Autumn Curriculum Overview- Year 3

Subject		Autumn 1	Autumn 2
	Art	Through ‘Austin’s Butterfly’ pupils will be learning about the positive effects of constructive criticism by critiquing each other’s drawings. By re-drawing their butterfly, applying the areas of improvement, pupils are able to improve their mastery of drawing techniques.	This half term, pupils will be carrying out an in-depth study of the artist George Seurat. Using the pointillism technique, year 3 will be developing an understanding of colour to create paintings of a volcano.
	Computing	This half term focusses on ‘Online Safety’ where pupils learn to recognise acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, identify ways to report concerns and agree and follow online safety rules. Pupils will have the opportunity to develop their times tables fluency using TTRockstars.	This half term focusses on word processing skills. Using Microsoft Word, pupils will become more familiar with letters on a keyboard, change font style, size and colour as well as using copy and paste. Pupils will also be shown how to save and retrieve documents.
	Design and Technology	Linking to the science unit, pupils will be designing and making edible rocks. In groups, the children will focus on a rock type to assemble using ingredients to help explain how they are formed.	For our Golden Thread of Remembrance, year 3 learn about rationing during the war. Pupils will prepare and cook a savoury dish and learn about Fairtrade.
	English	Poetry: Using ‘Predator Poem’, pupils learn how to perform in front of an audience by focussing on the skills of speaking audibly, fluently, with expression and incorporating actions. Non-fiction: Pupils will be creating an information leaflet about volcanoes. They will be researching key information to plan and develop their understanding of formal writing. Fiction: Following the model text ‘Escape from Pompeii’, pupils will be writing a story with a historical setting. Using Talk for Writing, pupils become familiar with the structure of the text, language structure and vocabulary choices.	Fiction: Continuing with ‘Escape from Pompeii’, pupils will write their own version of the story using the plan, write, edit model. Poetry: Pupils will be identifying key poetic devices in arrange of poems to support their writing of a poem about volcanoes.
	Geography	This terms theme for learning ‘Escape from Pompeii’ enables pupils to explore volcanoes. Using atlas’ and Google Earth, pupils will learn where in the world volcanoes are found, how and why volcanoes are formed and what makes them erupt.	Pupils will continue their theme for learning by exploring the positive and negative impact of eruptions on the environment focussing on Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.
	Guided Reading	In year 3, key guided reading skills are taught through whole class reading using a range of fiction and non-fiction texts; Escape from Pompeii by Christina Balit being the main text focus.	The same guided reading model is followed into this half term to build upon the children’s prior learning.
	History	Through this terms theme for learning ‘Escape from Pompeii’, pupils will be learning about the destruction of Pompeii by studying different accounts of an historical event.	Pupils will continue their theme for learning by exploring the discovery and excavation of Pompeii. For our Golden Thread of Remembrance, pupils will learn about an aspect of British history, focussing on the importance of rationing in World War II.
	Maths	Place Value: Using a range of concrete resources, year 3 develop and enhance their understanding of ones, tens and hundreds within numbers. Addition and Subtraction: Starting with concrete resources, pupils develop a range of skills, strategies and methods to complete calculations.	Multiplication and Division: By using their prior learning of place value, pupils learn a range of strategies from concrete to the abstract model to investigate calculations.
	Modern Foreign Languages	Langley’s modern foreign language of choice is Spanish. Year 3 are introduced to the Spanish language by exploring the patterns of sound, engaging in conversation and developing accurate pronunciation.	Year 3 will continue to develop their knowledge of the Spanish language by exploring the patterns of sound, engaging in conversation and developing accurate pronunciation.
	Music	Benefiting from the Charanga Music School, pupils start to explore The Dragon Song. This focusses on traditional folk tunes from around the world, celebrating our differences and being kind to one another.	Pupils will continue their learning of The Dragon Song where they will sing songs in unison with growing awareness and accuracy of pulse, rhythm, pitch and expression.
	Physical Education	Indoor PE this half term is gymnastics. Pupils will learn a variety of jumps, balances and shapes to create and perform a short sequence. Swimming. Pupils will continue to develop a variety of swimming strokes and water safety skills.	Indoor PE this half term is Yoga. Pupils will learn a variety of Yoga poses and develop control. Swimming. Pupils will continue to develop a variety of swimming strokes and water safety skills.
	Personal, Social, Health Education	Following the Jigsaw scheme unit of work ‘Being me in my World’ pupils will learn about self-awareness and managing feelings through a range of group work, discussions and drama activities.	Following the Jigsaw scheme unit of work ‘Celebrating Difference’ pupils will develop their understanding of social skills and learn about the importance of empathy, understanding and tolerance towards people who are different to them.
	Religious Education	Enhancing our curriculum with Discovery RE scheme of learning, pupils learn about Sikhism focussing on the Amrit Ceremony and Khalsa.	Enhancing our curriculum with Discovery RE scheme of learning, pupils learn about Christianity focussing on the true meaning of Christmas. Year 3 visit Shirley Baptist Church for hands on learning.
	Science	Using the Engaging Science unit of work ‘Rocks’, pupils explore the characteristics of the three types of rocks, explore the composition of soil and the formation of fossils.	Using the Engaging Science unit of work ‘Animals and Skeletons’, pupils will classify the diets of animals, look at human dietary requirements, begin to identify food types and their benefits and learn about the three types of skeletons. To enhance this unit, year 3 visit the West Midland Safari Park and take part in hands on workshops.