Branching Database

In computing, year 3 have been learning about branching databases. To start, they used the game ‘Guess Who?’ to understand the concept of the yes and no questions which helps with understanding how a branching database is formed. They then used this information to create paper branching databases in groups. During the following lessons, the children transferred their skills to create branching databases using Purple Mash 2Question.

Composition

During their music lessons, year 3 have been learning how to work as a group to create a piece of music. They were able to use a range of percussion instruments to create a group composition.

The Beacon

Year 3 had a visit to the Beacon museum to see the painting ‘Birds Eye View’ painted in 1736 by Matthias Read and to learn about the Yellow Earl (Hugh Cecil Lowther). This visit helped with the ‘changes in Whitehaven’ history topic. They were able to use the information gathered from the museum to use in further lessons back at school.

Rookery Woods & Castlerigg Stone Circle

Children in year 3 had a fun day at Rookery Woods & Castlerigg Stone Circle. While at Rookery Woods, they were able to develop their orienteering skills by completing two different activities. First of all they had a sheep hunt where they had to find different coloured sheep and gather information from their tags. The second activity challenged the children’s skills. They had to use a map to find the location of different cards which displayed a letter and use these to crack a code. The children then had chance to enjoy some free time at Rookery Woods.

During the day, the children also went to Castlerigg Stone Circle. The class were able to use knowledge from their history lessons to participate in discussions about the use and location of the stone circle. They gathered further information from the boards displayed at each entrance.

C-STEM Session

The year 3 children had a session with Fran Ward from C-STEM to help with their Design Technology topic on bridges. During the session, Fran taught the children how a square could be made stronger by turning it into triangles using diagonal struts. The children then used this information to work in pairs to create a bridge using K’nex.

Weather & Climate

During the weather & climate topic, children worked together to create a large fact sheet. They needed to find different countries on a world map, identify the climate zone then link the correct precipitation and temperature graph. Finally, they annotated the document with information they were able to gather about the climate, precipitation and temperature such as dry/wet seasons, highest / lowest temperatures, why it is a certain climate etc.

In the following lessons, they started to learn about the world’s biomes. Using an atlas, climate map and biome map, the children needed to find the correct country and identify its climate and biome. They then moved on to look at the animals and vegetation within these biomes.