Welcome back to the final term of Blakemere! We are delighted to have you all back and ready to go, we really hope you had a lovely Easter!

Topic

This terms topic is ‘What’s That Sound I Hear?’ which is a history-based topic. Throughout this topic the children will learning all about the history of music and how it has changed over time. The children will have lots of opportunities to experience a range of music, try out instruments and experience musical workshops.

Residential

We are thrilled we are going to be able to go on our class residential, which we hope will give the children some lasting memories from their time in Year 3. The residential will include lots of team building activities and challenge the children to try new things. This will be taking place in Plas Nant Glyn in Denbigh through a company called Education Away. This will be taking place in June and we will be sending the information through to you shortly.

Literacy

The children will have the opportunity to write an extended piece through our Topic work on the ‘History of Music’. They will be writing a biography on a chosen individual or band from the past. Following this we will look at adventure stories, basing our work on a range of short adventure novels we will read together as a class. The children will include taught grammar elements in their writing, such as a range of conjunctions and inverted commas for direct speech. Story planning will support the use of paragraphs to organise their ideas. Finally, we will focus on poetry; performing poems in small groups, and playing with language, pattern and rhyme to make our own poems.  (En3/3.1, 3.2, 3.3).

In grammar, the children will be learning about paragraphs, direct speech, conjunctions, and the present perfect form of verbs. In addition, we will continue to build on previous grammar taught so far this year. (En3/3,4).

We will continue to use Cracking Comprehension and various texts and comprehension tasks to support comprehension work. Shared reading takes place one per week as does individual reading. (En3/2.1, 2,2).

Maths

Continuing our work on measurement - length, mass and capacity, perimeter of shapes, money in £ and p, problem solving involving money (Ma3/3.1a-g).

Properties of Shape - recognise and describe 2D and 3D shapes, angles as properties of shapes or a turn, greater than or less than right angles, horizontal and vertical lines, perpendicular and parallel lines. (Ma3/3.2)

Statistics - bar charts, pictograms and tables, one and two step problems based on data. (Ma3/4.1)

Science

This term, the children will be working scientifically (Sc3/1.1-9) to learn about Forces and Magnets (Sc3/4.2a-f) and Light (Sc3/4.1).

RE and CARE

This term, in CARE, we will be focusing on empathy, mutual respect and tolerance, friendship and bullying. In RE, we are going to be learning about different religions, focusing on Islam. We will learn about their beliefs and special festivals.

PE

PE will still be taught on Monday and Wednesday (PE2/1.1). The school has managed to arrange a special treat in relation to swimming. (PE2/1.2).

Italian

Italian with Mr Hunt will continue on a Wednesday afternoon (FL2/1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4).

Homework

Homework will be given out in your 6-week jigsaw as always. Complete one task per week and to be handed in on a Friday.

Spellings will also be available online and in the homework folder. Each test takes place on a Friday (En3/3.1).

Reading: Please read with your child as frequently as possible and ask them questions about the text (even if they are a free reader, as this is proven to improve a child’s comprehension skills).

Literacy

During this term we will be exploring the book ‘Rhythm of The Rain’ by Grahame Baker-Smith. This unit of work will provide your children with a wide range of writing opportunities. The children will have the opportunity to complete some narrative writing, which will include aspects of year 3 grammar. As part of our topic ‘What’s makes Cheshire special?’ the children will be completing an information text all about their local area. (En3/3.1, 3.2, 3.3)

Incorporated within Literacy, the children will be developing and building upon previously learnt key high frequency words/spellings and the spelling patterns for Year 3. There will be a strong emphasis on handwriting, grammar and reading comprehension. The children will read regularly in school whether it be individually or as a whole class reader (En3/2.1, 2,2, En3/3,4).

Maths

Measurement Ma3/3.1 

The children will learn how to measure, compare, add and subtract: lengths (m/cm/mm); mass (kg/g); volume/capacity (l/ml); measure the perimeter of simple 2-D shapes; add and subtract amounts of money to give change, using both £ and p in practical contexts; tell and write the time from an analogue clock, including using Roman numerals from I to XII, and 12-hour and 24-hour clocks; estimate and read time with increasing accuracy to the nearest minute; record and compare time in terms of seconds, minutes and hours; use vocabulary such as o'clock, am/pm, morning, afternoon, noon and midnight; know the number of seconds in a minute and the number of days in each month, year and leap year and compare durations of events.

Fractions Ma3/2.4

The children will learn how to count up and down in tenths; recognise that tenths arise from dividing an object into 10 equal parts and in dividing one-digit numbers or quantities by 10; recognise, find and write fractions of a discrete set of objects: unit fractions and non-unit fractions with small denominators; recognise and use fractions as numbers; recognise and show, using diagrams, equivalent fractions with small denominators; add and subtract fractions; compare and order fractions and solve problems.

Science

Rocks Sc3/3.1 

The children will sort, group and order rocks and soils using their own criteria and justify ideas using scientific knowledge. The children will recognise that there are different rocks (non-permeable and permeable) and investigate how to identify rocks suggesting explanations for observations, using scientific knowledge and understanding. They will understand that soils are different depending on the rock from which they came and investigate fossils. 

Forces and magnets Sc3/4.2

The children will be using their knowledge and understanding of materials and forces when describing, sorting, exploring and investigating their properties and strengths. e.g. magnets, springs, pushes and pulls. The children will give several reasons why a force or material is suitable for a purpose, how a force is exerted and recognise that a force acts in a particular direction. The children will describe the direction of forces between magnets or between a spring and someone compressing it. They will investigate and classify materials as magnetic or non-magnetic and describe some uses of magnets; decide how to test an idea, explaining how to make a simple test fair; identify patterns in results and use these to draw conclusions

Topic

This terms topic is ‘What Makes Cheshire Special?’. During this topic, we will be: sketching maps, using keys, surveying the land and looking at ways the land is used including farming. After half term we will be looking at: countries and cities; rivers and seas; hills and mountains and how the country has changed.

R.E and CARE

In RE, we will be continuing to focus on Christianity this term by exploring the bible. In CARE, we will be focusing on resilience.

Languages

Mr Hunt will be teaching Italian on Wednesdays. (FL2/1.1, FL2/1.2, FL2/1.3, FL2/1.4).

PE

This term PE will continue to take place on a Monday and a Wednesday, please ensure kit is in school all week should any session slots change in the week due to changes in school timetable. School swimming will unfortunately not continue as this point of the year. PE2/1.1/2

Homework

Homework will be given out in a 6-week jigsaw. Complete one task per week and to be handed in on a Friday.

Spellings will also be available online in our Google Classroom. Each test takes place on a Friday (En3/3.1).

Reading: Please read with your child as frequently as possible and ask them questions about the text.

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Curriculum Outline for Blakemere (Autumn Term)

Autumn Term

A very warm welcome to Blakemere! We hope you had a lovely summer and are excited to start the year together. We have missed you all over these past few months and we can't wait to start. Attached is a topic web of what we will be covering but also 

Literacy

For the first half term, we will be exploring the book ‘The Iron Man’ by Ted Hughes. This unit of work will provide your children with a wide range of writing opportunities whilst engaging them through an inspiring non-fiction text. The children will love writing an explanation for capturing the Iron Man and will write their own narrative about an approaching threat. (En3/3.1, 3.2, 3.3).

After the half-term, the children will be looking at ‘Fox' by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks.This brilliant text is a powerful story of friendship, betrayal and courage. The children will produce their own fable and information text about foxes. This will also link into their science work on 'Animals including Humans'. (En3/3.1, 3.2, 3.3).

We will also be incorporating our topic 'How Did History Begin?' into our Literacy work and will produce an extended piece of writing for this. 

Incorporated within Literacy, the children will be developing and building upon previously learnt key high frequency words/spellings and the spelling patterns for Year 3. There will be a strong emphasis on handwriting, grammar and reading comprehension. The children will read regularly in school whether it be individually, guided in a group or as a whole class reader (En3/2.1, 2,2, En3/3,4).

Maths

Number and Place Value Ma3/2.1

We will be counting on, finding 10 or 100 more or less than a given number.  We will be recognising the place value of each digit of a three- digit number (100’s, 10’s and 1’s) and reading, writing, comparing and ordering numbers up to 1000 in numerals and words. 

Addition and Subtraction Ma3/2.2

Using our three-digit number knowledge, we will be enhancing our mental arithmetic skills through addition and subtraction. They will develop and use written methods to record and explain addition and subtraction of two-digit and three digit numbers. Inverse operations will support checking answers to these calculations.

Multiplication and division Ma3/2.3

We will be exploring multiplication and division facts for 3’s, 4’s and 8’s multiplication tables using mental and written methods to work out the sums using a range of activities. 

Measurement Ma3/3.1

In the Measurement unit they will be measuring the length and perimeter of a variety of items, working in mm, cm and m.  

All the units will involve many problem-solving opportunities, including identifying and estimating numbers using different representations.

Science

Sc3/2.1 Plants

Within this unit the children will be exploring the life-cycle of plants and learning to identify the different parts of a plant. They will also explore the requirements of plants for life and growth but also how water is transported within them.

Sc3/2.2 Animals including humans

 This unit brings together and consolidates work that children have done before about animals and the human body. The children will sort, group, label and order elements of healthy living both for animals and humans. The children will recognise and label the different parts of the body and skeleton- suggesting explanations for observations, using scientific knowledge and understanding. They will understand and identify that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection and movement and how nutrition is important.

Topic

This terms topic is ‘How Did History Begin?’. During this topic, the children will be creating a chronological timeline from the Stone Age right up to the Iron Age. They will be learning all about: Stone Age Life, Skara Brae and famous landmarks such as Stonehenge. We also have an educational trip up to Eddisbury Hill fort, cooking days and art days based around our topic so that the children can learn as much as they possibly can about these incredible times in history. We are also inviting in a visitor to deliver a Stone Age workshop to the children which they should absolutely love. 

R.E and CARE

In RE, will be focusing on Christianity this term; looking at the description of God through language, symbols, stories and songs that describe God. We will also be exploring the ways we understand God through the life of Jesus, through biblical teaching.

In CARE, we will be focusing on creativity and aspirations.

Languages

Mr Hunt will be teaching Italian as normal to the children in Blakemere. (FL2/1.1, FL2/1.2, FL2/1.3, FL2/1.4).

PE

This year PE will take place on Mondays and a Wednesday, please ensure kit is in school all week should any session slots change in the week due to competitions, trips etc.  The whole school will go swimming on Thursdays, please make sure your child’s swimming kit is in that day. This will start as soon as possible and we will inform you of when it will do so. PE2/1.1/2

Homework

Homework will be given out in a 6-week jigsaw. Complete one task per week and to be handed in on a Friday.

Spellings will also be available online and in the homework folder. Each test takes place on a Friday (En3/3.1).

Reading: Please read with your child as frequently as possible and ask them questions about the text (even if they are a free reader, as this is proven to improve a child’s comprehension skills).

Curriculum Outline for Blakemere – Spring Term

How are things different?

Literacy

During this term we will be exploring the book ‘How to train your dragon’ by Cressida Cowell. This unit of work will provide your children with a wide range of writing opportunities. The children will have the opportunity to complete some narrative writing, which will include aspects of year 3 grammar. As part of our topic ‘How are things different?’ the children will be completing a fact file on China and a recipe for a Chinese dish. (En3/3.1, 3.2, 3.3)

Incorporated within Literacy, the children will be developing and building upon previously learnt key high frequency words/spellings and the spelling patterns for Year 3. There will be a strong emphasis on handwriting, grammar and reading comprehension. The children will read regularly in school whether it be individually or as a whole class reader (En3/2.1, 2,2, En3/3,4).

Maths

Time Ma3/3.1 

During the first half term the children will be learning to tell and write the time from an analogue clock, including using Roman numerals from I to XII, and 12-hour and 24-hour clocks. They will estimate and read time with increasing accuracy to the nearest minute; record and compare time in terms of seconds, minutes and hours; use vocabulary such as o'clock, am/pm, morning, afternoon, noon and midnight; know the number of seconds in a minute and the number of days in each month, year and leap year and compare durations of events.

Fractions Ma3/2.4

The children will learn how to count up and down in tenths; recognise that tenths arise from dividing an object into 10 equal parts and in dividing one-digit numbers or quantities by 10; recognise, find and write fractions of a discrete set of objects: unit fractions and non-unit fractions with small denominators; recognise and use fractions as numbers; recognise and show, using diagrams, equivalent fractions with small denominators; add and subtract fractions; compare and order fractions and solve problems.

Science

Rocks Sc3/3.1 

The children will sort, group and order rocks and soils using their own criteria and justify ideas using scientific knowledge. The children will recognise that there are different rocks (non-permeable and permeable) and investigate how to identify rocks suggesting explanations for observations, using scientific knowledge and understanding. They will understand that soils are different depending on the rock from which they came and investigate fossils. 

Forces and magnets Sc3/4.2

The children will be using their knowledge and understanding of materials and forces when describing, sorting, exploring and investigating their properties and strengths. e.g. magnets, springs, pushes and pulls. The children will give several reasons why a force or material is suitable for a purpose, how a force is exerted and recognise that a force acts in a particular direction. The children will describe the direction of forces between magnets or between a spring and someone compressing it. They will investigate and classify materials as magnetic or non-magnetic and describe some uses of magnets; decide how to test an idea, explaining how to make a simple test fair; identify patterns in results and use these to draw conclusions

Topic

This terms topic is ‘How are things different?’. During this topic, we will be comparing China to the United Kingdom. The children will explore the history, culture, art and human and physical geography of both locations.

We also have educational trips and cooking days around our topic so that the children can learn as much as they possibly can about China.

R.E and CARE

In RE, we will be continuing to focus on Christianity this term by exploring the bible.

In CARE, we will be focusing on resilience.

Languages

Mr Hunt will be teaching Italian on Wednesdays. (FL2/1.1, FL2/1.2, FL2/1.3, FL2/1.4).

PE

This year PE will take place on Mondays and Fridays, please ensure kit is in school all week should any session slots change in the week due to competitions, trips etc.  The whole school will go swimming on Thursdays, please make sure your child’s swimming kit is in that day. PE2/1.1/2

Homework

Homework will be given out in a 6-week jigsaw. Complete one task per week and to be handed in on a Friday.

Spellings will also be available online and in the homework folder. Each test takes place on a Friday (En3/3.1).

Reading: Please read with your child as frequently as possible and ask them questions about the text.