Settlements

On Wednesday 23^rd September, as keen geographers, we carried out physical and human geographical fieldwork of our local area and observed and collected data about the type of settlement we live in. We undertook a traffic survey and observed types of housing, services and green spaces. We observed that we live in a borough of a city settlement, as we identified our local area as more urban than rural. Old Trafford is a very developed area, meaning there is a density of human structures, such as houses, commercial buildings, transport and busy roads.

We also took time out to appreciate God’s wonderful creation as we have been learning about 'The Creation Story' in Genesis 1:1-30. We shared joy and reflection in Seymour Park Community Garden. As we know, we are all made in the 'Image and likeness of God'; we showed human dignity by saying a lovely good morning to neighbours we met along the way. We thought about how the earth is God’s precious gift to everyone and reflected on Laudato si', Pope Francis’ letter to everyone on this planet to care for our common home – the Earth. As good stewards of God’s creation, we carried out a litter pick during our field trip. It was a fabulous experience enjoyed by all!

PE

This half-term we are practising our skills in gymnastics. We worked in pairs to make point and patch balances and then practised travelling on the apparatus. We loved sharing and evaluating our sequences.

Chocolate Rocks

This week the children loved making chocolate rocks! They used dark, milk and white chocolate shavings to represent fish bones, shells, sand, sediment and minerals and spooned them into layers, then applied pressure to mirror how sedimentary rocks are formed. They followed the same method to make igneous rocks, but then used the processes of cooling and heating to make intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks and metamorphic rocks. Best of all, they used the left-over chocolate shavings to make their own sedimentary chocolate rocks to eat – yummy!

 

Science

Year 3 are enjoying their science topic of ‘Rocks and Soils’. From their learning, they were able to solve our ‘geology mystery’ and identify the rock Mrs Towey found at the beach as pumice. This rock is an example of an extrusive igneous rock created by solidified lava. This lava has cooled very quickly on the surface of the Earth. The cooling happens so quickly that it happens as the molten lava is still bubbling! This leaves holes within the rock where the bubbles of gas were still present. Some of the children recognised how they can use pumice in their home as pumice stones to soften hard skin. 

September 2026 Autumn 1 Term 1

All the children in Year 3 have made a fantastic start to this new school year. We are incredibly proud of them! They have demonstrated excellent behaviour, an excellent attitude towards learning and have shown that they are going to be a wonderful ‘Year 3 family of faith.’

In our class Celebration of The Word on the theme of Beginnings, the children participated in a prayerful, reverent and respectful manner and offered thoughtful responses for their hopes for this academic year, which they recorded and placed on our Tree of Hope.

For the start of our Religion topic, Creation and Covenant, they worked with learning partners to locate and read the story of Creation (Genesis 1:1-31) in our core text – the Bible.

Thank you, children, for a fabulous and inspiring beginning to this new school year!