In Year 3 this term we are finding out ‘How We Organise Ourselves.’ The central idea for our Unit of Inquiry is ‘Cities display commonalities but are also unique.’ As part of our inquiry we will be trying to answer the following:
- What are the similarities and differences between where we live, cities near us and other cities?
- How do cities change and develop over times and what structures and systems do they need to work effectively?
- How do people and animals adapt to their habitats?
We will begin our inquiry by investigating different cities both in this country and in other countries. We will consider how cities develop and change over time by linking it with the development of the local estate around our school. We will also be looking at our capital city, London, and how that has changed over the centuries. To further our inquiry, we will look at the different systems and structures that are common to all cities and how some of them are developed and designed. This may include the construction of bridges and towers, finding out what design features make a stronger structure.
In English we will using two core texts ‘Iron Man’ by Ted Hughes and the wordless text ‘Belonging’ by Jeannie Baker. As well as analysing these texts and the techniques used by the authors, we will be using them to inspire our own writing. This term our focus is persuasive writing so we may be creating advertisements, posters and persuasive letters or speeches. The techniques we will be using may include the use of imperative verbs, rhetorical questions and how to use adjectives to creative a positive image. Will you be drawn in by our fantastic and amazing persuasive writing? Wait and see!
In English we will using two core texts ‘Iron Man’ by Ted Hughes and the wordless text ‘Belonging’ by Jeannie Baker. As well as analysing these texts and the techniques used by the authors, we will be using them to inspire our own writing. This term our focus is persuasive writing so we may be creating advertisements, posters and persuasive letters or speeches. The techniques we will be using may include the use of imperative verbs, rhetorical questions and how to use adjectives to creative a positive image. Will you be drawn in by our fantastic and amazing persuasive writing? Wait and see!
Our science focus this term is ‘living things and their habitats.’ We will use our knowledge of where we live and what we need to inform our learning about where animals live and what they need. This will include looking more closely at different invertebrates in the school grounds and surrounding areas and how changes in the local environment can affect them.
In music we will continue to learn the recorder. We are hoping to attend a recorder workshop later in the term with other local primary schools which should help us develop our skills further as well as developing our musicianship. Our PE focus continues to be in woodland learning and swimming in our groups A and B and, as a whole class, gymnastics. We are hoping to take a gymnastics team to represent our school at a local event again this year so are in training to prepare for this.
In maths we will be completing our learning about statistics including pictograms, bar charts and tables. We will then move on to look at length and perimeter, including how to calculate these for different shapes. Towards the end of the term we will begin to look at fractions. Big Maths, Beat That will also continue with a key focus on the three, four and eight times tables.
In music we will continue to learn the recorder. We are hoping to attend a recorder workshop later in the term with other local primary schools which should help us develop our skills further as well as developing our musicianship. Our PE focus continues to be in woodland learning and swimming in our groups A and B and, as a whole class, gymnastics. We are hoping to take a gymnastics team to represent our school at a local event again this year so are in training to prepare for this.
In maths we will be completing our learning about statistics including pictograms, bar charts and tables. We will then move on to look at length and perimeter, including how to calculate these for different shapes. Towards the end of the term we will begin to look at fractions. Big Maths, Beat That will also continue with a key focus on the three, four and eight times tables.
Extra Maths Resources
Column addition / Compact method using concrete resources
Column subtraction / Compact method subtraction with exchanging, using concrete resources
Grid method multiplication using concrete resources