Year 3

Our topic for this term is ‘The Ancient Romans’. 

To inspire our curriculum learning, we are reading ‘The Legend of Podkin One-Ear’ by Kieran Larwood and ‘Roman Britain’ by Abigal Wheatly. 

ENGLISH: 

This half term, we are exploring the themes of history and adventure through a range of engaging reading and writing activities. To inspire our learning, we are reading the non-fiction text Roman Britain and the adventure story The Legend of Podkin One-Ear. These texts help us to develop our understanding of life in Roman Britain while also exploring exciting fictional worlds and characters. As part of this, the children will be developing their non-chronological report writing skills by creating detailed reports about the Romans in Britain, using ambitious Tier 2 vocabulary and key historical facts. 

Alongside this, the children will be using their imagination and understanding of narrative structure to write their own adventure narratives inspired by The Legend of Podkin One-Ear. They will adapt the character and setting from the original story to create new and exciting tales of their own. This allows pupils to combine creativity with descriptive writing techniques, carefully building suspense, action, and atmosphere within their stories. 

MATHS:  

In Maths, we will be exploring shape, statistics, and recapping fractions. Children will identify and describe the properties of 2D and 3D shapes, including the number of sides, vertices, edges, and faces. They will compare and sort shapes based on these properties and continue to develop their understanding of angles, including recognising right angles in different contexts. 

In statistics, pupils will interpret and present data using pictograms, bar charts, and tables. They will answer and ask questions about the information they collect, helping them to develop their reasoning and problem-solving skills. 

Alongside this, the children will revisit fractions to strengthen their understanding of recognising, comparing, and finding fractions of shapes and amounts. This recap will help to build confidence and fluency in applying fraction knowledge across different areas of Maths. 

SCIENCE: 

‘Skeletons and Muscles’ 

Children will learn about skeletons and muscles, exploring how the human body is structured and supported. They will identify the different types of skeletons found in animals, including endoskeletons, exoskeletons, and hydrostatic skeletons, and compare how these help animals to move and survive in their environments. 

Alongside this, pupils will investigate why humans and animals need skeletons, understanding how they provide support, protection, and movement. They will also explore how muscles work by learning about how muscles contract and relax to help the body move. Through this unit, children will develop a greater understanding of how the body works and the important role that bones and muscles play in everyday life. 

To support their learning, the children will take part in a range of practical investigations and experiments. These will include creating moving hand models to explore how muscles and tendons work together, as well as testing the strength and flexibility of different materials to investigate how skeletons protect and support the body. Through these hands-on activities, pupils will develop their scientific enquiry and observation skills. 

 HISTORY: 

‘The Ancient Romans’ 

We will be exploring the history of the Ancient Romans and learning about their influence on Britain. Children will discover who the Romans were, where they came from, and why they chose to invade Britain. They will investigate how the Roman Empire expanded and learn about the changes the Romans brought to Britain, including roads, settlements, technology, and ways of life. 

Pupils will also explore the impact the Romans had on Britain and consider how their legacy can still be seen today. Alongside this, the children will learn about the important historical figure Boudicca and her resistance against the Roman invasion. Through this topic, children will develop their understanding of chronology, historical enquiry, and how significant events and individuals shaped life in Britain. 

 ART: 

‘Roman Portraits’ 

In Art, our learning will be inspired by Roman busts and portraits. Children will explore how the Romans used sculpture to represent important people and tell stories about their lives. They will study the features, expressions, and details used in Roman artwork before developing their own sketching techniques to create detailed self-portraits inspired by this style. 

Throughout the project, pupils will practise using shading, line, texture, and proportion to improve their observational drawing skills. They will experiment with different sketching materials and learn how artists use light and shadow to add depth and realism to their work. This project will encourage children to develop confidence in their artistic abilities while gaining a greater understanding of Roman art and culture. 

 RE: 

‘How and why do people try to make the world a better place’ 

In RE, children will explore the question of what kind of world people believe we should live in by looking at different religious and non-religious perspectives. They will learn about the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Humanist views on how people should treat one another and care for the world around them. 

Pupils will explore important teachings and values from each worldview, including kindness, respect, forgiveness, fairness, and responsibility. They will reflect on how these beliefs encourage people to make positive choices and consider how these ideas can be applied in their own lives to help build caring and respectful relationships within their community. 

 PSHE: 

‘Healthy Lifestyles’ 

In PSHE, children will learn about healthy lifestyles, including the importance of regular exercise, good sleep, and a balanced diet. They will also explore why it is important to talk about their feelings, helping them to understand their emotions, build resilience, and know who to go to for support. 

 MFL: 

‘The Seasons’ 

In French, children will learn the names of the four seasons and practise using them in simple sentences. They will develop their speaking and listening skills by describing different types of weather and seasonal changes using basic vocabulary, building confidence in pronunciation and understanding of the language. Pupils will also explore seasonal activities and begin to express their likes and dislikes linked to different times of the year. 

PE:  

‘Athletics and Cricket 

In PE, children will develop their skills in athletics by focusing on running, jumping, and throwing techniques, including speed, control, coordination, and endurance. They will take part in a range of activities on the school field to help prepare for Sports Week, building confidence, teamwork, and resilience. 

Alongside this, pupils will learn the basic skills of cricket, including batting, bowling, catching, and fielding. They will practise working collaboratively in team games and develop their understanding of simple rules and tactics through fun and active sessions outdoors. 

 MUSIC: 

In Music, children will be recapping and revisiting the different units and musical skills that we have explored throughout the year. They will practise singing with expression, confidence, and clear pronunciation while revisiting a range of songs, rhythms, and musical styles covered in previous lessons. 

Pupils will also build on their understanding of pulse, rhythm, pitch, and melody through listening activities, performance opportunities, and musical games. This recap unit will help to strengthen their confidence and allow them to reflect on the progress they have made in Music across the year. 

 COMPUTING: 

In Computing, children will explore events and actions in programming by creating and debugging simple programs. They will learn how events, such as pressing a button or clicking an object, can trigger actions within a program, helping them to understand how algorithms control digital outcomes. 

Pupils will use block-based coding to design interactive projects, experimenting with different commands, sequences, and inputs to make characters move, speak, or respond. Through this unit, children will develop their problem-solving, logical thinking, and debugging skills while building confidence in creating their own simple programs. 

 Home Learning: 

In year 3, children still need to read lots! All children are expected to read at home most nights for 10-15 minutes either to themselves or with an adult. This could be their school Accelerated Reader book, listening to a story read by someone else or sharing a favourite book. All are equally valuable. Talking about what they have read is also vital to help develop comprehension skills. This is particularly beneficial to the children when completing their Accelerated Reader quizzes.  All children have a reading record book in which parents; carers or the children themselves can record what they have read or make any comments. 

In addition, children all have access to Times Tables Rockstars. Please encourage your child to practise their times tables regularly – five or ten minutes a day is likely to be more beneficial than an hour once a week. 

Thank you for your support at home – it is very much appreciated! 

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the school office.