Year 3
Summer 2024
In our final term, we learnt about the formation of different rocks and investigated their properties. We studied how fossils are formed and explored different types of soils. After rocks we went on to study plants. We revisited our prior knowledge about plants from Year 1 and 2, and compared the effects of different factors on plant growth. We learnt about photosynthesis and explored the life cycle of a flowering plant.
Spring 2024
During the spring term we explored Animals, including humans. This included revisiting our prior knowledge from Year 2 about the 5 food groups which are essential for a balanced diet and investiagting the nutritional value of the foods we eat today.
We also learnt about the different types of skeletons within living creatures, including humans.
Autumn 2023
This term, we have learnt about Magnets, Forces and Light. First we compared how things move on different surfaces using toy cars, a ramp and various materials. We were able to measure the resistance and the effect of friction. We also observed how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some material but not others.
In the second half of the term we explored light. We realised that darkness is the absence of light and therefore we need light to see. We know that the sun can be dangerous and we need to protect our eyes. We also recognised that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is block by an opaque object.
Summer 2023
In the summer term, we explored plants. We identified and described the functions of different parts of flowering plants: roots, stem/trunk, leaves and flowers. They explored what plants need for life and growth (air, light, water, nutrients from soil, and room to grow) and how they vary from plant to plant. They learnt how to investigate the way in which water is transported within plants and finally they learnt how to explore the part that flowers play in the life cycle of flowering plants, including pollination, seed formation and seed dispersal.
We also used our 'Working Scientifically Skills' by making a cake. We explored fair testing by looking at different variables we could change and keep the same. We also used control testing.
Spring 2023
During the Spring term, Miss Sharman taught us about the different types of skeletons, and we compared human and animal skeletons. We also learnt why skeletons and muscles are so important in our everyday life.
We also explored different types of rocks and how they are formed. We investigated how fossils are created and we made some of our own dinosaur fossils using coffee salt dough! We examined soil from Mrs Crellin's garden and identified what type of soil it is!
Autumn 2022
This term, we have been investigating and exploring Forces and Magnets. We noticed that some forces need contact between two objects, but magnetic forces do not! We explored how some materials are attracted to magnets, and how some material repel. We also identified how magnets are used within everyday life and work.
We also enjoyed our STEM Day with Fran from C-STEM!
Summer 2022
In science, we explored rocks and plants. When we were exploring rocks we discovered how rocks are formed and the physical properties of different types of rocks. We researched how fossils are formed recognised that soils are made from rock and organic matter. We dug up some of the soil from around our school and idetified what type of soil it is.
While studying plants, we put an onion into water and watched how the roots grew over many weeks. We identified the important role roots play in plants, trees and flowers. We also explored the life cycle of a flowering plant and the importance of the flower - pollination, seed formation and seed dispersal.
Spring 2022
During the spring term, year 3 identified forces; investigated the effects of friction on different surfaces and explored different types of magnets and how they work.
Autumn 2021
Throughout the autumn term, year 3 have been exploring how living things obtain food and why they need the right types of nutrients. We also sorted and grouped different animal skeletons and how they compared. We identified the main functions of a skeleton and explored how the human skeleton supports movement. We also investigated the following scientific question, 'can people with longer femurs jump further?' We measured our femurs and then performed a standing long jump. We found out that people with the longest femur couldn't jump the furthest!
Summer 2021
During the summer term, we studied 'Light' and 'Plants'.
In the first part of the summer term, we recognised that we need light in order to see things, and that dark is the absence of light. We investigated which materials reflected light the most in order to design a new bag, and we were able to recognise how shadows are formed.
During the second part of the summer term, we began our topic on plants by going on a 'Flowering Plant Hunt'. We picked some of the wild flowering plants from around the school grounds, identified them using our iPads and then sketched them into our books. We labelled each part of the flowering plant and described it's specific role. We planted some beans to explore what plants need in order to grow well. We dissected some flowers, organised the different parts and explained their role in pollination and fertilisation.
Spring 2021
During the spring term we were in our second lockdown, most children were at home isolating but this didn't stop our science learning of forces and magnets! We were able to demonstrate push and pull forces using different objects at home. We were able to describe magnets having two poles and how they attract and repel particular materials, and we even created our own games which included designing a maze and using a magnet to move our character around the maze successfully.
Autumn 2020
During the Autumn term, year three identified that animals, including humans, need the right types and amounts of nutrition everyday. We drew and labelled our favourite plate of food and then changed some of the items to improve the nutritional value. We explored the different nutrients in food and recognised that animals cannot make their own food.
We also identified that humans, and some animals, have skeletons and muscles to help them move and provide protection and support. We created and labelled the human skeleton using different types of pasta!