St John's C of E Primary - Nurturing Excellence

Chaffinch Class

Welcome to Our Chaffinch Class Page!

English

This term, Year 3 will explore The Firework-Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman. Pupils will write a first-person recount in the form of a letter, developing grammar and punctuation skills such as using apostrophes for contraction and possession, creating compound and complex sentences, and writing with adverbial phrases and expanded noun phrases. They will learn to plan and write clear, structured pieces using shared examples. Later in the term, children will produce a non-fiction explanation text comparing London and San Francisco, linked to their Geography unit on spatial sense. They will organise information using headings and subheadings, write with a formal tone, and apply their growing grammar knowledge. Alongside this, pupils will study and perform Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, exploring similes, metaphors, and poetic structure to build expression, fluency, and a love of language.

Maths

This term, Year 3 will consolidate and deepen their understanding of addition and subtraction with larger numbers, building confidence and fluency in written and mental methods. Pupils will also explore practical applications of maths through engaging activities focused on money, length, weight, and capacity. They will use reasoning skills to solve real-life problems, estimate answers, and explain their thinking clearly. Weekly review sessions will revisit key operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—helping children strengthen recall, make connections across concepts, and apply their learning confidently to everyday situations.

Science – Cycles in Nature

This term, Year 3 explore how plants, animals, and the environment change with the seasons. They’ll study how spring and summer bring warmth and growth, while autumn and winter bring rest and renewal. Pupils learn how seeds sprout, plants grow and reproduce, and frogs develop from eggs to adults. They’ll also explore animal migration and adaptation.

History – Ancient Egypt

Year 3 travel back in time to discover life along the River Nile and the fascinating culture of Ancient Egypt. They’ll learn about pharaohs, social hierarchy, beliefs about the afterlife, and the process of mummification. Pupils will study hieroglyphics, explore artefacts, and investigate the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Geography – Settlements

Year 3 explore different types of settlements and why people choose to live there. They’ll identify hamlets, villages, towns, and cities, and compare rural, urban, and suburban areas. Pupils will learn about population density and how access to water, transport, and resources influences where settlements develop.

Art – Still Life and Form

This term, Year 3 explore still life art, focusing on form, tone, and colour. They’ll study artists such as Paul Cézanne and Mary Moser and experiment with sketching, cross-hatching, tints, and shades to create 3D effects.

PE – Ancient Egyptian Dance

PE will be on Friday This term, Year 3 explore dance inspired by Ancient Egypt. They’ll use movements from Egyptian art and hieroglyphs to tell stories through gesture and pose. Working individually and in groups, pupils develop rhythm, coordination, and expression.
Computing – Online Safety and Coding

This term, Year 3 revisit online safety, learning how to stay safe and act responsibly online. They will also continue developing their coding skills using Purple Mash’s 2Code, learning about flowcharts, timers, and the “repeat” command. Pupils will design interactive scenes, debug errors, and use key vocabulary such as algorithm, input, and output.