Year 3 Topic 6
In their history lessons, throughout year 3, the children have previously looked at how Ancient Civilisations, such as Ancient Egypt, Sumer, China and Indus civilisations began close to rivers and the impact of rivers on human and natural geography. They have a good knowledge of how rivers impact farming, food sources and travel/trade. In their previous topic, the children looked specifically at the River Nile and how it helped shape civilisation in the region. In previous geography topics, the children have focused on the UK, and the physical features in each country in the UK.
In this topic, the children will be learning about rivers and how they shape the environment and communities. They will learn the key features of rivers, river processes and landforms, and how rivers change from source to mouth. They will also study flooding, including its causes and the impact it has. Children will explore rivers in the UK, focusing on the River Severn, as well as some of the world’s largest rivers, the River Nile, in Egypt. By the end of the topic, pupils will be able to explain what rivers are and what is special about them.
In science, the children will learn that forces, such as friction, affect how objects move. They will look at different surfaces and compare how objects travel across them, noticing that some surfaces slow objects down more than others. Through planning and carrying out an investigation, they will observe, answer questions, and use their findings to make simple scientific conclusions. The children will have the chance to revisit learning from the workshop they had during their Thinktank visit in Spring 2, where they looked at different types of forces, specifically friction, and investigated magnetic metals.
In Design and Technology lessons, the children will be looking at healthy and varied diets, and will have the opportunity to design, make and evaluate a healthy sandwich for themselves.