English is the medium by which all the subjects are taught at the Junior School (except for Greek). As is stressed by the 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England, “a high-quality education in English will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them.” In year 3 pupils become more familiar with and confident in using language in a variety of situations, for a variety of audiences and purposes, including through drama, formal presentations and debate. Spoken language underpins the development of reading and writing. The quality and variety of language that pupils hear and speak are vital for developing their vocabulary and grammar and their understanding of reading and writing.
The English programme of study for Year 3 includes:
In Year 3, as in all the other year groups we follow the British National Curriculum for Mathematics with the purpose of providing “a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.” Over the past year we have been facilitating the teaching of the subject through Big Maths, which is a new way of looking at the Primary Mathematics Curriculum. Children become numerate through following a natural sequence of progression and acquiring and using basic skills through a structured and regular approach.
The principal focus of Mathematics in Year 3 is to ensure that pupils become increasingly fluent with whole numbers and the four operations (+, -, x, ÷), including number facts and the concept of place value. Pupils will develop efficient written and mental methods and perform calculations accurately with increasingly large whole numbers.
Pupils will become increasingly able to solve a range of problems, including those with simple fractions and decimals. Pupils should develop mathematical reasoning in order to analyse shapes and their properties and be able to describe the relationships between them. They will learn to measure with accuracy using measuring instruments and make connections between measure and number.
Pupils continue to memorise their multiplication tables and learn to read and spell mathematical vocabulary correctly and confidently.
The Year 3 programme of study for Mathematics is constituted by the following areas of study:
Number and place value
Addition and subtraction
Multiplication and Division
Fractions
Measure, compare, add and subtract lengths, mass and volume
Measure perimeter
Money
Time
Draw and describe 2D and 3D shapes
Recognising angles and right angles
Identifying lines
In Year 3, children are introduced to a more scientific approach to enquiry and the recording of an investigation. They are encouraged to pose a question, hypothesize, predict and carry out fair tests, and to use technical vocabulary and scientific language. They are given experience in gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions and they use results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions.The topics covered are as follows:
In History the topics covered are as follows:
The topics provide the opportunity to make links with local history, for example we visit Curium to enhance the Romans topic. Pupils develop their knowledge and skills through research, questioning and enquiry. They will use a range of resources to develop understanding, finding out how people lived in the past, why events happened and the changes that were made as a result.
In Geography the topics are covered as follows:
Mapping skills will be included within the above topics e.g. using maps, atlases, globes, compass points, grid references etc.
Learning through topics is made more meaningful with cross-curricular links, whenever appropriate. They are taught in blocks of weeks, up to six lessons per week.
Pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Pupils develop their skills through a wide range of activities that inevitably assist them in their work in other subjects. Word processing, presentational and graphics skills are taught and developed through programs such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and provide a means of presentation of their work for other subjects, such as research for a History project. The children also explore the uses of computers and other technical equipment to capture sounds and scenes and create animations. The internet is used to help the children collect resources for projects and play games to help them practise concepts in Literacy, Numeracy as well as other subjects. The recent introduction of the iPads at the Junior School has also contributed to a large variety of opportunities for learning being offered through technology.
In Art, pupils use a variety of art materials and media and are taught art and design techniques, such as drawing, painting and sculpture in order to create a range of 2D or 3D art work. Individuality and personal touch is always encouraged and praised and children become more confident in using all kinds of materials given and in designing and improving their own and others’ designs. Children learn about great artists, architects and designers in history.
Pupils develop their skills through a wide range of activities that inevitably assist them in their work in other subjects. Word processing, presentational and graphics skills are taught and developed. The children also explore the uses of ICT in sound making and collecting data, as well as in simulations. The internet is used to help the children collect resources for projects and play games to help them practise concepts in Literacy, Numeracy as well as other subjects.
See Greek Curriculum for information.
See separate section
See separate section
For further information and additional details regarding the Primary National Curriculum, please refer to the following website with this link.
