Our enquiry

This term, our Year 3 learners will step into the world of Ancient Greece, uncovering the power and influence of this incredible civilisation. They will explore the strength of the Spartans, the lasting impact of Greek culture, and how their ideas about democracy, philosophy, and the arts continue to shape our world today. Alongside this, children will explore the forces around them—both in history and in their own lives—through Science and PSHE.

The Spartan Warriors: A Force to Be Reckoned With!

Who were the Spartans, and what made them so powerful? Children will dive into the world of these fierce warriors, learning about:
🏹 Spartan training and battle tactics
🏛️ The differences between life in Athens and Sparta
🗡️ What made Sparta one of the most feared forces in history

By comparing Spartan life to modern-day societies, children will explore how attitudes and beliefs have changed over time.

The Force of Ancient Greek Influence Today

How have the Ancient Greeks shaped the world we live in? Children will investigate how Greek ideas still influence:
📖 Education and philosophy
⚖️ Democracy and government
🎭 Theatre and the arts
🏟️ The Olympic Games

They will generate their own historical questions and use different sources to explore how Greek innovations continue to shape our everyday lives.

Conflict & Resolution: Being a Good Friend 

What can we learn from history about resolving conflict? Just as friction existed between Sparta and Athens, conflicts can arise in our own lives. Children will explore:
✔️ How conflicts happen in families and friendships
✔️ Ways to manage and resolve disagreements
✔️ The importance of being a good friend to avoid unnecessary conflict

Through drama and discussion, they will develop essential skills for positive communication and problem-solving.

🔬 The Science of Force: What Slows Us Down? 

Forces don’t just shape history—they shape the world around us! Children will learn:
🧲 How magnets create forces between objects
🛑 How friction works to slow things down
🏎️ How different surfaces affect movement

By making links between physical forces and historical forces (such as the power of armies, democracy, and ideas), children will gain a deeper understanding of both science and history.

Making a Difference: Leaving a Social Legacy

To make their own impact felt, just like the Greeks did, children will:
🏃 Run a collective ‘marathon’ to raise funds for a chosen charity.
🗳️ Use democracy in action by voting for which charity will receive the fundraising.

By linking their learning on democracy, force, and making a lasting impact, children will experience firsthand how their actions can help shape their community, just as the Ancient Greeks shaped the world!

English

A high-quality text drives each of our enquiries and the texts are used to give knowledge and purpose to the enquiry. High quality texts can only be accessed through knowledge of vocabulary in different tiers. Explicit teaching of new vocabulary and using the classroom environment to showcase key vocabulary helps us to infuse rich and sophisticated vocabulary from EYFS to Year 6. The texts are used as a stimulus for both English and cross curricular writing, ensuring high expectations of our children. Reading is interwoven into all aspects of the enquiry to encourage reading and language development and promote reading for pleasure.

Maths

In maths we follow the Power Maths programme to support children’s learning and to build a deep understanding of maths concepts. Power Maths is a curriculum mastery programme designed to spark curiosity and excitement and nurture confidence in maths. It is built around a child‑centred lesson design that models and embeds a growth mindset approach to maths.

This term we are covering the following:

• Multiplication and Division

  • Developing fluency with the 3, 4, and 8 times tables.
  • Multiplying 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers using formal written methods.
  • Dividing 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers, including division with remainders.
  • Solving word problems involving multiplication and division.
  • Understanding the relationship between multiplication, division, and scaling.

• Money

  • recognising coins and notes, and understanding their values.
  • Adding and subtracting amounts of money to give change using both £ and p.
  • Solving real-life problems involving money, including finding totals and calculating change.

• Statistics

  • Collecting, recording, and interpreting data using tables and bar charts.
  • Constructing and analyzing pictograms and bar charts to solve one-step and two-step problems.
  • Comparing data sets and making inferences based on information presented.

• Length and Perimeter

  • Measuring and comparing lengths in mm, cm, and m using rulers and other tools.
  • Solving problems involving the addition and subtraction of lengths.
  • Understanding the concept of perimeter and calculating the perimeter of simple 2D shapes.

• Fractions

  • recognising and showing equivalent fractions using diagrams and number lines.
  • Comparing and ordering fractions with the same denominator.
  • Adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator within one whole.
  • Solving problems involving fractions in real-life contexts, such as finding a fraction of a set of objects.

• Time

  • Telling the time to the nearest minute using both analogue and digital clocks.
  • Understanding and converting between units of time (e.g., minutes, hours, days, weeks).
  • Solving time problems involving finding durations and calculating start/end times.
  • Reading Roman numerals on clocks and understanding AM/PM notation.

• Problem Solving and Reasoning

  • Applying mathematical knowledge to solve problems in different contexts, including money, length, and time.
  • Developing reasoning skills by explaining problem-solving strategies and checking solutions.
  • Encouraging collaborative problem-solving and discussions to deepen understanding.