First Holy Communion

On Saturday 16th May the children in Year 3 will make their first Holy Communion. It marks the end of a long period of preparation in which the children have worked very hard indeed.

We have visited Alton Castle in Staffordshire on a day retreat which was very enjoyable and a first for year 3.

We look forward to Saturday.

We have made it...

... onto a the list of Humphrey's handlers. Humphrey has sent us a message also.
Click on the link and see if you can find us in the official list of Humphrey's friends.
http://www.bettybirney.com/hohlist.html

Roman Soldiers Web Trail

Open up another internet window. (Click on the line on the top right of the screen. This will minimise your screen. Click on my internet and log into your blog.) Here you can record your answers and any research that you do.

Use these links below to find out about the life of a Roman Soldier.
Try to answer these questions.
1. How long did the soldiers stay in the army?
2. What is a legion?
3. What is the name of a Roman soldiers weapons?
4. Write some of the things that they were expected to do?


http://www.woodlands-juniour.kent.sch.uk/Homework/romans/soldiers.html

http://www.icteachers.co.uk/children/cyberhunts/romans/romehunt.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/army.shtml

What questions would you ask a soldier in the Roman Army.

Separating materials

Today we have been looking at separating different sized materials. We had a mixture of rice, buttons and cotton reels.

We separated these materials by using different sized sieves. The sieves only let through it things that are small enough to go through the holes.

We then poured the mixture through the sieve.

As you can see the cotton reels were left. We then sieved the rest of the mixture through a smaller sieve.

Silent Letters Invasion Game

Click below to have a go at the space invasion game from the BBC skillswise site. Its based upon recognising silent letters in words. Choose an easy and slow level to get used to it first of all. Then try to save the world from an alien invasion.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/soundandspell/silentletters/game.shtml

New resources for keeping your child safe online.

Even though this site is designed for primary school staff it carries an important message which all parents and carers need to know about keeping our children safe online. Here is what it says about itself -

"Childnet's Know IT All for Primary Schools has been especially designed for primary school staff to help them understand important E-safety issues and how to help young pupils get the most out of the internet."


http://www.childnet.com/kia/primary/

Great Maths Games

Follow this link to play some great maths games against children from all over the world.

http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/

Let me know what you think by clicking on the comment link below.

Our Easter Garden

Before we broke up for Easter, Father David our parish priest gave us a challenge of creating our own Easter Gardens. As always the children rose to the challenge. Here are a few of those we have in school.

Our Palm Sunday Interview.

I know that it is a long time ago but here is one of the finished interviews with an eyewitness that the children completed using www.xtranormal.com

Betty Birney Website

Today we looked at the website for Betty Birney. She is the author of the Humphrey stories that we are reading in class at the moment.
We searched for a number of facts about Betty Birney and in class we will be creating a factfile about her life and her work.
Have a look at the site by clicking upon http://www.bettybirney.com/

Can you answer these questions?

Which schools did Betty go to?
What book did Betty write first?
How many Humphrey books are there?
What is the name of the latest Humphrey book?
What are the names of her husband and children?
What is the name of Betty's dog?

You could answer these questions through the site and send them to me by clicking upon the comments link just underneath.

The world according to Humphrey Chapter 5

In chapter 5 we saw Humphrey work with Mr Morales to try to get the children to calm down and work together. He had a great idea of pretending to go missing and getting Willy and Brenda to help find him. This worked really well and the children not only found Humphrey but managed to work together.

He also gave Aldo his friend information about the moonlighters club, a club for people who work at nights. A very busy hamster indeed.

How safe are you on the internet?

Here a a good site to look at and follow. Even though it is aimed at KS1 it still contains very useful information to help you to stay safe while you are online. Click below to have a look.


http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Palm Sunday. An eye witness account

Here is an interview with an eye witness to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. It was made through http://www.xtranormal.com/ . You will need to sign up if you wish to use it. ASK AN ADULT TO HELP.

Rocks and soils investigation

Today we tested different rocks to see if they are permeable. (What does that mean?) Have a go at the activity here to carry out some more tests upon different rocks.

Year 3 Maths Workshop.

Here are some maths links for you to explore during and after our Maths Workshop.

A space game based around knowing your times tables.

http://www.brainormous.com/online/loader_multiflyer.html

Here is a basic skills site which the childen use. It puts them against children from all over the world.

www.tutpup.com


Does exactly what it says on the tin!!

www.learnyourtables.co.uk

Describing Rocks.

This afternoon we looked at described different types of rocks.

Can you recognise these rocks from the work you did today?

Symmetrical Patterns

We have been looking at reflecting a shape across a mirror line.

Here is a wonderful site where you can create patterns which come to life. I wonder how many mirror lines you can find in these shapes?

http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/java/Kali/program.html

Next weeks spellings

The spellings for next week are
teacher
reader
driver
farmer
islander
villager
reliable
drinkable
breakable
enjoyable
avoidable
probable

Myths and Legends

This is a great site for reading and listening to myths and legends, mostly from Britain. It is well worth a look.

http://myths.e2bn.org/index.php

Number bonds and a bit more..

... to help you to reach your targets.

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/resources/gordon/Hit%20the%20button%20v9.swf


You could play some spelling games on spelling city.

http://www.spellingcity.com/

Practice to get the basics right. Remember to write in your blog about your reading book. Who would you recommend your book to and why?

Time Activities

Here is a link for some more time activities. This is a bit more interactive than just looking at the clock. Let me know what you think!

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/time/index.htm

Telling The Time

Today we had a go at changing the time from analogue(clock face) into digital. We found that we could count in 5s to help us find how many minutes past the hour the larger hand has gone.
To practice we can click on the moveable clock on the post below.

Clock Face

Use the big clock below to practice telling the time. Look at times involving the hour, half past, quarter past and quarter to. We must know this and be able to recognise these times on a clock.

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/503/clock.swf

Move the clock round by clicking upon the buttons on the right and see how the hands of the clock move around together to tell the time.

Fun for the brain

This is site for pupils in the USA. Click on the link and it will take to a range of games to support your English and Maths. Have fun.

http://www.fun4thebrain.com/english.html

Times table test

Every Friday we have a times table test and if we manage to score 96 or above we receive a certificate and more onto the next level. Practice your tables so you are ready to take the test here.

www.learnyourtables.co.uk

We're all in this together

In our dance lesson today we were working upon "We're all in this together" from High School Musical. In our two sessions so far we have learnt a routine for the verses. Now we can begin to work upon the chorus which we can see here. We should be ready to put it all together ready for just before Easter.

Venn diagrams

In our maths this week we have been looking at handling data. Today we moved onto sorting information into a venn diagram. Here two criteria are chosen to help us to sort through different mathematical data. Have a go at this Venn diagram below.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/maths/dinas_powys_sian_mansfield/venn_2.htm

Can you explain why you have placed the items in the hoops?

Rocks and soils

Today we began our new science topic of rocks and soils. We started with a discussion about rocks and what we think rocks are including some of the names of rocks and soils.
Click on the link below to get a head start on the topic.

http://www.simplescience.net/3d_-_rocks_and_soil.html

The world according to Humphrey. Chapter 4.

Today we read that Humphrey was taken home by the headteacher of Longfellow school, Mr. Morales. This happened because some of the other teachers had suggested taking Humphrey but made an excuse not to. Mr Morales stepped in saying that he had always wanted a hamster. However the most important man in the school wasn't the most important man in his house. His two children didn't listen to him when he told them to be careful with Humphrey and his wife didn't seem too happy when he brought Humphrey home.

Humphrey though had a plan!

Make your sentences better.

This is a good programme. You start with a very simple sentence. Before you click anywhere, think how you could up-level it (make it more complex). Then click on a part of the sentence and watch it become more and more interesting.

Can you write any sentences like that?
http://www.telescopictext.com/

A new Humphrey website

Many thanks to Kieran who has found this website so we can enjoy our class reader even more.

http://www.funwithhumphrey.com

Ash Wednesday

Today we went over to church and we received ashes on our forehead. We will try to keep Lent holy by following the promses we made below.

Our Lent Promises

This year during Lent 3B will try to

• To say one Hail Mary at the start and end of each day.
• To raise money to support the school's charities
• Try to eat more healthily.

In class we will think of our own promises which will make Lent a holy time of the year.

Every Lent we raise money for a number of charities. These are

1. CAFOD
2. Alton Castle Residential Centre
3. Good Shepherd Appeal for Father Hudson's Homes.
4. Marie Curie Cancer Care
5. St Anthony's Orphanage in South Africa
6. Birmingham Catholic Partnership appeal for schools and communities in Rwanda.

Maths is fun

This is a great site which allows you to practice all of the various different parts of maths. I would recommend you looking at the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division parts of the number section. It is good revision for you.

www.mathsisfun.com

How to fold a t shirt

Fast Folding:How To Fold A T-Shirt In 2 Seconds - Explained

We will be using this piece of film to help with our instruction writing next term. Mr Barton has posted it now so he can find it easily next week.

Create your own hero again.

I wish I had found this a few weeks ago. Runs in the same way as the marvel site, but has more options.

Here I am. It even gives your hero a name! Have a go at creating your own and put him into your adventure.

http://www.cpbintegrated.com/theherofactory/

Reading

I cannot stress how important it is to keep reading. After you have read to a grown up can you please write down in one or two sentences the key events from what you have read. This will help with your understanding of the text and make reading more enjoyable.

Half term maths

The usual target work please. Its our times tables this term. Practice upon
your tables here,

www.learnyourtables.co.uk

Then get mum or dad to test you.
You could always have a go on tutpup.

www.tutpup.com

Remember our code is 4646780

Internet Safety Day

February 10th January is world internet safety day. So today is a good time to show what we do with the children to keep them safe and help them to use the internet to help them to learn and become internet literate.

An excellent website is the think you know site,

http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Here the children are placed into different situations and are asked to decide what to do, giving information on how to stay safe online.

The parents site is here and gives guidance on how to keep children safe while they use technology at home and outside of school.

http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

The Romans internet trail.

Use the BBC site on the Romans to help you to answer the questions in your pack.

Click on the link below to take you straight to the site.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/

Paul O Brien Bullying worshop

Today Paul O Brien visited Year 3 and spoke to us about bullying. We collected some words and feelings about bullying, and as Paul is a song writer, he put all of our words into a song about a bully who changes his ways.

The song we wrote together is called "Together we can shine."

Myth legend opening.

Today we planned the opening to our legend. We discussed the setting which we agreed to be New York, and thought about the sights and sounds that the children might come across at night. Then we placed our hero into that setting and tomorrow we will write up the opening paragraph of our story which will lead us into the main part and the meeting with the evil villain.

The world according to Humphrey

Chapter Two

Today we read the second chapter of our book. In it we found out more about Mrs Brisbane. What she is like and how she teaches. She also left Humphrey in school over night. Would you like to be left alone in your classroom after every one has gone? Luckily Humphrey found a new friend in the caretaker called Aldo Amarto, who shared his dinner with Humphrey.

Create your own superhero

In our literacy we have been looking at the qualities of heroes. We had to describe and create our own hero. Many of the children created a new superhero. So we looked at the marvel comic site and we were able to produce our own superhero using their template.
Have a go at creating a new one at

www.marvel.com/create_your_own_superhero


Remember the school is not responsible for the content of other sites.

Je m'appelle funny bear

Je m'appelle funny bear je mappelle funny bear je m'appelle funny funny funny funny funny bear J'ai un p'tit ventre mou et un slip kangourou

These are the words for the song "My name is Funny Bear." Try to put your name into the song and you will be saying in French "My name is ________."

The world according to Humphrey

Today we started our reader, "The world according to Humphrey," by Betty G Birney.

We read the first chapter which introduced us to Humphrey, Ms Mac and Mrs Brisbane. We found out that Humphrey loved Ms Mac because she took him on a number of adventures. Mrs Brisbane doesn't like hamsters. So Humphrey promised himself that he would escape.

To find out more about the author click upon her website to explore her other books and characters.

http://bettybirney.com/

Maybe you could create a folder or factfile about the author. Her books, hobbies, how she writes or even write a story about Humphrey in our class. You could even send that story to her!

Next weeks spellings...

...are available on www.spelltube.co.uk

Only half have been out up so you will need your book as well to learn your words this week.

Roman Britain

Today we started our topic upon Roman Britain. We began by looking at a Celtic village.
Have a look at this site to get more information about the Celts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/

Place Value

Today in our maths lesson we looked at splitting numbers into HTU. We took 252 and we broke it into 200+50+2. We spotted where the hundreds were and identified the value of the tens and the units. We also played a place value game which you can find here.

http://education.jlab.org/placevalue/gamepage.html

Welcome back

Our new spellings are available to see and practice on www.spelltube.co.uk.

We also began our new class reader The world according to Humphrey by Betty G. Briney. Expect to see and do some work upon this acclaimed book.