All of our writing is based around our topics:

Summer 1: Pupils will retell the story Escape from Pompeii as a narrative, including the use of direct speech. They will also explore and write shape poetry, focusing on creativity and presentation. In addition, children will write non-fiction information texts in the form of posters about volcanoes, sharing facts clearly and engagingly. 

Summer 2: Pupils will recount a personal experience, focusing on using descriptive language and prepositions. They will then create an advert for a Stone Age home, using persuasive language and prepositions of position to make it clear and engaging. Finally, they will write a diary entry based on the story Stone Age Boy, expressing thoughts and feelings from the character’s point of view.  

In their writing, pupils will be taught a range of key techniques. These include using fronted adverbials, linking ideas for cohesion, using a variety of conjunctions, and including direct speech to make their writing more interesting and engaging. 

There will also be daily spelling, grammar or handwriting lessons to develop technical skills that they can apply to their writing. 

Dictation will take place most Fridays. This tests their weekly spellings. 

Your child will be reading regularly as part of their whole-class reading sessions and independently reading daily, encouraging reading a range of genres, including non-fiction text, from the class book corner or a book of their choice from home. Some children will be given a guided reading book and have weekly sessions while others will not. If they are, books are usually collected in and changed towards the end of the week, depending on that week’s schedule.

Talk about our topics. Any additional research will make them better writers! Practice looking up words in a dictionary and choosing the relevant meaning. Reading for at least 30 minutes each day makes a huge difference.

Checking your child’s syntax, grammar and spelling rather than editing their work for them, try and have a discussion with your child about what they need to improve.

Talk about new and interesting vocabulary that they come across and make sure they understand the meanings. Use a dictionary to look them up.

Encourage them to use new vocabulary, especially words related to the topic.

Your child should take as much care with their homework, as they do with their work in school.

They have started editing their work so any work completed at home please encourage children to re-read and rectify any mistakes made or explore ways it can be improved.

Make sure that anything they write is in joined up handwriting (except for capital letters), the spelling is correct and the sentences make sense. Practise makes permanent.

Spelling is taught as part of an English lesson most days of the week.

Dictation/spelling tests will take place most Fridays in a format decided by the teacher. This tests their weekly spellings.

Practice the common exception words as well as the words they have been given for their spelling tests.

Discussing the meaning of any new word your child comes across while reading or in their spellings.

Here is a list of spellings that all children in Year 3 should know by the end of the year.

The topics we will be covering this term are:

• Fractions
• Money
• Time
• Shape
• Statistics

Each week, they will be challenged on their times tables. They will complete 30 questions on specific times tables, in 5 minutes. To pass and move onto the next challenge, they need 30/30. After they complete six challenges, they will receive a badge in assembly. This is a Monkfrith School Challenge that they will continue through to Year 6. Children can be quite competitive and it has been a successful way to get children to learn their tables.  

Please visit the White Rose website, where you can find videos to recap their learning. 

Use this link: https://whiteroseeducation.com/parent-pupil-resources/maths/home-learning?year=year-3-new

They should know their 2, 5 and 10 times tables from year 2.
By the end of year 3, they are expected to know 3, 4 and 8s times table and division facts. E.g. 3 x 4 = 12  12 ÷ 3 = 4

Monkfrith encourages them to learn all their tables through the weekly times table challenge. Click for list of times table challenge order. http://tablestest.com/
Times Table Rock Stars is a great way to learn their tables and it records the facts they know and do not know. https://play.ttrockstars.com/ We find this is a hugely beneficial tool for learning tables and helps them enormously with the Year 3 curriculum.

MyMaths.co.uk homework will be set weekly but can also be used anytime to practise anything they have learnt.

Information about how we teach calculations is available here – Year 3 Calculation Policy Leaflet. The website below has lots of great maths games. Choose the area you want to work on at the top and select a game to play. The link takes you to the problem solving games. https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/problem-solving

Hit the button is one of the children’s favourites.
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
Other good websites:
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/category/22/most-popular

Learn the number of day in each month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drH3_Flt85g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYshA2ybFdY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Ma0D-fN38

If your child enjoys song, try learning times tables through these songs:
3 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XzfQUXqiYY
4 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ue9Kux95H0
6 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9os1VUUp5io
7 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEnQbnxWtqM
8 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X620IeUkYE
9 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGsrC6ZPVGM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYshA2ybFdY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Ma0D-fN38

If your child enjoys song, try learning times tables through these songs:
3 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XzfQUXqiYY
4 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ue9Kux95H0
6 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9os1VUUp5io
7 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEnQbnxWtqM
8 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X620IeUkYE
9 times table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGsrC6ZPVGM

Rocks, Relics and Rumbles

We will be exploring volcanoes—how they form, how they erupt, and the impact they have on the Earth. As part of this learning, we will also identify the Earth’s layers and examine different types of rocks.

Through the ages: 

In our “Through the Ages” topic, pupils will take an in-depth journey through the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages. They will explore how early humans lived, including their homes, food, tools, and daily routines, as well as the key stages of human development over time. 

Pupils will learn about the materials used in each age and how advances in technology shaped the way people lived. They will also investigate what clothing was made from and how it changed across the periods, and study the appearance and role of Celtic warriors. Throughout the topic, pupils will compare the three ages, identifying similarities and differences and understanding how life evolved over time.

Please talk about the topic and encourage your child to do additional research to help improve their knowledge, using scientific words and feel more confident to contribute in class. 

Visit museums and libraries to deepen your child’s understanding of each topic.

The topics we will be covering this term are:

• “Where do products come from?” by learning about the origins of everyday products and the concept of Fairtrade. They will consider how the choices people make—such as buying Fairtrade goods, reducing single-use plastics, or supporting charities—can have an impact on others and the environment.
• As part of Drugs Education, pupils will learn about the effects of smoking and passive smoking on the body, helping them to understand how these can impact health and wellbeing.
• Pupils will also develop their understanding of health and safety, including school rules, basic emergency first aid procedures, and how to seek help in an emergency. This will include learning how to make a clear and effective call to 999 if needed.
• Children will be encouraged to think positively about themselves and take pride in their achievements. They will set simple goals to help them succeed and begin to recognise their own strengths and skills. Pupils will also explore a wide range of jobs and careers, understanding that people can have different roles throughout their lives. They will be able to talk about jobs they already know and start to think about their own interests for the future.
• As part of Managing Money and Economic Wellbeing, children will learn simple ways to keep track of their money, such as recording what they spend and save using lists, diaries, or receipts. They will understand why it is important to manage money carefully and make thoughtful choices.

This term, pupils will explore the question “What is good and what is evil?” (Ann Taves). They will learn and use new vocabulary such as goal, axiology, code, beatitude, rules, teachings, Abrahamic (Christian, Jewish, Muslim), Sikh, and Guru.

Children will investigate religious codes and teachings about how to live a good life, including:

• The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–15) from the Christian Bible
• The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)
• Muslim teachings on living a good life
• Sikh teachings from Guru Nanak

They will also reflect on these teachings and consider how at least one of the rules or ideas could be applied in their own lives to make a positive difference at home, in school, in the community, or in the wider world.

Open-mindedness to these topics will only benefit your child’s understanding of them.

They will be exploring and learning more about sacred texts.

In Music, pupils will focus on performing and appraising a wide range of music. They will listen carefully, share their thoughts, and learn to talk about different styles. Children will also take part in movement to music, helping them respond to rhythm and beat in creative ways. They will be engaging in the composition of blues music, developing their understanding of structure, rhythm, and style.

The children receive music lessons weekly with Mr Filby.

Listen to music with them, talk about what you like, dance to music with them, sing with them. It doesn’t matter if you think you have no musical skill (you do, by the way, everyone does!) just let them see you enjoying music and their enthusiasm will sky rocket!

This term the children will be learning:

• Indoor PE – dance & gymnastics 
• Outdoor – athletics & rounders

PE lessons for year 3 are on Monday’s or Wednesday’s.

PE kit should be in school at all times and clearly labelled with your child’s name. For safety, long hair should be tied back for all sporting activities. Earrings will need to be removed during physical exercise; if ears have recently been pierced, they should be taped. Children who are well enough to be in school are expected to take part in PE activities.

In Computing, pupils will be introduced to Scratch, a coding program. They will learn how to create simple sequences in music by programming sprites. Children will explore how to order commands correctly and understand how sequence affects the outcome. They will also improve their projects by making them look more engaging and creative, including designing and building their own musical instruments within Scratch.

Please talk to them about the importance of being safe online. Ask them to tell you the Monkfrith online safety rules. Ensure that they are using these rules at home too. The following websites have more information and advice for parents on how to help your child stay safe online.

• https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
• http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/
• http://www.netsmartzkids.org/ 
• https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/ 

Algorithms can be used every day when giving or following instructions and directing objects, not only through online games but with describing the movements of practical objects.
Encourage them to use word processing software and a keyboard to improve the speed and accuracy of their typing.

This website teaches them how to use all their fingers on the keyboard: 

http://play.bbc.co.uk/play/pen/g8s4pb547b

This will be set on a Friday on Google classroom and should be handed in by Wednesday.

It will consist of spellings to practice, maths and then either grammar or something related to our topic. If the piece of work is project based, it may extend across several weeks.

We also expect each child to do:

• 30 minutes of independent reading every day! Note: Children are far more likely to read for pleasure when they see their parents doing so as well, even if it’s for a short while.

10 minutes mental maths/times tables everyday (Year 3 are expect to know a 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 and know ALL their times tables by the end of Year 4. They will begin the Monkfrith times table challenge each week).