Autumn Term: Global Warriors

During the Autumn Term, Year 3 will be developing a sense of global responsibility for the world around them. As a Global Warrior they will examine the concept of discovery through immersion in the animal and plant life of the world’s rainforests.

Through exploration, the children will discover the locations of rainforests worldwide, the importance of rainforest growth on the rest of the world and understand the cultures and traditions associated with these magnificent places. They will also explore the concept of responsibility when considering how rainforests are being threatened by a variety of human activities.

As part of Science and Geography, the children will learn about the physical and human aspects of this environment and create their own investigations of the conditions for the plant-life cycle. The rainforest theme will extend through all aspects of the curriculum including a samba workshop as part of music and within Art the children will be exploring a range of styles, creating logos from recycled materials and tribal artwork using bright and colourful patterns.

The Global Warriors will also investigate Fairtrade, in particular the journey of chocolate. They will then apply this understanding in Design and Technology to create their own Fairtrade snacks to serve at our café Learning Event.

Topic Glossary

• Biodiversity: the wide variety of living things on earth
• Botanist: a person that studies plants
• Camouflage: the way something changes to blend into its surroundings
• Canopy: the very tallest layer of a forest
• Carbon dioxide: a gas that is released when animals breathe and when things are burned by fire
• Climate: the weather that is usually found in a particular area
• Cloud forest: a forest that gets water from mist instead of rain
• Colony: groups of animals that live and work closely together
• Crown: the top of a tree
• Deforestation: the removal of many trees over large areas
• Drip tips: pointed leaves shaped to make water run off them
• Emergent layer: trees that grow taller than the others around them
• Equatorial: the area near the middle of the earth
• Evergreen: a plant that has leaves all year
• Extinction: an animal or plant that no longer lives or grows
• Habitat: the place where a plant or animal makes its home
• Hibernate: sleeping for a very long period
• Humid: when the air contains a high level of water
• Indigenous: a living plant or animal that occurs naturally in an area
• Liana: long stemmed, woody vines that sometimes look like ropes
• Monsoon: a seasonal wind that changes direction with the seasons
• Temperate: a climate where it is neither extremely hot or cold
• Tropical: the area around the equator where it is warm all year
• Understorey: Rainforest vegetation below the canopy and above the ground
• Vegetation: the plant life growing in a given area

Resources

Spring Term: The Stone Age

Travel back to prehistoric Britain and learn about what life was like as a Stone Age child.

Topic Glossary

• Neolithic Man: a man who lived during the Neolithic time, betweeen 10,000 and 2000 years ago.
• Neolithic Woman: a woman who lived during the Neolithic time, betweeen 10,000 and 2000 years ago.
• Mammoth: a large animal, similar to an Elephant and now extinct, covered in fur and having long tusks and a trunk.
• Fur Pelt: the fur and skin of an animal after it has been removed
• Jewellery: decorative items worn by a man or a woman
• Tools: items that help make tasks easier
• Skara Brae: a large neolithic settlement in Scotland
• Weapons: an object that can be used to attack or injure an animal or person
• Spears: a weapon used for stabbing
• Throwing Stones: a weapong used for hitting a distant target
• Hand Axe: a tool with a sharp edge for working with materials like wood
• Borer: a tool with a pointed end for working with soft materials like earth and clay
• Antler: the horns from an animal, used for decoration
• Hammerstone: a blunt stone used for hammering another object
• Cave Paintings: decorations painted on wall with coloured powders

Resources

Spring Term: The Romans

Explore Roman times and culture and examine the impact the Romans had on Britain.

Topic Glossary

• Colosseum: a Roman amphitheatre built in the centre of Rome
• Amphitheatre: an open air venue used for entertainment
• Aqueduct: a bridge to convey water over an obstacle
• Bath House: a place for people to wash and bathe
• Mosaic: a piece of art made from many small, coloured pieces
• Temple: a grand and ornate building dedicated to a deity
• Villa: a country house build for wealthy Romans
• Soldier: a member of the roman Army
• Centurion: a Roman Soldier in charge of many other Soldiers
• Shield: a piece of equipment used by a Soldier to protect them from an attacker
• Chariot: a type of cart, pulled by horses
• Standard: a flag or banner containing and image that represents a group of Soldiers
• Toga: a piece of cloth often worn by people in Roman times
• Boudica: queen of a tribe who challenged the Romans
• Gladiator: a swordsman who entertained audiences, often in amphitheatres
• Emperor: the ruler of the Roman empire
• Roman Numerals: a way of writing numbers, devised by the Romans

Resources