Year 3
Autumn Term 1
Ancient Egyptians
Our end results will
be a trip to The
British Museum and
an Egyptian Day.
English
This term we will be focusing on instruction writing. We
will be learning the key features of instruction texts
including imperative verbs, bullet points, titles and
subtitles. We will be finishing this area of English with
writing instructions for mummifying a body.
In the latter part of this half term, we will be learning
about and experiencing diary writing through the eyes of
Howard Carter; resulting in becoming archaeologists and
recount writers.
To support your child at home it would be helpful if you
could encourage them to read some instruction and
recount texts. Good ideas for this would be:
Maths
In Maths we will be continuing to develop both mental and
written methods of calculation using the four operations (+,
-, x and ÷).
At the beginning of each maths lesson we sing our times
tables, attempt a 5 minute challenge sheet that will
increase in difficulty once the previous sheet is completed
correctly.
During the half term we will be developing our knowledge,
understanding and application of place value to 3 and 4
digit numbers; column addition and subtraction; fractions;
2D and 3D shape and symmetry.
• Car manuals
For further support, we encourage the children to use
Education City, as well as other maths websites to reinforce
learning and play some fun games. See links below:
• Gardening books
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/maths/
Useful websites:
http://www.educationcity.com/
• Cookery books
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/english/
http://resources.woodlandsjunior.kent.sch.uk/literacy/index.htm
RE
This term we will be studying the three themes of Domestic Church (Family), Baptism and Confirmation (Belonging)
and Advent and Christmas (Loving). Each class will approach the themes through different topics. The children will
also spend a week studying Judaism.
HOMES - God’s vision for every family
PROMISES - Promises made at Baptism
VISITORS - waiting for the coming of Jesus
Science
This term we will be learning about
rocks. We will cover:
• Where we find rocks
• How rocks are formed
• Different types of rocks
• Properties of rocks
• Fossils and fossilisation
Please encourage your child to talk
about the science they have been doing
in school. See links below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/scie
nce/materials/
Computing
During our computing lessons, we will
be learning how to navigate the WWW
effectively and to search purposefully
to locate and add digital content to a
variety of programs for a specific
audience.
We will continue to locate, retrieve and
save our work into the correct network
locations and use secure, unique logins.
We will recap E-Safety with your child
and learn a range of ways to report
unacceptable behaviour on-line. This is
something that requires your consistent
vigilance at home.
Topic
Our current topic is the history and geography of
Ancient Egypt. We will also be learning about why they
were so important.
Key questions will include:
• What are hieroglyphics?
• Who was Howard Carter?
• Why was the River Nile so important?
• Why didn’t they remove the heart during the
embalming process?
To celebrate the end of this topic, we will be taking a trip
to The British Museum and having an Egyptian Day in
school.
Please feel free to take a look at these websites:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/learning/schools_and_t
eachers/resources/cultures/ancient_egypt.aspx
http://resources.woodlandsjunior.kent.sch.uk/homework/Egypt.html
Art/DT
Our art and DT this half term will be closely linked to
our Egyptian topic. We will be manipulating clay to
create canopic jars, use mixed media to create a
sphinx.
Music
In music, we will be exploring musical expression by
differing dynamics and tempos when using
instruments and voices. We will be discussing the
effects changing dynamics and tempos have on an
audience. We will use different dynamics and
tempos to create an expressive musical
accompaniment to a poem.
PE
During Dance, we will be creating an Egyptian dance to perform to
another class. The dance will tell a story about one aspect of the
Egyptians.
The children will be developing their football skills, focusing on
turning, how to beat an opponent, passing over a short distance
and playing in small sided games. They will also develop their
netball skills, working on their ability to pass the ball using a chest
pass, jump stops and pivoting. These skills will then be put to the
test in small sided games. During Dance, we will be creating an
Egyptian dance to perform to another class. The dance will tell a
story about one aspect of the Egyptians.
Additional Information
PE
PE lessons for Year 3 take place on Monday
afternoons for both classes and will be outside
providing the weather is fine. On Tuesday (Mrs
Bowler’s class) and Wednesday (Miss Elliott’s
class) the children will have their dance lesson.
PE kits can go home once they have had their
lesson on Tuesday or Wednesday. Please avoid
wearing tights and earrings on PE days.
Homework
Literacy and Maths homework will be sent
home on a Friday and is expected back in school
on Wednesday at the latest. Sometimes
additional homework may be set linked with
specific areas of the curriculum.
Diary Dates:
Mrs Bowler’s Class Assembly – Friday 2nd October
Year 3 trip to the British Museum – Tuesday 6th October
Egyptian Day – Tuesday 20th October
Parents Evening – 21st and 22nd October
End of Half Term – Thursday 22nd October (3:30 finish)
Reading
In class we are reading ‘There’s a Pharaoh in the Bath’ by
Jeremy Strong.
Please try to hear your child read at least twice a week and
discuss the characters, events and key themes of the text. It is
also beneficial for children to be read to by an adult, ideally
once a week.
Please record any pages read in their Reading Record book.
Spellings
We follow the Nelson Spelling scheme. The children will
receive a new list of spellings each week, which will be tested
the following Thursday. We suggest children use the Look,
Cover, Write, Check method for learning their new spellings.
It does not do the children any harm to recap previous
spellings learnt.
Reminders
As we enter Autumn and the weather becomes
more and more unpredictable, please ensure that
your child has a rain coat in school.