Year 3

Meet our wonderful Year 3 Team

Year 3 Teachers

Mr Eccles

Year 3 Class Teacher

Mrs Wood

Teaching Assistant

Miss Little

Teaching Assistant

Meet the Teacher Slideshow

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to an exciting new year of learning! Year 3 is a pivotal year as the children transition into Key Stage 2, and we have a jam-packed curriculum designed to spark their curiosity and develop their critical thinking skills.

Below is an overview of the key topics we will be exploring together this year.

 Science: Exploring the Natural World

In Science, our focus is on hands-on investigation and understanding the physical and biological world around us.

• Light: We will explore how light travels, the formation of shadows, and the importance of light for seeing things.

• Forces and Magnets: Students will learn about "push" and "pull" forces and investigate the mysterious properties of magnetic poles.

• Plants: We’ll look at the functions of different parts of a plant, the requirements for growth, and the fascinating life cycle of flowering plants.

• Animals including Humans: This unit focuses on nutrition, the role of skeletons, and how muscles help us move.

• Rocks: A journey into geology! We will compare and group different types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic) and learn how fossils are formed.

 History: From Stone Tools to Great Empires

Our History curriculum takes us on a journey through time, comparing how early humans lived and how the first great civilisations rose to power.

Prehistoric Britain

We begin by looking at our own shores, tracking the changes from the Stone Age through to the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. We will look at how technology, homes, and daily life evolved over thousands of years.

Ancient Civilisations

We will then broaden our horizons to look at four foundational societies of the ancient world:

• Ancient Sumer: The cradle of civilisation and early writing.

• Ancient Egyptians: Pyramids, pharaohs, and the importance of the Nile.

• Shang Dynasty: Early Chinese culture and bronze-working.

• Indus Valley: Famous for its incredibly advanced urban planning and drainage.

Religious Education (RE): Big Questions

In RE, we use an inquiry-based approach to look at faith and ethics. Our key units of study include:

• Faith Leaders: What is the role of a leader "called by God"?

• The Nature of Jesus: Why do Christians believe Jesus was ‘God With Us’?

• Transformation: How did (and does) Jesus change lives?

• Symbolism: Is the Cross a symbol of sadness or joy?

• Ethics: Is the ‘Golden Rule’ (treating others as you wish to be treated) agreed upon by everyone?

• Tradition: The significance of Harvest celebrations.

 Art: Developing Mastery

This year, our Art curriculum focuses on two core disciplines to help children express their creativity:

1. Drawing: Developing control with pencils, charcoal, and pastels. We will focus on shading, line work, and perspective.

2. Painting: Exploring colour mixing, textures, and the techniques of famous artists to create vibrant compositions.

 Guided Reading: The "VIPERS" Approach

To ensure our students become confident, analytical readers, we use the VIPERS framework during our Guided Reading sessions. This helps children target specific comprehension skills:

Our Goal: We aim to foster a love for learning where children feel brave enough to ask "Why?" and "How?". We encourage you to talk to your children about these topics at home—you might be surprised by how much they can teach you!

Homework

Spellings will be sent home every other Friday to be learnt ready for the spelling test the following week. Times tables should also be practised at home. Your child is expected to read at home. Each time you read with your child please sign their reading record. Reading book bags must be in school every day. 

PE

This term we have PE every Thursday. Please ensure children have PE kits in school and any earrings are removed or plasters need to be provided for the children to cover them with.

Uniform

All children should wear full uniform including their ALWAYS badges.

We do allow pupils to wear all black trainers - no coloured swooshes/stripes etc. with all black soles.

Black shoes are also still acceptable and preferred for school.