Elland C of E Junior, Infant & Nursery School (VA)

May God give us the courage to try, the will to succeed and hope without limits

Westgate, Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 0BB

01422373159

admin@elland.calderdale.sch.uk

Year 3

ASIA

Newsletter

Messages

What we’ve been doing…

Mental health workshop

This afternoon, Year Three took part in a 'Mental health' workshop. They discussed what mental health was, ways in which we can look after it and why this is so important to do. The children then completed an activity where they considered people they can share their feelings with, ways they can relax and routines that help them.

Cooking Week

This week, we celebrated Cooking Week with a festive activity! The children worked in three groups to create a delicious edible Christmas wreath. They prepared hummus from scratch and chopped a variety of fresh, tasty vegetables to use as dippers. Many children thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon snack and are eager to try making it again at home.

Reindeer Run

Year Three had a fantastic time participating in the Reindeer Run this year. Some students completed an impressive 20 laps around the playground! We enjoyed listening to Christmas music, spending time outdoors, and feeling proud of the funds we raised for charity.

Neolithic Village

In our History unit, the children have been learning about prehistory. This lesson focused on the Neolithic period of the Stone Age, particularly its houses. Working in three teams, the children built their own Neolithic villages using various materials. They all turned out fantastic, and I was proud of the teamwork displayed.

The Final Forest School Session

Year Three thoroughly enjoyed their final forest school session. 

Forest School

Recently, Year 3 had a Forest School session at Cross Lane. The children had a brilliant morning and showcased their teamwork skills as they worked diligently to maintain the paths by moving woodchip and fern cuttings onto the forest. The children enjoyed exploring the forest, climbing tress, building dens and even 'fishing' in the pond. Natasha, the forest school leader, also showed the children a medlar fruit and some of the children and staff were brave enough to taste them. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that they tasted like apples. The children are very excited for their next session.

Winter Care Packs

We are grateful to VSI Alliance for generously donating Winter Care Packs to our entire school! The Year Three children were thrilled to receive their packs and appreciate all the thoughtful items inside.

Yorkshire Museum

Year Three has visited the Yorkshire Museum, stepping into the role of 'time champions' to assist historical figures in returning to their proper time periods. The children had a fantastic time engaging with the technology, exploring the museum's artifacts, and working with their friends. It was an enjoyable and memorable day for everyone.

Glockenspiels

Year Three are thoroughly enjoying their music unit this half term! They have been learning to play the glockenspiels and have already mastered two different songs. One of these even challenged them to play in parts with a partner. It's clear we have some budding musicians in Year Three!

Drama

The Year 3 students had a fantastic time bringing scenes from our book to life by acting them out. This hands-on activity helped them dive deeper into the characters’ actions and think about their motivations. The children then added their own dialogue, thoughtfully deciding what each character might say in each scene. Broadway beckons, Year 3!

Printmaking

Building on their amazing sculptures, Year 3 have created stamps featuring ammonites and used them to make vibrant prints in their sketchbooks. Some students chose to create repeating patterns, others followed a specific colour scheme, while some embraced the freedom of a more "random" approach to their printmaking. I am incredibly impressed with the artwork Year 3 has produced throughout this unit, and I’m confident that Yellena James, our source of inspiration, would be blown away by their creativity.

Ammonite Sculptures

Our students have completed their stunning ammonite sculptures, inspired by the vibrant artwork of Yellena James. Drawing from her signature style, the children used highlighters to add the bright, glowing colours she is known for. They are all incredibly proud of their creations, and it’s easy to see why – just look at how amazing they turned out!

forest SCHOOL

The children in Year Three had a fantastic time during their second Forest School session! They spent the morning building dens and treehouses, creating their own swings, and even hanging from tree branches. It was wonderful to see them fully immersed in nature, exploring the environment and appreciating the wildlife around them. Their creativity and teamwork made the session both fun and educational.

Soil Experiment

In Science, Year Three learnt about four different types of soil and their various uses. They then carried out an experiment to test the permeability of each soil type. Working in teams, they used filter paper, funnels, and measuring jugs to conduct the experiment. Year Three, which soil proved to be the most permeable?

World Mental Health Day

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, Year Three participated in various activities aimed at promoting mental well-being. The children worked through a mindfulness booklet that encouraged them to reflect on what makes them special, their personal definition of happiness, and activities that support their well-being. They engaged in creative tasks, enjoyed physical activity during their PE lesson, spent time outdoors and with friends, and practiced kindness toward themselves and others. Hopefully, they'll have a restful night's sleep to support their mental health for tomorrow.

Yellena James

This half term, our art unit is inspired by the work of Yellena James, a female artist known for drawing inspiration from nature and the environment. Year 3 were particularly captivated by her use of bright, imaginative colours, with many exclaiming, "It looks like it's glowing!" Inspired by her work, the children have begun sculpting ammonite fossils—a perfect connection to our Science unit on rocks, soils, and fossils. So far, they’ve crafted the outer shell and chamber walls using tin foil and masking tape. To strengthen their sculptures, they have applied a layer of papier-mâché and are eagerly looking forward to the lesson where they’ll add colour.

Layers Of The Earth

For our 'Gold Balloon treat,' the Year Three children created a delicious dirt pudding, which tied in perfectly with our Science unit. Each tasty layer of food symbolised a different layer of the Earth. Strawberry sauce represented the molten mantle, a broken digestive biscuit stood for the Earth's crust, and chocolate chips signified the bedrock, among other layers. The children had a blast assembling the pudding, but they enjoyed eating it even more! So, Year Three, which layer was the tastiest?

Confectionery Creations

Over the past two weeks, Year 3 have been busy designing their own unique confectionery treat. They had to select their product, give it a special power, and come up with a catchy name—all in an effort to impress none other than Mr. Willy Wonka. The children then created persuasive leaflets to advertise their product, showcasing just how amazing it is. In a Dragon's Den-style activity, they pitched their creations to Willy Wonka (played by Miss Johnson in disguise), who rewarded them with play money based on the value of their product. The children have absolutely loved this mini-topic, and I’ve been so impressed by their creativity. We’ve seen sweets that make you taller and stronger, sweets that style or change the color of your hair, sweets that glow in the dark, and even a sweet that gives you superpowers!

Coding

Today, Year 3 applied their coding skills to test and debug various programmes. Working in pairs, they demonstrated excellent teamwork throughout the classroom. They had a great time getting the monkey, rocket, and superhero codes to function properly. Year 3 is excited for the next two lessons, where they'll use these skills to design and create their own computer programs. 

School Councillors

Introducing Year 3's school council representatives: Esme and Ava-Marie! These two students will take on the important role of listening to their classmates' feedback, attending meetings throughout the year, helping make key decisions on school matters, and proudly representing both our class and school.

PCSO Visit

This morning, Year 3 was visited by two PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers), who spoke to the children about the dangers of vaping. The class were very sensible throughout the session and learned a great deal. They can now explain the risks associated with vaping and thoroughly enjoyed the informative experience.

 

Commas In A List

Year Three have been learning how to use commas to write lists, a skill they will incorporate into their persuasive adverts for their marvelous, tasty creations designed to impress Mr. Willy Wonka. The children had fun replacing all the extra "ands" with "macaroni commas" before copying the lists into their books! 

Forest School

Year 3 had a fantastic time at their first Forest School session. It was entirely child-led, allowing them to explore, investigate, and, most importantly, have fun. They made mud pies, splashed in muddy puddles, climbed trees, rode makeshift trains, and even helped improve the paths by moving wood chips. They’re already excited for the next session!

Rocks Part 2

Each table group was tasked with selecting the ideal rock for various uses: the roof of a new building, a statue in the local park, a ramp at a skate park, and Miss Johnson's new kitchen countertop. Each group demonstrated excellent teamwork and investigative skills. They employed various testing methods on the rocks and reached impressive conclusions.

Rocks

Year 3 loved exploring my collection of rocks in Science. They used magnifying glasses to take a closer look  and then used a Rock Classification sheet to identify each type of rock they had been given. 

If you are worried about anything when you are online click the HELP internet safety button.Staying Safe Online