Spring 1:

In D&T this half term , Year 3 have been getting to grips with toys using CAMs systems (hand-powered mechanisms) to create cyclical motions that animate a scene. Children have spent time designing and create their own cam toy with moving objects/characters around a theme. They worked well in groups and have developed their skills in measuring their dowel sticks , cutting it using a hacksaw and bench hook and the most challenging parts of the design was tightening the cams and washers !

It was just wonderful to see their designs come to life and the beautiful creations going home to be enjoyed and admired, by everyone in their family.

Autumn 2: 

Year 3 pupils looked absolutely amazing when they travelled back in time to the Stone Age and enjoyed a variety of experiences as Palaeolithic crafters and Neolithic hunters. We met Ugg, our Stone Age guide for the day, and examined Stone Age artefacts with our visitor. It was wonderful to see the children exploring the items and wondering what they could have been used for. We had so many great questions for Ugg, and we learnt so much from our investigations.

The children also enjoyed inspecting the real animal bones to identify the animal they were from and drawing their favourite bones. We talked about the animals that we might have hunted during the Stone Age and how the bones may have been used for tools. We even used flint, twine and sticks to create our own spears and arrows. This proved to more challenging and took longer than they expected, which created a greater respect for cave people who had to craft their own weapons.

The highlight of the day was archery! The children were amazing at locating their target, and we had several who managed a perfect shot. Ugg was super impressed with our efforts, and he said we could all be Stone Age hunters again. Well done to all of Year 3 for a great Stone Age this half term!

Autumn 1

This half term, Year 3 have been taking in part in Design and Technology. Our topic was ‘Seasonal Food’ and we were inspired to create a sandwich using seasonal products. The children loved designing their sandwich and thinking about the combinations of ingredients. They were also able to practice the skills of slicing, grating, and chopping as they made their creations. It was wonderful to see the children working so independently to create their designs and share their successes. We hope they will now feel more confident making their own sandwiches in the future and sharing the skills they had practiced – but possibly tuna and strawberry sandwiches will not be in your future!

It was also wonderful to see the children evaluating their creations critically and considering how to improve their first designs. We also supported them to evaluate the sandwiches of their peers, so they help each other to reflect on their creations and practice giving constructive feedback.

Well done Year 3! You should be so proud of your yummy creations!