Year 3 Summer Term

Urban Pioneers - Summer 1
(Local Area Study)
 Hop on the bus and take a trip downtown where the lights are bright, and every street has a story to tell. Explore with fresh eyes the art of the city, then capture a moment in time – perhaps a reflection on a building or a shadow passing by. Make a map of your home town and find out how things have changed. Has time changed town life for the better? How could you improve the urban environment? Maybe add more colour? More light? More things to do, or perhaps a plaza with a comfortable bench or two? Now light up the city with creations of your own – a statue, a light show, a monument or street art. The possibilities are endless. What will you choose? You’re an urban pioneer, so get ready to go. This half term, we’ll visit Birmingham City Centre to look at important buildings. We’ll photograph urban art including graffiti, murals and statues.

In reading and writing lessons, we will be exploring poetry again and giving the children the freedom to write their own poems. We will also be looking at the story “Two brothers and a Chocolate Factory” and looking at Cadbury World to see how this came about and why they were known to be such a great company to work for. 

Science lessons will involve us exploring light! 'Light,' as the title suggests, provides an all-around approach to discovering what light is and how it acts.  The unit takes children on a journey - from describing how light travels, to considering how light reflects off different surfaces and how shadows are formed.  Different sources of light are also explored, from the sun to torches.  Children get the opportunity to build their own torches and periscopes, as well as observe and measure the distance and angle that light travels. 

In topic lessons, we will explore the culture and environment of city life. Children will develop their knowledge of building design, urban art and photography, and learn how to improve urban environments. You’re an urban pioneer, so get ready to go. In art lessons, we will be looking at printing techniques. 

 Help your child prepare for their project

Take a trip to the city! Why not photograph interesting buildings and make a scrapbook? You could also research urban artists and add your favourite images to your scrapbook. Alternatively, you could visit a churchyard to go gargoyle spotting! Take photographs and try to recreate them at home using modelling materials.