Year 3 Curriculum Outline 2018-19
Our Learning Wheel explained Our learners
Our schools are small enough to ensure that each learner is known. By placing our learners at the centre of our approach, we create an education that allows individuality to flourish.
Developing character
Fostering a secure bedrock of self-esteem and a sure moral compass is essential preparation for a future in a complex world.
Learning segments
We group our subjects together into six curriculum areas. We teach subjects in an integrated way, because the future belongs
to those who can think way beyond narrow subject boundaries.
Learning to think
Education is not just about imparting knowledge. It’s about teaching young people how to think for themselves: critically, creatively and collaboratively.
Outer circle
We prepare young people to blaze a trail in whatever field they choose. They leave us equipped with a breadth of skills, ready to become responsible global citizens.
Year 3 Curriculum Outline Autumn 2018 Form Teachers: 3T - Miss Terry 3K - Mrs Knowles
Curriculum areas and subject teachers: Humanities - social understanding Mrs Knowles, Miss Terry Language and Communication Mrs Knowles (English), Miss Terry (English), Ms Prowse (French), Mrs Foreman (Spanish), Mrs Fernández Smart (Spanish) Mathematical Understanding Mrs Knowles, Miss Terry Physical Education and Well-being Mr Evans (Games and P.E), Mr Godfrey (Games and P.E), Mrs Parkin (Games and PE) Creative and Performing Arts Mrs Knowles, Miss Terry (Creative and Design Engineering), Miss Mulally (Music) Scientific Understanding Mrs Knowles, Miss Terry
Humanities - Social Understanding Key Topics Tropical Treasures! A visit to the Botanic Garden will kickstart our vibrant thematic learning for the first half of term. In humanities we will study rainforests, especially the Amazon Basin, comparing and contrasting the effect of a tropical climate on the wildlife and way of life of the people living there. We will also continue to develop mapping skills. Key Learning Objectives: ● to be able to locate geographically the Rainforests of South America and Africa and understand how they are formed ● to understand that the rainforest is home to a huge variety of plants and creatures ● to understand the interdependence between species in the rainforest ● to explore the sustainable way of life of forest dwellers
● to understand that the way of life for indigenous peoples in the rainforest is under threat
After half term our thematic learning takes us into Chocolate! We will find where cacao trees are grown and learn about chocolate production and Fairtrade. We will learn who first discovered chocolate and who brought the first chocolate to Europe? We will research the Spanish Conquest of Mexico, the part Hernan Cortes played, and what the impact was on Europe of trading with the New World. We will explore Aztec life and learn more about this ancient civilisation.
Religious Education Key Topics We will be studying the Church and Christian worship, looking at how a Church is both a building and a community of people who share worship and faith. A visit to St. Mary's Church will help us to use religious language to describe and understand the features of a church. They will learn the importance to Christians of the main acts of worship and understand the purpose of rites of passage as marking a time of change. Finally this term they will distinguish between religious and secular observances of Christmas, and understand that both are of importance and personal significance to people. In all lessons the children are assessed on their quality of questions and contributions to discussion, and encouraged to respond thoughtfully and sensitively to the issues raised.
Language and Communication Key Topics English - Language and Literacy We will be developing the children’s reading comprehension and writing composition and teaching grammar, vocabulary development, critical thinking and spoken language. We use the Read, Write, Inc. ‘Language and Literacy’ scheme to ensure that children: Read fluently and with good understanding Acquire a wide vocabulary Use grammar correctly Develop the habit of reading widely for pleasure and information Write clearly, accurately and coherently adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences ● Use discussion in order to learn ● Gain competence in speaking and listening and debating ● ● ● ● ●
In addition we follow the Read, Write, Inc. ‘Spelling’ programme which is a robust and fastpaced scheme teaching children to spell accurately through an understanding of phonics and spelling rules, underpinned by regular practice. This term we will study fiction texts including ‘Sand Wizards’ by Jon Blake and ‘A Tune of Lies’ by Lou Kuenzler, and related non-fiction.
Assessment ● Standardised reading and spelling assessments ● Weekly spelling tests ● Half termly writing task
French Key Topics Through songs, games, basic conversation situations and some writing and reading, the children will revise phrases and vocabulary from Year 2. They will build upon this and expand their knowledge in numbers up to 40, look at family member words and discuss birthdays, along with seasons, months and days of the week. Towards Christmas, the children will explore typical Christmas foods and traditions in France, focusing on chocolates and its production and reputation in France. Through our Thematic Learning, we will explore which rainforest regions cross French-speaking areas around the globe and some of the animals in French that can be found in the rainforests.
Spanish Key Topics The focus this year will continue to be on speaking and listening and on establishing a good accent from the outset with a selection of stories, songs and rhymes. Lessons will link to the topic ‘Tropical Treasures’ with work on the Mexican Rainforests, pre-Columbian treasures and the popular song ‘Bate Bate Chocolate’ will most certainly be revisited. The children will practise answering basic questions and continue counting to 20. In the second half of term the children will look at Spanish festivals, learn a Christmas song and look at the differences in the way Christmas is celebrated in Spain.
Mathematical Understanding Key Topics Our approach to learning and teaching mathematics is based on direct interactive teaching, a systematic development of mental calculation and regular reinforcement of tables and number bonds. Children are expected to involve themselves actively in answering questions, to contribute to discussions, and to explain and demonstrate understanding of their learning to others (including using talk partners). The children are challenged to use and apply their skills through regular problem solving, and homework is set weekly to reinforce current topics. The key areas of learning throughout Year 3 will be: 1. Number, counting and place value 2. Number - addition and subtraction 3. Number - multiplication and division We use the 'Times Tables Rockstars' programme to reinforce the quick recall of times tables. Your child will be given access to this at home and we encourage regular practice. 4. Number - fractions 5. Measurement, including mass, capacity, length and time Helping your child to tell the time accurately using both an analogue and a digital clock will greatly support their learning. 6. Geometry – properties of 2D and 3D shapes, and identifying angles and lines 7. Data handling
Assessment â—? Formative assessment and topic checks will take place throughout the term.
Physical Education and Well-being Key Topics Development of motor skills, improving knowledge of rules and opportunities to work collaboratively are all key aspects of lessons in Year 3. Pupils will engage in a variety of activities including fencing, gymnastics, tag rugby, netball, hockey and football in the lead up to Christmas. There will be a focus on individual sports alongside team sports throughout the Autumn term. Pupils will learn the skills of fencing from visiting coaches from Cambridge Sword whilst experiencing a variety of other individual sports. Opportunities to work collaboratively as well as individually will ensure pupils are given the best chance to have fun in many different sporting settings. Year 3 pupils will swim on a half termly rotation with Year 2. Year 3 will swim during the second half of each term throughout the academic year. When not swimming, pupils will remain in school for a PE lesson where the focus will be on individual sports during this session. There will be opportunities for pupils to be involved in some competitive sporting situations, be it in house competitions or against other local schools.
Encourage your child to be active at home. Practice throwing and catching, watching live sport or on TV will help to develop pupils’ understanding of simple rules and tactics. Extra swimming lessons would also be beneficial for those who require a little more confidence in the water.
PSHEE Key Topics We will be following the Cambridgeshire PSHE programme and focusing on aspects of emotional intelligence, aiming to have more understanding of the causes of feelings and behaviour. The main aspects will be distinguishing between positive and negative emotions, how to manage anger and to identify our strengths and so have more positive feelings regarding self. We will help the children understand about bullying behaviour and its causes and consequences. Key Learning Objectives: To have a greater understanding of their behaviour, and the consequences of that behaviour. To recognise their worth as individuals by identifying positive things about themselves and their achievements.
Creative and Performing Arts Key Topics Create Careful observation will be required as we begin our creative year, looking at our facial features and plotting a self-portrait. Tropical Treasures will include an array of colourful fruit which we will use to inspire sketching and painting, investigating line, light and dark, shape and form. Our Design and Engineering will explore balance as we make perching parrots. If time allows, we will seek refreshment as we design a tropical fruit drink building on our food technology skills. Music In music, we will be exploring the art of the pentatonic scale through performance and composition activities rooted in musical elements. Pupils will learn how to arrange and manipulate their own pentatonic music through a variety of different structures. Pupils will develop theoretical knowledge of tones and semitones through practical exploration of tuned percussion instruments and piano. As well as exploring British pentatonic music, particularly Vaughan Williams ‘The Lark Ascending’, pupils will also gain insight into Chinese and African pentatonic musical cultures. Students will focus on a set piece, ‘Ariba’, and learn how to improvise using call and response techniques.
Scientific Understanding Key Topics Tropical Treasures: In science we will be exploring how plants grow and why they are of importance to not only us, but also the environment around us. Our key learning objectives for the first half of term are to investigate and understand: ● the parts of a plant and the best conditions for healthy growth ● why tropical plants grow all year round in the rainforest, and how the conditions affect their growth ● why plants have leaves and why they can be different ● that plants can be food and that we eat different parts of different plants ● what rainforest plants are used for Chocolate: After half term our investigations will link into our ‘Chocolate’ topic. We will: ● compare common materials and objects according to their properties and how these might affect the production and quality of chocolate ● explore the effects of heat on chocolate of different kinds ● understand what is in a bar of chocolate and its effect on our bodies and on our teeth
Trips/curricular enrichment ● Botanic Gardens, Cambridge Tropical Plant Houses (Thursday 20th September) ● An Island Adventure, Collaboration Day with Cambridge Year 3 Juniors (Wednesday 3rd October)