Marlpool Junior School

Year 3/4 Hardwick Class

Hardwick class have had an amazing start to the new school year. During the autumn term, we have been learning about rivers and the water cycle in geography. The water cycle is the continuous journey of water from oceans and lakes, to clouds, to rain, to streams, to rivers and back into the ocean again. 

In history, we have looked at the Romans, what it was like to live in ancient Rome and then culminating in their invasion of our beloved England!  The Roman Empire was one of the greatest and most influential civilizations in world history. It began in the city of Rome in 753 BC and lasted for well over 1000 years. During that time Rome grew to rule much of Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa.

Spring term

In Hardwick class, we have returned and hit the ground running. In geography, we are examining how food/ produce travels to its destination. The main focus of this topic is CHOCOLATE! Where does it come from? How far does it travel? How is it produced?

One of our homework projects is to create a recipe out of chocolate. Many children have enjoyed this project:  following a recipe, cooking it and then eating the rewards!

In science we have been examining electrical currents and circuits. 

Electrical circuits involve building complete, closed loops using components like batteries (cells), wires, bulbs, buzzers, and switches to allow electricity to flow. Key concepts include identifying components, using circuit diagrams with symbols, understanding series circuits, recognizing conductors and insulators, and troubleshooting broken circuits. The children in Hardwick class are thoroughly enjoying this topic, and are enjoying building circuits to test hypothesis.

Reading

 Marlpool Junior School is a ‘Reading School’. Reading drives everything we do and it’s at the centre of our whole curriculum offer. Teachers, parents and children all understand the importance of reading and the benefits it brings. Our staff regularly read with all our children, and we really encourage the children to talk about their reading with passion.

In Hardwick class, we foster a love of reading through structured phonics and guided reading. We are developing a reading for pleasure culture using: book clubs, author visits, themed activities and varied book choices. These activities ensure that we cover a mix of foundational skills (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension) and genuine enjoyment.

As part of our English lessons, we have explored and enjoyed a wide variety of different texts which have enthralled our imaginations and helped us to explore writing in different genres.

Our English reading list includes:

• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

This text follows the adventures of four animal friends in the English countryside: the timid Mole, the friendly Water Rat, the wise Badger, and the wealthy, impulsive Mr. Toad. Toad's obsession with motorcars leads to trouble, jail, and an elaborate escape, culminating in his friends helping him reclaim his home, Toad Hall, from invading weasels, exploring themes of friendship, loyalty, and nature versus modernity. 

• Jim a Cautionary Tale by Hillaire Beloc

A darkly humorous children's poem about a disobedient boy named Jim who runs away from his nurse at the zoo and is eaten by a lion, serving as a gruesome warning against spoiling children and defying adults. Jim's friends spoiled him with treats, leading to his downfall when he disobeys the rule to stay with his nurse, gets eaten bit by bit by a lion named Ponto, and is found dead, prompting his father to use his gruesome end as a lesson for other children.

• The Great Escape by Natalie Haynes

This book is about a girl called Millie (who is bored), who helps a talking, bilingual cat named Max escape from evil scientists at a secret lab developing human-voiced, talking cats for a toy company, leading to adventures with computer hacking, animal smuggling, and a mission to rescue his friends before they're made into toys. It's a fun, fast-paced story blending humour with adventure, perfect for young readers. 

• The Thames and Tide club by Katya Balen

This story follows young mudlarks Clem, Ash, and Zara as they discover a magical object during their river treasure hunts, leading them on an underwater quest to save "Underwater London" from a chaotic threat, involving quirky characters, fishy puns, and a secret world beneath the Thames, blending modern city life with fantasy adventure.