Prep 3 Curriculum Brief

Handwriting – This term we will continue to practise using cursive script and try to maintain a consistent script.

Spellings – Improve our spellings to spell further homophones and spell words that are tricky to spell. Learn to add suffixes and prefixes to words to develop a broader vocabulary.

Grammar – Use of apostrophes; use of expanded noun phrases to add detail; use of varied conjunctions to link clauses; write single and multi-clause sentences, use adverbs and prepositions to express time, place and cause; continue to use and punctuate direct speech and continue to use paragraphs as a way to group related material.

Comprehension – We will continue to practise answering questions in full sentences and ordering given sentences from a text. We will also continue to develop an interest in reading, asking questions based on our reading to improve our understanding. We will practise to summarise our understanding of what we have read in a paragraph.

Creative Writing – In our creative writing this term we will write our own myth and legend based on Beowulf (Monster Slayer by Brian Patten). We will also write our own persuasive letter about an issue of importance. We will finish the term by writing our own non-fiction text about a chosen natural environment using ‘Rainforest Rough Guide’ by Paul Mason as our text model.

During the summer term, Prep 3 will have weekly times tables tests and a mental maths

session. They shall be challenged to be problem solvers throughout the topics as we

consolidate skills and introduce new methods of calculation. The main areas of topic work

will include the following:

Place Value: Place value in 4-digit numbers to up to 10,000; ordering 4-digit numbers.

Addition and subtraction: mental addition and subtraction using different strategies; 3-digit expanded and compact addition; adding and subtracting multiples of 10 and near multiples; subtracting large numbers using counting up.

Multiplication and division: Counting in equal steps and sequences; revising multiplication and division facts; partitioning to double, halve and multiply; solving scaling problems; dividing numbers beyond times tables.

Shape: Lines of  symmetry; naming and sorting 2D shapes; identifying, describing and sorting 3-D shapes; right angles as turns and angles in 2D shapes.

Fractions: Fractions of amounts; fractions as operators and as numbers; adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator.

This term Prep 3 will be continuing their learning about rocks and fossils. In this unit, children will discover the different types of rocks and how they are formed. Children will compare and group rocks based on appearance and simple properties. They will learn how fossils are formed and learn about the contribution of Mary Anning to the field of palaeontology. Children will understand how soil is formed and then investigate the permeability of different types of soil.

They will then be learning about plants. They will learn the names of different parts of plants, and the jobs they do. The children will work scientifically and collaboratively to investigate what plants need to grow well, and will present their findings to their classmates. Furthermore, they will have the chance to predict what will happen in an exciting investigation into the transportation of water within plants. They will work in a hands-on way to identify the parts of a flower, and will explore the different stages of the life cycle of a flowering plant.

Having looked in detail at volcanoes, we will move to earthquakes, tsunamis and tornadoes! Again, we will learn how and why these natural phenomena occur and the ways in which they affect people and the environment. We will look at how to keep safe, how their strength is measured and look at where in the world they occur.

This term Prep 3 will be learning about the Vikings in Anglo-Saxon Britain. The children will learn who the Vikings were as well as when and where they raided and settled. They will learn about significant events from the period and order these chronologically on a timeline. The children will find out about the Anglo-Saxon kings who ruled during the ‘Viking Age’ and examine their influence and significance in British history. In addition to this, they will learn about the Anglo-Saxon justice system and compare and contrast crimes, punishments and laws with their modern day equivalents. The children will also have the opportunity to learn about different aspects of everyday Viking life. They will explore the types of houses that the Vikings lived in, what clothes they wore and even what types of food they ate.

This term we will be expanding our vocabulary to include parts of the body, activities we like doing in our spare time, animals and transport. We will start the term by doing a mini-project on visiting Paris and learning more about it’s history and monuments.

We will begin the term considering what is prayer? Do we pray to ask for things? We will study and discuss the story of the Prodigal Son and also look at what it means to be a shepherd today and in biblical times. Later in the term we will look at the 10 Commandments and how Jesus sent us messages. Furthermore, how can we pass on these messages to others today?

This term the class will be working around the theme of containers, looking at containers from different times and cultures. They will be working both two and three dimensionally, working from observation and imagination.

Prep 3 will be exploring world music this term and will particularly focus on music from India. They will listen to a range of music from different traditions and cultures and form an understanding of how this has influenced Western music. We will look in detail at the life and work of Ravi Shankar.
We will also continue working on developing good, usable knowledge of music theory.

Due to the exploratory and ‘spontaneous’ approach in this subject, we will often go off in different directions depending on the ideas and interest of the children. And so the formal lesson plans are often deviated from to preserve a flexibility and originality of approach.  New projects often ‘evolve’ from the children’s ideas in the sessions and it is an important part of the approach and style in this subject  to maintain this flexibility and spontaneity.  This generates a feeling with the children that they are going on a ‘journey’ in this subject each term. The formal lesson plans are only intended to be used as a basis and guide to the type of work and projects that are covered and are not intended to be rigidly adhered to.

Weeks 1 –  Moving creature designs using blockwood, hooks and wire to create movement.

Weeks 2 and 3 – 3 ball puzzle designs using laser plywood, blockwood and clear acrylic.

Weeks 4, 5 and 6 – Musical instrument designs.  Design and construction of instruments that can either be plucked, blown or hit. Investigation and experimentation with pitch, tone and sound resonance. Decoration and finishing of designs.

Weeks 7, 8 and 9 – Carrier bag designs incorporating logos.

This term pupils will learn how to design posters, paying particular attention to layout and impact.  They will also use programs from various internet websites. They will be able to create a subject project using scratch as the medium. They will be producing a project on the Anglo-Saxons in conjunction with their History lessons.

The children will build on their work with creative expression by now taking on a variety of roles, responding and relating to a number of situations. The children shall interact within role play and develop their improvisation and performance skills using a variety of themes, such as ‘The Gruffalo,’ ‘Matilda’ and ‘The Evacuees’. The children shall also prepare for and perform in our poetry assembly.

This term we will begin by looking at money and work by examining different jobs and skills; job stereotypes; as well as setting personal goals.  Moving onto ‘Physical health and Mental wellbeing’ we will examine healthy choices and habits; what affects feelings; and expressing feelings. In our ‘Growing and changing’ topic we will discuss our personal strengths and achievements; and managing and reframing setbacks. Our final topic is ‘Keeping safe’, where we will look at risks and hazards; safety in the local environment and unfamiliar places.

Games: Developing athletic skills through a collection of track events – which will include sprints, hurdles and relays. Simple cricket/rounders activities, including limited game situations. Catching, throwing, bowling and hitting.

P.E: Cricket skills and  Racket skills linked to tennis and table tennis.

Swimming: Water time will be spent on the development of correct technique and other related activities. All work based on the ASA ‘National Plan for Teaching Swimming’.