Peacocks - Year 3/4

 Spring 2

Welcome back everyone, we hope that you have had a relaxing break and are looking forward to the rest of the spring term.

Please find below an overview of our plans for the second half of this term.

Our Pathways to Write literacy unit for this half term will focus on the book ‘Escape to Pompeii by Christina Balit. This will link to our geography topic where we shall be learning about volcanoes. Our outcome for this fictional unit will be to investigate a historical narrative from a character’s point of view. The children will write the story from the point of view of one of the children in the book. They will write a sequence of events to follow the structure of the model story. Children will write an opening paragraph and further paragraphs for each stage. They will create dialogue between characters that shows their relationship with each other. In their writing children will use 3rd or 1st person consistently and use tenses appropriately. They will include historical detail to describe characters, setting and event to improve and dramatise their story.

In Maths this half term both year 3 and 4 will be finishing the White Rose Maths Length and Perimeter unit before moving on to Fractions.

In the measures unit, year 3 children will learn to accurately measure in metres, centimetres and millimetres and explore equivalent lengths. Children will compare, add, and subtract lengths. In Fractions they will understand the denominators of unit fractions, and compare and order unit fractions, they will understand the numerators of non-unit fractions and compare and order these. They will look at fractions and scales, and fractions on a number line and be able to count these. They will look at equivalent fractions on a number line and equivalent fractions as bar models.

In Year 4, the measures unit involves measuring in kilometres and metres and exploring equivalent lengths. Children will learn how to find the perimeter of a rectangle and other rectilinear shapes and polygons; they will be able to work out and calculate some missing lengths of these shapes. For Fractions children will understand the whole and count beyond 1. They will be able to partition a mixed number and compare and order mixed numbers on a number line. They will understand improper fractions and be able to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and convert improper fractions to mixed numbers. They will look at equivalent fractions on a number line and make connection between equivalent fraction families. They will add two or more fractions and add fractions and mixed numbers. They will also subtract two fractions including subtracting from whole amounts and mixed numbers.

In our Science unit this half term pupils will be able to describe the simple functions of basic parts of the digestive system in humans. Children will learn about the different parts are in the digestive system and what happens during digestion. They will be able to identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions. Children will investigate what is meant by food chains. They will construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.  Key vocabulary for this unit includes, nutrients, teeth, digestion, mouth, tongue, incisor, canine, molar, premolar, wisdom teeth, salivary gland, oesophagus, stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus, food chain, producer, consumer, predator, prey, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, scavenger, tooth decay, faeces, enamel, salvia, digestive system, decomposer.

In RE lessons, we shall be studying the significance of Easter in the Christian calendar. They will be  able to recognise what the word ‘Salvation’ means to Christians and how they believe Jesus came to ‘save’ or ‘rescue’ people, by showing them how to live. They will learn about the three important days in Holy Week and make simple links between the Gospel accounts and how Christians mark these Easter events in their communities. They will raise thoughtful questions and suggest some answers about why Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’, giving good reasons for their suggestions. Children will be able to describe how Christians show their beliefs about Jesus in worship in different ways. Key vocabulary for this unit includes sin, Holy Week, Salvation, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Hope, Joy Sadness.

In Computing this term, we shall be exploring using ICT in writing for different audiences. Children will be using the computer programs 2email, 2connect, 2DIY. Children will explore how font size and style can affect the impact of a text.  They will use a simulated scenario to produce a news report and use a simulated scenario to  write for a community campaign. Key vocabulary includes campaign, format, font, genre, opinion, reporter, viewpoint.

In our Geography topic this half term will be investigating Volcanoes and Earthquakes and embarking on a case Study of Pompeii. Children will answer the question, what is actually under our feet? They shall learn how are volcanoes formed and what affect they can have on people’s lives. Children will learn what causes earthquakes and how they can be measured. They will also learn about what causes tsunamis and tornados and what affect these may have on people’s lives. Children will use maps, atlases, globes and digital computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied. They will be able to describe and understand key aspects of physical and human geography. Children will use the 8 points of a compass, 4 and 6 figure grid references, symbols and keys to build knowledge of the UK and the wider world. Key vocabulary for this topic includes topsoil, subsoil, bedrock, magma, tectonic plate, eruption, active, dormant, extinct, volcano, tsunami, tornado, crust, mantle, inner core, outer core.

In Music, this half term our Charanga unit is entitled Feeling through music and explores some songs from the Beatles. Children will confidently identify and move to the pulse. They will talk about the musical dimensions working together in the Unit songs, e.g. if the song gets louder in the chorus (dynamics). They will talk about the music and how it makes them feel. Children will listen carefully and respectfully to other people’s thoughts about the music and use musical words. Children will; practise singing in unison in two simple parts. They will follow a leader and sing with an awareness of being in tune, rehearsing and performing their part. ‘Key vocabulary includes, solo acoustic guitar, percussion, birdsong, civil rights, racism, equality, pentatonic scale, unison, pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, texture structure, compose, improvise, hook, riff, 3 – Perform & Share melody

Our PHSE unit for both year groups is Healthy Me. Children in Year 3 will know how exercise affects their bodies. They will learn why their hearts and lungs are such important organs. Children will know that the amount of calories, fat and sugar that they put into their bodies will affect their health. They will recognise that their bodies are complex and need taking care of them. Children will learn that there are different types of drugs. Children will recognise when something feels safe or unsafe and identify things, places and people that can be dangerous. They will learn a range of strategies to keep themselves safe.

Children in Year 4 will investigate how different friendship groups are formed and how they fit into them. They will discuss which friends they value most and consider that there are leaders and followers in groups. Children will explore how they can take on different roles according to the situation. Children will know the facts about alcohol, smoking and vaping and its effects on health and consider some of the reasons some people start to drink or smoke. They will know ways to resist these when people are putting pressure on them  and the impotence of making the right choices.

Children will continue to use Languagenut  for our French lessons this term. The Year 3 unit focuses on ‘Family and pets. Children will use possessive adjectives to say their families ages. They will be able to talk about their family and any pets they have. They will recognise and pronounce the sounds OU and U. Children will learn about April Fools celebrations in France. Year 4’s unit is entitled ‘ How I look. Children will be able to describe themselves physically. They will be able to name different body parts in French and describe the body parts of an alien. They will make sentences describing themselves and others. Children will learn 10 words related to Easter in French.

For our DT topic, we shall be exploring technological advancements. Children will design and create a Rube Goldberg machine, using classroom and household materials, that includes at least two simple machines which can be used to perform a simple task. Children will identify suitable materials for constructing ramps, pulleys, levers and wheels and axle. They will select and safely use appropriate materials, tools and equipment. They will work both independently and collaboratively to create a Rube Goldberg machine. They will write and follow a process to create a Rube Goldberg machine and evaluate their projects. Key vocabulary for this unit includes, lever, pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane, forces, simple machine, operate, invented, combined.

Our PE focus the second half of Spring term is Dance. Children will be learning a variety of dance techniques, taking inspiration from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns. Skills are taught in an engaging and motivational manner, with children using dance techniques and styles to represent the different animals featured in the piece of music. Children will learn to dance in unison and in canon and will discover how to use dynamics in their dancing to fit the mood and the tempo of a piece of music. They will improvise movement patterns inspired by Carnival of the Animals and show precision and control in response to this. They will learn to vary the dynamics and demonstrate rhythm in a longer dance sequence. They will compose their own longer dance sequences using a range of dance vocabulary such as motif, unison, canon, dynamics, rhythm, mirroring, stimulus, improvise, spatial awareness, sequence, choreograph, style. Travel, fluency, transition, step, pace, routine, repetition, level.