Welcome back! We trust that you and your children had a fantastic first half of the autumn term and are now rejuvenated and eager to continue their exciting year at Foxfield. We are thrilled to present the Year 3 curriculum newsletter for the second half of the autumn term, where you can explore the incredible learning opportunities that await your children during this upcoming period.
We are really proud to share our learning from the last half term, which was linked to our core text The Hunter by Paul Geraghty. In English, we wrote in the role of the main character, Jamina, to produce first-person narratives. In art, we explored sustainable and natural dyes and experimented with ink printing to create our final pieces.
Your child’s spelling lists for the entire half-term are now available below. Each week, children will be quizzed on their spellings, so regular practice at home will be incredibly beneficial.
In English, the children will be reading The Wilderness War. Their learning will continue to focus on sustainable development and caring for their environment, building on their work from Autumn 1. They will produce a range of written outcomes, including setting descriptions and persuasive letters. Throughout this unit, they will develop key skills such as using descriptive vocabulary, persuasive language, and writing in the first person. Children will also discuss and debate important questions about the environment, helping them to connect their learning to real-world issues.
In Maths, the children will be applying their place value knowledge from the last half term to develop their understanding of column method addition and subtraction. They will learn how to solve problems using these methods accurately and efficiently. Following this, they will move on to exploring effective strategies for multiplication and division, helping them to build their fluency and confidence with different operations. There will also be opportunities to revisit and consolidate times tables from previous year groups, as well as to learn new ones — focusing in particular on the 4 and 8 times tables.
This half term, children's Science topic is Animals Including Humans. The children will learn about the human skeleton, the purpose and function of muscles, and how the digestive system works. Towards the end of the unit, they will take part in an exciting practical activity, creating a model of the digestive system using old tights to demonstrate how food travels through the body. Throughout the topic, the children will explore and discuss the key question: What does the human body need to survive?
In Geography, children will be learning about the topographical features of different localities, with a particular focus on comparing the River Thames and the Lake District. The children will analyse evidence and draw conclusions to identify similarities and differences between these areas. They will then use appropriate geographical vocabulary to describe and compare localities confidently. Through research and investigation, the children will explore various aspects of the topic and discuss the key question: What makes the cities and counties of the UK geographically unique?
In Computing this term, the children will begin to develop their understanding of coding by learning how to create simple programs using sequences of instructions. They will explore how to give commands to characters, test their code, and debug any errors, building the foundations of computational thinking and problem-solving skills.
This half term in R.E, children will be exploring the significance of the Bible in Christianity. They will learn that the Old and New Testaments contain many different books and genres, including history, law, songs, Gospels, and letters. They will also investigate and discuss the key question: What does the Bible teach us about Christianity?
This half term in PE, children will build on their understanding of basic movements and learn how to create and develop movement patterns in small groups. They will explore how to respond to a variety of stimuli, such as words, poetry, pictures, sounds, videos, and objects, using movement to express ideas and link actions together. Children will also learn about stage directions in dance and practice using them in their routines. They will develop skills in creating and controlling formations to make their dances more creative and visually engaging, ensuring movements flow smoothly.
For Food Fortnight, children will be making vegan Polish Pierogis. They will explore different flavours, learn a variety of cooking techniques, and discover how to use inclusive ingredients to create delicious dishes. This hands-on experience will help them develop both their culinary skills and their understanding of diverse food traditions. Later in the half term, they will switch focus to design and technology, where the children will be creating working pulleys. Through this project, they will learn how pulleys function, experiment with construction techniques, and apply problem-solving skills to design and build their own mechanisms.
In Music, the children will be using Charanga to experience the excitement of playing together in a band, learning to read simple instrumental notation and perform as part of an ensemble. They will explore musical concepts such as steady beats and time signatures, understanding how these organise rhythm within a piece of music. Children will also develop an awareness of harmony by singing and playing instruments together, experimenting with two or more pitches sounding at the same time to create rich, layered sounds.
In French, children will be learning vocabulary related to classroom instructions and everyday items found around the classroom. The children will also explore the days of the week and months of the year, practising pronunciation, spelling, and sentence construction. They will have opportunities to use this language in context through speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities, helping them to build confidence in communicating in French and applying their knowledge to real-life situations.
To link with their Food Fortnight learning, children will be understanding how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and support positive well-being. The children will explore what makes a balanced diet, learning about the benefits of different food groups and how to make nutritious choices. In addition, they will focus on strategies to support mental and emotional health, helping children to develop techniques for keeping a positive mindset when they feel stressed, overwhelmed, or down. Through discussions, activities, and practical examples, they will learn how healthy eating and well-being habits work together to support overall physical and emotional health.
We are excited to announce that we will be using Letter-join as our new whole-school handwriting scheme. This follows a successful trial praised by both teachers and students for its effectiveness and engagement. Children can log in to the Letter-join website at home on iPads, tablets and computers.