St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School
We act with love, build our faith and grow as people
Year 3
Recommended Reading List for Year 3: 
Recommended Reads
Lit in Colour
Recommended book list of books by authors of colour
Penguin Books and Lit in Colour state that:
Books create belonging. They help us see each other and understand one another. They shine a light on the world.
It’s vital that the books we read in our formative years reflect the rich diversity of the society we live in.
Here at St. Margaret Clitherow, we have a diverse school community - 55.7% of our school children are from a minority ethnic background. We therefore think it is important that children have access to books that reflect who they are. Attached is a list of recommended reads put together by Penguin Books. You can read the research behind the inclusion of books by authors of colour here:https:// https://www.penguin.co.uk/lit-in-colour/parents-and-supporters
2023 KS2 Lit in Colour Book List
2022 KS2 Lit in Colour book list
2021 KS2 Lit in Colour book list
20.3.26 update
Year 3 have had an exciting and very busy few weeks, filled with memorable experiences including World Book Day, British Science Week, and our fantastic school trip. The children have shown wonderful enthusiasm and energy throughout all of these special events.
We had an absolutely fantastic time on our recent trip to Ufton Court, where the children were able to experience Ancient Egypt in a fun and memorable way. It was a wonderful day filled with learning, drama, and exciting hands-on activities.
One of the first highlights was the Embalming and Mummification workshop. The children learned how Egyptian beliefs influenced everyday life and why preserving the body was so important. They explored the different stages of the mummification process and took part in a dramatic procession, helping to bring the ceremony to life. The class also learned about canopic jars and why they were used, as well as the important role of the High Priestess during the ceremony. It was a fascinating and memorable experience that really helped the children understand Ancient Egyptian beliefs.
Another activity was the Crime and Punishment session, where the children explored the key question: What happens to law breakers in Ancient Egypt? Through a lively drama workshop, the class acted out how the Egyptians dispensed justice and learned about the consequences people faced if they broke the law. The children were fully engaged and really enjoyed taking part in the role-play activities.
We also took part in the Book of the Dead workshop, where the children discovered how Ancient Egyptians believed they reached the afterlife. Through a fun and interactive game, they learned about the challenges Egyptians thought people faced on their journey and why the Book of the Dead was so important.
It was a brilliant day full of excitement, curiosity, and memorable experiences. The children showed fantastic behaviour, enthusiasm, and teamwork throughout the visit, and we were incredibly proud of them. What a wonderful way to bring our Ancient Egypt topic to life!
27.2.26 Update
Year 3 have continued to immerse themselves in our exciting Ancient Egypt theme, showing fantastic enthusiasm and curiosity in their learning.
In English, we have been reading and comparing an Egyptian version of the traditional Cinderella story. The children have enjoyed exploring how stories can change across different cultures and time periods. They are now writing their own narratives, focusing carefully on using speech and dialogue to bring characters to life, ensuring punctuation is accurate and conversations feel realistic and engaging.
In Maths, we have been developing our understanding of fractions, learning how to recognise, find, and compare fractions using diagrams and practical resources to support our reasoning.
In History, we have continued exploring Ancient Egypt, creating timelines to place this civilisation in context and learning about what daily life was like. The children have been particularly interested in the different jobs people had—such as scribes, farmers, craftsmen, and pharaohs—and how society was structured.
We also braved the rain for an exciting Geography field trip around our local area! The children explored local facilities, including the park, shops, schools, and transport links. Despite the wet weather, they showed great resilience and observation skills, thinking carefully about how our local area is organised and why these facilities are important to the community.
In Art, we have been exploring colour and painting techniques, experimenting with mixing shades and tones to enhance our creative work. In DT, the children have thoroughly enjoyed making magnetic models, applying their Science knowledge of magnets to design and build imaginative creations as part of our Magnetic Mysteries project.
In ICT, we have been learning about databases, understanding how information can be organised, searched, and interpreted effectively.
It has been a wonderfully busy and productive few weeks, and we are incredibly proud of Year 3’s resilience, creativity, and enthusiasm in all that they do!
21.11.25 Class update
Year 3 Class Update
Year 3 have had an incredibly busy and exciting few weeks, diving deeper into our topics with lots of enthusiasm and creativity. In History, we have continued exploring the Stone Age, learning more about how people lived, travelled, and survived during this fascinating period. This has linked beautifully to our English work, where the children have been writing detailed recounts inspired by Stone Age Boy. They are now beginning to plan their own Stone Age–themed stories, using rich vocabulary and imaginative settings to bring the past to life.
In Maths, we have been strengthening our addition and subtraction skills and are now beginning to move on to multiplication, exploring patterns, arrays, and early times-table knowledge. The children are becoming increasingly confident in applying their strategies and explaining their thinking.
In RE, our focus has been on Catholic Social Teaching, thinking carefully about how we can look after God’s creation. The children have shared thoughtful ideas about caring for the environment and considering how small actions can make a big difference.
We also enjoyed a fantastic street dance workshop, where Year 3 showed great energy, rhythm, and teamwork. It was wonderful to see everyone giving the routines their all!
In Art, we have been developing our sculpture skills, creating 3D clay artwork inspired by Mexico. The children have loved exploring patterns, shapes, and cultural designs, resulting in some vibrant and expressive pieces.
It has been a dynamic and creative few weeks, and Year 3 continue to impress with their hard work, imagination, and enthusiasm for learning!
Update 17.10.25
Year 3 have had another busy and exciting few weeks, showing great curiosity and enthusiasm across all areas of their learning.
In Maths, we have been focusing on addition and subtraction, developing different strategies to solve problems and improving our mental maths skills. The children have been working hard to explain their reasoning and show their understanding in different ways.
In History, we have travelled back in time to the Stone Age, exploring what life was like during the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods. The children have been fascinated to learn about how people’s lives changed over time, moving from hunting and gathering to farming and settling in communities. We also began looking at the Bronze Age and the Beaker people, creating our own tiny clay pots inspired by their designs — a wonderful hands-on way to bring history to life!
In English, we have been linking our writing to our Science topic by producing non-chronological reports, using our growing knowledge of the human body to organise information and write clearly and confidently.
In RE, we have been learning about Creation and Baptism, reflecting on the beauty of the world around us and understanding the importance of belonging to God’s family. The children have shared thoughtful ideas and shown a lovely sense of wonder and respect which they brought to out celebration of the word this week.
In French, we are building on our vocabulary, practising colours, numbers, and simple greetings, and the children are enjoying using their new phrases with confidence.
It has been a wonderful term of learning so far, and Year 3 continue to impress us with their enthusiasm, creativity, and teamwork!
26.9.25 - Newsletter
Year 3 have had a fantastic start to the year and have settled brilliantly into their new routines. The children have shown great enthusiasm for their learning and are already demonstrating increasing independence and responsibility in the classroom. In English, we have started our grammar and punctuation unit, focusing on identifying clauses and sentences with subjects and verbs. In Maths, we are exploring place value, deepening our understanding of numbers and practising important skills that will help us with calculations throughout the year.
Our Science lessons have been particularly engaging as we develop our scientific enquiry skills while learning all about the human skeleton. The children have enjoyed investigating how bones help us move and protect our bodies, and they are asking thoughtful questions to guide their discoveries.
In RE, we investigated our class saint, St Abigail, learning about her life and the symbolism of bees. Inspired by her story, the class created a beautiful bee-themed display. Beyond the classroom, Year 3 have been enjoying lively singing sessions with Mr Cannon and have been excited to begin learning French, practising greetings and new vocabulary with lots of enthusiasm.
It has been a wonderful start to the year, and we are so proud of the way Year 3 are embracing every new challenge with curiosity and excitement!