Writing

This term, our writing focusses on two styles of writing, non-chronological report and letter. The writing is inspired by non-fiction texts Dorling Kindersley Eyewonder: Rainforests and Scholastic Discover More: Rainforests and the fiction text The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry.

For non-chronological report writing, the unit revisits writing an introduction before teaching the structure of a report including titles and subtitles. Grouping ideas together in paragraphs and relating images and pictures to the text provides construction support. SPAG elements include verb forms: past, present, progressive and present perfect for Year 3; proper nouns, apostrophes for possession and alliteration.

For letter writing, the unit starts teaching the format of a letter including the address, date and name, before the main body of writing. Vocabulary focusses on persuasive language and sentence structure is manipulated for effect. SPAG elements taught in this unit include adverbs, coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, prepositions and apostrophes for omission.

Maths

This term, Year 2 learning introduces fractions as parts of a whole and pupils learn to recognise and find a half, quarters and a third. The time unit teaches to tell the time to o’clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to, linking to the fraction unit. Statistics focusses on interpreting and drawing tally charts, block diagrams and pictograms. Finally, the position and direction unit teaches movement, language of position, turns and shape patterns.

Year 3 learn their second fractions unit of the year, which teaches manipulation of fractions and identifying unit and non-unit fractions of amounts. The unit about money teaches the conversion between pounds and pence and manipulation within this. For time, Year 3 learn how to read Roman numerals and telling the time on a digital and analogue clock, using AM and PM. In shape, angles are introduced for the first time and children learn to identify turns and compare angles. The unit finishes with horizontal, vertical, parallel and perpendicular lines.

Geography

In Geography, locational knowledge continues from the previous term with a focus on the Equator, Northern and Southern Hemisphere and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Map skills use atlases to locate hot and cold areas based upon location. The rainforest biome and climate are the focus, with a variety of flora and fauna studied. Human geography looks at tribal communities within the rainforests, including the Awa tribe. A debate is had on deforestation, thinking about humans who are for or against the removal of trees.

Science

This term the Science unit is called Animals including Humans. Growth is taught, which includes healthy lifestyles, the effect of exercise and understanding the importance of hyenine. Life cycles are taught for both animals and humans, with key vocabulary taught to classify animals and understand the chain.

Art and Design & Technology

Art this term focusses on pencil sketches of rainforest animals, thinking about the details and texture for different species. The artist study this term focusses on the work from the Eden Project of John Dyer and Nixiwaka Yawanawa, a member of the Yawanawa tribe in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. The colourful paintings from the ‘Spirit of the Rainforest’ project provide inspiration for children to create their own rainforest art.

Design and Technology is taught through the creation of rainforest diorama, where a design, model and evaluate process is followed and children work in groups to create their shoebox 3-D model.

Computing

This term, Kingfishers use computers to write, execute and de-bug simple programs using Expresso and Scratch Jr. Children also learn about the positive and negative effects of online behaviour.

Religious Education and World Views

Kingfishers first question to answer this term is ‘How and why do people (in three traditions) use ceremonies to show their commitments?’. This unit draws together learning from Abrahamic, Dharmic and Humanist worldviews to understand people’s commitment in celebrations, including baptism, naming ceremonies, weddings and marriage. The second question to answer is ‘How can someone’s worldview be seen in the choices they make?’ which starts discussing how we understand worldviews and responding to the world around us. Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Islamic worldviews are observed and compared.

PSHE and RSE

PSHE this term teaches physical wellbeing and healthy lifestyles, which includes medicine, sleep and dental health. The second part of the term focusses on growing and changing, thinking about the changes from child to adult and their responsibilities. RSE this term teaches names and labelling of body parts.