‘Minds to Learn, Hearts to Care’

Year 3

Home Guide

‘Meet The Flintstones’

Stone Age

Autumn 2020

Dear Parents / Carers,

This Autumn, we are focussing on the story: ‘UG – Boy Genius of the

Stone Age’. We will make as many links as possible across the curriculum

so that the children can explore the story in a variety of ways. For

example, in Science we will be learning about Rocks and in Art we will

study cave paintings. The children will then produce their own work based

on the story.

This home guide includes more information on the areas we will be

covering this term. Also, the activities and websites you can use at home

to support your child’s learning. We have also included targets for this

term in English and Maths.

Subjects such as R.E, PSHCE, Music and Maths will continue to be taught

independently, although cross-curricular links will be made where

possible.

Topic

The Stone Age

This term the children will be exploring ‘Meet the Flintstones.’ We will be

reading a class book ’UG’. While reading this, we will make links to our

weekly lessons.

During this topic, we will discover what life would have been like for

people during the transitions between the three main stages which

preceded the Bronze Age. Focus will largely be on placing the Stone Age

on a timeline.

We will be dealing with questions like what was ‘new’ about the New Stone

Age? Who were the first farmers? How the people during that time fed

and clothed themselves and comparing the Stone Age to the Bronze and

Iron Ages as well. For these purposes, we will be researching and

exploring examples of Stone Age settlements - notably Skara Brae in

Orkney.

Useful Websites

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/z34djxs

https://kidzfeed.com/stone-age-facts-for-kids/

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/general-history/skara-

English

In English, we will be looking at a poetry unit, non-fiction and fiction

across the Autumn term. Alongside our English lessons, we will also read a

variety of reading books as a class. Spelling, punctuation and grammar will

also be taught alongside our English units.

Warning Story – Talk for Writing

Our first unit will be based around the story ‘The Tunnel’ by Anthony

Browne. We will explore the features of the text and attempt to commit

the story to memory before performing it to the class.

Adventure Story

Using The Hodgeheg by Dick King-Smith, children look for examples of

adverbs and adverbial phrases. They will memorise a section of dialogue

and use it as a basis for their own writing. In the second week, the focus

is on complex and compound sentences as children write an animal

adventure story.

Instructions and explanations

Children will learn about instructions and explanations based around the

glitzy world of the game show. They will learn about features of

explanations before going on to write their own based on a game show

with a special treat at the end.

Useful Websites

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/spelling-and-grammar

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/english--1/grammar-and-punctuation-at-

primary-school/

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zv48q6f

Maths

In Maths this term, we will be focussing on:

Place Value

Addition and Subtraction

Multiplication and Division.

The children will consolidate their knowledge of number and have the

chance to explore and represent their work in different ways.

This term the children will:

Number – Place Value

Identify, represent and estimate numbers using different

representations.

Find 10 or 100 more or less than a given number

Recognise the place value of each digit in a three-digit number

(hundreds, tens, ones).

Compare and order numbers up to 1000

Read and write numbers up to 1000 in numerals and in words.

Solve number problems and practical problems involving these ideas.

Count from 0 in multiples of 4, 8, 50 and 100

Number – Addition and Subtraction

Add and subtract numbers mentally, including: a three-digit number

and ones; a three-digit number and tens; a three-digit number and

hundreds.

Add and subtract numbers with up to three digits, using formal

written methods of columnar addition and subtraction.

Estimate the answer to a calculation and use inverse operations to

check answers.

Solve problems, including missing number problems, using number

facts, place value, and more complex addition and subtraction.

Number – Multiplication and Division

Count from 0 in multiples of 4, 8, 50 and 100

Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8

multiplication tables.

Activities for parents and children:

Practise recall of Times Tables (2x, 3x 4x, 5x, 10x)

Practise increasing general maths knowledge such as time, money

and measures.

Practise adding/ subtracting number bonds mentally, whether it be

to 10, 20, 50 or 100 (e.g. 4+6 = 10, 18+2 = 20).

Useful Websites

http://www.coolmath4kids.com/

http://www.snappymaths.com/year3/

http://www.mathsisfun.com/links/curriculum-year-3.html

Art

In Art, we will be basing our work on our topic of the Stone Age.

Sketching

Children will make drawings of the stages of early man. They will study

different pictures of cavemen and compare how they have evolved. They

will then practice their drawing skills and try to make their drawings as

life like as possible.

Painting

Children will study a variety of different cave paintings and research

information about them. They will look at how the paintings were created

and what materials they used. They will then reproduce the images using

paints.

Useful Websites http://www.historyrocket.com/age-of-history/stone-age/Stone-Age-

Art.html

https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/history/stone-age/cave-painting/

Design & Technology

Children will be looking at the unit of ‘Shell Structures’. We will explore

existing structures and buildings that may have used these techniques.

This work will also link to Maths as it relies on knowledge of the nets of

3D shapes. We will plan our designs very carefully to decide the purpose

of each product and who the target market would be. Children will then

make an item such as a gift box or container.

Computing

At the beginning of each unit in Computing, there will be an E-safety

lesson to make the children aware and show them how to be safe online.

In these lessons, we will discuss the safety concerns of communicating

through the internet and how to report a problem. The children will also

create posters about privacy and how we shouldn’t share important

information online. The E-safety lessons will help the children to be safe

and responsible when using the internet.

Basic skills

Children will be taking part in basic skills tuition in Computing, they will

learn how to create, save and retrieve different styles of Microsoft

Office documents. They will also be shown how to insert and edit a piece

of text into a Word document. This will include changing the size, font

and colour of the text. Children will be inserting pictures from both files

saved on the computer and pictures sourced from the internet.

We are Programmers

In this unit, the children create an animated cartoon using characters

they design. They use a paint tool to create characters and backgrounds.

They then create an animation by translating a storyboard into a series of

scripted instructions (program) for graphic objects.

We are Presenters

In the second half term, the children will learn to design, write and debug

programs that are written to complete specific goals. We will need to use

logical reasoning to explain how simple algorithms work, correct errors in

algorithms and programs and understand computer networks including the

internet.

We will look at using technology safely, whilst identifying acceptable

behaviour and identifying a range of ways to report concerns about

different content.

Science

Rocks

In the first term, we will be looking at Rocks & Fossils. In this unit the

children will be identifying and grouping rocks based upon their

description and texture. They will also be looking at the different density

of rocks and ordering them accordingly. Furthermore, they will be

discovering how 3 different types of rock are formed: Sedimentary,

Metamorphic and Igneous.

The children will also investigate the properties of soil and discover what

it is made from.

Finally, we will investigate fossils and describe how they are formed and

how scientists can discover an estimated age of creation.

Animals & Skeletons

In the second half term, we will look at animals and their skeletons.

Children will learn about how animals must eat to stay alive and the fact

that different animals eat different foods. We will also look at the ways

that food is digested.

We will explore how skeletons can be on the inside or outside of the body

of an animal and then the children will identify the functions of the parts

of the skeleton too.

Useful websites:

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/z9bbkqt

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/z2ym2p3

Useful Information

Children in Year 3 will be given homework at the beginning of the year for

the half-term. This will all be linked to our Topic of the Stone Age.

Children can complete the activities on the sheet in any order.

There will also be a times table focus, along with weekly spellings which

will be tested on a Friday in their spelling groups. Spelling books will be

sent home on a Friday and should be returned the following week ready

for the next test. Children will also be given set homework on My Maths

online - this will be based on the lessons the children have had throughout

the week. If children cannot access the internet at home, they can

arrange to come in to homework club on a break or lunchtime to complete

their task.

Homework is always linked to what we have been learning in class or what

we will be learning the following week.

Children are encouraged to read at home each night – up to 15 minutes if

possible. Children have the option to change their reading book in our

daily Guided Reading lesson once it has been signed off in their planner by

an adult, whether that be a parent or a member of staff. They are

encouraged to bring in their school planner every day for staff to monitor

children’s home reading and for messages to be passed on between staff

and parents.

Please encourage your child to be well prepared for school; remembering

to bring homework, planners, reading books and the correct P.E. kits

(indoor and outdoor).

Please ensure that your child has all items in their PE kit (including

trainers for outside P.E) to ensure that they can take part fully in the

session.

Using the home guide

The guide is to keep you informed about the topics and themes being

studied at school and to offer ideas for activities at home. Some useful

websites have been given too.

If at anytime you have any worries or concerns, please do not hesitate to

contact us. May we also take this opportunity to thank you for your

support, we look forward to working with you all this term.

Miss Dalkin and Mrs Saint

Autumn Term Targets English Stage 3:

To extend the range of sentences with more than one clause by using a

wider range of conjunctions e.g. when, if, because, although

To indicate possession by using the possessive apostrophe with singular

nouns and regular plurals

To use inverted commas to punctuate direct speech.

To use known spelling rules when writing unfamiliar words.

To discuss words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and

imagination

Stage 2 Secure and Stage 3 Ready:

To use full stops, capital letters, question marks and commas

independently.

To convey opinions about characters and settings effectively.

To predict what might happen next from details both stated and implied.

To use known spelling rules when writing unfamiliar words.

To predict what might happen on the basis of what has been read so far.

Stage 2 Emerging and Developing:

To use full stops, capital letters, exclamation and question marks

accurately.

To use tenses accurately.

To use known spelling rules when writing unfamiliar words.

To discuss the sequence of events in books and how items of information

are related.

Autumn Term Targets

Maths:

Stage 3:

To add and subtract numbers mentally, including: a 3-digit number

and 1s, 10s, 100s.

To solve number problems and practical problems involving these

ideas.

To recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8

multiplication tables.

To recognise 3-D shapes in different orientations and describe

them. Stage 2 Secure and Stage 3 Ready:

To recognise and use the inverse relationship between addition and

subtraction and use this to check calculations and missing number

problems. To solve problems with addition and subtraction: using concrete

objects and pictorial representations; applying their increasing

knowledge of mental and written methods. To recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and

10 multiplication tables, including recognising odd and even

numbers.

To identify and describe the properties of 3D shapes, including the

number of edges, vertices and faces.