Outline of Primary Three Curriculum

• Communication (Literacy)
• Mathematics and Numeracy
• World Around Us (History, Geography, Science)
• ICT
• The Arts (Art, Music, Drama)
• Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PDMU)
• Religion
• Physical Development and Movement (PE)

Reading (in school)

• We aim to create independent, keen and enthusiastic readers
• Oxford Reading Tree is the main reading scheme.
• We encourage the children to use a variety of strategies to work out (decode) unfamiliar word, such sounds and letters, pictures smaller words inside bigger words etc.

Reading (at home)

• Always make reading positive and enjoyable.
• Encourage children to use a loud, clear voice.
• Encourage independence
• Discuss stories and ask questions.

Writing:

In Primary Three children should become independent writers through a variety of writing activities such as missing words, true or false, jumbled sentences, comprehension and creative writing.

We have a big focus on:

• Letter formation
• Capital/lower case letters
• Using lines to guide writing.

Numeracy

Areas – Processes

  Number

  Shape and Space

  Data Handling

  Measure

• We focus in developing mathematical skills, language and thinking.
• New maths ideas are reinforced by practical work and mental maths.
• We have a big focus on problem-solving and investigation, where children are encouraged to explore different options to a problem.
• We provide a variety of opportunities to develop numeracy outside school, such as an outside shape hunt.

WORLD AROUND US

• World Around Us topics incorporates History, Geography and Science

Our topics are -  

-Houses and Homes

-Food

-Space

-Irish Myths and Legends

-Famous People

-Transport.

Religion

• We follow the ‘Alive-O’ Programme
• There is a big focus on themselves and others around them, how they are responsible for their own actions.
• P3 children will make their First Confession this year.
• Important dates

-First Confession Assembly – Tuesday 10^th March, 6.30pm

-First Confession – Tuesday 31^st March, 1.00pm

PDMU

• Children will express their feelings and develop self-awareness.
• We will discuss health and safety issues.
• The programme will explore relationships within their family, school and community.
• PDMU lessons are achieved through ‘circle time’ activities.

P.E

• P3a P.E day is on Tuesday.
• P3b P.E day is on Wednesday
• Children should wear their P.E gear on this day.

ICT.

• Both Primary 3 classes are timetabled to attend the computer suite twice a week. Primary three children will complete a number of ICT tasks such as making a PowerPoint and creating an invitation.

The Arts

• Music and drama will be completed through the Alive-O programme and World Around Us topics.
• Art and design will be linked to celebrations in our calendar year and connected to our World Around Us Topic.

Homework

• Primary 3 homework will reflect learning in school.
• Please encourage independence; your child should be able to complete most homeworks independently.
• Homework will go home on a Monday and should be returned to school on a Friday.
• Spelling and reading should be done every night.