Year 3 Spring 2016
Pharaohs and Pyramids
English
Our English lessons this term will be Egyptian
themed. They will include elements of speaking
and listening, reading and writing.
Our major focus will be on:
 Adventure story writing, with an emphasis on
description
 Information texts on Ancient Egyptian life
 Sentence structure with a focus on single and
multi-clause sentences
 Reading comprehension skills
 Further work on cursive handwriting
Our class texts are linked to our topics. These
include: The Time Travelling Cat and The Egyptian
Goddess by Julia Jarman. We will also be
exploring a large range of Egyptian non-fiction
texts through guided reading sessions.
Personal, Social and Health Education
We are following the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) and our next topic is ‘Going
for Goals’. Our topic after half term will be ‘Good to be Me’.
Mathematics
Science
Computing
The children will be following topics from the Year 3
Programme of Study.
Our science topics this term will be ‘Skeletons’ and
‘Healthy Eating.’
In the first half term the children will
create an Egyptian maze using Scratch
and will use their problem-solving skills to
programme a character to move around
the maze.
Areas to be covered include:

Multiplying and dividing using arrays

Fractions of shape

Adding fractions with the same denominator to
make a whole

Simple equivalent fractions

Rounding to the nearest 10 and 100

Adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers using
the column method

3-D shape and telling the time

Problem solving and reasoning
The topics will include:


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Learning how skeletons are important for
movement and protection
Looking at the skeletons of different animals
Understanding how muscles help our bodies to
move
Understanding that humans and animals cannot
make their own food
Learning that humans need the right amount of
different food groups in order to survive
Opportunities to carry out experiments related
to all the above learning intentions.
They will also learn how to research safely
on the internet and use these skills to
create a presentation on the Ancient
Egyptians.
We will also be learning by heart the 3 and 4 times
tables including the related division facts. Please help
your child to learn these at home by practising them
regularly. Just a few minutes a day will make a huge
difference!

Physical Education
History
In addition to PE with their class teacher, the
children will continue to be taught by specialist PE
teachers every Wednesday.
This term the children will be developing their rugby
and netball skills
Our history topic this term is the Ancient Egyptians.
We will begin by looking at the importance of
archaeology in the study of Egypt. We will then be
learning about tombs and pyramids, Pharaohs, gods
and goddesses, hieroglyphs and many other aspects
of Egyptian society.
Please ensure your child has their PE kit in school on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
This topic will also include a visit from Sir Teachalot
in role as Howard Carter.
Music
French
RE
Home Learning
This term Year 3 will be listening to and then
generating their own ideas inspired by the music,
‘Carnival of the Animals’.
In French, the children will be:
Responding to simple statements about movements:
with a focus on use of verbs
Using pronouns il/he and elle/she
Learning numbers to 30, counting on in tens Song to
learn days of the week
French Day Tuesday 9 February
This term Year 3 will learn about the life and
teachings of Muhammad and develop their
understanding of why he is significant for
Muslims. They will explore the concept of
revelation and religious experience, including
the importance of quiet contemplation.
Please continue to find opportunities for
your child to read at home.
The home learning grid will be sent home
separately and will be focused on
Egyptians. Please note that there will be
just one grid for the whole term.
MyMaths will continue to be set each
Friday, due by the following Friday.
Spelling
An overview of spellings for each week will be
sent out to parents in the first week of each half
term. The children will focus on a different
spelling rule each week in class, culminating in a
spelling quiz each Friday.
Art
Design & Technology
This term the children’s artwork and DT
will be themed around Ancient Egyptian
gods and goddesses. The children will first
experiment with colour and texture to
produce sketches and drawings of their
favourite Egyptian deities. They will then
select one god or goddess as the focus of
a 3D relief.
Spring Term Dates
Friday 8th January
Egyptians workshop with Sir
Teachalot. (Simple costumes can be
worn)
Monday 18th January
PTA auditions for Stanford’s Got
Talent begin.
Tuesday 9th February
French day
Friday 12th February
PTA Stanford’s Got Talent
15th – 19th February
Half term
Monday 22nd February
INSET day – school closed
Friday 4th March
3D class assembly – 9:05am
(parents/carers welcome)
Wednesday 9th March
Parent Consultations 1
Thursday 10th March
Y3&4 guitar performance – 9:05
(parents/carers of performers
welcome)
Monday 14th March
Parent Consultations 2
Thursday 24th March
Last day of term
Dates for your diary:
Friday 22nd April
3W class assembly – 9:05 am
Friday 1st July
3J class assembly – 9:05am
Stanford
Junior School
Year 3
Curriculum Guide
Spring Term 2016