Philosophy Friday inspired by a squirrel!
Philosophy
Today in class, we explored Philosophy Friday. This is a time where we pause, think deeply and ask big questions about the world around us.
Our discussion was inspired by a surprising moment… Miss Gilliland discovered a squirrel in the class bird feeder (Click to watch the video! ) She stood up to scare it away, reminding us that the feeder is meant for birds. Was the squirrel being resourceful to find food or greedy and stealing from the birds?
This simple moment led us to a much bigger question:
We shared lots of thoughtful ideas:
”All animals are equally important because they are all part of nature.” – Izabella
”Humans sometimes prioritise certain animals, like pets or endangered species.” – Alexa.
There wasn’t one right answer and that’s what philosophy is all about! It helped us listen, reflect and respectfully challenge each other’s ideas.
Spring Equinox
Today also marks the Spring Equinox, the time of year when day and night are nearly equal and it officially signals the start of spring!
To celebrate, we went on a mini ‘spring spot’ around our school and noticed signs of the new season:
Help at home:
What do you think? Is it right to care for other animals and not others. Can you give any examples? And what signs of spring have you spotted?
Maths: Counting in multiples 2s, 5s, 20s, 25s and 50s
This week in maths we have been learning to count forwards and backwards in multiples of 2, 5, 20, 25 and 50. We practised this by chanting together, using number lines and discussing how we can tell when numbers are counting in a particular multiple.
The children did a great job spotting patterns and explaining how they know a sequence is counting in a certain multiple. We talked about looking carefully at the step between numbers and checking whether the pattern stays the same.
E.g. I know that the difference between 385 and 390 is 5. I also know that multiples of 5 end in a 0 or a 5.
We also discussed how this skill will help us later in maths. If we know how to count in these multiples, it will help us when we move on to units of measure and capacity, as we will be able to work out different intervals more easily.
A key message we shared with the class is that in maths it is important to pause and think before answering a question. We encouraged the children to ask themselves:
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What do we already know?
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What is the question asking us to do?
What do we already know? I know that the midpoint between 100ml and 200ml is 150ml. Each interval is worth 50ml. With this knowledge, I know that there is 150ml of water in the jug.
What is the question asking us to do? The question wants to know how much more water is needed to fill the jug.
Taking a moment to think helps us choose the right strategy and solve problems more confidently.
Help at home:
You might like to practise at home by asking your child to count in 2s, 5s, 20s, 25s or 50s, forwards and backwards, or by spotting the pattern in a sequence of numbers.
You could even try and answer the reasoning question above. Remember! What do we already know? What is the question asking us to do?
Poetry – Good Hope
This week in Year 3 we explored the powerful poem Good Hope by the famous poet Benjamin Zephaniah. The children spent time reading and discussing the poem and thinking about its important message about hope, kindness and believing in people.
We talked about what the poet means when he says “I believe” and the class shared their own ideas about what they believe in and what gives them hope in the world. The poem helped us think about how people from different religions, cultures and backgrounds can live together peacefully and treat each other with respect.
The class also enjoyed performing the poem aloud. We practised reading it with expression, clear voices and confidence. Some children performed in small groups, using actions and different voices to bring the poem to life. It was wonderful to see everyone working together and sharing the poem’s message.
We also looked closely at the illustrations in the poem and discussed what the growing hands might represent. The children had some thoughtful ideas about how hope can grow when people help each other.
Questions to ask your child at home:
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What is the poem Good Hope about?
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What does the poet say he believes in?
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Why do you think the poem repeats the words “I believe”?
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What do you believe in?
World Book Day!
Year 3 had a fantastic time celebrating World Book Day this year. Everyone came to school dressed up as their favourite book character and it was brilliant to see so many creative costumes. More importantly, everyone got involved in the activities and shared their love of reading.
This year our class book was How to Be a Lion by Ed Vere. The story explores important themes about identity and reminds us that there isn’t just one way to be something. Even though we might belong to the same group, we can all still be different in our own ways.
After reading the book, we had a fun discussion about what it means to ‘be a Year 3.’ We came up with some ideas together- like supporting Leeds United because it’s our local football team and liking the colours blue, purple and yellow because they are our school colours. Not everyone agreed with all of these! That helped us realise something important: we might all be the same in some ways e.g. we are Year 3, we are 7/8 years old and we live in England, but we are also all different e.g. we have different heights, backgrounds, religions and favourite subjects and interests.
Inspired by the story, we designed our own lions. At first they all looked the same, but when you looked closely at their manes, they were all unique. Each mane was filled with different colours and words that described who we are as individuals.
To finish our wonderful World Book Day, we visited Year 2 and shared some stories with them. Then we ended the day with a cosy hot chocolate while enjoying some more reading together.
What a brilliant day celebrating books, creativity and what makes each of us unique!
Cross Country Finals!
On Tuesday, two of our Key Stage 2 children represented Leeds at the West Yorkshire cross country final at Temple Newsam in the glorious sunshine.
We are very proud of our runners who raced in tough, competitive conditions, with the best runners from across West Yorkshire. They both put in 100% effort and were a great support for each other. The children should feel proud of competing at this level.
Our two runners managed to finish in 56th (out of 141) and 22nd place (out of 151) – a fantastic achievement for both.
Thank you to parents who helped with transport and supported at the event.
Living and Learning; I know what a drug is
This week, we have been learning about what a drug is.
We learned the definition:
A drug is a substance that changes the way the body or mind works.
We discussed how some substances at home are drugs, such as medicines, because they change the way the body works. We also talked about other household substances, like cleaning products. Although cleaning products are not drugs, they are still important to learn about because they can be harmful if used incorrectly. We discussed why we use these substances. For example, medicines help us feel better when we are ill and cleaning products help keep our homes clean and safe.
We also discussed the risks. Some drugs can be harmful if they are used in the wrong way, taken in the wrong amount or touched without permission. That is why it is very important that children only take medicine given to them by a trusted adult.
We looked carefully at a medicine packet and discussed the important information on it:
We learned that this information is there to help keep us safe.
The children showed great maturity during this discussion and asked thoughtful questions about staying safe at home.
You can support your child by:
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Talking about what medicines are used for in your home.
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Reminding children that medicines should only be taken with a trusted adult.
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Looking at labels together and discussing why instructions and warnings are important.
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Explaining that cleaning products are not for children to use and should always be kept safely stored.
Thank you for supporting our learning about staying safe.
Living and Learning: I know that people should treat others respectfully when online.
Today in class we took part in Safer Internet Day and learned all about how to stay safe online. We talked about what personal information is and why it’s important to keep it private when using the internet and apps.
Some websites may ask for our personal information, such as Roblox asking for our date of birth. We discussed how this can be okay when it is needed in order to use a website or app safely. However, we learned that we must always tell a trusted adult if we are asked to give information like this and never share personal details without permission.
We also explored misinformation and disinformation, learning that not everything we see online is true and how to think carefully before believing or sharing information. We discussed ways to check whether information is reliable and trustworthy.
Another important focus was how to be respectful online. We shared ideas about being kind, using appropriate language and thinking about how our words and actions can affect others. We agreed that if you wouldn’t say it to the person’s face, you shouldn’t be saying it online.
Finally, we discussed different strategies to stay safe online, including using strong passwords, keeping personal information private and telling a trusted adult if something online makes us feel worried or uncomfortable.
Help at home: Talk about personal information. When might a website need it? Who could you ask if you’re not sure?
School Trip!
We had an amazing time on our school trip to the Yorkshire Museum in York, where we learned all about the Roman way of life. We explored fascinating Roman artefacts and discovered that York’s Latin name was Eboracum.
We also got to march like a Roman legion (IMG_2234), learning how Roman soldiers worked together. Things got very exciting when we put our Roman army tactics into action and attacked Miss Gilliland! Luckily, we’re hoping she’ll make a full recovery from her battle wounds and be back teaching tomorrow.
We also walked down to the River Ouse to look at the flood defences, which will be really helpful for our next topic in Geography.
One of the highlights from the day was having lunch with friends, where we had a catch-up and talked about everything we’ve learnt so far.
Check out the photos below!
Year 3 Publish Their Independent Writing Using Laptops
Year 3 have been working hard on typing and publishing their independent writing based on a recount about the Romans coming to invade the Celts. Once our writing was finished, we took out the laptops and began using our key typing skills to turn our work into a published piece.
At first, some children found typing challenging, but everyone showed great perseverance. As we practised, we became more confident using the keyboard, especially remembering how to make capital letters by holding the shift key and pressing a letter.
The children also learned why touch typing is such an important skill. Touch typing helps us type more quickly and accurately without needing to look at the keyboard all the time. This means we can focus on our ideas and writing, rather than searching for letters and it helps us work more independently and confidently.
By the end of the session, Year 3 showed improved speed, accuracy and resilience, taking pride in seeing their work neatly presented and published.
Help at home:
Practice touch typing at home by using ‘TypingTom‘ . TypingTom is a free online touch typing practice website designed to help people learn to type correctly using all their fingers and without looking at the keyboard.
Year 3 Take Part in the RSPB Big Birdwatch
Year 3 had a wonderful time taking part in the RSPB Big Birdwatch during our Forest School session. We walked around the area very quietly, using our observation skills to spot and record the birds we could see and hear.
The children have become confident birdwatchers and showed a growing understanding of bird habitats. They know that birds such as the tit family and smaller birds like bramblings where they can stay protected. Year 3 are also getting very good at identifying birds not just by how they look, but by the sounds they make, listening carefully to birdsong even when the birds were hidden.
This experience created many moments of “wows”, as the children felt a sense of awe and wonder while being still and noticing the beauty of nature around them. Walking quietly encouraged calmness and focus, helping the children feel more connected to the natural world. They began to understand how all living things are connected and how each bird has its own place and purpose within its habitat. A bit like humans!
After our session with Sarah, we made bird feeders, this time using cheese and raisins- who knew birds were cheese lovers! This activity helped the children reflect on their responsibility to care for living things, recognising that even small actions can make a positive difference.
Overall, the Big Birdwatch helped Year 3 develop a deeper spiritual connection with nature, encouraging curiosity, respect, reflection and a sense of belonging within the wider world.
Help at home:
Discuss our findings. Eg. What bird was the most/least common? Why was there more ____ birds than ____ birds?
