Term 5
Instruction and Recount Writing
In English this term, we’ve been building on two key areas of writing: recounts and instructions. To begin Term 5, we focused on writing clear and effective instructions. Our main emphasis was on using prepositions, which help the reader understand where, when, or how each step should be carried out. By including precise language, the children made their instructions easy to follow and informative. More recently, we’ve been learning how to write a recount of our exciting trip to the museums. The children have been practising writing in the first person and using the past tense to describe their experiences. We’ve encouraged them to use exciting adjectives and adverbs to make their writing engaging and descriptive. A key focus has been on using subordinate clauses to add extra detail and extend their ideas. This has helped them develop more complex sentence structures and improve the overall quality of their writing. Well done, everyone—your writing is becoming more vivid and thoughtful every day!
Fantastic Fractions
This term in Maths, we’ve been diving deeper into our understanding of fractions. We began by learning how to find a fraction of a number—for example, calculating ⅓ of 12 or ¾ of 20—using practical strategies and visual representations to support our understanding. We then moved on to adding fractions with the same denominator, recognising when fractions can be combined and representing our thinking using number sentences and helpful diagrams like fraction bars and circles. Throughout the unit, we’ve also been reinforcing important vocabulary such as numerator, denominator, whole, and equal parts, helping us talk confidently and clearly about fractions. Well done, everyone—your fraction knowledge is really adding up!
PSHCE – Friendships and Choices
In PSHCE, we’ve been making the most of the lovely weather by taking some of our learning outside! During one of our outdoor lessons, we focused on the theme of friendships—discussing how true friends should make us feel supported, respected, and happy. We also explored how our choices can sometimes be influenced by our friends and reflected on whether those influences are positive or negative. The children showed great maturity in their discussions and worked thoughtfully to consider the impact of their actions on themselves and others. A brilliant session of fresh air and meaningful learning!
Magical Visit to the Story Museum
We had a fantastic time on our trip to The Story Museum! Our adventure began in the enchanting Whispering Woods, followed by a visit to the Dragon Exhibition and other exciting themed rooms, including Alice in Wonderland and Narnia. We also had the chance to listen to several captivating stories told by a professional storyteller. Afterwards, we used our imaginations to add our own twists to the stories and performed them to each other using props. It was a brilliant day full of creativity, storytelling, and fun
Term 4
Science: Exploring Push and Pull Forces
Today in science, we explored the concept of ‘push and pull’ forces. We had a great class discussion about what these forces mean and when we might use them in everyday life. To help us remember, we came up with fun actions to match each type of force. To put our learning to the test, we played a game of Forces Bingo! The teacher read out different scenarios—like doing up your zip—and we had to decide whether it involved a push or pull force. It was a fun and engaging way to reinforce our understanding of how forces work!
Computing in Year 3: Yes or No Questions
This week in computing, Year 3 explored how to use ‘yes or no’ questions to sort and group information. We began by learning about different types of questions and what kind of answers they require. Then, we played a fun game where one child picked an object, and the rest of the class had to guess what it was by asking only yes or no questions. Afterwards, the class worked together to come up with ways to group objects using these types of questions, learning how to sort items into categories logically. A brilliant introduction to the foundations of computing and data handling
Music: Pentatonic Melodies & Chinese New Year
This term in music, our topic has been Pentatonic Melodies and Composition, with a theme of Chinese New Year. Today, we focused on learning about pentatonic scales—a five-note scale commonly used in traditional Chinese music. We listened carefully to examples of traditional pieces and identified the five-note melodies within them. Then, we had a go at recreating the scales on the glockenspiel, experimenting with the different sounds and trying to match the tones we had heard. It was a brilliant session full of creativity, culture, and musical exploration!
PSHCE: Healthy Me – What’s in Our Food?
Our PSHCE theme this term is ‘Healthy Me’, and in our second Jigsaw lesson, we focused on learning what’s really in our food. We had some great discussions about hidden sugars and how they can be found in foods we might not expect! The children then took part in a fun activity where they had to match different food items to the amount of sugar they contain—it was eye-opening and sparked lots of thoughtful conversation. A fantastic session to help us all make more informed and healthier choices!
World Book Day at Exeter College
Wolfson and Keble had a fantastic time visiting Exeter College to celebrate World Book Day! Their adventure began with an exciting treasure hunt around the college, where they searched for clues linked to the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland. The children loved exploring the story in such a magical setting. Later, they delved into the world of The Hobbit, where they had a go at writing their names using the Hobbit runes alphabet and even created their own mythical creatures. It was a wonderfully creative day filled with storytelling, imagination, and fun!
Check Out Wolfson’s Brilliant World Book Day Costumes!
Wolfson looked absolutely fantastic for World Book Day—the children came in dressed as a whole host of wonderful characters from their favourite stories! From classic tales to modern adventures, the creativity and effort put into their costumes were amazing. Well done, Wolfson—you really brought the world of books to life!
Art Inspired by Max Ernst
In art this term, we explored the work of Max Ernst, a sculptor known for his imaginative and textured creations. Taking inspiration from his style, we began working on our own clay sculptures for the upcoming Daffodil Breakfast. We carefully carved our clay pieces, adding intricate details and patterns, and then left them to dry. The next step will be painting them to bring our designs to life—we can’t wait to see the finished results!
‘Make Me Smile’ Workshop – Led by Year 6
This term, Year 3 were lucky enough to take part in a fantastic workshop led by none other than Year 6! The session, called ‘Make Me Smile’, focused on the importance of looking after our mental health and learning strategies to help us manage our worries. Year 6 did an amazing job presenting the session—they spoke clearly, shared thoughtful advice, and helped Year 3 feel confident and supported. A big thank you to Year 6 for being such brilliant role models!
Happy STEM Week!
This week we’ve been celebrating STEM Week with lots of exciting science activities! In our science lesson this afternoon, we focused on the force of friction. We carried out an experiment using toy cars, testing how much friction was created when pushing them across different surfaces. Before starting, we made predictions about which surface would allow the vehicle to move most easily and which would require more force to overcome friction. It was a fun, hands-on investigation that helped us understand how friction works in everyday life!
STEM Week Spotlight: Fingerprint Fun with the PCSOs!
As part of our exciting STEM Week activities, we had a visit from our local PCSOs, who shared how fingerprints are used to help solve crimes at a crime scene. The children were fascinated to learn about this real-life application of science and loved the chance to stamp their own fingerprints and examine the patterns up close. It was a brilliant mix of learning and hands-on fun—thank you to our PCSOs for such an engaging session!
A Magical Day at The Story Museum
We had such a wonderful day visiting The Story Museum! Our adventure took us through the enchanting Whispering Woods, the Dragon Exhibition, and magical rooms inspired by classics like Alice in Wonderland and Narnia. One of the highlights was listening to captivating stories told by a professional storyteller. We even had the chance to get creative by adding our own twists to familiar tales and performing them for each other using fun props! It was a day full of imagination, storytelling, and smiles—what a brilliant experience!
Term 3
History
This term in history, we learned about the Romans, focusing on Julius Caesar and his role in Rome. We explored how he influenced the empire and discussed his leadership.
English
One of our English units involved finding the key features of a setting description—but before we could do that, we had to figure out what those features were! We worked in pairs to unscramble, order, and complete missing parts of a features list. We also challenged ourselves using the challenge menu, including considering what would happen if we didn’t use modal verbs or subheadings in a persuasive brochure!
Integr8 Dance
Year 3 had a special visit from the Integr8 Dance team! The session introduced us to street dance, where we learned new moves, worked in small groups to create sequences, and performed a full dance routine together. We finished off with some fun games, and everyone had an amazing time!
Geography
In geography, we explored what lies beneath our feet! We discovered the four layers of the Earth and learned about their different properties, from the solid crust to the fiery inner core.
Art
This term in art, we focused on sculptures. We explored how sculptures are made, the materials used, and even created our own 3D structures using only scissors and rulers—no glue or tape allowed! Everyone got really creative, and we were so proud of our final pieces!
Maths
In maths, we focused on division, learning how to divide a two-digit number by a one-digit number using partitioning, part-whole models, and place value grids. Later in the term, we moved on to our new unit: length and perimeter. We practiced measuring in millimetres, centimetres, and metres, and even demonstrated how to use a ruler correctly in front of the class!
Guided Reading
During guided reading, we worked as a team to read through our text and identify unfamiliar words. We then found their definitions in a dictionary and recorded them to expand our vocabulary.
Feedback
In writing, we used the criteria count from our feedback menu. We read through our work and tallied how many verbs we had used, helping us to evaluate and improve our writing.
Science
This term in science, we explored light and the different ways we could sort objects. We categorized them by texture, size, color, and other properties. Later, we learned about transparency, translucency, and opacity, then applied our knowledge by sorting objects into these categories based on their properties.
Design Technology
In DT, we discussed the key elements of an effective information poster. We decided that a great poster should:
- Use clear and bold fonts
- Feature bright colours to attract attention
- Include important information—but not too much!
- Have headings and subheadings for easy navigation
Once we agreed on these features, we researched and gathered information for our own posters. Keep an eye out for the finished versions!
Jack Peers
Keble and Wolfson had an amazing visit to the Jack Peers Centre this term. We spent the day exploring the outdoors, foraging for sticks and leaves to create collages, face painting, and testing our balance through fun challenges. It was a fantastic experience, and we loved every moment!
Term 2
Jack Peers
Keble had a wonderful, autumnal day at the Jack Peers Centre, where they immersed themselves in nature and teamwork. The children took part in a range of exciting activities, including team-building exercises that helped them strengthen their cooperation and problem-solving skills. They also had great fun exploring the outdoors on a bug hunt, searching for hidden creatures and learning more about their habitats. It was a fantastic day filled with adventure, curiosity, and lots of fresh air!
History
In our history lessons, we explored the fascinating world of hieroglyphics! The children practiced writing different words using ancient Egyptian symbols and then took on the challenge of decoding each other’s messages. It was exciting to see everyone carefully study the hieroglyphs, put their knowledge to the test, and successfully figure out the hidden words. This hands-on activity brought history to life and sparked curiosity about the incredible writing systems of the past!
Writing
In our writing lesson, we were set an exciting challenge to identify which features belong in a third-person narrative. Using our knowledge of different text types, we worked together to sort the features into two groups: “Yes, we need it ✅” and “No, we don’t ❌.” All of the groups successfully identified the key features required for a strong narrative. We then used this information to create a checklist, which will be a valuable tool to support us in our writing this week. A fantastic effort from everyone!
Christmas Jumpers
Check out some of Wolfson’s brilliant Christmas jumpers! The children looked fantastic in their festive outfits, spreading lots of Christmas cheer and smiles around the school. It was wonderful to see so much creativity and sparkle—what a great way to celebrate the season!
Littlemore Library
Keble class were lucky enough to visit the local library this week. They had a fantastic time choosing from a wide variety of books and sharing their favourite stories with each other. It was a wonderful opportunity to explore new books and develop a love for reading in a fun and engaging environment!
Mary Anning the Palaeontologist
In Year 3, we researched the famous palaeontologist Mary Anning. We discussed her incredible achievements, including her discoveries of prehistoric fossils, and how her work continues to inspire and support scientists today. The children collected key information about her life and contributions to science, and then used this knowledge to create informative posters for our science display. It was a great opportunity to learn about such an important historical figure in science!
Maths
In Year 3, we have started our multiplication and division unit. Today, we explored equal groups and discovered different ways to create them using counters. The children worked on grouping and sharing counters evenly, which helped them understand the foundation of both multiplication and division. They enjoyed experimenting with various combinations and explaining their thinking.
In maths, we have also been learning new times tables! To reinforce our learning, we tested our knowledge by comparing numbers to decide if they were greater than, less than, or equal to one another. The children loved taking on challenge questions and demonstrating their understanding with actions. It’s been a fun and engaging way to build their confidence with times tables!
Science
This term in science, we have been exploring all things rocks and fossils!
Today, we learned about the fascinating process of how a fossil is made and had the chance to create our own. The children selected an object from either outside or our classroom and pressed it into clay, mimicking the way bones of an animal or plant harden into sedimentary rock over time. After making our prints, we poured plaster of Paris over them to create a fossil-like impression.
Once the plaster solidified, we carefully uncovered our fossils, just like palaeontologists, to reveal the amazing imprints. It was a fun and hands-on way to learn about the fascinating world of fossils!
Term 1
Geography
In geography lessons, the children had a wonderful time using atlases to explore the United Kingdom, identifying its capital cities, counties, and regions. As they navigated through maps, they uncovered fascinating details about the landscapes, landmarks, and communities unique to each area. This hands-on experience with atlases helped them strengthen their map-reading skills and deepen their understanding of how places connect, sparking curiosity about the world around them and the richness of their own country.
English
Year 3 have been diving into the fascinating discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, led by archaeologist Howard Carter. Through storytelling, discussions, and hands-on activities, we’ve been building our historical skills in several key areas. The students have explored a range of sources—like photographs, drawings, and historical texts—to piece together the events surrounding this legendary discovery. They’ve been encouraged to think critically about the types of information sources we use to understand the past. Exploring Ancient Egypt and the story of Tutankhamun has been both exciting and insightful. Please ask your child about Howard Carter and the “wonderful things” he uncovered in the tomb!
In English, we have been focusing on writing formal letters to someone who inspires us. To begin, we explored the features of a formal letter in a fun, interactive way. Important elements like the address, date, greeting, introduction, main body, and sign-off were hidden around the classroom, and we had to search for and identify each one. This hands-on activity helped us understand what makes up a well-structured letter. Next, we’ll use these features to draft our own letters, applying everything we’ve learned!
In English, we opened our books to find a range of coloured dots on our writing! We had to find other children with the same coloured dot and work together to figure out what we were missing in our writing. We then edited our work using the 4 editing stations!
History
In our history lessons, we’ve been learning all about the ancient Egyptians. Today, we explored the fascinating process of mummification! We looked at each step involved in preparing a body for the afterlife and discussed the purpose of each stage. To bring the experience to life, we even simulated the process by “mummifying” each other using materials like toilet paper. This hands-on activity helped us imagine what it might have been like for ancient Egyptian embalmers and gave us a fun, memorable way to understand this important cultural practice.
Maths
In our maths lessons, children have been using place value charts, cubes, and number lines to build confidence in addition and subtraction. These hands-on tools allow them to break down numbers, visualise calculations, and deepen their understanding of place value. By working with these resources, students are strengthening their foundational skills and developing a clearer sense of how numbers work together.
In Year 3, we have been learning to use the column method for addition and subtraction. Today, we practised together as a class, working through questions on our whiteboards. This interactive approach gave the children a chance to break down each step of the method and build confidence with every example. They’re doing a fantastic job, showing steady progress and a great understanding of the process!
Art & Design
Science
In Science we explored the digestive system. We discussed each part and its role in the digestion process. Then, we put our knowledge to the test by drawing and labelling the digestive system, checking how well we remembered each part!
Following on from our science lesson about teeth, we set up an experiment to explore the impact of different drinks on our teeth. We discussed the importance of brushing our teeth to reach all of the spots that hold onto the food and sugar we consume throughout the day. We learned that an eggshell is made from a similar substance to our teeth, so we placed eggs into different liquids to measure the impact they had after a week of no brushing!
We used: Orange juice, Squash, Coke, Coffee, Milk, and Water. We made predictions about what we thought would happen and then evaluated our experiment after one week.
Computing
In Computing lesson 4, we explored connections and how a network system works. We talked about connections between devices and discussed what connections we might have in the real world. Then, we explored how computer systems pass messages through a network and had a go at passing our own messages to someone else in the class. We decided that it was easier to pass messages digitally, as it took us a long time and some messages got lost!
