English – How to Trap a Grass Goblin

This half term the children will be carrying out an instruction piece of writing based on Pie Corbett’s instructions ‘How to Trap a Grass Goblin’. The children will begin this piece of learning by writing instructions on ‘How to brush your teeth’. Children will then be encouraged to write their own recount ‘How to Trap a Fairy’ based on ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’. 

Our text for enjoyment this term will be ‘Gotcha!’ by Clotilde Perrin. 

Vocabulary – rhetorical questions, first, secondly, then, following this, penultimately, finally

Maths - Multiplication and division and Length and Perimeter

Multiplication and Division

Children learned the 10 times-table in Year 2 and revisited multiples of 10 in the Autumn term. In this small step, they further develop their understanding of multiples of 10 by looking at greater multiples. Children reinforce their earlier work on place value and use a range of representations. They will recognise that multiples of 10 end in a zero and use this fact to solve basic multiplication and division problems beyond the 10 times-table. Understanding multiples of 10 is crucial for the next step, when children explore multiplying by 20, 30 and so on. This is the foundation of multiplying other 2-digit numbers using the expanded method later in this block and for more formal methods in Year 4 and beyond.

Length and Perimeter

In Year 2, children used either metres or centimetres to measure the length of objects. In this small step in year 3, they revise these skills, initially using a ruler to measure objects in centimetres. They then combine both units of measurement, such as 1m and 20cm, for example by measuring the lengths of desks or the heights of children in the class. We will provide opportunities for children to use different measuring equipment, including rulers, tape measures and metre sticks.

Vocabulary – multiplication, sharing, grouping, dividing, scaling, measure, centimetres, millimetres, equivalent lengths, comparison, perimeter

Science – Fossils and Soil 

Fossils

Children will be describing how fossils are formed when things that have lived are trapped within rock and will work scientifically by asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them. 

Soil

Children will explore different types of soil and what they are made up of. They will undertake simple practical activities such as closely observing the soils using hand lenses and drawing what is seen, sieving the soils to separate the larger and smaller matter and adding water to the soil to see if any parts float or sink. Testing different types of soil will allow children to describe their features and compare them

Vocabulary – fossils, replica, fossil formation, explore, soil, investigate, evaluate

Computing – Online Safety

Children will differentiate between fact, opinion and belief online. They will learn how to explain how to deal with upsetting online content. They will recognise that digital devices communicate with each other to share personal information. Children will learn what social media platforms are used for and why some are age-restricted. 

Vocabulary – accurate, age restrictions, autocomplete, belief, charity, content, digital device, fact, fake news, hoax, internet, internet of things, opinion, online emotions, organisation, permission, privacy settings, reliable, search, search engine, share, smart devices, social media platforms

Religion and Worldviews – Are scriptures central to religion?

Children will explain what some people mean by revelation. They will evaluate the significance of scripture to some Jewish, Christian and Muslim people. They will explain how some ways of using and treating the Qur’an, the Christian Bible and the Torah show its importance. Children will discuss the similarities and differences between scripture considered by some to be the word of God and human interpretations or commentary. They will make links between scripture from the Abrahamic religions and will identify similarities within and between worldviews in the way scripture is viewed and used, including in places of worship. 

Vocabulary – faith, holy, inspired, New Testament, Tenak, Torah scroll

Design and Technology – Wearable technology 

Children will learn the impact of the digital revolution in the world of (D&T) product design. They will write a program to initiate a flashing LED panel after button press and/or automatically initiate using the Micro:bit light sensing, as part of an eCharm. They will create and decorate a foam pouch for the eCharm, using a template and will design a display badge and/or stand using CAD (computer-aided design) software for an eCharm product.

Vocabulary – analogue, analyse, annotate, badge, computer-aided design (CAD), control, design criteria, develop, digital, digital revolution, digital world, display, electronic, electronic products, fastening, feature, feedback, form, function, initiate, layers, monitor, net, opinion, point of sale, product, product design, program, sense, simulator, smart, technology, test, user

Music – Pentatonic melodies and composition (Theme: Chinese new Year)  

The children will learn to play the pentatonic scale, which appears in a lot of Chinese music. They will do a dragon dance, listen to Chinese music, and compose their one ‘Enter the Dragon’ piece of music to tell the story of Nian. 

Vocabulary – accuracy, crescendo, control, composition, dynamics, duration, expression, features, fluency, folk music, glockenspiel, grid notation, harmony, layered melodies, letter notation, melody, musical terminology, notation, notes, octaves, pentatonic melody, pentatonic scale, phrases, scale, tempo, timbre, untuned percussion

Geography – Who lives in Antarctica?

Children will look at climate, they will learn the position and significance of lines of latitude. They will describe the location and physical features of Antarctica. They will describe the human features of Antarctica. They will use four-figured grid references to plot Shackleton’s route to Antarctica. Children will then plan a simple route round school using compass points.

Vocabulary – climate, climate zone, compass points, direction, drifting ice, hemisphere, ice sheet, ice shelf, iceberg, lines of latitude, lines of longitude, treaty

Physical Education

Health and Fitness 

We will link our Science and PSHE learning to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how to achieve this, as well as understanding how our bodies react to a warm up and the importance of this. 

Vocabulary – warm up, cool down, travel, stillness, gallop, skip, circuit

Basketball

Year 3 will enjoy learning the basics of basketball. They practise dribbling, passing, shooting, and teamwork in small games., focusing on resilience, social skills, and creativity. The children will be encouraged to keep trying, support one another, and reflect on their progress.

Vocabulary – ball, bounce, dribble, pass, catch, shoot, hoop, team, space, defend, score

PSHE - Citizenship  

Children will learn that they have rights and how these benefit them.  They will learn adult’s responsibilities for supporting children’s rights.  They will be discussing the benefits of recycling.  They will be learning about the different groups within a community and how local buildings are used including how charities support the local community. They will understand what local democracy means and how it affects us. They will also learn about rules and the consequences of breaking them. 

Vocabulary – charity, community, consequence, council, law, recycling, rights, United Nations (UN)

Important diary dates and key events:

06/01/2026 - Start of term

05/02/2026 – Year 3 parent/carer event

12/02/2026 – Valentine’s lunch and Valentine’s disco

12/02/2026 - End of Term