THE GREAT YEAR 3 LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE.

The Great Year 3 Lighthouse Challenge.

The task:To build a lighthouse out of art straws and pipe cleaners. The lighthouse had to contain a working circuit and be capable of supporting a bulb and holder.
3 prizes were on offer:
The tallest lighthouse.
The cheapest lighthouse over 30cm.
The teamwork prize. 

SHOPPING FOR MATERIALS

The children had looked at functioning lighthouses and learnt about their purpose and positioning.

The children were shown how to make a vertex using pipe cleaners as a joint.
 Next the children were assigned a partner from the other year 3 class to work with. They completed a basic design and made a list of the materials they would need.
They then went ‘shopping’ for materials

Artstraws        10p
Pipe cleaners  5p
Wire    1p a cm
Battery and holder 50p
Bulb and holder 50p
The children had a budget of £5.00. They had to calculate their costs and the change they should receive.

The children had 2 hours to construct their lighthouse. There were a range of successful designs.The highest lighthouse was 46cm. The cheapest cost £2.90 and there were many nominations for the teamwork prize.

   

GREAT TEAMWORK

 

A DESIGN COMING TOGETHER

Successes
The activity was hugely successful on lots of levels. I was particularly pleased with the way the children were able to budget and handle their money. I had identified this as a weakness after our trip to the chocolate factory gift shop. I have set up a class shop role play area outside the class to encourage practical handling of money.

A FEW OF THE FINISHED DESIGNS

The perseverance and co-operation on show was excellent with the children dealing well with some healthy competition. The best quote of the day came from the child who told her mum that
‘we did no work today!’

Herford local history tour.

Model of the old town around 1500

As part of our 'Great Outdoors' topic the children toured the centre of Herford.


We found where Herford began as a river crossing
and why a settlement began there.




The children made lots of discoveries about the local history of Herford.

There's always time for an ice cream.

Maths success criteria for this week (beginning 20-5-13)

LO: I can answer a question by collecting and displaying data.

I can read and show information on a pictogram.

I can read and show information on a bar chart

I can read a scale to the nearest division or half-division

I can choose suitable units to estimate and measure length

I can decide what information to collect to answer a question.

I can explain how I used data to answer a question.

Maths success criteria for this week (beginning 13-5-13)

I can sort 2D shapes by their properties. I can use efficient methods (e.g. times tables) to solve multiplication and division problems.

I can find and name different shapes

I know the 2, 5, and 10 times-tables and use them for division facts.

I can sort shapes into sets, saying what is the same.

I know the 3,4 and 6 times-tables and use them for division facts. I recognize multiples of 2, 5 and 10

I can draw a symmetrical shape. I can reflect a shape when the mirror line is one of its sides

I can solve 2 step problems using x and ÷

I can discuss how I solved a problem with other children

Red indicates baseline average achievement. Amber is where the baseline average will move to, by the end of the unit, as new learning takes place.

Green indicates above average learning.

Maths success criteria for this week (beginning 6-5-13)

I can add and subtract using efficient written methods.

I know the sum and difference of pairs to 20

I know number pairs that sum to 100

I can add and subtract using an empty number line.

I can add and subtract 2 and 3 digits by writing one number under the other by partitioning

I can use standard method for adding and subtracting

I can add and subtract 2 digit numbers in my head.

Red indicates baseline average achievement. Amber is where the baseline average will move to, by the end of the unit, as new learning takes place.

Green indicates above average learning.

GARDENING

GREEN FINGERS ?

As part of our Great Outdoors topic, the children have been busily planting a crop of lettuce. 

They learnt how to clear the ground for weeds and sow the seeds in rows. In a few weeks time,if we tend to them carefully, we are hoping for some lovely lettuce for our picnic.

We have also been learning about the different parts of plants and the jobs they do.This gave us chance for some close observational drawings of the stems,flowers,leaves and seeds in the school garden.