Year 3

Year 3’s inquiry this term has been all about how the discovery of new materials has changed lives throughout history. We have travelled from the Stone Age through to the Iron Age, learning about what people’s lives were like during each period. 

As we started delving deeper into our inquiry, the children embraced their inner cave man and wrote instructions for how to make Stone Age tools. They quickly realised that catching a mammoth would not have been as easy as it seems when they tried javelin throwing for themselves! They very much enjoyed reading Ug, a humorous take on life in the Stone Age, as well as our class reader, Stig of the Dump. The children also enjoyed recreating homes from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age out of plasticine so they could see how they changed. 

In Science, the children investigated the characteristics of rocks and considered how Stone Age people would have used different rocks. They have become amateur geologists and now regularly bring in interesting rocks for us to look at. 

In mid-November, we headed out to Lesnes Abbey Woods for our trip. After an exciting train ride, the children were able to handle Stone Age tools and had a go at making their own tools. For half of the year group, the other half of the day was then spent digging for fossils in the fossil pit. The excitement was palpable as the children frantically dug, finding many shells and the odd shark’s tooth from the bottom of the former Blackheath Sea. The other half of the year group had chilly, wet weather on the day so they stayed in the warm and did their own hands-on experiments to discover more about rocks and soil. 

As our art and DT project this term, the children designed bags using the work of Sam Gilliam and the historical periods we have studied for inspiration. They used tie dye and sewing to create a stunning array of products. The sewing took persistence to master and the children were very even more pleased with their final pieces as a result. The children took action on their learning by sharing it with others through a colourful double page spreads summing up everything they have learnt about our inquiry. They are proudly displayed around our classrooms so please make sure you have a look at them next Terrific Tuesday. We have been very impressed with their knowledge and I’m sure you will be too!