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 times tables tests and mental maths practice. 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:

Mass and Capacity: Using scales to measure mass in grams and kilograms; measuring capacity and volume in litres and millilitres; comparing mass and volume; adding and subtracting mass and volume.

Fractions: Adding and subtracting fractions; finding fractions of amounts.

Money: Converting pounds and pence; adding and subtracting money; finding change.

Time: Roman numerals to 12; telling time to the nearest minute on digital and analogue clocks; using am and pm; calculating durations; solving problems with time.

Shape: Turns and angles; right angles; comparing angles; measuring and drawing shapes accurately; horizontal, vertical, parallel and perpendicular lines; recognising, describing, drawing and making 2D and 3D shapes.

Statistics: interpreting and drawing pictograms; interpreting and drawing bar charts; collecting and representing data; two-way tables.

This term Prep 3 will be learning about Rocks and Fossils. This will include gaining an understanding of the three types of naturally occurring rocks: Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic, explore how rocks change over time due to weather erosion, and how fossils are formed.

Once we have completed our work on 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 local 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 we will be learning about the Incas and Aztec Civilizations. They will learn who they were and where and when they lived. They will use maps and atlases to locate where they existed. In addition to this they will learn about the religious beliefs and rituals of the ancient people and find out more about some of the many gods they worshipped.

This term, we will focus on expanding our vocabulary around food, including fruits and vegetables, as well as learning the names of body parts in French. We will also explore Paris and some of its most famous landmarks. Throughout the term, we will continue to build our confidence in speaking and understanding French, with regular opportunities for role-play and simple conversations. Our learning will be supported by the Skoldo scheme, and we will enjoy new songs to help us remember key vocabulary and phrases.

For part of this year, we will be discovering more about the early Christian church after the arrival of the Holy Spirit.  We look at how our lives can be changed and how we can speak to God through prayer.  We shall spend the last four weeks looking at God’s commandments from the Old Testament.

Prep 3 will begin the summer term in art by finishing their Mayan masks which are really taking shape and looking very exciting! We will then be focusing on the art of Wassily Kandinsky; looking at how his synaesthesia condition inspired his abstract work, and we will also be investigating his bold, colourful landscape paintings. We will explore a range of painting techniques and will develop these skills into some vibrant and imaginative artwork. Our aim is to create some abstract clay relief pieces full of shapes, texture and colour!

This term Prep 3 and 4 will be 4 learning about music from around the world, in particular the music of Africa and India. They will develop an understanding of how rhythmic patterns are used to create pieces of music and use body percussion to create their own compositions.

This term we will continue to build on children’s practical and creative abilities through a range of new, engaging hands-on projects. They will deepen their understanding of the design process by researching, planning, making, and evaluating their own ideas. Children will continue to develop key skills such as accurate measuring, cutting, joining, and refining their designs. They will build confidence in using tools and materials safely and effectively.

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.

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

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’.