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ST JOHN'S SCHOOL VALUES:
Love; Friendship; Kindness; Honesty; Forgiveness
Welcome to Class 3!
PPA Cover – Mr Whiteside
P.E. Days
Thursday– Outdoor P.E.
This half term, the children will be developing their running, jumping and throwing skills, as well as improving coordination, speed, balance and teamwork during their Athletics unit this half term.. Please ensure they bring their full outdoor kit every Thursday. This should include: a white t-shirt, black or navy joggers and trainers. As the weather is still quite chilly, we recommend also sending a plain navy sweatshirt or hoodie to keep children warm and comfortable outdoors.
Friday – Indoor P.E.
On Fridays, the children will take part in gymnastics sessions again this half term. Indoor kits should be kept in school in a drawstring bag and include: a white t-shirt, black or navy shorts and plimsolls.
For health and safety reasons, earrings should not be worn during P.E. lessons. We kindly ask that any earrings are removed on P.E. days - either before school or prior to the lesson. Please note that staff are unable to assist with the removal of jewellery. If earrings cannot be removed, we ask that plasters are provided so children can cover them during P.E. sessions.
Music – Wider Opportunities
This year, Class 3 are learning to play the ukulele! We are very lucky to have Mrs Hallam, a music specialist from Blackpool Music Services, leading our weekly tuition.
Home Learning Expectations
In Class 3, we place a strong emphasis on reading. We encourage children to:
- Read aloud to an adult at least three times per week, though daily is recommended
- Spend time reading independently and reading for pleasure
- Explore a wide range of texts to foster a real love of reading
We try to encourage the children to broaden their horizons by engaging with new authors, tackling different genres and engaging with varied text types including novels, comics, diaries, newspapers and websites.
Miss Walsh
Class Teacher
Class 3: Class Timetable
Class 3: Topic Overviews
Class 3: Vocabulary Mats
Class 3 Ukulele Performance
Class 3 parents and carers are warmly invited to join us on Wednesday 17th June at 10:45am for a special music performance.
The children will be performing a variety of songs they have been learning during their ukulele sessions throughout the year and we are very excited to share their hard work and progress with you.
A donation of £2 per person on entry would be greatly appreciated as Class 3 are raising money for Donna's Dream House this half term.
We would love to see you there and thank you for your continued support.
SHOWTOWN MUSEUM (1.7.26)
As part of our History topic on the history of Blackpool, we visited Showtown Museum to learn more about how our local area has changed over time.
During a fascinating seaside workshop, we explored Blackpool through the ages, learning about how it grew from a small coastal village into a thriving seaside town. We discovered when the railway arrived, how this transformed tourism and learned about the construction of Blackpool Tower and its importance to the town's history.
We also enjoyed exploring the museum's exciting exhibits before taking part in a second hands-on workshop all about the engineering of Blackpool Tower. We investigated the different stages of its construction and examined the original design plans. Inspired by what we had learned, we worked to design and build our own model towers using sticks and Play-Doh.
It was a fantastic visit that brought our local history to life and helped us to appreciate the rich heritage of our town.
READING CAFE (30.6.26)
As part of our Year of Reading celebrations, we enjoyed hosting our very own Reading Café.
It was wonderful to welcome parents and families into school to share the joy of reading together. We spent some of the morning enjoying a selection of stories with our loved ones while sharing a drink and a biscuit in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make our Reading Café such a special event. We all had a fantastic time celebrating our love of books and reading together!
HEATWAVE! (26.6.26)
During the week of the extreme heatwave, we took a well-earned break from our learning to enjoy a refreshing ice lolly and help keep ourselves cool in the hot weather.
SCIENCE - FORCES AND MAGNETS (24.6.26)
As part of our new Science topic on forces and magnets, we have been exploring different types of magnets and investigating how they work. We enjoyed experimenting with magnets to find out what they can do, including exploring pushing and pulling forces. It was a fun and exciting introduction to our new topic and we are looking forward to learning even more about forces and magnetism.
WORLD MUSIC DAY - MOBILE MUSIC VEHICLE (22.6.26)
To celebrate World Music Day, we were lucky enough to welcome Lancashire Music Service's fantastic mobile music vehicle to our school! We had the exciting opportunity to climb aboard, explore a wide variety of musical instruments and even have a go at playing them. It was a wonderful hands-on experience that sparked lots of curiosity and enthusiasm. We had so much fun discovering new sounds and learning more about music!
WORLD CUP DAY (12.6.16)
To celebrate the start of the World Cup, we enjoyed a fantastic World Cup Day in school. We came dressed in red, white and blue, or in our favourite team's kits, creating a brilliant atmosphere across the class. We also took part in a World Cup sweepstake, where each child drew a team to follow throughout the tournament. To add to the excitement, we enjoyed an hour-long football-themed PE session with Alan, practising different football skills and trying out some impressive tricks. It was a fun-filled day full of teamwork, excitement and World Cup spirit!
TOWNELEY HALL: EGYPTOLOGY (24.5.26)
As part of our History topic on Ancient Egypt, we enjoyed an exciting visit to Towneley Hall in Burnley to explore its fascinating Egyptology collection.
During our visit, we took part in a hands-on workshop where we had the opportunity to examine a range of Ancient Egyptian artefacts, including both replica objects and genuine historical artefacts. We also brought history to life by acting out the famous Weighing of the Heart ceremony, helping us to understand Ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
After the workshop, we explored the Egyptology gallery and discovered more about life in Ancient Egypt before enjoying the chance to look around the rest of the beautiful historic hall. It was a fantastic day that deepened our understanding of this fascinating civilisation and brought our classroom learning to life.
PRIMARY ENGINEER RAIL PROGRAMME - DT: MAKING MOVING VEHICLES (18.5.26)
This year, we are excited to be taking part in a fully funded Primary Engineer Rail Programme, a fantastic STEM project that introduces us to the world of engineering through hands-on learning.
As part of our Design and Technology lessons, we have begun designing, building and testing our own moving vehicles. We started by using a cardboard box as the main body of our vehicle before constructing axles and attaching wheels. Throughout the project, we will be exploring how engineers design, build and improve their creations, testing our models and making changes to help them work more effectively.
We can't wait to continue developing our engineering skills as our vehicle designs take shape!
GEOGRAPHY: TRAWDEN - FIELDWORK VISIT (8.5.26)
As part of our Geography topic exploring Lancashire and how different places across the county compare, we visited Trawden Forest Primary School in the village of Trawden, near Burnley.
We spent the morning with the children in Class 3, discussing the similarities and differences between our schools. As a town centre school, our experiences are very different from those of a rural village school and it was fascinating to learn about each other's local environments. We also completed observational sketches of the local area before enjoying lunch in Trawden's wonderful outdoor classroom.
In the afternoon, we took a walk around the village, carrying out a traffic survey and mapping different geographical features as we went. We identified key buildings and landmarks, helping us to develop our fieldwork skills and deepen our understanding of how places within Lancashire can differ.
It was a fantastic day of learning, giving us the opportunity to apply our Geography skills in a real-life setting while making new friends.
BLACKPOOL SCHOOL'S ECO FORTNIGHT - PARK ALLOTMENT (7.5.26)
As part of Blackpool's Eco Fortnight, we enjoyed a wonderful visit to Park Community Academy's allotment, where we spent the morning taking part in a variety of eco-friendly gardening activities.
We explored the allotment, searching for and identifying different mini beasts living in their natural habitats. Using recycled materials and natural resources we found around the allotment, we created our own miniature bug hotels to provide safe homes for insects. We also made seed bombs and planted our very own sunflower to take home and care for.
It was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about looking after our environment while spending time with and getting to know some of the children from Park Community Academy. We had a brilliant morning filled with teamwork, creativity and outdoor learning!
GEOGRAPHY - LANCASHIRE: DIGITAL MAPPING (5.5.26)
In Geography, we have been using Digimap to explore the county of Lancashire and locate a range of landmarks. We developed our digital mapping skills by using a variety of tools within Digimap, including pinpoint markers, grid references and measuring tools. These activities helped us to improve our map-reading skills while learning more about the geography of our local area.
ENGLISH/HISTORY - ANCIENT EGYPT RESEARCH (30.4.26)
Our learning in History and English has come together through our exciting topic on Ancient Egypt. As part of our English lessons, we have been exploring the features of non-chronological reports and learning how to organise information clearly and effectively.
To help us write our own reports, we carried out research using a range of books, texts and websites, gathering information about different aspects of life in Ancient Egypt. We will combine this research with everything we have learned in our History lessons in order to create informative non-chronological reports.
SCIENCE- ANIMALS INCLUDING HUMANS: THE SKELETON (28.4.26)
In Science, we have been learning about the human and animal skeletons and discovering how our skeletons provide support, protection and help us to move. As part of our learning, we investigated where our bones are by carefully feeling for them in our own bodies. We then used tape to measure the length of some of our bones, estimating where each bone begins and ends. We also took on the exciting challenge of creating a skeleton for 'Mr Floppy' – a food bag filled with rice with arms and legs attached. Working together, we designed and built a skeleton to fit inside the bag, helping Mr Floppy to stand upright. It was a fantastic practical activity that helped us understand just how important our skeletons are!
GRUNDY ART GALLERY: MONET (28.4.26)
We were invited to the Grundy Art Gallery as part of the Masterpiece Tour to see an original painting by Claude Monet: The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (painted in 1872!) During our visit, we took part in an interactive workshop where we explored the colours, textures and themes in Monet’s work. We then worked with an artist to create our own Monet-inspired pieces in response to what we had seen and experienced. We were thrilled to learn that our artwork panels will be displayed at the Grundy Art Gallery this summer!
GEOGRAPHY: WHERE IS THE UK AND WHAT IS IT LIKE? (21.4.26)
This half term, we are exploring the key learning question: 'What makes Lancashire unique?' To begin our topic, we looked at the United Kingdom in a wider geographical context. We identified its position within the Northern Hemisphere and located it on the continent of Europe. We also learned about the four nations that make up the UK and explored some of its most famous landmarks. Using Google Maps and Google Earth, we zoomed in to locate landmarks across the country and developed our map-reading and digital geography skills.
BLACKPOOL CENTRAL LIBRARY (16.4.26)
We revisited the library to enjoy another story with Jules. This time, she read us Hom by Jeanne Willis. The story tells of a boy who becomes shipwrecked on a deserted island and befriends Hom, a mysterious and gentle creature who is the last of his kind.
We thoroughly enjoyed the story and loved discussing the themes of friendship, kindness and protecting the natural world. After the story, we had time to explore the shelves and choose our next library book to borrow.
BLACKPOOL ZOO (19.3.26)
We took a trip to Blackpool Zoo to learn more about a wide variety of animals and the habitats they live in around the world. We took part in an exciting workshop all about desert animals, which linked perfectly to our learning about Africa and Egypt. We found out how animals have adapted to survive in hot, dry environments and then enjoyed exploring the different enclosures to see many of these fascinating creatures up close.
SCIENCE - PLANTS: WATER TRANSPORTATION (17.3.26)
As part of our work in Science, we have set up an investigation to explore how water is transported through plants. We have placed celery stalks and carnations in coloured water so that we can observe how the dye moves through the plants. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be monitoring our plants closely and recording the changes we notice.
MOTHER'S DAY! (13.3.26)
To celebrate Mother’s Day, we got our craft on and created special cards for the women in our lives who inspire and care for us. Whether they were for mums, grandmothers, or other important family members, we took great care to design our cards to show our love and appreciation.
SCIENCE WEEK - INVESTIGATION: WHAT'S THE BEST DESIGN FOR A PAPER AEROPLANE? (12.3.26)
For our third and final Science Week activity, we investigated which type of paper and which design would make the best paper aeroplane. We worked in teams of three, partnering with one pupil from Class 1 and one from Class 6. Using a range of templates and different types of paper, we discussed our predictions and chose the designs we thought would glide the furthest. We then tested our aeroplanes to see how well they performed. It was a brilliant opportunity to work together across year groups and apply our scientific thinking in a fun, hands-on investigation.
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SCIENCE WEEK - INVESTIGATION: HOW CAN WE RECYCLE AND REUSE PAPER? (10.3.26)
As part of our second Science Week activity, we investigated how we can recycle and reuse paper. We thought about why recycling is important, then used old paper that was ready for the recycling bin to make our own! We tore the paper into small pieces, soaked it in warm water and mashed it into a thick pulp. After sieving out the excess water, we rolled the mixture flat and left it to dry. It was amazing to see how old paper can be turned into something new!
SCIENCE WEEK - INVESTIGATION: HOW DO BOATS FLOAT? (9.3.26)
We kicked off Science Week by teaming up with Class 4 to investigate how boats float! We designed and made our own rafts using only paper and/or foil, then tested them in water to see which could hold a crew of marbles or cubes. We had to think carefully about the best shapes and materials to use - it was a fun, hands-on challenge that got us thinking like real engineers!
MARTA ALTÉS - LIVE PERFORMANCE (6.3.26)
We joined Marta Altés for a live digital performance as part of The Children's Bookshow! Marta shared her love of drawing by showing us some of her childhood artwork and photos of the different places she has created her books. She read her story 'Little Monkey' and we all joined in with a fun draw-along. We even got a sneak peek of her upcoming book 'Little Tiger', which is being released in June - it was great fun! Check out some of our monkey illustrations from our draw-along.
WORLD BOOK DAY - HAT DESIGN COMPETITION (5.3.26)
As part of our World Book Day celebrations, we were challenged to design and create a ‘top hat’ inspired by one of our favourite books or characters! These are some of our fantastic entries - a huge thank you to everyone who joined in, and to those at home who helped with the designing and making of hats. We had such a fun day celebrating our love of reading!
WORLD BOOK DAY - WATERSTONES VISIT (5.3.26)
We took a short walk down to Waterstones as part of our World Book Day celebrations to exchange our book vouchers for a special World Book Day book! Some of the most popular choices in our class included: 'The Big Bang!' by Rose Ayling-Ellis, 'Factopia' by Christopher Lloyd and Kate Olesin, Jamie Smart's 'Bunny vs Monkey' and 'Chaos at the Chocolate Factory' by Sibéal Pounder. Thank you so much to the staff at Waterstones for accommodating our visit and being so welcoming!
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SCIENCE: PLANTS - FLOWER DISSECTION (4.3.26)
In Science this week, we started our new topic on plants! We began with some retrieval activities to see what we could remember from our learning in Key Stage 1 before moving on to identify and describe the functions of the different parts of a flowering plant. To help us explore this in more detail, we had lots of fun dissecting flowers and closely examining their different parts.
SARAH ROBERTS - WILD APPRENTICE WEBINAR (4.3.26)
We became ‘Wild Apprentices’ during a live webinar with conservation expert Sarah Roberts as part of our Book Week celebrations! Sarah shared stories from her work protecting wildlife around the world and taught us about ways we can help care for nature too. We also heard some fascinating facts about some of the wildest jobs out there from her new book, Wild Apprentice. It was really cool!
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YORKSHIRE BUILDING SOCIETY - MONEY ADVENTURE (4.3.26)
We were visited by staff from Yorkshire Building Society who delivered a Money Minds workshop all about money habits and budgeting. The session, called Money Adventure, helped us learn the difference between needs and wants and how to prioritise what is most important. We planned a pretend trip, thinking about travel, accommodation, food and activities for fun. Using a planning list, we tracked the cost of our choices - many of us quickly realised we had overspent on luxury items! We were then given a budget and had to rethink our plans to make them more affordable. It was quite tricky sticking to budget!
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BOOK WEEK CELEBRATIONS - READING BUDDIES! (2.3.26)
This year is the National Year of Reading, so we turned our World Book Day celebrations into a whole Book Week! As part of our activities, classes joined together to share stories. We buddied up with Class 1 and Class 6 to read and share our library book loans together - a lovely way to celebrate our love of reading!
SCIENCE: INVESTIGATING HOW SHADOWS ARE FORMED (25.2.26)
In Science, we’ve been learning about light. Over the last couple of lessons, we’ve explored how shadows are created, discovering that they form when light from a source is blocked by an opaque object. To test this out, we made our own shadow puppets! We observed that shadows take the shape of the objects blocking the light and some of us even noticed that the size of a shadow can change depending on how close the object is to the light source.
STEM WITH WINGS: SPACE WEATHER WEBINAR (24.2.26)
With Science Week on the horizon, we signed up for STEM With Wings: Space Weather - a live online workshop with Helen O'Brien from Imperial Space Lab! We learned that space weather happens in space but can still affect us here on Earth. Scientists study the Sun and collect important data to help protect the technology and systems we rely on every day. It was fascinating hearing first-hand what it’s like to work on such incredible space projects!
D.T: LEVERS & LINKAGES - FINAL DESIGNS (13.2.26)
In D.T, we’ve been exploring linkages and levers with the goal of creating our own moving pictures. We researched ideas, generated our own designs, built prototypes and tested different mechanisms. Finally, we were ready to plan and make our final designs!
CLASS WORSHIP (13.2.26)
We were proud to lead a whole school worship all about Kindness. We explored what kindness means, why it is so important, and how it is shown in the Bible. We shared the story of The Good Samaritan and reflected on what it teaches us about showing kindness to everyone we meet. We discussed how kindness can be shown in big ways, but also through small, everyday actions — even something as simple as a smile. Thank you to the parents who joined us for today’s worship!
BOLTON MUSEUM: EGYPTOLOGY (11.2.26)
To link with our learning in History, we visited Bolton Museum to explore the Egyptology collections. We began our visit with an engaging talk about ancient civilisations and worked together to create a timeline of key historical periods. This helped introduce us to Ancient Egypt and the different eras within its history, including its eventual decline.
We then learned about the fascinating process of mummification and explored a range of Egyptian artefacts, from canopic jars to real-life mummies. Our guide even invited us to take part in a hands-on activity where we acted out the embalming process, carefully placing the “organs” of a (very willing!) classmate into the correct canopic jars.
We had a fantastic time on our visit and even managed to squeeze in a quick look at the museum’s aquarium before heading home!
RE - RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL FOCUS: NIRVANA DAY (9.2.26)
As part of this half term's Religious Festivals Focus, we learned about Nirvana Day - a Buddhist festival that commemorates the passing of the Buddha into Nirvana and reflects on his teachings about peace, kindness and the end of suffering. After exploring the traditions, history and meaning behind this important day, we created lotus flower crafts. The lotus symbolises purity, enlightenment and new beginnings, as it grows beautifully from muddy water, reminding us that growth and wisdom can emerge from challenges.
NSPCC NUMBER DAY (6.2.26)
We took part in NSPCC Number Day - a fun, maths-themed day to raise money for an incredible child protection charity. Some of us made our own Number Day costumes and T-shirts and we enjoyed a range of maths activities throughout the day. We were even joined by parents for our Maths Café where we shared activities and played family bingo together! A huge thank you to all the parents who attended and to everyone who donated. As a school, we raised an amazing £277 for the NSPCC!
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HISTORY: MUMMIFICATION (4.2.26)
In History, we’ve been exploring the importance of the River Nile in different aspects of Ancient Egypt. Today, we focused on how it was used in the process of mummification. We began by examining photographs of Ancient Egyptian artefacts, including canopic jars, a sarcophagus, cranial hooks, scarab beetles and linen wraps. Working in groups, we discussed who might have used each object, what it was made from, what it was used for and whether it was practical, decorative or ritual. We then explored the mummification process step by step. Many of us agreed we’re glad we weren’t around back then… cranial hooks to remove our brains? No thank you!
RE: BLACKPOOL TABERNACLE CHURCH (3.2.26)
We visited members of the BSYW team at Blackpool Tabernacle Church to learn all about Christian baptism. During our visit, we learned about the baptism of Jesus and discussed why people choose to be baptised. We explored the differences between christenings and baptisms, as well as the different ways baptism can take place. We discovered that at the Tabernacle Church, baptisms happen in an in-ground baptistry inside the church and we even got to walk down into the pool to see what happens during the ceremony! Afterwards, we enjoyed a craft activity decorating doves, reminding us of the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus during his baptism in the Jordan River.
NATIONAL STORYTELLING WEEK (3.2.26)
As part of National Storytelling Week, we took part in an exciting online workshop with Alim Kamara! Based on the theme ‘Soundtrack your story’, the workshop explored how stories can be created and brought to life through music and rhythm. Alim showed us how rap and poetry can be powerful ways to tell stories. We loved getting creative with sound and words!
D.T: LEVERS & LINKAGES - PROTOTYPES (26.1.26)
In our last D.T. lesson, we explored how levers can be used to create moving pictures and practised replicating different mechanisms. This week, we developed our prototypes further, focusing on the design process and thinking carefully about how we could use levers to create our own moving images.
SCIENCE: OPAQUE, TRANSPARENT OR TRANSLUCENT? (2.2.26)
In Science this week, we explored how materials can be compared and classified by how much light can pass through them. We learned that opaque materials do not let light through, transparent materials allow light to pass through clearly and translucent materials let some light through but are not completely see-through. We tested a variety of different materials to observe these properties for ourselves.
COMPUTING: BRANCHING DATABASES (30.1.26)
In Computing this week, we’ve been developing our understanding of using yes/no questions to group objects more than once and learning how to arrange them into a tree structure. We continued thinking carefully about which attributes our questions related to and had a go at creating our very own branching databases!
STANLEY PARK - HALF-TERMLY FIELD STUDY VISIT (30.1.26)
We’ve been back to Stanley Park for another half-termly field study visit - our third this year! During this visit, we searched for signs of winter by completing a fun 'Winter Bingo' challenge as we walked around the park. We spotted different animals, plants and winter features. We even went for a little jog to keep warm - the air was rather crisp!
MUSIC: UKULELE TUITION (28.1.26)
We’re still very much enjoying our weekly ukulele tuition! This half term, we’ve been learning to play 'Shotgun' by George Ezra and 'We Will Rock You' by Queen. The chord changes are quite tricky but we’re doing a great job keeping the rhythm together as a group - a few of us have even started to pick up the pace!
D.T: LEVERS & LINKAGES - PROTOTYPES (26.1.26)
This half term in D.T, we’re learning about mechanical systems, focusing on levers and linkages. We’ve been exploring how levers were used by the Ancient Egyptians alongside our History learning, as well as how levers and linkages are used in everyday modern life. We’ve been practising replicating different mechanisms, building up our skills ready to design and create our own moving picture books.
RE: 'CALLED BY GOD' - HARRIET TUBMAN (26.1.26)
In R.E, we’ve been exploring the stories of Prophets and learning about how and why people are called by God. We also studied the lives of more recent figures who believed they were called by God, including Mary Seacole, Mary Slessor and Eric Liddell. This week, we focused on Harriet Tubman - an abolitionist who escaped slavery in the U.S and went on to help many others gain their freedom through the Underground Railroad. She believed God guided and protected her throughout her life. Working in groups, we researched her story and created posters to explain her life, faith and sense of calling.
SCIENCE: LIGHT SOURCES (21.1.26)
In Science, we’ve started learning about light. In today’s lesson, we identified and named natural and human-made light sources and carried out our own investigation in class. We placed objects into boxes and looked through a small hole to observe which materials produced light. Using our observations, we then grouped the objects into light sources and non-light sources, helping us to understand where light comes from.
BLACKPOOL CENTRAL LIBRARY (21.1.26)
We went back to Blackpool Central Library for our third visit of the year! During our visit, one of our local librarians read us the story Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention by Pip Jones, which follows Izzy Gizmo as she visits Technoff Isle’s annual invention convention and decides to build a recycling machine that fixes broken tools. We also exchanged our library book loans and chose some new reads to enjoy.
HISTORY: ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHS (20.1.26)
In History, we’ve been exploring the key question ‘Why was the River Nile so important for Ancient Egyptian civilisation?’ Last week, we learned about the importance of the River Nile for farming and this week we discovered its many other uses in ancient times. We explored papyrus, made from the Cyperus papyrus plant, and learned how the Ancient Egyptians used it not only for writing but also to make baskets, mats, rope and sandals. We also studied Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and had a go at writing our names on our own strips of papyrus!
LIFE SKILLS: ANIMAL AID TALK (13.1.26)
We were visited by Cath from Animal Aid, who came to talk to us about animal welfare and pets. During her visit, we discussed animals’ feelings and abilities and explored the different ways we can care for animals - both domesticated and wild.
MATHS: MEASURING VOLUME (13.1.26)
In Maths, we’ve been learning about mass and capacity. In today’s lesson, we worked practically to measure the volume of liquids using millilitres. We used a range of containers and carefully read different scales to accurately measure and compare volumes.
COMPUTING: ATTRIBUTES (9.1.26)
In Computing, we’ve started learning about branching databases as part of our data and information unit. We explored how yes/no questions can be used to identify, compare and sort objects. After creating our own questions, we used them to split collections of objects into groups, categorising them based on their different attributes.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
A little Merry Christmas from us to you!
ART: GROUP CAVE PAINTING (18.12.25)
Following our experimentation with charcoal and pencil sketches of woolly mammoths in Art, we explored mixing different shades of brown and learning how to create simple cave paintings. We used a combination of poster paints, powder paints and natural materials such as different soils to create earthy tones. After experimenting with these techniques, we worked together in groups to create our own collaborative cave paintings, inspired by prehistoric art.
SCIENCE: SOILS (15.12.25)
In Science, we moved on to learning about soils - what they are made from and how they are formed. We made predictions about what we thought soil contained, then carried out a practical investigation by adding soil to water and observing how the different ingredients separated into layers. This activity helped us clearly see the components that make up soil.
SCIENCE: FOSSILS (15.12.25)
In Science, we’ve been learning about fossil formation as part of our topic on rocks and soils. We discovered that fossils are the remains or imprints of living things that can be preserved in rock and explored the different ways fossils can form. To help us understand this process, we created our own models showing how sediment and minerals can fill the hard parts of living things after they die. Here are some photos of the models we created.
RE: HANUKKAH (15.12.25)
In R.E, we spent time learning about the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Following our learning about its meaning and traditions, we created our own craft stick Star of David, decorating them with glitter and sequins.
ART: MAMMOTH SKELETON SKETCHING (15.12.25)
In Art, we’ve been exploring the work of William Kentridge and developing our sketching skills using charcoal and chalk to draw woolly mammoths. This week, we moved on to carefully pencil-sketching the skeleton of a woolly mammoth and scientifically labelling its bones.
STANLEY PARK - HALF-TERMLY FIELD STUDY VISIT (11.12.25)
We revisited Stanley Park for the second time this year and took another walk around the grounds to observe seasonal changes. We noticed many leaves had fallen from the deciduous trees and found even more acorns scattered on the ground, which we collected ready for some winter crafts. We spotted grey squirrels, seagulls, magpies, pigeons and even parakeets high up in the trees! While we were there, we also gathered fallen twigs to create Christmas-themed pictures. It was lots of fun!
WHITE SCAR CAVE (3.12.25)
We visited White Scar Cave in the Yorkshire Dales National Park where we enjoyed a mile-long walk inside England’s longest show cave! We explored underground streams and waterfalls, flowstone, prehistoric mud pools and the vast Battlefield Cavern filled with thousands of stalactites. We learned how the cave was formed in limestone and about its discovery, stopping at fascinating features such as a waterfall discovered by Christopher Long, The Witches’ Fingers, Judge’s Head, Arum Lily, and The Devil’s Tongue. We even got to enjoy the magical Christmas lights inside the cave!
BLACKPOOL CENTRAL LIBRARY (28.11.25)
We went back to Blackpool Central Library for our third visit of the year! During our visit, one of our local librarians read us the story Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention by Pip Jones, which follows Izzy Gizmo as she visits Technoff Isle’s annual invention convention and decides to build a recycling machine that fixes broken tools.
During our visit, we also exchanged our library book loans and chose some new reads to enjoy.
GARDENING (26.11.25)
As part of a Nature Parks Grant, we enjoyed a fantastic gardening session with Heidi, one of Blackpool Council’s Park Rangers! Heidi visited us and we all got stuck in - starting with sieving soil and then doing some planting.
SCIENCE: WEATHERING AND EROSION (20.11.25)
In this week’s Science lesson, we explored the question: ‘How do natural forces change rocks over time?’ We examined different shaped rocks in the landscape and learned about weathering by reading, researching and discussing its different types. Then we moved on to erosion, creating our own river erosion models to see how flowing water can slowly wear rocks away. It was a fun, practical lesson that helped us understand how landscapes are shaped over time!
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CHILDREN IN NEED (14.11.25)
We joined thousands of others across the nation in supporting this year’s BBC Children in Need charity event! We wore non-uniform and helped decorate a giant Pudsey using loose silver change. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, our school raised an amazing £300!
MICHAEL ROSEN DAY (13.11.25)
We took part in this year’s national Michael Rosen Poetry Day - a whole day dedicated to celebrating poetry! We began with a special whole-school Michael Rosen assembly, then enjoyed a live online event with Michael Rosen himself! One of the highlights was listening to him perform some of his most famous poems, including our class favourite… Chocolate Cake! Later in the day, we shared more of his poems and even had a go at writing our own versions of ‘I Am Hungry’. A brilliant, creative day filled with rhythm, more rhyme and lots of laughs!
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH (7.11.25)
All through October, we celebrated Black History Month in class by sharing fantastic stories written by amazing Black authors and learning about the achievements of inspirational Black individuals. Each class across school was asked to learn about a significant Black figure and share their story with the whole school at the end of the month. In Class 3, we chose to learn about Flight Lieutenant John Henry Smythe (often known as Johnny Smythe) — a Sierra Leonean and British hero. We were absolutely amazed by his incredible story. Here are some pictures from our feedback assembly where we shared what we'd learnt with the whole school.
ART: CREATING OUR VOLCANO MASTERPIECES! (24.10.25)
Following on from our experimentation lesson in Art, we created our own beautiful pieces inspired by Margaret Godfrey! We used a range of watercolour techniques and mixed our own colours to produce vibrant, expressive masterpieces capturing the energy and movement of her style.
HARVEST FESTIVAL: BLACKPOOL CHURCH (23.10.25)
We were so proud to lead this year’s Harvest Festival at church! We chose to retell 'Frank and the Pea Stalk' - a story shared by Christian Aid and inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk. It tells the story of Frank, a farmer from Malawi, who struggles to grow his crops due to extreme and changing weather, represented by an ogre symbolising climate change. We linked our worship to our learning in R.E. about how people of all faiths and worldviews celebrate harvest in different ways and how this special time helps us give thanks for the earth, nature and the people who grow our food.
ART: EXPERIMENTATION (20.10.25)
This half term, we’ve been studying the artwork of Margaret Godfrey - a conceptual artist and pattern painter who uses watercolor, acrylic, ink and collage in her creative pieces. As part of our art lessons, we’ve been sketching volcanic eruptions from photographs and exploring Margaret’s vibrant volcano paintings. This week, we revisited our watercolor techniques from Year 2 and learned how to mix secondary and tertiary colours, ready to create our own volcano-inspired masterpieces!
STANLEY PARK - HALF-TERMLY FIELD STUDY VISIT (20.10.25)
We visited Stanley Park for the first of our half-termly field study visits this year! We took a walk around the grounds, observing the signs of autumn: colourful leaves falling from the trees, acorns and conkers on the ground, squirrels on the hunt for food and the cooler, breezier weather setting in.
VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES WORKSHOP (10.10.25)
We were visited by Jessica from 'One Day Creative', who led an amazing Earthquakes & Volcanoes workshop for us! We spent the day exploring the key aspects of these natural disasters through voice, movement, role play and drama. It was such a fun and engaging day - we learned so much about volcanoes, earthquakes and significant historical events!
P.E WITH ALAN: CARDIO DESK DRUMMING! (3.10.25)
We always look forward to our P.E. lessons with Alan! Although the weather wasn’t on our side for an extra outdoor session this week, we made the most of it indoors with some energetic cardio desk drumming - it was an absolute blast!
SCIENCE: ROCK PERMEABILITY TEST (2.10.25)
We've been learning about how geologists test different rocks for permeability. This tells them which rocks allow liquid, e.g. water, to pass through! We carried out an investigation to test the permeability of a range of different rocks and then compared and grouped them based on the results of our investigation.
'MYHAPPYMIND' (30.9.25)
We’re excited to be continuing with myHappymind this year - a digital mental wellness program! We’ve been learning about how our brains work and how to take care of them so we can manage our emotions and be our best selves. Here are some photos of us enjoying our learning and practicing our happy breathing!
SCIENCE: ROCK HARDNESS TEST (25.9.25)
We carried out a rock hardness test in Science to explore the physical properties of different rocks. We tested common types such as marble, granite, slate, limestone, chalk and gneiss, then sorted them into 'hard' and 'soft' categories based on our results.
BLACKPOOL CENTRAL LIBRARY (23.9.25)
We enjoyed our first trip of the year to Blackpool Central Library where we shared stories with our local librarian, Jules. She read us 'Basil Dreams Big' by Lu Fraser - a wonderful tale about resilience and self-belief, perfect for the start of a new school year. Jules also shared 'If I Had a Dragon' by Gabby Dawnay and we even had the chance to borrow some new library books to take back to school.
SCIENCE: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ROCKS (18.9.25)
We explored how different types of rocks can be represented by chocolate bars! We compared the textures and features of chocolates to rock characteristics - Bounty for crystals, Dairy Milk for fossils, Wispa for gas bubbles, Maltesers for a glassy surface, Kit Kat for ribbon-like layers and a Double Decker for sand or pebbles! This built on our learning from the last lesson, when we examined and classified rocks based on their exterior properties. A fun (and tasty!) way to learn about rocks and their properties!
MUSIC: UKULELE TUITION (17.9.25)
During our second ukulele session of the year, we received our very own instruments! We learned how to handle them correctly, identified the different strings and practiced playing chord C. Using this chord, we’ve started learning to play ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ - our first song on the ukulele!
SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS (11.9.25)
We were very excited to take part in our first ever KS2 School Council Elections! Several children from our class put themselves forward as candidates to become our new school council representatives. We visited our very own ‘Polling Station’ to cast our votes in secret, using ballot papers just like in a real election. Through this experience, we learned about democracy and the importance of having a voice. Our newly elected representatives will share our ideas and opinions at regular meetings throughout the year.
SCIENCE: IDENTIFYING ROCKS (11.9.25)
Exploring the world of rocks! We examined different samples, noting their texture, color, composition and patterns. Then we recorded our observations and classified the rocks into groups based on their physical properties.
MUSIC: UKULELE TUITION (10.9.25)
We’re so excited to be learning the ukulele this year as part of our Wider Opportunities music lessons! In our first session, we found out how to hold the instrument and explored all its different parts
SCIENCE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ROCKS (3.9.25)
As an introduction to our first science topic, ‘Rocks and Soils,’ we’ve been exploring and observing the properties of a range of different rocks. We examined their colours and textures and then began sorting and grouping them based on their appearance.
SPRING 2
Our current focus texts are:
The Story of Tutankhamun by Patricia Cleveland-Peck
The Ancient Egypt Sleepover by Stephen Davies
Books we have shared so far this half term include:
SPRING 1
Our focus text for Spring 1 was:
The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo
Books we shared this half term included:
AUTUMN 2
Our focus texts for Autumn 2 were:
Stone Age Boy by Satoshi Kitamura
How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth by Michelle Robinson
Books we shared this half term included:
AUTUMN 1
Our focus text for Autumn 1 was:
Escape from Pompeii by Christina Balit
Books we shared this half term included:
EXTREME READING CHALLENGE
We’re launching an ‘Extreme Reading’ challenge in Class 3 this half term to celebrate reading for pleasure!
Your mission is simple: find an unusual, obscure or wonderfully wacky place to enjoy a book, snap a photo of your wild reading adventure and send it in to us. We’ll create a display in class to showcase all the brilliant entries.
Members of our school family will then be invited to vote for their favourite photo and there will be a prize for the most creative submission! The deadline for sending in photos is Monday 23rd February, giving you plenty of time to get imaginative over the half-term holidays.
We can’t wait to see where your reading takes you!
SPELLINGS
Spelling Practice - W/C 2nd March 2026
Miss Walsh's Group |
Mrs Jackson's Group |
Miss Millar's Group |
| Prefix 'dis-' | 'wr' makes a /r/ sound | '-un', '-er', '-est' |
|
disappoint |
write written wrong wrap wren wrecked wrapped wriggle wrestle wrote |
fresher |
You can practise your weekly spellings on EdShed:
PAST SPELLINGS
W/C 9th February 2026
Miss Walsh's Group |
Mrs Jackson's Group |
Miss Millar's Group |
| Prefix 're-' | 'kn' and 'gn' - /n/ sound | Suffixes '-ing' and '-ed' |
|
redo |
knock know knee knit knew knight gnome kneel gnat gnaw |
buzzing |
W/C 2nd February 2026
Miss Walsh's Group |
Mrs Jackson's Group |
Miss Millar's Group |
| Words ending '-ture' | 'c' makes an /s/ sound | Plurals: ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ |
|
sculpture |
circle city lace rice circus cell fancy ice space race |
dogs |
W/C 26th January 2026
Miss Walsh's Group |
Mrs Jackson's Group |
Miss Millar's Group |
| Words ending '-sure' | 'g' makes /j/ sound | Words with the 'tch' trigraph |
|
measure |
gem gym giant magic giraffe energy digit engine religion gentle |
catch |
W/C 19th January 2026
Miss Walsh's Group |
Mrs Jackson's Group |
Miss Millar's Group |
| 'y' makes /i/ sound | 'ge' makes /j/ sound | /k/ sound spelt 'k' and 'nk' |
|
gym |
change charge range orange hinge strange dungeon sponge pigeon fringe |
bank |
W/C 12th January 2026
Miss Walsh's Group |
Mrs Jackson's Group |
Miss Millar's Group |
| 'ou' makes /u/ sound | 'dge' makes /j/ sound | Words ending ff,ll,ss,zz,ck |
|
touch |
badge edge bridge dodge fudge ridge smudge judge wedge lodge |
puff fluff bell doll grass kiss buzz fizz clock back |
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