are learning all about instructions. We have already learnt about the importance of instructions being in the correct order and being clear (just ask your child about what happened when we tried to make a jam sandwich with unclear instructions)!
Now we are beginning to think about writing our own instructions. Today, we looked at imperative verbs, or ‘bossy’ verbs. These are verbs which create an imperative sentence, i.e. a sentence that gives an order. We played a game which we called ‘bossy boots’ to help us to identify and use imperative verbs.
I gave the ‘boss’ a verb and they had to say it in a sentence to be bossy. We had some very bossy characters!
Pattern
This week the children have been given the opportunity to discover, explore and create patterns in a variety of ways.
In mathematics, pattern is concerned with the relationships between shapes and numbers. Being able to identify and create patterns is an important mathematical skill as number and calculating are built upon patterns, for example recognising sequences of numbers or the spots on a dice.
Rio Challenge
This week, we have launched skills drills Rio Challenge. Linked to the upcoming Rio Olympics, pupils can attempt a series of ten timed sports drills based around core skills from different Olympic events. These include hockey, gymnastics, rugby and athletics.
Children can be part of this online competition against their peers and other schools and we will be uploading times for the quickest drills.
The drills will be carried out in PE lessons and at lunchtime. You could even have a go at home.
Rio challenge drills are led by Sports Leaders at lunchtime.
Year 3 sound learning
This week, our mini topic has been hearing. We’ve been studying how sound is made and how we are able to hear it.
We put some oats onto a drum to help us observe the vibrations creating the sound. We also walked around school looking for sources of sound and identifying what might be vibrating.
Here are some quotes we wrote this morning about sound:
“This week, we have been learning that sound can travel through air (gas), water (liquid) and walls (solids).”
“We were also listening to some interesting sounds outside and around school.”
“When you speak, your vocal chords vibrate and these vibrations vibrate the air around them. This allows them to travel through the air to people’s ears.”
“If you hit a drum lightly the vibrations will be smaller and if you hit a drum harder the vibrations will be bigger. The bigger the vibration the louder the sound.”
Hockey
We’re learning the basics of hockey in PE this half term. This week, we’ve been learning how to hold the hockey stick. This has been a real challenge for most children!
The way that most children have found helpful is this:
Imagine you are on a bike and hold the imaginary handlebars. Next, turn your right fist upside-down. Now we are ready to hold the stick! The left fist goes at the top and the upside-down fist goes nearer the bottom.
Please make sure that your child has shorts for PE as children in long trousers are getting too hot.
Brownlee Foundation triathlon
Well done to some of our Year 3 and 4 pupils who were part of 950 children competing in the Brownlee Foundation triathlon at John Smeaton Leisure Centre. This event has been hosted in preparation for the World Triathlon Series held in Leeds this weekend. These children can be inspired to know that all three of the 2016 Mens Tri Olympic Team not only train in Leeds, but were born here too.
- ‘I really liked the triathlon because it makes you fit and it was really fun.’
- ‘I was really nervous at the start but I loved it. It was challenging.’
- ‘I really enjoyed it and I would like to do it again.’
- ‘It was great fun because it gave you chance to practise different sports.’
- ‘I loved it because of the excitement of it.’
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Rocket seeds
Our rocket seed experiment came to an end on the last Friday before half-term when we completed our final measurement. We’ve now submitted the results to the Principia mission and they’ll add what we found to the results of all the other schools taking place.
Having looked at the information we’ve gathered, which do you think are the seeds from space?
When all of the data has been collated, the agency will be in touch with us to let us know what they found out and finally tell us which seeds are which!