Image of Year 3- Maths- Greater Denominators, Smaller Pieces
23 Mar

Year 3- Maths- Greater Denominators, Smaller Pieces

In our Maths lesson today, we explored the logic of comparing fractions with the same numerator. We visually created fraction sheets and imagined they were bars of chocolate to help us understand that a "bigger" denominator doesn't necessarily mean a "greater" fraction. In fact, we discovered that the more people you have to share a chocolate bar with (the denominator), the smaller each individual piece becomes! By the end of the session, we were able to conclude that when the numerators are the same, the greater the denominator, the smaller the fraction.

Image of Year 3 - Science-The Journey from Organism to Fossil
23 Mar

Year 3 - Science-The Journey from Organism to Fossil

In Science today, we explored the fascinating process of how fossils are formed, which begins when an organism dies and is quickly buried by sediment, such as sand or mud carried by wind or water. This is essential because it protects the remains from decaying or being destroyed before they can be preserved. Over a very long period, layers of this sediment turn into solid rock, preserving the imprint of the living thing. These fossils are eventually discovered through natural erosion, such as wind wearing away a cliff face, or by palaeontologists searching in sedimentary rock formations. To understand this scientific process, we became "experts" by creating our own trace fossils. We started by mixing 200g of salt, 150g of flour, and 100ml of cold coffee to create a "sediment" dough. After kneading the mixture until it was no longer sticky, we used some toy dinosaurs from the Reception class to create our imprints. By pressing the dinosaurs into the dough and gently peeling them off, we replicated how living things leave behind an embedded shape that eventually dries and hardens into a fossil. By studying these remains, scientists can unlock secrets about the anatomy, behaviour, and extinction of ancient creatures, providing a vital record of the history of life on Earth.

Image of Year 3- English- Speaking and Listening: The Iron Man
19 Mar

Year 3- English- Speaking and Listening: The Iron Man

In English today, the class read Chapter 3 of The Iron Man together, focusing on the moment the Iron Man is lured into the scrap metal pit. Instead of writing in their books, the children spent the session developing their oral skills by describing the Iron Man's massive feast. They practised retrieving specific details from the text to build descriptive sentences out loud. It was a great opportunity for them to use talk tactics, such as building on each other's ideas and instigating new points of view, to bring the scene to life through high-quality discussion.

Image of Year 3- Food Technology- Exploring Seasonal Food
19 Mar

Year 3- Food Technology- Exploring Seasonal Food

This afternoon, we explored the world of seasonal eating and discovered where our food actually comes from. We learned that while supermarkets provide us with a huge variety of ingredients year-round, importing food from overseas can lead to a larger carbon footprint and increased waste. By choosing to eat food that is in season in the UK, like summer strawberries or autumn pumpkins, we can support our local farmers and help protect the environment. Using our UK seasonal food wheels, we identified which crops flourish in our temperate climate. This knowledge will be essential over the next few weeks as we begin to design and bake our very own seasonal tarts.

Image of Year 3 Class Worship: Happy News and Fun Reflections
18 Mar

Year 3 Class Worship: Happy News and Fun Reflections

During our class worship today, we explored several inspiring stories from our Happy News issue, reflecting on the theme of happiness and how small actions can make a big difference. We learned about "Moon Chickpeas" being grown in special soil for astronauts, the kindness of "Yakult Ladies" in Japan who check on the elderly, and the creativity of 10-year-old fashion designer Max Alexander. We also celebrated the return of the Large Tortoiseshell butterfly to the UK and the use of "super-hearing" to keep hedgehogs safe. Following these stories, we shared our own thoughts on what makes us happy and what "fun" truly means to us, such as the joy of spending quality time with friends and family. Charlie then read a prayer from Picture News, which thanked God for the things that bring us joy and excitement, like our favourite hobbies and games, and for the friends and family we share them with. We concluded that whether it is through a global scientific breakthrough or a simple chat with a friend, we all have the power to spread happiness and look out for one another.

Image of Year 3-A Brain Break
18 Mar

Year 3-A Brain Break

During our assessments today, we made sure to take a purposeful break between papers to give everyone’s brain a rest. The children stopped for a few minutes to enjoy some quiet reading or to engage in creative writing, jotting down whatever ideas came to their heads. Some children even chose to write about their break times. It was a fantastic way for the class to "switch off" for a moment, recharge, and feel refreshed and ready to start the next part of their assessment.

Image of Let's Go Sing 2026
18 Mar

Let's Go Sing 2026

* Pure Magic at the Blackburn Ice Arena! * I am bursting with pride this evening after watching our incredible school choir perform at the Let’s Go Sing concert. Seeing them out there, singing their hearts out with such passion, was a moment I won't forget! What struck me most wasn't just the beautiful music, but the sheer enthusiasm and commitment our children showed. They didn't just learn the songs; they mastered every word and every action, performing with huge smiles and brilliant energy. * A Huge Thank You * Events like this don’t happen without a massive team effort behind the scenes: • To Mrs. Govan and Mrs. Wilkinson: Thank you for your tireless dedication, your lunchtime rehearsals, and for championing our young vocalists every step of the way. • To our Parents and Carers: Thank you for braving the cold at the arena to cheer them on! Your support in the stands means the world to the children (and to us). Our children represented the school perfectly tonight, behaving impeccably. They truly found their voices! What little superstars!

Image of Our Whole School Worship-Palm Sunday and Serving Others
17 Mar

Our Whole School Worship-Palm Sunday and Serving Others

Our whole school worship began with signing the Trinity, bringing the whole school together in reflection. To explore the theme of our new Kindness Kite, Jack (Y5), Eliza (Y5), and Olivia (Y4) shared the Fairness Kite, which explained the biblical perspective on justice and treating others equitably. Mrs Ham asked the children to take a moment to reflect on everything we have done as a school to serve others who don't have as much as us. We looked back on our collective efforts to help those in need: Donating clothes, coats for the homeless, and teddies, which were organised by Year 5 Rotakids. Collecting food for Harvest and supporting the Darwen Enterprise Easter Egg appeal. Filling shoe boxes and raising money through sponsored walks. Worship continued with Mrs Ham reading a rhyming Palm Sunday Bible story about Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, which the children and staff acted out brilliantly. Jesus and his friends were played by Charlie G, Peyton, and Mr Bloomfield. Zac (Year 1) played the donkey that carried Jesus into the city. Iris, Ava, and many other children acted as the crowd, waving palm leaves to welcome the King. Mrs Araujo and Mr Mealor played the Pharisees, representing the religious leaders who disagreed with Jesus and watched the parade with concern. To end our worship, we sang, 'We Have a King Who Rides a Donkey.' We left worship thinking about the example Jesus set and how we can continue to give in service to those around us.

Image of Year 3- Science- Weathering: How Rocks Break!
16 Mar

Year 3- Science- Weathering: How Rocks Break!

This week, the Year 3 scientists recapped on the previous lesson learning all about rocks. They started by talking with their peers about different rock groups: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. The main part of the lesson was about weathering, which is how rocks get broken or worn away over time. They looked at physical weathering (like freezing water), chemical weathering (like acid rain), and biological weathering (like tree roots growing through cracks). There was lots of "talk time" for the children to use their oracy skills, especially when discussing which rocks make the strongest walls. By the end, they could explain how weathering changes rocks and pick the best ones for different jobs.

Image of Year 3- Maths- Calculating perimeter of 2D shapes
12 Mar

Year 3- Maths- Calculating perimeter of 2D shapes

This week, Year 3 have worked hard on their maths, focusing on calculating the perimeter of various 2D shapes. The children have been learning how to measure and add the distances around the outside of an object, and drawing their own complex shapes.

Image of Year 3- R.E-The Easter Narrative: A Journey of Mixed Emotions
12 Mar

Year 3- R.E-The Easter Narrative: A Journey of Mixed Emotions

This afternoon, Year 3 began their new unit, Is the Cross a Symbol of Sadness or Joy? We started with a quick quiz about the Easter story and were reminded of our Questful characters as we prepared for our journey. Following the arrow to show our direction of travel, we looked at the key events of Holy Week, including Palm Sunday, the Temple, the Last Supper, and the Crucifixion. The children discussed the different emotions people experienced throughout the story and shared what they would like to find out on their quest.

Image of Choir - Concert Practice
12 Mar

Choir - Concert Practice

Choir have been working really hard on polishing their performance in preparation for the Let's Go Sing concert at Planet Ice next week. The children have worked really hard to remember the lyrics and actions for a range of different songs and are now excited to perform to a live audience. We can't wait to see them shine!