Topic Summary
What makes the Stone Age so unique?
In this topic the children travel back in time to the Stone Age period. The children develop an understanding of the past and the changes that have taken place through story of the ‘Stone Age Boy’. This book takes the children on a historical journey where the people were innovative in order to survive. The children gain an understanding of what Britain was like and the types of skills that were needed. They will have a firsthand experience of building a campfire which promotes lots of discussions and opportunities for writing. Throughout this topic the children work scientifically to find out about ‘fossils’ and develop their understanding of different kinds of rocks.
In the topic we will be teaching the children the following key concepts:
- Change - How has life in Britain changed since The Stone Age?
- Reliability - How can we trust the sources that we find?
- Survival - What skills were needed for survival in the past?
- Innovation - How did people living in The Stone Age era innovate?
Trips/Experiences
- Rising Sun Country Park - Stone Age Experience
Subject Information
English
Our core text will be Stone Age Boy by Satoshi Kitamura.
We will write instructions to make a fire. Then, cook a meal on the fire. In non-narrative material, (instructions) we will use simple organisational devices. We will write character descriptions using noun phrases. Children will also write a diary entry in the past tense.
They will compose and rehearse sentences orally, building a rich vocabulary and helping to improve the content of their writing. Children will be encouraged to extend their range of sentences using a wider range of conjunctions.
They will complete the half term focusing on persuasive adverts to sell their own Stone Age house!
Key Texts
- Stone Age Boy - Satoshi Kitamura
- Stone Age - Find Out!
Maths
This half term we will be focusing on our multiplication and division skills by: recalling and using multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables.
We will be writing and calculating mathematical statements for multiplication and division using the multiplication tables that we know, including for two-digit numbers times one-digit numbers, using mental and progressing to formal written methods.
Finally, we will be using our skills to solve problems, including missing number problem and involving multiplication and division.
Science
In Science we will be focusing on rocks and fossils. We will compare and group together different kinds of rocks on the basis of their appearance and simple physical properties. We will then describe, in simple terms, how fossils are formed when things that have lived are trapped within rock.
History
In history, we will be learning about changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. We will focus on the following key areas:
- How Stone Age people hunted for their food and what they ate.
- What people learnt from Stone Aged paintings.
- What a typical day would have been like for a Stone Age man, woman or child.
We will devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance. The children will also understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.
They will complete this topic by beginning to touch on the key differences between the Stone Age and Iron Ages.
PSHE and MUSIC
In PSHE this half term we will be discussing some core British Values: the value of rules and laws; rights, freedoms and responsibilities. We will be recognising there are human rights, that are there to protect everyone.
In Music, the children will develop their knowledge of pitch, rhythm, tempo and beat. They will explore composition and improvisation on the drums using Stone Age cave paintings as a stimulus.
Design Technology
The children will focus on their structure skills to design, make and evaluate a Neolithic house. They will identify suitable materials to select and used for a house, considering weight, compression and tension. We will then use a wide range of tools and equipment to perform tasks such as cutting, shaping, joining and finishing.
Computing
In computing we will use code.org to write algorithms. We will test our codes and debug any errors we find. We will learn to use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs.
PE
The children will have PE lessons on a Tuesday and Friday. On Tuesday they will have football lessons and will focus on the following core skills:
- Dribble a ball with feet with success in game situations.
- Kick a ball towards a partner with success in game situations and use and move into space as a tactic during game situations.
On a Friday we will be learning some perfomance dance skills such as:
- Demonstrate balance throughout a performance.
- Use dynamic and expressive body movement to match an idea.
- Use canon, unison and formation to represent an idea.
- Use counts to keep in time with a partner or a group.
If you would like any further details about this half term's curriculum in Year 3, please speak to your child's teacher.