Year 3

In Year 3, English is based around a topic or class text. We aim to explore a wide range of quality texts from a variety of genres and cultures and provide a real purpose for reading and writing.

Opportunities to enrich learning through cross-curricular links are also made through each topic.

Grammar and spellings are embedded into each topic.

Autumn

  • All About Me - Children create illustrated fact files about themselves - grouping ideas into paragraphs and using the features of a non-chronological report.

  • Let's Celebrate! Festival poems from Around the World - Children create their own celebration poems.

  • Instructions and Explanations - Children write instructions for a game.

  • The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson. Children create their own stories around familiar setting and create a fact file on Barn owls.

  • The Great Outdoors is Calling - Children write a letter to persuade of the benefits of the being outdoors.

Spring

  • The Twits by Roald Dahl. Children write and perform their own short play based around a trick The Twits might play on each other.

  • The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber. Children create their own fish menus and quest stories to share.

  • Escape From Pompeii by C Balit. Children create their own class newspaper.

  • A to Z by Michael Rosen - children create their own poems to express a range of emotions.

Summer

  • Greek Myths and Legends by Marcia Williams . Children create their own quest story in the style of a Greek myth.

  • The Great Kapok Tree and the Shaman's Apprentice by Lynne Cherry. Children consider the ethics behind issues of deforestation and write a letter to a forest logger. We also research the medicinal properties of some rain forest plants and create an information page.

Handwriting

In Year 3 children have weekly handwriting lessons. We will be consolidating the cursive style taught in the Pre-prep and children will write in pencil. A good handwriting style with a tripod grip will also be encouraged in all their written work and support provided where needed.

Reading

Reading at Home:

Year 3 are encouraged to read with somebody at home at least 5 times a week, and record this in their reading record. Reading and discussing a book with an adult is a great way to ensure understanding, and dig deeper into the book. Each child will have a self-selected book, suitable for their ability. However home reads can be any form of reading too. Here are some suggestions:

  • Reading book

  • Library book

  • Recipes

  • Menus

  • Signs & maps

  • Information booklets

The more inventive ways of reading, the better!

5 home reads = Stag

Reading at School:

Year 3 go to the Walhampton Library each week to learn more about how the library works, select library books, and have more in-depth library sessions with Miss Knight, our Librarian. The children are able to go to the Library at other times in the week too. A library book is often a great book to share with an adult, which is in addition to their reading book.