Hi, my name is Miss Beamish, and I am the Year 3 Bluebirds teacher. This is my first year teaching at St John’s and I am excited to get going with some amazing learning!

I have spent the last 9 years teaching, mostly in Key Stage 2. I love being inspired by different books and using them to spark ideas for new stories.

At St John’s, I lead Geography. I like to know how the world works and pour over maps to spot rivers, mountains and coasts.

I have a passion for other subjects too! I like History and spend a lot of time listening to podcasts and watching documentaries. In my spare time, I like to get outside and go on long tiring walks!

Other staff working in our class are:

Miss Keyes – Teaching assistant

Mr Hasker – 3rd Teacher

Mrs Sanger – Art and DT teacher fortnightly on Thursday afternoons

Our Weekly Timetable:

Important dates for the diary this term for Bluebirds Class:

PE - Every Monday

Ancient Egyptian dressing up and experience day – Friday 14^th February

Our learning this term:

Our learning continues this term with an exciting history topic called ‘Ancient Egypt’. The children will be using a timeline and learning about hieroglyphics, the River Nile and the process of mummification!

 

 

This term in English we will explore a text called ‘The Egyptian Cinderella’. We will be writing our own version of the story by focusing on using different openers for our sentences and continuing to work on using conjunctions, interesting adjectives and prepositions. We will also be writing instructions about how to make a mummy!

 

In maths we will continue develop multiplication and division skills. The children will become more confident in knowing their 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 8X and 10X tables. They will learn how to multiply and divide 2-digit and 1-digit numbers. We will move on to measuring length and calculating perimeters using millimetres, centimetres and metres.

 

In science, our topic is ‘Animals including humans’. We will be learning all about the skeleton and muscles. Not only that, we will also be learning about how animals and humans need a specific diet full of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins and sugar to stay healthy.

We will be learning about Sikhism in RE this term. Our big question is ‘What is important for Sikh people?’

 

 

The children will continue to develop their German vocabulary including speaking, reading and writing in German. They will learn numbers to 20 as well as the days of the week.

 

Learning at home for Bluebird Class: 

Children are expected to read every night for at least 15 minutes.  Please spend time each day listening to your child read as it really does have a positive impact on their progress. Remember to sign your child’s reading record book when they have read to you as reading records are checked every day.

When your child has finished an AR book, they can complete the quiz. We are focussing on quizzing accuracy. Your child will receive a raffle ticket if they pass a quiz at 80% or above and will have the chance to win a prize at the end of term!

It is important that reading books and reading record books are in school every day even if your child hasn’t read.

 

Please remember that you can access Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS), Numbots and Spelling Shed from home. There are certificates and a trophy for the winning class and individual certificates for the child that scores the most points each week.

Spelling assignments will be given out each Monday and spellings will be tested on the following Monday.

You will find your login details in the front of your child’s reading record book.

Be ready for learning!

In Bluebird Class, your child will need to have these items in school: 

• PE kit (to be worn on PE day - Monday) 
• Water bottle with sports cap lid (filled with water - no squash or juice) 
• Small rucksack (big enough to hold lunchbox and reading books) 
• Wellington boots (to leave in school) 
• Coat (weather appropriate) 

Please don’t bring other items into school, as we do not have space to store them, and it can cause upset if things are lost or damaged. Please remember to name all items of clothing so that they can be returned if lost.

Highlights from Term 2

We were invited to go to King’s School for a lesson in their science lab. The children learnt about earthquakes and designed and made their own ‘Earthquake-proof’ buildings using lolly sticks, cardboard tubes and lots of Sellotape! The buildings were tested using a shaking plate which was exciting to watch.

In science we were learning about rocks. The children tested rocks to see how hardwearing they were by scratching them, and if they were permeable or impermeable by dropping water on them using a pipette.

We took our learning outside when we made our own volcanoes on the field and made them ‘erupt’ by adding bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, read colouring and washing up liquid. We also looked at the different types of soil that are around our school grounds.

 

We had a visit from the Kent Road Safety team and practised finding safer places to cross the road. Bluebirds all know that they need to Stop, Look, Listen, Think and Hold Hands with and adult before they cross the road.

 

In DT lessons we practised our sewing skills. The children looked at existing products before designing and making a Christmas cushion. Their designs were impressive and they showed great skill when using running and backstitch to add decoration to the cushions.