Mayfield Primary SchoolYEAR THREE
YEAR THREE
3ND
Teacher: Mrs Duerden
Take a look below for a review of our year of learning. Download your copy of the termly Curriculum Information Mats & take a look a the Year 3 Reading Spine at the base of the page.
A new key stage but for us the next year in the journey, carefully consolidating, recapping and building each time we come together. We've worked hard in the last two years to consider where we can achieve greater progression and focus in our teaching and learning and crucially holding onto our principles of well paced, engaging projects that don't overcrowd coverage and give space to revisit and apply. 'I Dream of Being' for Year 3 reflects all of these goals as we continue to move the children forward on their journey. Matching this to our continued enhancements to our unique classroom philosophy and beliefs and we feel that Year 3 is an exciting twelve months for the children.
The writing we undertake in Year 3 as part of our English projects sees us draw from a range of differing stimulus: Stig Of The Dump by Clive King, Stone Age Boy by Satoshi Kitamura and Howard Carter's pursuit of Ancient Egyptian secrets provide some of these. The enable us to write to inform, persuade, re-tell and entertain during the course of the year with a meaningful purpose at the heart of what we do. Like all year groups, we combine our English work between writing focused units (with 'Writer's Craft' grammatical skills embedded within these) alongside a clear writer's process. This runs alongside a parallel focus upon reading via our range of classroom sessions each day, and across the week, using our class texts and our Reading Gang comprehension characters. We have really focused upon adding some spark and challenge to our reading work across school with some new initiatives and new methods. Underpinning each of these are our constant speaking and listening activities embedded within our writing and reading activities but forming a constant thread across the curriculum via our 'Let's Talk' initiative across the curriculum.
Mathematics continues a focus upon the four operations and place value development whilst introducing and building new understanding via interpreting and presenting data, fractions, converting units of measurement, perimeter, area and horizontal, vertical, parallel and perpendicular lines. A really busy year of mathematics with our really sharp mathematics session taking place at the start of the school day. Not forgetting our mental mathematics skills of course!
Our Science work this year focuses upon the following projects: Skeletons & Movement; The Life Cycle of Plants (Including Conditions for Growth); Light (Part 1); Forces & Magnets (Part 1); Rocks & Soils. Under the banner of The STEM Agency our big question enquiry team delve deep into these subject areas with a heavy focus upon fair testing, planning for enquiry and classifying as the 'being a scientist' skills.
Historians take their first step into the chronological history of Britain studying The Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age before embarking upon The Roman Invasion of Britain. As if this wasn't enough, we then round off the year by taking the first ancient focus of Key Stage Two namely: The Egyptians. All this whilst under the helpful guiding arm of our guest archaeologist Doc What fresh from his Skara Brae exploits and jetting over from the USA to set challenges for our young historians. He is a real favourite with everyone!
Our Geography studies start with a history linked region study: Ribchester. This allows the children to undertake fieldwork on a local site and can make meaningful links to their Roman studies, whilst focusing upon our geographical skills. We take a look at farming and how it works during the Spring Term and then finish the year by looking at the importance of rivers both in our own country and beyond. How people of faith say thank you to God for the harvest and different ways in which people celebrate Christmas around the world are the focus for our Religious Education studies in Autumn Term. We talk about how people are called by God and what this means to individuals and whether the cross is a symbol for sadness or joy during Spring Term. Finally we look at the Book of Proverbs and what this means and consider rules for living from a faith angle. Some big discussions happening in our religious studies Year 3 work.
Clay facades, shape drawings and Pharaoh profiles are the focus of Art & Design in Year 3. Studying the work of Barbara Hepworth, Piet Mondrian and Mark Rothko amongst others. Design & Technology visits Food & Diet, Structures and Textiles in 'The Great Egyptian Bake Off', 'Hill Forts' and 'Roman Sandals'. Music follows our format of Singing, Performing and Composing with a constant Listening and Appraising focus with a careful choice of songs to perform and listen to using the Model Music Curriculum: Appendices all taking place in our dedicated music space: The ABC Theatre. Our lead sports: Netball and Cricket continue to take place in our Physical Education work alongside our summer Track and Field work, our Dance, Gymnastics and also our Outdoor Adventurous Activities curriculum.
French begins in Year 3 and we start with a unit called 'I Am Learning French' then move onto ’Les Animaux', 'Les Fruits', 'Les Legumes', 'Les Vetements' & 'Les Saisons'. Our Year 3 Computing work continues to develop skills and knowledge in the following projects: 'Applying Algorithms & Loops' (Programming), 'Comparing Databases' (Data & Information) & 'Roman Podcast' (Creating Media). Our Computer Systems & Networks focus (networks/the internet/websites) and our E-Safety work continues each term across the year with specific units and studies. My Happy Mind/PSHE & Relationships continues throughout the year with, amongst others, work upon healthy lifestyles including diet, what makes a good community including our school community and our responsibilities to others.
