Our Learning in Summer 1

What an amazing half term in Year 3! 

As historians, we have been learning about the Shang Dynasty. We have investigated the importance of Fu Hao's tomb, learnt about their calendar and we have begun to understand elements of Shang culture and beliefs whilst comparing them to the Ancient Egyptians (which we learned about the Spring Term).

Linked to this in geography, we have been learning about modern-day China. We have found China using atlases whilst understanding some of the positive and negatives of Chinese industry. We have also learnt about the human features of China.

Also linked to this, in art, we have been sketching and using collage to create our own Chinese gates. We have explored themes and design choices and discussed how best to replicate them.

As scientists, we have been learning about light. We have investigated the role light plays in enabling us to see, how shadows are impacted by the position of a source of light and why a broken mirror would have a distorted image.

In Music, 3SB have proudly presented their African drumming skills to an audience whilst 3SH and 3AN have been learning to sing with increased skill and accuracy. They have also played 8-beat rhythms from notation and have understood what scat music is.

In PE, we have been playing netball. Pupils have loved practising the different types of pass in netball and have enjoyed putting their skills into competitive games. 

The pupils have loved using code in a programme called Scratch where they have been able to create their own animated magic show. As well as using our computers we have also used Beebots to explore code based algorithms.

In DT, we have been designing bird boxes. We have also, with careful supervision, been constructing them using glue and saws.

We have been exploring our families in Spanish, learning about the extended family and being able to use the verb tener to form a simple sentence.

In PSHE, we have discussed online safety including knowing that people online can have different identities and we have learnt what to do about online bullying. We have also been learning about the importance of healthy relationships by considering what personal space is and what equal, healthy relationships are. 

As philosophers, we have discussed many big question about the environment and our own personal responsibility.  We have used the 4C principles: caring, creative, collaborative and critical, in order to have deep, philosophical enquiries.  

While in RE, we will look at why festivals are important to religious communities.

Here are some pictures of our learning in Summer 1