We have had an amazing start to the academic year with the children settling into Year 3 wonderfully!
English
In English, we began the year by reading The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl. We thoroughly enjoyed the story, and parts of it really made us laugh!
In term 2, we travelled back in time to the Stone Age and read Ug: Boy Genius and His Search for Soft Trousers by Raymond Briggs. From this, we wrote a recount describing a day in Ug’s life.
We also read a range of non-fiction texts, including recipes, which helped us cook potatoes in different ways for DT and a radio script to support our learning about our carbon footprint. In addition, we enjoyed reading narrative poetry such as The Owl and the Pussy-Cat and Say How You Feel.
For our writing lessons, we wrote fictional stories: a defeating-the-monster tale based on the action toolkit and a wishing-tale based on the setting toolkit. This started with the children making their own wishes. Also, the children have written a set of instructions which were based on our driver topic ‘Through the Ages’.
Maths
In Maths, we have learnt about place value to a thousand and practised using mental strategies to add multiples of ten and one hundred. Next, we learnt how to use the column method for addition and subtraction. The children then moved on to consolidating their knowledge of the 2, 5 and 10 times tables and began learning their 3, 4 and 8 times tables using the counting stick. We will be revisiting all of these times tables throughout Year 3. Then, we explored how using our multiplication facts could help us solve division problems.
Science
In Science, the children have been learning about Animal Nutrition and the Skeletal System. They explored the human body, focussing on types of skeletons, muscles and joints. The children also revisited and extended upon prior learning about keeping our bodies healthy and the different food groups. They enjoyed predicting and investigating the fattiness of various foods. The children have also learnt about living things, including how animals can be carnivores, herbivores or omnivores, and how they need food, water, air, shelter and space. At the end of the unit, each class voted for the investigation that they would like to carry out. Elder Class investigated whether a child’s hand span is shorter than their skull, whilst Juniper Class investigated whether your arm span is similar to your height.
Design and Technology
Building on their knowledge of healthy eating in Science, the children learnt to peel, cut, slice and cook a wide variety of vegetables. They prepared, cooked and tasted potatoes in a variety of ways. We then made a healthy meal of vegetable ratatouille- some children enjoyed it! Finally, they designed, prepared and made their own vegetarian tacos.
History
Our driver topic for Terms 1 and 2 was Through the Ages- we were learning all about the Stone Age, Iron Age, and Bronze Age. We began to explore the Stone Age and enjoyed dressing up for our ‘Stone Age Day’. We started the day by going into the woods and becoming hunter-gatherers in tribes to collect food. Later in the day, the children also had a go at cave painting, creating pictures they imagined might have been on the walls, such as hunters, animals and scenes.
Moving into Term 2, we learned that the Stone Age ended because people discovered how to make bronze, and how this changed how people lived. The children then learnt about the Iron Age and how the Celts shared their knowledge of Iron with others. This created blacksmiths, who made new farming tools, allowing Iron Age people to have more free time and work in other jobs.
Art
In term 1, we have learnt about colour theory and exploring complementary colours. Children used their learning about colour to create their final abstract piece, incorporating a range of colours and shapes.
In term 2, the children then became potters. First, they learnt about Bell Beakers, pots made in the Bronze Age, and explored pattern-making in clay. Then they designed and made their own pots, and were very proud of their work.
Geography
In Geography, the children have been learning the topic ‘One Planet, Our World’. The children have learnt how to map read to find different countries on the map. We also learnt how earthquakes, volcanoes and mountains form when the tectonic plates move. This is helping to prepare them for our topic in terms 3 and 4, Rocks, Relics and Rumbles.
RE
In RE, we have been focussed on Christianity, learning all about the creation story and what it is like to follow God. As part of our learning, we walked to our local Church in Ore, where the children took part in a pretend marriage ceremony. Each child had a role in the wedding, which they took very seriously!
A very busy start to Year 3 and Key Stage 2, but the children have taken it in their stride. We are two very proud teachers!