Welcome to Term 4 at MSPS. Once again it is shaping up to be a very busy term.

Unit- This term, our unit is called ‘Simple Machines – Making Life Easier”This unit investigates how simple machines, such as the inclined plane, the wedge, the lever, the screw, the pulley, the wheel and axle make work easier. The students are beginning to look at the features of a design brief and understand thattheir designs have to meet a range of different requirements. They are learning to make realistic plans for achieving their aims and recognise that the availability of resources affects the types of machines that they can produce. They use words, labelled sketches and models to communicate the details of their designs.

Students are currently working on their homework project where they are designing and making a new invention, using materials that they have found at home. Students need to include labelled diagrams, write a procedure explaininghow they made their invention, test their invention to see if it works and then make any necessary changes. They will then present their invention to their classmates in week 8.

This unit will culminate in an excursion to Scienceworks on Friday December 6. Permission forms have already been sent home. Please ensure that they are returned to school along with the payment of $15 by Monday November 11.

Write to Read Spelling approach

As you may be aware, the 3 /4 area is trialling an exciting new spelling program. As part of this program students will learn the 70 phonograms (codes representing the 45 basic sounds of English) by hearing, saying, seeing and writing them. A phonogram is a single letter or combination of 2, 3 or 4 letters that is a written symbol for a sound in a word.

To support these new practices at school we have changed our weekly spelling homework. This new format encourages students to be ‘code spotters.’ Each sound in a word has a written symbol (or code). In order to read, write and spell correctly, students must make a sound-symbol connection.

You will now see that words are divided into syllables (multi syllable words have syllable breaks). Syllables are an important part of spelling as some of the spelling rules are based around syllables and syllable breaks, and they can dictatethe sound a vowel makes.

This first activity asks students to sound out the word in sounds or chunks (syllables) rather than individual letters (sound-symbol connection). If the word is a single syllable word the students would put a red dot for every sound they read at the top of the box. Then they match the codes to the sounds.

The second activity asks students to blend the word back together. It is important that students still sound (segment) the word into syllables or chunks as they are writing the phonogram rather than individual letters.

The third activity is Say –Pronunciation and Use word in a sentence (understanding). Correct pronunciation is an important part of reading and spelling. Understanding the meaning of a word creates a connection with the word and helps build on a student’s vocabulary. For this activity students need to say the word and verbally use the word in a sentence showing that they understand its meaning. Students may have assistance with this or use a reference (dictionary or online dictionary) to support them

The fourth activity is Write. The students practise writing this word. Again if this word is not in their automatic file it is important that they still sound (segment) the word into syllables or chunks as they are writing the phonogram rather than individual letters.

SOME REMINDERS

**Please ensure that your child has their drink bottle and hat at school each day.

**Tissues – Could children please bring a box of tissues to school as we have exhausted our classroom supply.

As always, if you have any concerns please come in and discuss them with your child’s teacher.

Thank you,the 3/4 team

COMING EVENTS

November 4 / Pupil free day
November 5 / Melbourne Cup holiday
November 6 / HG 16 visit to BUPA Aged Care
Movember – gold coin donation
November 11 / Last day for excursion payments
3 /4 Hooptime – regional final at Mill Park stadium
November 14 / HG 15 visit BUPA Aged Care
November 19 - 26 / Book Fair
November 28 / HG 13 visit BUPA Aged Care
Friday December 6 / Excursion to Scienceworks
Monday December 16 / Christmas carols on the turf
Friday December 20 / End of term 4