Year 3- PSHE and Life Education Session-Meeting the Brain with Harold and Friends
Today, Year 3 welcomed Karen from the Life Education van for an engaging session titled "Meet the Brain." The children explored how to make healthy choices, specifically learning to differentiate between helpful medicines and harmful substances like nicotine. To keep their "brains ticking" and maintain focus, the session was punctuated with high-energy "stretch and wriggle" moments. The pupils also focused on the importance of looking after our lungs and the risks associated with smoking. This learning was brought to life through a story about Harold the Giraffe and his friends preparing for a talent show. When Harold and Derek began to argue about who could take part, the children helped Kiki understand Eli’s clever suggestion for resolving the conflict. They explained how the friends could use their individual talents together: Harold singing while Derek played the trumpet. It was a fantastic lesson in friendship, compromise, and teamwork that perfectly complemented our focus on healthy bodies and minds.
Foodie Friends Club: Making Chocolate Brownies
This afternoon, in our Foodies Club, the children took on the challenge of baking chocolate brownies, becoming little mathematicians as they weighed out sugar, flour, butter and rich cocoa powder. The highlight of the afternoon was cracking the egg and licking the chocolate from the spoon and bowl. Some of the children were initially terrified because they had never cracked an egg before, fearing the mess or a broken shell. However, by supporting one another, every child conquered their fear, successfully whisking the eggs into the mixture. The children could not wait to take their brownies home, serving their treats with a scoop of ice cream or whipping cream.
Year 3- English-Arctic Bear Shape Poetry
Year 3 have finished writing their shape poems based on the Arctic bear. To make their writing creative and imaginative, the children applied their knowledge of word families, similes, and metaphors alongside descriptive language and expanded noun phrases. After completing their poems, the children used their "purple pens" to edit and improve their work. These final pieces demonstrate a combination of creative design and technical writing skills.
Year 3- Class Worship-Kindness is Viral: Following in the Footsteps of Positive Influencers
In class worship, we explored this week’s Picture News story about how famous people can influence others to make good choices. We looked at the story of MrBeast and his "1 Billion Acts of Kindness" campaign, which highlights how one person’s influence can inspire millions to take positive action. This linked perfectly with Mrs Ham’s whole school worship yesterday. She spoke about how our small, everyday actions can make a big difference, which is exactly what the children practised in their work today. To finish the lesson, we sang the hymn "My Lighthouse," reflecting on how we can be a "guiding light" for others through kindness, and Seb read a lovely prayer.
Go All In: 2026 National Year of Reading
Dear Parents and Carers, As we move into 2026, we are excited to share that this has been designated the National Year of Reading. This year-long celebration, spearheaded by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, isn't about schoolwork or exams—it’s about helping our children rediscover the sheer joy of a great story. The theme for the year is "Go All In." The goal is to show children that reading isn't just something they do in a classroom; it is a way to dive deeper into the things they already love. Whether your child is a fan of gaming, sports, music, or space, there is a book, graphic novel, or audiobook out there that speaks to their interests. The campaign reminds us that "if they’re into it, they can read into it," and that every form of reading—from a football programme to a digital comic—is a step toward success. We know how busy family life can be, but research shows that sharing a story for just 10 minutes a day can dramatically boost a child’s wellbeing and their confidence at school. You don’t need to be an expert storyteller to make a difference; simply sitting together and exploring a book, or letting your child see you reading your own book or magazine, sets a fantastic example. Throughout the year, there will be exciting events to look forward to, including a record-breaking World Book Day on March 5th and a music-themed Summer Reading Challenge titled "Read to the Beat!" Our local libraries will also be hosting free activities, from author workshops to interactive storytelling sessions. We invite you to join us in making 2026 a year of discovery for our children. Let’s help them find the stories that make them want to "go all in." For more resources and book recommendations tailored to your child’s hobbies, you can visit the official campaign website at goallin.org.uk. For our first challenge, I would love the children to send me some photographs of them reading their favourite story in their favourite place. Happy reading! Mrs Wilkinson
Year 3-Oral Health & Physical Activity
Today, Nathan delivered the second GULP (Give up loving pop) session, focusing on the importance of oral hygiene and making healthy drink choices. The session was split into active and classroom-based learning: Physical Activity: The children participated in 30 minutes of high-energy exercise, playing a game where they had to "run away from plaque" and earn points for "cleaning" their teeth. Classroom Learning: We explored the impact of sugary drinks on health and discussed practical ways to avoid them. To see the effects of sugar and acid firsthand, the children carried out an egg experiment, which provided a great visual representation of how tooth enamel can be damaged. Practical Skills: Every child received a toothbrush and toothpaste to encourage consistent dental care at home. The children were fully engaged and absolutely loved the session.
Year 3- History-Investigating the Lives of Tudor Children
Today, our young historians took a step back in time to explore the lives of children during the Tudor period. We focused on the role of the apprentice, discovering how children learned essential trades and skills by working under a "master." Visual Evidence: By analysing historical images, the children identified the heavy labour apprentices performed, such as fetching water for farms or working in papermaking and printing shops. Working Conditions: Through video and audio accounts, we discussed the reality of Tudor life. The children learned that while wealthier children attended school, poorer children worked long, exhausting hours, cleaning, cooking, and farming, with very little time for play. Interactive Learning: Using the whiteboard, the children worked in pairs to match different Tudor occupations with their job descriptions. This allowed them to see the wide variety of trades available at the time.
Amazing Attendance Awards
We had such a busy end to the Autumn term that we’re only just getting around to celebrating our amazing attendance award winners. What a fantastic term it was for attendance! Awards were presented in two categories: firstly to all those who achieved 100% attendance, and then to those who achieved above 96% attendance. Both are amazing achievements and we are super proud of all of the children.
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Whole School Worship - God is Kind
In our whole-school worship, Mrs Ham revealed our first Kindness Kite celebrating the Blackburn Diocese centenary. This week, the focus is ‘God is Kind’. A small selection of Year 6 children were chosen to read three Psalms about God’s kindness and we learned that God is everywhere, always, even when it’s dark, even when we hide. The children were then invited to share some of the kind things that they have heard people say, such as ‘I like your hair’ , ‘Your dress is pretty’ and ‘You are so smart’. We reflected on how kind words make us feel and we all practised paying compliments to our partners. We are looking forward to adding kind words to our classroom kites.
Foodie Friends Club: Shortcrust Pizzas
We kicked off our first Foodie Club of the half-term with a fantastic session making shortcrust pastry pizzas. Our "Great Chefs" were in their element, skillfully rolling the pastry into their own unique shapes before smothering them in sauce and loading them with a rainbow of toppings, including peppers, onions, olives, sweetcorn, and tuna. It was a joy to see the children so deeply engaged, mastering new culinary skills and exploring different flavours with such enthusiasm. By providing these hands-on opportunities to create and learn, we are helping our students build confidence and truly live life to its fullest.
Year 3- science - Comparing and grouping animals by their diet.
In Science today, our Scientists have been exploring the fascinating world of biological classification. The children took on the role of taxonomists, carefully grouping animals based on their specific categories, habitats, and dietary requirements. By comparing various species, they investigated how different creatures have adapted to their environments, specifically looking at the contrast between carnivores and omnivores.
100 Years of Blackburn Diocese
In order to celebrate 100 years of Blackburn diocese, we took part in a whole-school virtual assembly that focused on the many successes and achievements of the diocese over the past century. Bishop Philip welcomed schools from across the diocese and shared an engaging story about the travels of the Wise Men, linking these to themes of faith, journey and community. The children greatly enjoyed seeing and feeling connected to other schools within the diocese and were excited to take part in a shared celebration. The assembly provided a valuable opportunity for pupils to reflect on their place within the wider diocesan family, strengthening their sense of belonging and understanding of our shared faith. The event was engaging, inclusive, meaningful and it helped bring the history and mission of the diocese to life for the whole school community. We are looking forward to taking part in a variety of centenary 'All for Jesus' activities and worships over the year.
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