English      

Our focus texts will be The Nothing to See Here Hotel, The Worst Witch, Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles and Marcy and the Riddle of the Sphinx. While exploring these texts, we will learn how to use descriptive language efficiently in our work through the use of fronted adverbials and expanded noun phrases. We will create longer narratives using a wider range of tenses and organise them effectively into paragraphs. We will also create playscripts, balanced arguments, instructions and reports.

When assessing the effectiveness of our writing, we will suggest improvements for spelling, punctuation and the correct use of grammar. We will also propose changes to our vocabulary to make our writing more interesting and engaging.

During reading, we will justify answers, opinions and arguments. Further to this, we will discuss our understanding by predicting what might happen next from details stated and implied. We will also draw inferences and justify them using accurate evidence from the text.

Maths       

We will be using the Maths No problem scheme to support our mathematical learning. We will explore different types of angles, and we will further develop our knowledge in the area of geometry by measuring the perimeter of figures. We will be learning how to create and interpret pictograms and bar graphs. The children will be creating a number of different pictograms where the pictures can represent more than one item. Then, children begin to create bar graphs, using their knowledge of pictograms to help them. Children will then read and interpret the information from the bar graphs. We will also focus on fractions and children will begin to count in tenths and then understand fractions as division. Children will move on to finding fractions of whole numbers as part of a set and looking at sharing 1 and more than 1. Children will explore equivalent fractions and look at simplifying fractions before comparing fractions with different denominators. 

Science    

We will be studying two science topics this term. In Animals including Humans, we will identify that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection and movement. We will identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat. This will be followed by Plants where we will be able to explore the part that flowers play in the life cycle of flowering plants, including pollination, seed formation and seed dispersal.

History   

In History, we will study Ancient Egypt. We will discover what Ancient Egypt was like over 5,000 years ago. We will investigate historical evidence and compare Ancient Egypt with other civilisations from that time. We will finish the topic by looking at the pyramids.

Geography

We will identify water stores and processes in the water cycle. We will describe the three courses of a river and also name the physical features of a river. We will describe different ways a river is used, and we will list some of the problems around rivers.                                                

Music        

In Music this term, we will look at how chords are created and explore them using tuned percussion. We will practice making chords on keyboards and listen to the difference between major and minor chords. We will work in groups to improvise over chords and add lyrics to rhythms and chords to create a whole class song.

After half-term, our unit is based around Indonesian Gamelan. We will look at traditional performances and learn about the instruments used. We will explore the repeating cycles that form the structure of almost all Balinese music and perform the interlocking rhythms in a class version of a gamelan using tuned percussion. 

Recorder lessons will run alongside these topics so that we continue to build on our music reading in preparation for instrumental lessons in Year 4.

Computing       

This half-term, we will explore the concept of sequencing in programming through Scratch. We will be introduced to the programming environment as well as to a selection of motion, sound, and event blocks which we will use to create our own programs.

Next half-term we will explore the links between events and actions, whilst consolidating prior learning relating to sequencing. We will explore movement within the context of a maze, using design to choose an appropriately sized sprite. We will be introduced to programming extensions, through the use of pen blocks and finally, we will design and code our own maze tracing program.

Design Technology (DT)   

In our DT unit this half-term we will be constructing a castle. We will draw and label a simple castle that includes the most common features. We will recognise that a castle is made up of multiple 3D shapes. We will score or cut along lines on the net of a 2D shape and utilise skills to build a complex structure from simple geometric shapes.

Physical Education (PE)               

Year 3 will continue their weekly swimming lessons during the summer term. Our PE topic this half term is athletics and this will be followed by Tag Rugby next half term.

French     

We will be learning key vocabulary and phrases through the following topics: French transport and A circle of life.

Religious Education (RE)             

In our learning we will focus on why water is symbolic and how fire is used ceremonially. These topic will be linked to scripture, beliefs and world views throughout.

Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE) / Relationships & Sex Education (RSE)     

Our topics this term are: Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing, Growing and Changing and Keeping Safe.

We will talk about the choices that people make in their daily life and how they could affect their health. We will also identify healthy and unhealthy choices (e.g. in relation to food, exercise, sleep). We will discuss what can help people to make healthy choices and what might negatively influence them.

We will learn that everyone is an individual and has unique and valuable contributions to make. We will recognise how strengths and interests form part of a person’s identity. We will identify our own personal strengths and interests and what we are proud of (in school, out of school).         

We will identify typical hazards at home and in school. We will learn how to predict, assess and manage risk in everyday situations.

       

• Your child should read for at least 10 minutes every day. Across the week, this should be a combination of independent reading and reading to an adult. Please talk to your child about the book and check their understanding by asking questions about events and the characters’ actions. Please also explain new or unfamiliar vocabulary. Their bookbag should come into school every day.
• Your child will have PE on Tuesday and swimming on Thursday. Their PE kit should stay in school in a named draw-string bag.
• Your child needs to bring in a water bottle every day.
• We are a Healthy School. Please do not put sweets or chocolate bars in your child’s packed lunch. Please do not send in sweets or other treats when it is your child’s birthday. If you want to celebrate your child’s birthday with their classmates, you could buy the class a book, send in a healthy snack such as boxes of raisins or buy stationery such as a pencil, but due to the impact on the environment, we ask you not to send in plastic toys.
• If your child is absent from school, please contact the school office: 020 8850 5486 and leave a message detailing why your child is absent. Please try to book medical appointments outside of the school day and note that family holidays will not be authorised.
• If you have any questions or wish to raise a concern, please contact the class teacher in the first instance.

Please note the following events and add them to your diary:

• Friday 19th April - Year 3 trip to Horniman Museum
• Friday 26th April - Cake Sale and Pre-Loved Uniform Sale
• Monday 29th April - Class photographs
• Thursday 2nd May - Local elections (Sports Hall) – school open as usual
• Monday 6th May - Bank Holiday – school closed
• Tuesday 7th May - Royal Greenwich Singing Spectacular concert (evening)
• 20th to 24th May - Walk to School Week
• 27th to 31st May - Half-term break
• Monday 3rd June - Inset Day – school closed
• Tuesday 4th June - Children return to school
• Friday 14th June - Sports Day for Years 3 to 6 (morning)
• 17th to 21st June - Dance workshops for all year groups
• 9th to 11th July - Gordon Exhibition 
• Friday 19th July - 120th Anniversary Party 
• Wednesday 24th July - last day of term - school closes at 1:30pm