Year 3
Happy New Year and Welcome back to our Spring Term 2026!
I hope you all had a wonderful and peaceful Christmas and are all ready and eager to get back to another exciting term full of learning and adventure in our new topic ‘Our Kingdom’ and the thought-provoking question…’How can we live in communion?
This Term, our R.E. topic is ‘Galilee to Jerusalem’ and our big question is ‘How can I help build the Kingdom’ Children will explore Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of God and what it means for Christians today. Through Gospel stories, including miracles and the Our Father prayer, our children will learn that the Kingdom of God is not a place but a way of living shaped by love, forgiveness, justice, and compassion. We will reflect on how Jesus used stories and actions to show what the Kingdom is like and consider how people are called to change their behaviour in response. They examine how individuals can show commitment to building the Kingdom through their choices and actions, comparing different responses and reflecting on their own. The topic also introduces children to the life of a saint as a real-life example of someone who lived out these values, helping children to understand how people might behave in the Kingdom of God and what this could mean for their own lives.
After half-term, this moves on to ‘Desert to Garden’ and the Big Question is ‘How can we live in communion?’ In this topic, we will learn about Jesus as the Bread of Life, beginning with the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand and exploring how this links to the Last Supper. They will discover how Jesus showed his love by giving himself to others and how this love is continued in the celebration of the Eucharist. We will examine key prayers, signs, symbols, and actions of Mass and learn how these express Catholic beliefs about Holy Communion and belonging to the Church. The topic also covers the events of Holy Week and some cultural traditions linked to them, helping children reflect on what these beliefs and celebrations mean for their own lives.
Our ’Other Faiths’ this term will be Hinduism and Sikhism.
We will be examining and analysing many different types of texts in English, and using good models of writing to inspire us to create our own. We will read factual books, fictional stories and poetry. We will extend our vocabulary and increase our fluency in reading through our Whole Class Reads ‘The Sheep-Pig’ and Paddington. ’Escape from Pompeii’ will stimulate discussion and empathy as well as a deeper understanding of the Roman civilisation and the impact of Mount Vesuvius when it erupted in Pompeii.
In Maths we will be linking our Science work on Magnets and Forces which will involve some measuring, data and investigation. We will strive to master multiplication, division, addition and subtraction. We’ll also be tackling measurement, shape and fractions!
Through History and Geography we will be learning who the Romans were, their lifestyle and beliefs. We will focus on the people of Pompeii and the eruption of Vesuvius—this links with an in-depth study of earthquakes and volcanoes.
Mrs Jones continues to teach in Year 3 on Fridays. As well as some PE sessions in Gymnastics and Athletics she will teach Art and DT. This term, children will look at Sculpture & 3D: Abstract shape. The children will manipulate a range of materials and learn ways to join and create free-standing structures inspired by the work of Anthony Caro. In DT they will learn about Mechanical Systems specifically Pneumatic Toys, to link with our science. She will also teach the children the exciting topic of ‘Tremors’ learning about earthquakes and volcanoes!
This term we will continue our French lessons learning about ‘Food, glorious food’ and ‘Family and Friends’. In P.E. Gordon will teach the children about Fitness. They will be given opportunities to work at their maximum and improve their fitness levels, recognising how the activities make them feel. In Athletics the children will develop basic running, jumping and throwing techniques.
In Music, we will be learning about Composition and using percussion instruments with Mr Jones . Whilst in the Computer Lab, we will be learning about programming, software, search engines and be introduced to Coding using ‘Scratch’.
How you can help
- Reading, spellings and maths homework will continue to be set every week.
- Multiplication facts and number bonds should be practiced regularly on TTRS and Numbots.
- There could also be follow-up research in other areas if appropriate, a letter goes out every Thursday detailing home-work information, which is stuck in HW diaries. This needs to be signed to say you have seen it and will support your child to complete it to the best of their ability.
- Encourage your child to read daily and just as importantly, explain what they understand from the text. This too should be signed by an adult. After every ‘Whole Class Read’ our Five new words are sent home as ‘Fridge Words’ to stick up and encourage your child to use in sentences to broaden their vocabulary.
Please make sure your child has their P.E. kit (black shorts, white tee-shirt and trainers or plimsolls) in school on Mondays. PE kit should stay in school all week and only go home on a Friday to be washed.
Your child also needs a painting apron/old shirt in school to protect their uniform during art lessons. This should also remain on their in their bag all week.
As Science Leader, I’m always looking out for parents with jobs or hobbies that would inspire our children. Perhaps you’re a brilliant baker, a candle-maker or electrician or anything remotely connected to Science I’d be delighted to hear from you! We have a fantastic inspiring term to look forward to! Please check the Year 3 Web page at brwacademy.com for updates and recommended websites. If you have any queries please feel free to ask. Thank you for your continued support, I can’t wait to see what this term holds!
Mrs Byrne
Educational Visit Tuesday March 10th: Art Workshop at Lakeside Art Galleries. We have an exciting opportunity to attend an Andy Warhol exhibition! He was an American Pop artist who reimagined what art could be at a time of great social, political and technological change. The exhibition includes rarely seen early drawings and illustrations from the 1950s; paintings from the 1980s never exhibited in his lifetime; and lesser-known ‘stitched photographs’ which were the focus of his last exhibition. The children will have participate in a workshop and have time to explore the galleries and the park, giving them plenty of inspiration for their own art projects!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
6th Jan Epiphany Mass 2pm
13th Jan – Individual Class Photos
10th Feb – Safer Internet Day as part of Mental Health Week
11th Feb KS2 Talent Show 2.00pm
13th Feb OLoL INSET DAY
16th Feb 2025 Back to school
5th March WORLD BOOK DAY
10th March Andy Warhol workshop at Lakeside (more details to follow)
17th March Parent’s Consultations 4 -7pm
18th March Parent’s Consultations 1:30-3:30 pm
7th April – 18th April Easter Holiday
Tue 14th April Y3 Resurrection Liturgy 2:30pm
