Year 3

Our topic for this term is ‘Sustainability’. 

To inspire our curriculum learning, we are reading ‘The Mermaid of Zennor, by Charles Causley and Micheal Foreman, ‘The Return to Zennor’ by Lilac Rosenwys and ‘What a Waste’ by Jess French.  

ENGLISH: 

This half term, we are exploring the themes of local tales and sustainability through a range of engaging reading and writing activities. To inspire our learning, we are reading The Mermaid of Zennor, The Return to Zennor, and What a Waste. These texts help us to connect traditional storytelling with important modern issues about caring for our environment. As part of this, the children will be developing their persuasive writing skills by creating speeches that encourage others to protect our oceans and local surroundings. 

Alongside this, the children will be using their imagination and understanding of narrative structure to write a sequel to The Mermaid of Zennor. They will build on the characters, setting, and themes from the original story while incorporating ideas about sustainability and environmental responsibility. This allows pupils to combine creativity with purpose, thinking carefully about how stories can inspire positive change in the real world. 

MATHS:  

In Maths, we will be exploring time and shape. Children will learn to tell and write the time from analogue clocks, including using Roman numerals from I to XII, and read the time to the nearest minute. They will also solve problems involving time, including comparing durations and understanding units such as seconds, minutes, and hours. 

In shape, pupils will identify and describe the properties of 2D and 3D shapes, including the number of sides, vertices, and faces. They will compare and sort shapes based on these properties and begin to recognise angles as a property of shape, including identifying right angles in everyday contexts. 

SCIENCE: 

‘Animals Including Humans’ 

Children will learn to identify and group different types of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians, and understand their diets by classifying them as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.  

Alongside this, pupils will focus on humans, learning about the importance of a balanced diet and how different food groups support our bodies. They will also understand the role of exercise and lifestyle choices in keeping our bodies healthy, recognising how nutrition and physical activity contribute to overall wellbeing. 

GEOGRAPHY: 

‘Sustainability’ 

We will be exploring sustainability and how we can care for our planet. We will learn about renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power and understand how these differ from non-renewable sources. They will also explore practical ways to save water and energy in everyday life, developing an awareness of how small actions can make a big difference to the environment. 

Pupils will also be introduced to the importance of the “Three Rs” – reduce, reuse, and recycle – and how this helps to minimise waste and protect natural resources. Through this topic, children will develop a sense of responsibility for their local and global environment, linking their learning to real-world actions that support a more sustainable future. 

ART: 

‘Mosaics’ 

In Art, our learning will be inspired by the work of Antoni Gaudí, focusing on his colourful mosaic designs and unique patterns. Children will explore how mosaics are created, experimenting with shape, colour, and texture to design and make their own pieces in a similar style. They will develop their skills in arranging materials carefully and creatively to produce visually striking artwork. 

As part of this project, we will be visiting Portreath Beach for a beach clean, where the children will collect plastic waste. This will then be reused within their mosaic creations, linking our art project to sustainability and environmental responsibility. This hands-on experience will help pupils understand how discarded materials can be transformed into something meaningful and beautiful while also caring for our local environment. 

RE: 

‘What kind of world did Jesus want’ 

In RE, children will explore the question of what kind of world Jesus wanted by looking at teachings from the Gospels. They will learn about how Jesus encouraged people to treat one another with kindness, forgiveness, and respect through his words and actions. 

Pupils will reflect on these teachings and consider how they can be applied in their own lives, helping them to understand the importance of caring for others and building positive relationships. 

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: 

‘Shapes’ 

In French, children will learn the names of common shapes and practise using them in simple sentences. They will develop their speaking and listening skills by describing shapes using basic vocabulary, building confidence in pronunciation and understanding of the language 

PE:  

Tennis and Running 

In PE, children will develop their skills in athletics by focusing on running techniques, including speed, control, and endurance. They will also learn the basic skills of tennis, such as sending and receiving a ball, coordination, and simple gameplay, helping to build teamwork and confidence. 

MUSIC: 

‘In Music, children will learn the song Bringing Us Together, focusing on singing with expression, clear pronunciation, and confidence. They will explore how music can bring people together, developing their listening skills and understanding of rhythm and melody.’ 

COMPUTING: 

In Computing, children will learn how to present collected data in a clear and organised way. They will use simple digital tools to create charts and graphs, helping them to interpret information and communicate their findings effectively. 

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.