The best things about Downing Street...

We have been talking lots recently about how far you have all come this year. I am very proud of the progress you have made in learning and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you all grow up into such sensible, caring and funny young people. You all make me smile everyday!

As we start to think about moving into a new year group, it is a good time to consider what has been great about Year 3 and what we love about our very special class.

So, for this weeks post, I would love you to share your thoughts on 'The best things about Downing Street...'

You could write this in a poem, notes, put it into a story- whatever your imagination thinks is best.

My best thing about Downing Street is....... All of you!

I look forward to seeing what you have to say!

True or False?

This week I am setting you a true or false problem to research.

You should read the statement below, carry out some research and then post whether the statement is true or false with an explanation below.

So here it is...

Zebras cannot see the colour orange.

 

Perseus and Medusa

We have loved this myth, your role plays were fantastic!

Using what you know about the story, can you write it in your own words for this weeks post?

I look forward to reading them!

Myths

This week in Literacy we have been learning about Myths. We especially enjoyed Theseus and The Minotaur! What different myths do you know?

Write a few sentences about your favourite myth.

Science Projects

For your homework this week, we would like you to begin thinking about what investigation you could carry out for your Science Fair projects.

Our focus for science week is forces and magnetism. Although your project doesn’t have to be based on this area, it could provide a little inspiration.

You could post notes of your plan on our blog.

Remember, you will need to work on your science project over half term and bring to school for the fair on Thursday 5^th June. They should be presented on paper no larger than A1. You can use photos and written reports to explain the investigation that you carried out at home.

Play scripts

We have been learning about how to write a play script. This week, think of a story you have read recently and have a go at turning a section of it into a play.

You must remember to use the features we have learnt about including stage directions. 

 

Using speech marks

This week we have been learning about the rules of dialogue.

 I would like you to have a go at adding the speech marks in the correct places. It is quite tricky. You’ll probably need to read through the passage several time to work out what each character is saying.

 

Excuse me, said the man. Can you tell me what the time is? I think it’s about 8 o’clock, replied Graham. I haven’t got my watch on but I remember seeing the time on the town hall clock a few minutes ago. The town hall! said the man. That’s just what I’m looking for. Can you point me in the right direction? Certainly, said Graham. You just go down there past the bank, turn left, go straight on and the town hall will be on your right hand side. Brilliant, said the man, Thanks for your help. That’s okay, said Graham.

 

You might also want to consider how else you can improve this passage by following other rules for writing dialogue such as using a new paragraph for a new speaker.

The Romans

I have been so impressed with the quality of your Roman projects. You have clearly done lots of research.

For your post this week, I would like you to tell me about the most interesting Roman fact you have learnt about.

I can't wait to hear them!

Happy Mother's Day

This week in class we talked a lot about our mums and how special they are! In Literacy, we started to look at how to write a great set of instructions.

I was wondering whether we could combine the two...

Can you write a set of instructions for the perfect mum? Remember to think about the key features of instructions we identified this week (I have listed some below) and think about what it takes to be a superb mum. Maybe you could ask your mums to give you a few ideas; they are the experts after all.

Key features of instruction texts:
An opening
Imperative (bossy) verbs
Time connectives
Written in chronological order
A closing statement

River Trip

We had a brilliant time on our trip last week. We carried out lots of activities which helped us to learn more about how special the River Thames is. These activities also reminded us about some of the other things we have learnt this year like the water cycle.

Write a post which tells us what you did and what you learnt on the day. You might also want to say why you would recommend the trip to other children.

Happy blogging!

Rivers

This week in Downing Street class we have been preparing to go on our River trip to Teddington and Kingston to learn more about the River Thames. 

What do you know already about rivers? Try to include as much of the technical vocabulary as you can.

Here are some words to help you:

estuary, mouth, watershed, transportation,

source, tributary, meander, waterfall, gorge

Tell me why!

Another 'Tell me why!' problem this week. You will need to carry out a little research to find the answer but make sure you write up your findings in your own words.

Here it is...

Why does a compass always point north?

I'll post an answer next week.

Happy blogging! :-)

The Jolly Postman

For our Bookworms topic, we have been looking at the story of the Jolly Postman.

Choose your favourite character from the story and write a diary entry pretending to be them. Write a short piece of writing about the day the postman came to visit you!

Choose from the list of characters below:

The Three Bears

The Witch

The Giant

Cinderella

“Grandma” ( The Big Bad Wolf)

Goldilocks

 

Volcanoes

During this term we have really enjoyed learning about Rocks and Soils in Science. We especially enjoyed learning about volcanoes. What have you learnt about volcanoes? Can you explain how and why they erupt? 

Adventure stories

 This week we have been continuing our topic on adventure stories. We love adventure stories in Downing Street class!

Which adventure stories are your favourite?

When writing your comment, try and answer these questions:

1) What is the name of the adventure story and who wrote it?
2) Can you describe what happens in the story briefly?
3) Can you explain why it is one of your favourite stories?
4)What does it have that makes it a great adventure story?

Tell me why!

The time has come for another 'Tell me why' problem.

Can you tell me why deserts are hot in the day and cold at night?

I will post the answer next week.

Kidnapped!

This week in Literacy we have been reading and retelling a short story called 'Kidnapped' by Pie Corbett. 

 

Somebody was coming up the stairs! Ducking down behind an old crate, we waited. I could feel my heart thumping like a bass drum and my throat felt tight and dry with dust…and the crush of fear. What if we were caught? The strange girl glanced at me through the semi-gloom and grinned. I thought that she was trying to be reassuring.

Gradually, the door opened and we could hear someone tiptoeing in. There was a pause and then a torch flickered on. Its beam stabbed the darkness, seeking us out, nosing into all the hidden corners. Holding my breath, I tried to make myself as small as possible. After a few moments, the light switched off. Whoever it wasstood quite still, listening. We could hear each rasping breath. Then the door shut and the footsteps clicked back down the stairs. Relieved, I let out a sigh. As we clambered out of the window and slithered down the wet roof, I was trying to remember how I had got into such a mess.

It had only been half an hour ago when Mum had sent me down to the chippie with a tenner and strict orders for no vinegar on her chips. When I reached the Stroud roundabout, I couldn’t help looking at the old house. It was ready for demolition, which was a shame because we had played there for years! It was then that I’d seen it; a light at the window. Then I saw a face. I stood there staring. It was a girl, mouthing a word and the word was, ‘HELP’.

That’s how it happened. I’d broken in round the back through a smashed window. Half a minute later and I’d found her, a trapped prisoner in an upstairs room. She’d only just finished telling me that she was the American ambassador’s daughter, Cindy Breakwell, and about the ransom money when the kidnappers had returned to move her to a safe house.

So there we were, balancing on the wall, as if we were walking the plank. Gripping the guttering tightly, I lowered myself down. Five minutes later and we were back at Mum’s. “So Ron, where’s the fish and chips?” she asked, eyeing Cindy suspiciously.

Half an hour after that, Cindy’s Dad arrived in an embassy car. All the net curtains on the St Petroc’s estate started to twitch with curiosity. That night it wasn’t just chips for tea. He took us all out for a big meal. Amazingly, the next day, there I was in the local paper. A hero.

 

Can you retell the story in your own words?  Challenge - Try to retell it in 100 words.

Poetic Features

This week in Literacy we have been writing and editing our own Extreme Environment shape poems. Our class have written a range of shape poems about icebergs, snowflakes, polar bears and penguins. Here is an example we came up with. What features can you spot?






                                                  A

                                               giant

                                         icy iceberg is

                                       as delicate as icicles.

                             Slippery pieces sliding down

                                       the iceberg and cracking

                                open under the grey,

                                                dirty

                                              water.

More poetry

We've been looking at shape poems over the past two weeks and you have all been so brilliant in writing imaginative and vivid poems.

I think it would be a lovely idea if you could share some of your poetry with each other.

You do not need to write the same poem as you did in class and I have put a photo below to give you some more inspiration in case you are stuck but if you would like to post your poems below, I would love to read them!

Remember to encourage your families and friends to have a look and leave you comments on your work too.

Think back to the success criteria we created in class to keep you on track and make sure you use all your senses to help you with your description.

Poetry

We have been looking at shape poetry and calligrams. We have noticed that some shape poems have alliteration in them.

Can you create a whole sentence using alliteration?

Here is an example to help you.

E.g. My mother munched many mangoes.