Primary 3 – Term 1 Curriculum Overview

Welcome to the Primary 3 blog! As we begin a new school year, P3 have settled in beautifully to our new classroom and new routines. They are already working very hard revising and consolidating previous learning as they strive to become confident and independent learners. Primary 3 can’t wait to share their learning journey with you whilst keeping our school values; faith, kindness and responsibility at the center of everything we do. We have had a great start to the new term, and we are excited to see what this term will bring. Below is a curriculum overview for this term.

Literacy

Reading – This term, Primary 3 will develop their prediction and reasoning skills using context clues to understand new vocabulary. An awareness of the effect of full stops, commas, question marks and exclamation marks on expression will also be developed. Bug Club readers will be used mainly to improve reading fluency and extend comprehension. Daily opportunities for reading will be provided through personal reading time and weekly visits to the library.

Writing – In writing, Primary 3 will continue to work on sentence structure ensuring the use of capital letters, full stops and finger spaces as well as begin to use connectives such as “and”, “but” and “because” to add more detail to sentences. Daily writing tasks will be completed to develop independence with emphasis on the use of spelling strategies and punctuation. This terms writing genre will be descriptive. Description bubbles with be used to support the planning and purpose of each piece of writing. In addition to this, weekly handwriting lessons will ensure all letters are formed correctly (upper & lower case).

Spelling – New phonemes will be introduced weekly. Active spelling activities will be used to support this learning.

Listening and Talking – When developing talking and listening skills, P3 will initially revisit prior learning, including understanding when to listen and when to respond, taking turns and communicating with others.

Numeracy and Mathematics

This term, Place Value knowledge will be reviewed and revisited before building on this. Primary 3 will look at identifying the value of each digit within 2 and 3 digit numbers as well as read, write, order and recite these numbers. In addition to this, estimating and rounding skills will be developed through learning and understanding the rule of rounding. They will then begin to develop their addition and subtraction skills and use mathematical language to solve problems. Daily number talks will be completed, to develop mental maths strategies.

UNCRC

As we began the new term, we explored the UNCRC Rights of the Child. Together, Primary 3 created a meaningful class charter and classroom promise thinking of their rights, needs, and wants as well as our school values: kindness, faith and responsibility. This charter and promise ensure that the classroom is a safe space where all children can learn, play and grow together. A sea creature theme was chosen for our charter.

Health and Wellbeing

Primary 3 will continue to access our whole school PATHS programme this year to develop their understanding of emotions. Lessons this term will include setting up our class rules, looking at individual emotions, building friendships and community within the school, Self-Control and Anger Management. Each child will have the opportunity to be “Pupil of the Day”, they will receive compliments from their peers on this day. So far, the children have really enjoyed this experience. We will also continue with the Do Be Mindful programme which will allow us, through a range of different strategies, to think of the ways we can be mindful each day.

Physical Education

This term, Primary 3 will begin with a focus on team games. Following instructions and participating in a safe way will be a focus for this learning. In addition to this, Primary 3 will have the opportunity to develop their skills in hockey and badminton.

PE days are Monday afternoon and Thursday afternoon. All children will require a PE kit on these days. Please ensure any jewellery is taken off and left at home on PE days. If your child cannot take part for any reason, please contact the school.

Religious Education

In R.E., Primary 3 will continue to develop their understanding that everyone is created by God in a special and unique way. They will reflect on how God can support us in our life and have created their own class prayer which reminds them to keep God at the centre of everything they do. This term, Primary 3 will look at the story of Jesus’ Baptism as well as share their own Baptism stories.

IDL

Our first topic this year is “Climates Around the World”. Throughout this topic, P3 will learn about different types of climates around the world, they will be able to describe how climate affects the way people live as well as compare the climate in Scotland with other parts of the world. They will make a number of cross curricular links during this topic including social studies, science, literacy and technologies.

French

This term Primary 3 will be learning to participate in conversations in French including asking and answering questions about themselves as well as numbers to 50 through, songs, activities and games.

Homework will be distributed on a Monday and should be completed and returned on a Friday each week.

Primary 3 look forward to sharing their learning and successes with you throughout the term! Look out on the school app as well as Learning Journals where some of your child’s fabulous learning moments will be shared.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding, we are really looking forward to a wonderful first term in Primary 3,

Mrs Dunsmore and Mrs Hope.

We recently got some lovely news, that Kleeona in Primary 3 had been chosen as the winner of the ‘Galloway Diocese News’ Art Competition!

Well done for your bright, colourful depiction of St. Ninian.

Welcome back! We have had a great start to Primary 3, and it has been wonderful to get to know the children and really settle into our routines. The children are already making good progress and we are looking forward to another great term.

At the beginning of our first term, we explored the UNCRC Rights of the Child, and together created a meaningful Class Charter to ensure that our classroom is a place where we feel safe and where we can learn and grow together. As we continue into term 2 we will refer back to this ensuring our Class Charter is relevant and ‘felt’ within our classroom.

Here is an update on the upcoming term.

Literacy

We will be looking at a range of fiction and non-fiction texts this term. We will look at the features of both types of text and will use these for our reading and comprehension tasks. We will be focusing on continuing to develop reading fluency as well as becoming more confident using word attack strategies for unfamiliar words.

During writing, we will look at narrative writing. We will explore the structure of this genre and write our own narrative pieces. We will continue to have a focus on the use of accurate punctuation and the use of more sophisticated vocabulary as well as beginning to develop the skill of proof reading our work.

Spelling will take the form of active spelling activities and the children will experience phonemes and blends at their working level.

Numeracy & Maths

Using our place value knowledge and skills, we will continue to look at a range of strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems. The children will participate in a daily number talk activity as we develop our confidence in the use of mathematical language to explain our thinking.

In Beyond Number, P3 will explore measure with Mrs Terras, looking at the various instruments including rulers, metres sticks, measuring jugs and scales.

 

Health and Wellbeing

This term we will continue with the PATHS programme, reflecting and discussing a range of emotions and what these might look and feel like. We will also continue with the Do Be Mindful programme which will allow us, through the use of a range of strategies, to look at ways we can take a mindful moment each day.

We will look at our physical wellbeing and how we can keep ourselves safe, how to respond in a range of emergency situations and how to stay safe when walking, cycling and in a vehicle.

PE

PE is on a Monday and Friday. This term we will be covering;

• Dance
• Football

Children will require PE kit each PE day.  Please make sure your child is not wearing jewellery on these days as they will be unable to participate in the lesson for health and safety reasons. If your child cannot take part for any reason, please contact the school.

French

We will be looking at some basic French phrases and numbers this term through, songs, activities and games.

IDL

We will be exploring the role of the Romans in Scotland. We will use the text, ‘What the Romans Did For Us’ as a basis as we explore the topic, this will link with some of our literacy tasks.

Expressive Arts 

During art, we will use various mediums to create some beautiful artwork to link with various areas of the curriculum. As we approach Christmas, we will complete a range of Christmas arts and crafts.

The children will learn  Christmas songs and carols which will be performed during our Christmas Nativity, allowing us to experience the energy and excitement of performing for an audience.

Mrs Terras will complete a range of drama activities during which we will have the opportunity express and communicate ideas, thoughts and feelings through drama.

Religious Education

This term we will be continuing to learn a range of well-known prayers and will have opportunities each day for quiet prayer and reflection time. We will look at what a saint is, and think about how we are all called to be saints with the help of the Holy Spirit.

During Catholic Education week, we will think about how we are pilgrims of hope, looking at the meaning of the word pilgrim and how our faith brings us great hope and joy.

As we enter the holy season of Advent, we will look at the meaning of the Advent Wreath and reflect upon the importance of this great season of preparation.

Homework will be distributed on a Monday to be completed, and returned by Friday.

Keep an eye on the School App and your child’s Learning Journal profile for a snapshot of some of our wonderful learning!

Thank you as always for your support and I’m looking forward to a really great term with P3.

Mrs. MacKinnon.

Welcome back! We hope you have all had an enjoyable summer. It has been fantastic to see P3 settle in to their new classroom and routines. We have had a great start to the term, and look forward to a fun filled term with lots of fabulous learning taking place.

Here is an update on the upcoming term.

UNCRC

During our first few days, we explored the UNCRC Rights of the Child, and together created a meaningful Class Charter to ensure that our classroom is a place where we feel safe, where we can learn and grow together.

 

Literacy

For our reading focus this term, we will be developing our comprehension strategies such as prediction and visualisation through our class book ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch.’ We will also use our Bug Club readers as we develop our reading fluency as well as continuing to develop our word attack strategies for unfamiliar words and make links with common words from across the curriculum.

During writing, we will continue to work on our sentence structure and the use of description bubbles for various descriptive pieces, with an emphasis on punctuation and the use of spelling strategies. We will work on enhancing our descriptions with amazing adjectives and adverbs.

Spelling will take the form of active spelling activities and the children will experience phonemes and blends at their working level.

Numeracy & Maths

The class will review Place Value knowledge and will use this to build on their sense of number. We will look at 2 and 3 digit numbers and we will read, write order and recite these numbers. Through our place value work, we will be able to identify the value of each digit.

We will then progress to looking at our addition strategies. The class will participate in a daily number talk, to develop of mental maths strategies.

In Beyond Number, P3 will explore 2D and 3D shapes with Mrs Terras, learning to sort and describe shapes based on certain criteria. Pupils will have the opportunity to explore and examine shapes through practical games and activities. We will also look at the use of mathematical language to describe and record directions.

 

Health and Wellbeing

This term we will be begin our PATHS programme for P3. Lessons will include setting up our class rules, looking at individual emotions, building friendships and community within the school, Self-Control and Anger Management.  We will also continue with the Do Be Mindful programme which will allow us, through the use of a range of strategies, to look at ways we can take a mindful moment each day.

PE

PE is on a Monday and Friday. This term we will be covering;

• Team Games
• Hockey
• Badminton

Children will require PE kit each PE day.  Please make sure your child is not wearing jewellery on these days as they will be unable to participate in the lesson for health and safety reasons. If your child cannot take part for any reason, please contact the school.

French

We will be looking at some basic French phrases and numbers this term through, songs, activities and games.

IDL

P3 will use our book studies as a basis for a range of activities across various areas of the curriculum, we will link ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch’ to the idea of healthy eating, and we will also use our creative and technical skills to build our own lighthouses.

Towards the end of the term, we will introduce ‘The Romans’, looking specifically at the Romans in Scotland.

Expressive Arts 

In Music, Mrs Terras will lead P3 through a singing and listening unit of work called ‘Music is in My Soul’, where pupils will explore changes in dynamics within the songs they learn.

During art, we will use various mediums to create some beautiful artwork to link with our book study and our IDL topic.

Religious Education

This term we will be reflecting on our uniqueness and thinking about our God given talents. We will reflect on the importance of friendship and link this with various stories from the Bible. The children will take part in class prayers and School Masses, and we will continue to build on our knowledge of common prayers and Mass responses.

Homework will be distributed on a Monday to be completed, and returned by Friday.

Keep an eye on the School app and your child’s Learning Journal profile for a snapshot of some of our wonderful learning!

Thank you as always for your support and I’m looking forward to a really great term with P3.

Mrs. MacKinnon.