This Term
Below you will find information about what the classes in Year 3 and 4 are learning about this term. You might also like to view our Homework page for ways that you can support learning at home.
Autumn 2025
English
This half term Year 3/4 will begin the term with a story-based unit. The children will be looking at a story in an imaginary world called The Hidden Kingdom of Coral deep. The children will focus on developing their vocabulary when writing descriptions with expanded noun phrases and perfecting their punctuation skills. The next unit will be a non-fiction text in which the children will produce an information text including headings, subheadings and pictures with captions. The children will use the original text about Whale Sharks to support their understanding of the structure using paragraphs. We will then return to a story-based unit focussing on a dilemma. The children will learn the story of The King of the Fishes. The children will spend time making changes to the story and creating their own plot, using a similar structure to the original text. Our final English unit will be a poetry unit using the poem 10 Things Found in a Wizards Pocket. The children will use their learning of expanded noun phrases to create their own poem about what could be found in Santa’s pocket.
Maths
In Maths for the Autumn term, the children will begin by focussing on number and place value. They will count forwards in different intervals and recognise the place value of each digit in a number. The next unit is Addition and Subtraction. Children in Year 3 will focus on adding and subtracting number mentally and be introduced to the formal written methods. Year 4 will be using the formal written methods with 4-digit numbers. The children will also complete units focussing on multiplication and division, fractions, measures including money and time, geometry which involves shape, position and direction and data. The data unit specifically looks at interpreting and presenting data in pictograms and tables for Year 3 with the progressions to solving comparison, sum and difference problems for Year 4.
Science
The first Science unit of the term is Forces and space: Forces and magnets. The children will learn different examples of pushes, pulls and twists and well as being able to define a force by describing, naming and classifying. The children will also use magnets and learn about magnetic and non-magnetic materials. We will then move on to Materials: States of Matter. The children will identify solids, liquids and gases using their properties and be able to describe the different stages of the water cycle. The children will also be able to use thermometers and describe how temperature affects the rate of evaporation.
History
Unit Question: Who were the Romans?
In this unit, the children will learn about the Roman empire and the invasion of Britain in 43AD. They will learn about the impact the Romans had on Britain and how they changed the way of life. The children will learn about Boudicca and her rebellion against the Romans and the significance of Hadrian’s wall for the Roman soldiers.
Geography
Unit Question: Is Yorkshire and Tromso the same?
In Geography, the children will be learning the name of different cities, counties and geographical regions which they will need to remember. We will be looking at the two places and comparing the different physical and human features. The children will be conducting questionnaires for fieldwork and considering why people choose to live in different localities.
Computing
The first unit the children will complete is Networks and the Internet. They will learn how to recognise that a network is two or more devices connected and its purpose. The children will be able to identify key components that make up the school’s network and understand that files are saved on a server. They will also recognise that routers connect and send information and understand that data is broken into packets. The children will then move on to their next unit, Data handling: Comparison cards databases. The children will understand the terminology around databases, compare paper and computerised databases and sort, filter and interpret data. They will also represent data in different ways and sort data for a purpose.
P.E.
Our first Real PE unit for the term will focus on dynamic balance. The children will work on moving from a dynamic balance to agility using jumping and landing. This will include children jumping and turning 180 degrees using their arms to help gain momentum, height and balance. They will also be working on keeping their core muscles tight and using their arms to maintain balance when developing their static balance in a seated position. The children will then move on to agility and static balance in ball chasing and stance. The children will to develop their acceleration and drive their arms in order to meet the ball at the end of the line. They will then move on to working on trying to stay balanced while receiving force, keeping their feet shoulder width apart and knees bent.
Art
The children will be completing a unit focussing on Painting. They will be learning about the works of Henri Rousseau focussing on exploring ‘The Surprise’. The children will use their knowledge of colour mixing to make shades and tints of green as well as make observational drawings of leafy plants with a focus on line and shape. They will be able to work together to create a collage based on ‘The Surprise’ and will spend time reflecting on their own work and the work of others.
DT
The children will be completing a unit of work learning about mechanisms which will relate to our History unit about the Romans. The key question for the unit is How can we design and build a Roman catapult that creates a powerful launch? The children will learn the purpose of a catapult, know that a lever makes it easier to lift heavy things and that a catapult is balanced on a pivot. They will work together to produce their own catapult ready for the Roman army!
Life Curriculum
Unit question: What strengths, skills and interests do we have?
The children will learn how to recognise personal qualities and individuality and develop self-worth by identifying positive things about themselves and their achievements. They will learn how to set goals for themselves but also how to manage setbacks, learn from their mistakes and reframe unhelpful thinking.
Unit question: How do we treat each other with respect?
The children will learn about how people’s behaviour affects themselves and others including online and how to model being polite and courteous in different situations. They will learn about the relationship between rights and responsibilities, as well as the rights that children have and why it is important to protect these.
Music
For the first unit of the term, we will be using the music program charanga to learn about musical structures which includes the social question ‘How does music bring us together?’. The children will understand music including the tempo, time signatures and simple rhythmic patterns using minims, crotchets, quavers and their rests. We will then move on to learning songs for our Christmas performance. The children will sing from memory with accurate pitch, sing in tune and pronounce words within a song clearly.
French
Portraits – describing in French is the first unit the children will study. Children will learn how to ask and answer questions about their name, age, and where they live, developing foundational conversational skills. They will also be introduced to adjectives used to describe people's physical appearance. Pupils will be challenged to construct simple sentences, paying attention to correct adjective-noun agreement in gender and number, encouraging grammatical accuracy and confidence in sentence formation.
The children will then move on to the unit getting dressed – ‘S’habiller’. Children will learn vocabulary related to items of clothing, along with the different forms of the indefinite article (‘un, une, des’). They will practice combining this vocabulary with colours to describe clothing, reinforcing their understanding of adjectival agreement for gender and number. Pupils will be introduced to the verb ‘porter’ (to wear) and challenged to use correct articles and gender agreements when talking about clothes. Additionally, they will explore seasonal clothing choices by deciding which outfits are appropriate for different weather conditions and explaining these conditions in French.
R.E.
Our first key question for RE this term is ‘What faiths and beliefs can be found in our country and community?’ This unit is based on Pathway 1 – The Nature of Religion and Belief. It focusses on different places of worship on the local and wider community and their significance to believers. The next unit of the term is ‘How do the five pillars help Muslims to live a good life?’ This unit is based on Pathway 3 – A good life. The children will learn about Muslim beliefs and practices including the belief in Allah and the importance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as a role model and inspiration for Muslims.