What Will Your Child Learn in Year 3 Science?

In Year 3 Science, your child will continue to expand their scientific knowledge and skills. They will explore a variety of engaging topics, including plants, animals (including humans), rocks, light, and forces and magnets. Additionally, they will learn to conduct simple experiments, record observations, and analyse results.

Key Topics in Year 3 Science

Your child will cover a range of topics in Year 3 Science, including:

Plants:

• Statutory Requirements: Identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering plants (roots, stem/trunk, leaves, and flowers). Explore the requirements for plant growth (air, light, water, nutrients, and room to grow), and how these vary between plants. Investigate how water is transported within plants and the role of flowers in the life cycle of flowering plants, including pollination, seed formation, and seed dispersal.
• Notes and Guidance: Pupils should be introduced to the relationship between structure and function. They should explore the roles of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. At this stage, they can be introduced to the concept that plants make their own food without needing to understand the process fully. Activities might include comparing the effects of different factors on plant growth, observing plant life cycles, and discovering how water travels through plants.

Animals, Including Humans:

• Statutory Requirements: Identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amounts of nutrition from their food. Recognise that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection, and movement.
• Notes and Guidance: Pupils should learn about the importance of nutrition and the main body parts associated with the skeleton and muscles. Activities might include grouping animals based on their skeletons, comparing their movements, contrasting diets of different animals, and researching food groups to design healthy meals.

Rocks:

• Statutory Requirements: Compare and group different kinds of rocks based on appearance and physical properties. Describe how fossils are formed when living things are trapped within rock. Recognise that soils are made from rocks and organic matter.
• Notes and Guidance: Pupils might observe various rocks, classify them using a hand lens or microscope, and explore the formation of fossils. They can investigate different soils and how they form, and examine the effects of rubbing rocks together or placing them in water.

Light:

• Statutory Requirements: Recognise that light is needed to see things and that darkness is the absence of light. Notice that light is reflected from surfaces and that sunlight can be dangerous. Understand how shadows are formed and find patterns in shadow sizes.
• Notes and Guidance: Pupils should explore the reflection of light using mirrors, understand the importance of protecting their eyes, and measure and observe shadows. Activities might include mirror games and experiments with light sources to understand shadow changes.

Forces and Magnets:

• Statutory Requirements: Understand different types of forces such as gravity, friction, and magnetism, and how they affect the movement of objects. Explore the properties of magnets and how they attract and repel objects.
• Notes and Guidance: Pupils should investigate the effects of forces in various scenarios and explore how magnets work. Activities might include experimenting with different forces and using magnets to move objects and understand their properties.

How Can I Help My Child at Home?

Supporting your child's science learning at home can be both fun and educational. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Encourage Curiosity: Prompt your child to ask questions about the world around them. Help them find answers through experiments, reading books, and watching documentaries.
• Explore the Natural World: Take your child on nature walks, visit parks and gardens, and explore museums and science centres together.
• Do Science Experiments Together: Conduct simple science experiments at home to help your child learn about scientific concepts in a fun and engaging way.
• Talk About Science: Discuss the science topics they are learning at school and how they relate to everyday life. This helps them make connections between their lessons and the real world.

By following these tips, you can help your child develop a strong foundation in science and a lifelong love of learning.

Additionally, encourage your child to be curious and explore different ways of investigating the world around them. Provide opportunities for them to conduct their own experiments and discuss their findings with you. This not only reinforces their learning but also builds their confidence in scientific exploration.

By nurturing your child's love for science, you are setting them up for success in school and in life. Science is a crucial skill that is used in many fields, from healthcare and engineering to environmental conservation and technology.