In this block, children will explore Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies alongside This Morning I Met a Whale by Michael Morpurgo, to learn about whales and the importance of protecting ocean life. They will develop their non-fiction writing skills by researching facts and writing an informative article that persuades the reader to protect the blue whale, with some children extending this by creating a fact file about other endangered sea creatures.

Children will focus on organising their ideas clearly using headings and paragraphs, writing in a logical order and using accurate punctuation to make their writing easy to read. They will practise building a range of sentence structures, using conjunctions, prepositions and adverbs to explain time, place and cause, and applying persuasive language to engage the reader. Throughout the block, children will review and improve their own writing.

Key Vocabulary: protected, mammal, blowhole, baleen, blubber, krill, creature, surface, feast, stranded, weight, important, increase, earth, shoal, Equator

This block students will be developing their understanding of measurement and fractions through engaging and hands-on learning experiences. They will learn how to add and subtract lengths, compare measurements and apply these skills to understand and calculate perimeter. Children will explore what perimeter means in real-life contexts and practise measuring and calculating the perimeter of simple shapes using rulers and visual models. 

Along with this, students will begin their learning on fractions, where they will identify and understand numerators and denominators, recognise unit and non-unit fractions and practise counting and ordering fractions. Lessons will be highly interactive, with students working collaboratively, using practical resources, visual representations, and real-world problem-solving activities to support understanding and build confidence. Aims to strengthen mathematical reasoning, accuracy, and the use of correct mathematical language. 

Key Vocabulary: calculate, measure, shape, length, perimeter, whole, equal parts, numerator, denominator, unit and non unit fraction, half and quarters.

In this block, pupils will explore the world around them, starting with locating countries and major cities across Europe, North America and South America and learning more about the United Kingdom. Children will use maps, atlases, globes and digital tools to understand where places are and what makes them unique. They will compare different regions by looking at physical features such as mountains, rivers and climate, as well as human features like cities, settlements, culture and economic activities.

Children will also develop important map skills, including using compass directions, grid references and map symbols. They will learn about latitude, longitude, time zones and climate zones, and take part in simple fieldwork to observe and record features of their local area. By the end of the block, pupils will have a stronger understanding of how places around the world are similar and different, and how people interact with their environment.

Key Vocabulary: continent, country, city, capital, ocean, map, globe, atlas, location, region, settlement, physical features, human features, climate, climate zones, river, mountain, coast, compass, direction, north, south, east, west, latitude, longitude, Equator, time zones, fieldwork and observe

In this block, students will be learning about soils and light through practical exploration and discussion. Children will explore the properties of different types of soil, observing how soils can vary in texture, colour, and composition. They will also investigate how light affects plants and growth, helping them understand why light is important for living things. 

Throughout the block, pupils will make simple observations, talk about what they notice, and share their ideas using appropriate scientific language. Lessons will include hands-on activities, group discussions, and guided questioning, allowing children to explore, ask questions, and develop curiosity about the world around them. This learning builds on their previous knowledge while strengthening their understanding of key scientific concepts and developing their working scientific skills, such as observing, describing, and communicating findings.

Key Vocabulary: soil, rock, sand, clay, texture, properties, light shadow, sunlight, investigate, predict, observe and describe

In this block, our focus is on Healthy Me. This unit is one puzzle piece of the wider set of six PSHE themes the children explore across the year. Children will learn how to make healthy choices that support their physical, emotional and social wellbeing. They will explore how exercise affects their bodies and why the heart and lungs are important, as well as learn about healthy eating and how food choices can affect their health.

Children will also learn how to keep themselves and others safe by recognising safe and unsafe situations and developing strategies for managing risk. They will explore feelings such as worry or fear, learn who to go to for help and understand how and when to contact emergency services. This block supports children in respecting their bodies, taking responsibility for their wellbeing and appreciating how amazing their bodies are as part of their overall personal development.

Key Vocabulary: healthy, fitness, exercise, energy, calories, heart, lungs, balanced diet, sugar, fat, choice, safe, unsafe, risk, drugs, feelings, anxious, scared, emergency, emergency services, body and wellbeing.

In this block, developing a rich and varied vocabulary will be a key focus to support children’s learning across all subjects. Vocabulary will be explored through different tiers: Tier 1, which includes everyday words used in daily speech; Tier 2, which includes more ambitious words that appear across many texts and subjects and help children express ideas more precisely; and Tier 3, which includes subject-specific and technical vocabulary linked closely to the unit of learning. Pupils will explore a range of Tier 2 words from the National Curriculum Years 3 and 4 list, such as actually, although, consider, enough, guide, increase, important, knowledge, question, sentence, separate, special, therefore, various, and weight, which will support reading comprehension and improve the quality of their spoken and written language. Alongside this, children will learn and use Tier 3 vocabulary linked to science, nature, and descriptive texts, including words such as earth, protected, creature, surface, mammal, blowhole, baleen, krill, shrimp, shoal, sieve, blubber, Equator, bristly, slithers, nudges, feast, shallows, stranded, and dawn chorus. These words will be explicitly taught, discussed, and revisited through reading, speaking, and writing activities to help children develop confidence, understanding, and accurate use of vocabulary in meaningful contexts. 

In Block 4, our spelling lessons will focus on strengthening students’ spelling accuracy, word knowledge, and understanding of spelling patterns. Children will revise and practise common exception words from Year 2, while also being introduced to and consolidating words from the Year 3 and 4 spelling list. They will explore and use contractions, including those linked to high-frequency and common exception words, ensuring they understand how apostrophes are used correctly. Pupils will learn spelling patterns for the /ʌ/ sound spelt ‘o’ and ‘ou’, and investigate words ending in -tion, helping them recognise patterns that support spelling and reading. The block will also focus on word families, showing how related words are connected, and develop mastery of homophones and near-homophones, supporting children to choose the correct spelling based on meaning. To encourage independence and responsibility for learning, students will maintain a personal spelling log, allowing them to practise, reflect on, and improve their own spelling over time. 

In Year 3 home learning is designed to support and reinforce key skills, while helping children develop independence and positive learning habits. 

Reading is our top priority. We encourage children to read at least five times a week and to record their reading in their Reading Log each time. This regular reading practice builds confidence and fluency. Children are also asked to complete one weekly entry in their Writing Log. In Mathematics, MyMaths task will be set every Tuesday. Students are encouraged to practise regularly on both My Maths and TTRockstars to build fluency and strengthen their understanding.  

While home learning is encouraged to support your child’s development, it is not compulsory. We celebrate effort and commitment through our Reading Star and Writing Star awards at the end of the year.

In Computing, our topic for this block is We Are Who We Are. In this unit, pupils create a range of presentations to share information about themselves with different audiences. They begin by reflecting on their earliest memories, interests, and hobbies, before creating slides about an issue they feel strongly about. Pupils also produce a short presentation to camera and add narration to enhance their work. Throughout the unit, they discuss important issues related to online trust, privacy, and appropriate sharing of personal information. By the end of the unit, pupils will have developed skills in presentation creation, digital communication, and safe, responsible online behaviour.

Key Vocabulary: comments, data centre, outline and personal information.

3D Whale Mobile / Structure In Year 3, children explore 3D shape and balance by creating a whale-inspired mobile or free-standing structure. Pupils experiment with building forms using card and mixed materials, focusing on joining, stability and proportion. They consider how shapes connect, how weight affects balance, and how movement can add interest. Sketchbooks support designing, testing and improving ideas before final construction. 

Key Vocabulary: 3D, form, structure, balance, stability, join, slot, fold, shape, proportion, scale, suspension, mobile, construct, refine and evaluate.

The Dragon Song 

In Year 3, children explore musical storytelling through The Dragon Song, developing singing, performance and composition skills. Pupils practise steady pulse and rhythmic accuracy, then play simple melodies and accompaniments using tuned and untuned percussion. They learn to recognise pitch movement, explore structure (verse/chorus) and create short musical phrases to match character and mood. Listening tasks help pupils describe what they hear using musical language. 

Key Vocabulary: pitch, melody, rhythm, pulse, tempo, structure, verse, chorus, phrase, accompaniment, compose, perform, dynamics, timbre and evaluate.

Countries of the World / Folk Tales and Different Cultures 

In Year 3, pupils use drama to explore countries of the world and folk tales from different cultures. Children create short scenes inspired by places, traditions and journeys, then retell folk stories through narration, dialogue and movement. They develop character through gesture, expression and voice, using freeze frames and thought-tracking to highlight key moments. Pupils work collaboratively to rehearse, refine transitions and perform with clarity. 

Key Vocabulary: culture, tradition, folk tale, narration, dialogue, character, gesture, expression, voice, freeze frame, thought-tracking, scene, teamwork, audience, and refine.

Dancing Around the World 

This block, classes 3B and 3D will be taking part in dance lessons designed to build confidence, creativity and enjoyment through movement.

In Year 3, pupils explore dances from around the world, learning how rhythm, gesture and style reflect different cultures. Children practise set phrases and motifs, then adapt movements to create their own sequences inspired by a range of traditions. They develop performance skills through unison, canon and partner work, focusing on timing and clear shapes. Pupils discuss similarities and differences across dances and refine work using feedback. 

Key Vocabulary: motif, unison, canon, rhythm, gesture, style, pattern, sequence, formation, timing, dynamics, travel, space, perform and refine.

Invasion Games (Basketball and Netball) 

In this unit, pupils will develop fundamental skills common to both basketball and netball, including dribbling, passing, shooting, and defensive techniques. They will participate in drills and small-sided games to apply these skills in a team context. Pupils will also focus on improving their coordination, understanding of game strategies, and teamwork through dynamic play.

Key Vocabulary: Dribbling, passing, shooting, defending, teamwork, strategies, court and movement. 

In this block, classes 3A and 3C will participate in Swimming lessons designed to build both confidence and enjoyment in the water. Our programme follows a structured level system that ensures steady progression, tailored to each child’s ability. Alongside stroke development, children also learn important water safety and personal survival skills. We aim for every child to leave Junior School as a competent, confident swimmer with the skills to participate safely in a range of aquatic environments.