Information about learning in Year 3

The Home/School Partnership Curriculum Newsletter Autumn Term 2 2015

We had lots of questions about the mysterious eggs that appeared in our classroom. We

wanted to find out what might hatch so we learnt about animals that reproduce by laying

eggs. As the eggs were very large, we thought our creatures could be very big. We had a

great time building nests to protect the eggs in the forest area. We watched and waited for

our eggs to hatch—Guess what? They were baby dinosaurs! How ‘eggciting’!

During this theme, we will be learning about Dinosaurs. We

will learn about the time period when the dinosaurs lived and

some of the explanations about why they became extinct.

Linked to this theme, we will use our science investigation

skills to learn about fossils and how we use them to under-

stand more about the dinosaurs, for example how their claws

can tell us what the may have dinosaurs eaten. We will be

creating a collaborative dinosaur sculpture and reading short

novels by the author Dick-King Smith.

EXTINCT Squidgy!

ART & DESIGN

We will be exploring and using clay to create our own

class dinosaur sculpture.

We will use pencil pressure to create hard and

soft lines to represent pattern and shape

Make a 3D sculpture using a range of materials

ENGLISH

We will be focussing on the author Dick King-Smith who has written a range of novels about

animals and especially pre-historic animals. We will read and analyse his writing to develop our

vocabulary and inspire our own writing.

Writing

Form: To write two alternative openings

Identify features of good story openings

Explore the work of the author Dick King Smith

Write two different character descriptions.

Write two different setting descriptions.

EXTINCT

Grammar and Punctuation

Use a wide range of adjectives to create impact

in expanded noun phrases.

SCIENCE—ROCKS & SOILS

Understand that different rocks

have different properties.

Describe how fossils are formed

when living things that have died

are trapped within rock.

Recognise that soils are made

from rocks and organic

material.

WORKING SCIENTIFICALLY

We will be conducting

investigations into the

permeability of rocks.

We will learn to:

Use various equipment with care

Measure accurately

Record findings in a table

Set up simple practical

enquiries

GUIDED READING

PEEWEES Focus Area -

Examining author choices

Using evidence to draw conclusions

Subjects linked to the theme...

SPANISH

To be able to label parts of

the body

To be able to describe your

home

To be able to describe where

you live

PE

Y3EC: Outdoor Monday Indoor Wednesday Y3HL: Outdoor Wednesday Indoor Friday

Indoor - Dance To perform the basic salsa steps to a variety of music

To perform a short routine during the house dance competition

To give positive and constructive feedback to group members

Outdoor –Rugby To begin to understand and use a defensive line effectively during a game

To pass the ball accurately using the ’pop pass.

HOMEWORK

Please continue to regularly read with your children and

record any reading in your child’s reading journal.

Going forward, children’s reading journals will now just be

signed by the adult who worked with them that session. No

comments will be recorded.

MUSIC

Performing: Singing

To perform as part of a group to

an audience

To sing expressively in time to a

beat and a rhythm

To take part in two-part songs

MATHS

This term we will be looking to “master” maths in the following

areas:

Solve problems involving combinations of

coins and notes.

Record £ and p using decimal notation.

Add and subtract amounts of money to give change.

Read the time to the nearest minute.

Convert analogue and 12hr digital time.

Know the number of seconds in a minute and days in a

week, month, year and leap year.

Record and compare time in terms of seconds, minutes and

hours.

COMPUTING

To know that computers need precise instructions

To show care and precision to avoid errors

To know that computers have no intelligence and that

computers can do nothing unless a program is run. PSHE

Understand how money plays an

important role in our lives.

Explain different ways to manage

money.

Understand that our society has

rules and laws that govern us.

RE

The Church Year: Is

Christmas a festival of light

or love?

to consider the meaning of Christmas for

Christians

to understand the importance of Jesus to

Christians and the symbolism of light in the

celebration of his birth