Bonjour from Year 3

 

Bonjour from Year 3!

We have had a lovely first week back and have been really pleased with how well the children have settled into school.

Here’s a brief update on what we have covered this week and what the children will be learning next week.

English, Reading & Spellings

In English, the children have been revising the different types of sentences: statements, commands, questions and exclamations. They have also been experimenting with adding adjectives to sentences to create detail and interest when describing settings.

The children have completed their first AR tests of Year 3. It isn’t uncommon for AR numbers to be slightly lower after the summer holidays than they were before the break. We will aim to assess them again before half term.

RWI and spelling groups will all start this week. For those children in spelling groups, spelling activities will normally come home on Fridays. Children can also use EdShed to practise their spellings.

Maths

Last week in Power Maths, the children revised 2-digit numbers and were introduced to hundreds. They then began learning to count, read and write multiples of 100 up to 1,000 in both numerals and words (for example, 300 = three hundred).

This week, they will learn how to represent and partition numbers to 1,000. They will build 3-digit numbers using concrete resources such as Base 10 equipment (place value blocks) and place value counters.

They will explore how numbers are composed of Hundreds, Tens and Ones, for example understanding that 235 = 200 + 30 + 5.

Finally, using number lines to 1,000, they will learn how to place 3-digit numbers accurately.

This video might be helpful for more information about what the children are learning.

French

In French, the children enjoyed learning about France, including understanding where it is in the world and what France is famous for. They even had the opportunity to taste some croissants and pain au chocolat!

They will continue to become familiar with saying Bonjour (hello/good morning) and Salut (hello), and will start saying Je m'appelle (my name is).

Home Learning

This week, the children have been asked to write a statement about France and a question they would like to know the answer to about France.

Paper copies should have come home on Friday, but electronic copies can be found here.

A few reminders

• Please send the children into school with a named rain jacket.

• No toys should be brought into school.

• Please bring in Forest School kit every Wednesday.

• Children should come to school in their PE kits every Friday.

• Monday 28th September – School Photos (individual)

• Friday 9th October, 5pm–7pm – AutumnFest

• Friday 23rd October, 2.50pm – Harvest Celebration

Forest School & PE kit reminders

 

Hello everyone,

We've been having a lovely week so far. I will blog in more detail later in the week but just a quick reminder for clothes this week. 

On Wednesday, please can children bring forest school clothes to get changed into. 

On Friday, please can the children come to school in their PE kits. 

Also, as the weather looks as though it has turned please can the children bring a named rain jacket into school. If it is slightly drizzly, we do still like to get them outside for some fresh air and movement. 

If you have a parents' message group, I would be really grateful if someone could share this reminder. Thank you 🙏 

Kind regards,

Ms Browne & the year 3 team 😊

Optional Year 3 Home Learning Activity

 

Today, we started drawing our own cartoon self portraits for our class display. We followed a video 'Draw with Rob' and drew the outlines of our portraits on A5 paper. We will finish these by colouring them in next week. 

Some of the children were very keen to draw more and so if they would like to draw themselves again or draw someone else, the link is below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCDta3CQ9Ak&t=2s   

I will start sending home learning sheets home from next week.  

Welcome Back to School Year 3

 

Hello everyone,

Myself and the rest of the year 3 team were so impressed with the super focus and positive attitude they had today.

I hope your child had a good day - I'm sure they are tired, but I hope full of greater confidence - as they absolutely smashed their first day! 

Today, we talked a lot about recognising our feelings and beginning to identify what we can do when we have any uncomfortable feelings. We also practised some  sensory break activities and learnt how to do some regulatory breaths. 

We developed some great ideas for our Class Charter which will help give the children guidelines as to how to treat each other, how to approach their learning and how to look after their classroom and wider environment. The children had some fantastic suggestions which I will weave into a whole Class Charter over the next week. 

From next week, the normal timetable will begin and there are some key activities to be aware of:

The children will have Forest School on Wednesday afternoons. Please could you send a change of suitable clothes and shoes in with them for this activity  (please see the flier below for more details). 

The children will have PE on Fridays. From this academic year onwards, in line with the Dorchester middle schools in years 5 & 6, the children should come into school in their PE kits. This will hopefully reduce lost property in school and will maximise PE lesson time. Please could children come into school wearing PE kits every Friday from Friday 11th September.    

The year 3 Knowledge Organisers will be available later in September. I will post additional information on the blog shortly but for now, please thank your child for such a wonderful first day in Year 3. 

We were very proud of each and everyone of them. 

Kind regards,

Ms Browne & the year 3 team. 😊

 

Happy Holidays Year 3

As another school year comes to an end, we just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and our amazing Year 3 children.

We can't believe how much the children have grown this year. Looking back to September and seeing them now, they are so much more confident, independent and ready for the next step. It's been such a pleasure to watch them grow, not just academically but as young people too.

Every single child has brought something different to our classroom. They've certainly kept us busy with their energy, enthusiasm and brilliant personalities, but we wouldn't have wanted it any other way. 

One of the biggest highlights has to be the Tenner Challenge. The children absolutely amazed us with their ideas, determination and teamwork. They should all be so proud of what they achieved. It really showed what they can do when they work together and believe in themselves.

We'd also like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of our parents and carers for your support throughout the year. It really does make such a difference. Thank you as well for the lovely cards and thoughtful gifts for the Year 3 team. Your kindness and generosity are so appreciated, and we're very grateful.

To our Year 3 children, thank you for making every day different. Thank you for making us laugh, for working so hard and for being yourselves. We are so proud of each and every one of you, and we know you'll all go on to do amazing things in Year 4.

Have a wonderful, well-deserved summer break. We'll see you all again soon! 

The Year 3 Team.xx

Bring a bag / return a book Monday

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please could you send your child to school with a plastic bag on Monday, as we will be sending this year's exercise books home.

If you have any library books or RWI books at home, please could you return them by Monday.

Thank you,

The Year 3 Team

Tenner challenge - proud teacher moments

Dear Parents and Carers,

Just a quick message to say a huge thank you to you all, and an enormous well done to the children for everything they have put into the Tenner Challenge over the past two weeks.

Together, the children raised an incredible £535. To achieve this in just two half-hour after-school sessions is a fantastic accomplishment, and the money will go towards the many Inspired to Learn experiences the children will enjoy during their final year at POW. We are also hoping to arrange a well-deserved treat for the children on Monday to celebrate their success!

Whilst the amount of money raised is remarkable, it isn't what has made the Year 3 team the proudest.

Over the past fortnight we have watched the children collaborate, solve problems, adapt their ideas, support one another and show an incredible level of independence. They demonstrated resilience when plans needed to change, confidence when speaking to their customers and genuine pride in the products, games and activities they had created.

Year 3 is a class full of wonderfully different personalities, ideas and ways of thinking. One of the joys of the Tenner Challenge was seeing so many children flourish in ways that aren't always captured in the classroom. Some discovered a talent for designing and creating products, others were natural salespeople, while some excelled at organising, encouraging their teammates or finding imaginative solutions to problems. Watching each child find their own role and contribute to the success of their team was a real privilege.

Thank you again for your support. Whether you baked cakes, helped make products at home, donated resources, or simply came along with a pocket full of change, you played an important part in making this experience such a memorable one for the children.

It was a wonderful end project for their time in Year 3 and we couldn't be prouder of them.

With love (and proud happy tears),

Ms Browne and the Year 3 Team

Tenner challenge and PSHE update

 

Hello everyone,

Year 3 have been working hard to get their Tenner Challenge stalls ready for this week. They will be sharing their ideas with the school community directly after school on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th.

Parents who are available to help run stalls can access the school from 3:00 pm on these days via the office entrance.

If you have needed to purchase ingredients or other items for your child's stall, please send the receipts in by Thursday morning. We will reimburse you from the stall's profits over the two days.

PSHE Today

We had a very positive PSHE lesson today. I was very impressed with the maturity the children showed throughout the lesson. We revised the scientific names for male and female body parts, and the children were introduced to the changes that happen to their bodies during puberty.

We discussed that puberty begins at different times for different people, and we briefly covered the natural bodily processes of menstruation and wet dreams.

The children asked some thoughtful questions—many of them about deodorant! Your child may, of course, wish to ask you questions about what they learned today. If you would like to access some additional information to help answer any questions they may have, please follow this link.

As ever, if you have any questions, please email me or speak to a member of the team.

Kind regards,

Ms Browne and the Year 3 Team

     

Inclusive sports Fortnight

 Dear Parents and Carers,

What a wonderful fortnight of inclusive sporting activities we have had at Prince of Wales School. I've included some photographs of the activities the children have enjoyed at the end of this blog.

We are rapidly approaching the end of term, with only one full week of learning remaining. Next week, the children will continue preparing for their Tenner Challenge stalls while also taking part in their usual learning across the curriculum.

PSHE Next Week

On Tuesday, the children will have their first PSHE lesson on how their bodies change during puberty. I have decided to teach the girls and boys separately on this occasion to help them feel comfortable asking questions openly.

During the lesson, we will revise the names of the male and female body parts and introduce the concept that mammal babies are created from an egg and a sperm. 

I will not be covering how the sperm and egg meet during this lesson. Depending on the scheme used by middle schools, this may be taught in Years 5, 6 or 7. If children ask questions beyond what is covered in the Lower Key Stage 2 curriculum, I will explain that these topics will be covered later at middle school or encourage them to discuss them with their parents or carers.

The Tenner Challenge

The children will be running their Tenner Challenge stalls straight after school on Wednesday 15 July and Thursday 16 July. Any parental support would be greatly appreciated, although we hope the children will take the lead in running their stalls.

HomeLearning

There are no spellings or home learning sheets this week. However, the children are welcome to work on the Tenner Challenge projects should they wish to. 

Upcoming Dates

Friday 10 July – Please note that Dance Day has been cancelled due to the hot weather.

Tuesday 21 July 2026 – Last day of term

Wednesday 22 July 2026 – INSET Day

Thursday 23 July 2026 – Summer holidays begin

Tuesday 1 September 2026 – INSET Day

Wednesday 2 September 2026 – INSET Day

Thursday 3 September 2026 – All children return

Year 3 Dance Day Cake Sale Cancelled

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Unfortunately, the Year 3 cake sale planned for Dance Day has had to be cancelled.

Due to the high temperatures forecast, the format of Dance Day is likely to change, and it will no longer be appropriate for the children to sell cakes.

We apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding.

Kind regards,

The Year 3 Team

What's happening in Year 3 Next Week

 

Hello everyone,

Year 3 have enjoyed a fabulous first week of Inclusive Sports Fortnight. A highlight for me was observing their resilience and perseverance during our skateboarding sessions with the wonderful Harry. Sporting activities are a fantastic way to show children that perseverance and repeated practice really do pay off. It was lovely to watch this happen in real time and to witness the children's pride as they mastered new skills.

Next week, our timetable of activities will continue. Please could I ask that the children come to school wearing their PE kits on Monday and Tuesday. A list of upcoming dates can be found at the end of this blog.

Next week, the children will begin working in groups for the Tenner Challenge. They will be bringing home their group information and the letter below today.

As ever, please email or speak to a member of the Year 3 team if you have any questions.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Over the next two weeks, your child will be taking part in our Year 3 Tenner Challenge. Working in small groups, the children will receive an initial investment of £10 to develop a product, activity or game and aim to make as much profit as possible.

The main Tenner Challenge will take place after school on Wednesday 15th July and Thursday 16th July. During the school day, the children will work together to design posters, prepare their stalls and make some of the items they plan to sell. If you are happy and able to support your child at home, creating additional products for sale can also form part of their homework over the next two weeks.

The children will run their stalls after school on both days, supported by parents and members of the Year 3 team.

Each group will have a budget of £10 to spend on any additional resources, materials or prizes they may need for their stall.

If you have any questions, please speak to a member of the Year 3 team.

All profits raised will go towards an activity chosen by the children and will help enrich their learning experiences in Year 4.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Please note: Due to rising costs, we have increased the initial investment from £5 to £10. Although the project has traditionally been known as the Fiver Challenge, we have renamed it the Tenner Challenge to better reflect current prices.

Upcoming Dates:

Friday 3rd July - Summer fest

Tuesday 7th July - Sports Day from 9.30am

Tuesday 7th July - Hooke Court presentation (directly after sports day)

Tuesday 7th July - Bump up afternoon

Friday 10th July - Dance Day (PM)

Wednesday 15th July - Tenner Challenge (directly after school)

Thursday 16th July - Tenner Challenge (directly after school)

Tuesday 21st July - Last Day of Term

   

PE Kits tomorrow please

 

Hello everyone,

Please could all children come to school in their PE kits tomorrow (Thursday 2nd July). We will send home any PE kits that are currently in school today.

As part of our Inclusive Sports Fortnight, the children will be taking part in a sports-themed day on Thursday, so they should remain in their PE kits throughout the day. They will also begin painting the Roundhouse, so please could your child bring a set of old clothes to change into for this activity—something you don't mind getting paint on.

With the warm weather continuing, please also ensure your child comes to school wearing sunscreen and brings a named sun hat and named water bottle.

Kind regards,

The Year 3 Team

The Etches Collection

 Hello Y3 families

Year 3 had a fantastic day exploring the incredible Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge as part of their history and science learning.

The children were fascinated from the moment they arrived, discovering an amazing collection of fossils that have been found right here on Dorset's Jurassic Coast. They learnt about the remarkable work of Steve Etches, whose lifelong passion for fossil hunting has led to one of the world's finest collections of Jurassic marine fossils. The children were amazed to hear how many important discoveries have been made just a short distance from our school.

Throughout the day, the children became young palaeontologists as they investigated a variety of fossils and rocks, learning how they were formed millions of years ago. They explored how fossils provide evidence of prehistoric life and discovered what Dorset looked like during the Jurassic period, when dinosaurs roamed the land and incredible marine reptiles swam through warm tropical seas.

One of the highlights of the visit was learning about the famous fossil hunter Mary Anning. The children were inspired by her determination and curiosity, discovering how her discoveries transformed our understanding of prehistoric life and continue to influence scientists today.

The visit also helped the children develop a deeper understanding of why the Jurassic Coast is recognised as a World Heritage Site. They learnt how millions of years of geological history are revealed within the cliffs and coastline, making Dorset one of the most important places in the world for studying Earth's past.

Throughout the day, our pupils demonstrated excellent curiosity, asked thoughtful questions and represented The Prince of Wales School brilliantly. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm grow as they handled real fossils, explored the museum's fascinating exhibits and connected their classroom learning with the rich history of our local area.

A huge thank you to the staff and volunteers at The Etches Collection for providing such an engaging and inspiring experience. The children returned to school full of excitement, eager to share their new knowledge and continue their learning about fossils, rocks and the incredible story of Dorset's Jurassic Coast.

Well done, Year 3, for being such enthusiastic learners and fantastic ambassadors for our school!