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Programme of Study: Lower Key Stage 2, Year 3
Skills available for England Lower Key Stage 2, Year 3 science objectives
Dimension
  • Working scientifically
  • Plants
  • Animals, including humans
  • Rocks
  • Light
  • Forces and magnets
Print skill plan
Working scientifically
Asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them
  • 1.
    Solve problems using magnets
Asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them
  • 1.
    Solve problems using magnets
Setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests
  • 1.
    Investigate sunlight and shade
  • 2.
    Design a sunshade
Setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests
  • 1.
    Investigate sunlight and shade
  • 2.
    Design a sunshade
Making systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, taking accurate measurements using standard units, using a range of equipment, including thermometers and data loggers
Temperature
  • 1.
    Read a thermometer
  • 2.
    Compare temperatures on thermometers
Measurement and units
  • 3.
    Choose units of time
  • 4.
    Choose units of distance
  • 5.
    Abbreviate time and length units
  • 6.
    Abbreviate mass and volume units
Making systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, taking accurate measurements using standard units, using a range of equipment, including thermometers and data loggers
Temperature
  • 1.
    Read a thermometer
  • 2.
    Compare temperatures on thermometers
Measurement and units
  • 3.
    Choose units of time
  • 4.
    Choose units of distance
  • 5.
    Abbreviate time and length units
  • 6.
    Abbreviate mass and volume units
Gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions
  • 1.
    Investigate sunlight and shade
Gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions
  • 1.
    Investigate sunlight and shade
Recording findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables
Recording findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables
Reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions
  • 1.
    Investigate sunlight and shade
Reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions
  • 1.
    Investigate sunlight and shade
Using results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions
  • 1.
    Solve problems using magnets
  • 2.
    Design a sunshade
Using results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions
  • 1.
    Solve problems using magnets
  • 2.
    Design a sunshade
Identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes
Identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes
Using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings
  • 1.
    Find evidence of changes to Earth's surface
Using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings
  • 1.
    Find evidence of changes to Earth's surface
Plants
Identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering plants: roots, stem/trunk, leaves and flowers
  • 1.
    Classify fruits and vegetables as plant parts
  • 2.
    Identify plant parts and their functions
Identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering plants: roots, stem/trunk, leaves and flowers
  • 1.
    Classify fruits and vegetables as plant parts
  • 2.
    Identify plant parts and their functions
Explore the requirements of plants for life and growth (air, light, water, nutrients from soil and room to grow) and how they vary from plant to plant
  • 1.
    What do plants need to survive?
Explore the requirements of plants for life and growth (air, light, water, nutrients from soil and room to grow) and how they vary from plant to plant
  • 1.
    What do plants need to survive?
Investigate the way in which water is transported within plants
Investigate the way in which water is transported within plants
Explore the part that flowers play in the life cycle of flowering plants, including pollination, seed formation and seed dispersal
  • 1.
    Read and construct flowering plant life cycle diagrams
  • 2.
    How do flowering plants make new plants?
  • 3.
    Seed disperser: Eurasian red squirrel
  • 4.
    Seed disperser: African elephant
  • 5.
    Seed disperser: common ostrich
Explore the part that flowers play in the life cycle of flowering plants, including pollination, seed formation and seed dispersal
  • 1.
    Read and construct flowering plant life cycle diagrams
  • 2.
    How do flowering plants make new plants?
  • 3.
    Seed disperser: Eurasian red squirrel
  • 4.
    Seed disperser: African elephant
  • 5.
    Seed disperser: common ostrich
Animals, including humans
Identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat
Identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat
Identify that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection and movement
  • 1.
    Identify animals with and without backbones
  • 2.
    Body parts and their functions
Identify that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection and movement
  • 1.
    Identify animals with and without backbones
  • 2.
    Body parts and their functions
Rocks
Compare and group together different kinds of rocks on the basis of their appearance and simple physical properties
  • 1.
    Classify rocks and minerals by colour and shape
  • 2.
    Classify rocks as igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic
  • 3.
    Identify rocks using properties
Compare and group together different kinds of rocks on the basis of their appearance and simple physical properties
  • 1.
    Classify rocks and minerals by colour and shape
  • 2.
    Classify rocks as igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic
  • 3.
    Identify rocks using properties
Describe in simple terms how fossils are formed when things that have lived are trapped within rock
  • 1.
    Introduction to fossils
Describe in simple terms how fossils are formed when things that have lived are trapped within rock
  • 1.
    Introduction to fossils
Recognise that soils are made from rocks and organic matter
  • 1.
    Types of soils
Recognise that soils are made from rocks and organic matter
  • 1.
    Types of soils
Light
Recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light
  • 1.
    More light or less light
Recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light
  • 1.
    More light or less light
Notice that light is reflected from surfaces
Notice that light is reflected from surfaces
Recognise that light from the sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes
Recognise that light from the sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes
Recognise that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object
  • 1.
    Investigate shadows
Recognise that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object
  • 1.
    Investigate shadows
Find patterns in the way that the size of shadows change
  • 1.
    Investigate shadows
Find patterns in the way that the size of shadows change
  • 1.
    Investigate shadows
Forces and magnets
Compare how things move on different surfaces
Compare how things move on different surfaces
Notice that some forces need contact between two objects, but magnetic forces can act at a distance
  • 1.
    What objects can a magnet pull?
Notice that some forces need contact between two objects, but magnetic forces can act at a distance
  • 1.
    What objects can a magnet pull?
Observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others
  • 1.
    What objects can a magnet pull?
  • 2.
    How do magnets attract and repel each other?
  • 3.
    Identify magnets that attract or repel
Observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others
  • 1.
    What objects can a magnet pull?
  • 2.
    How do magnets attract and repel each other?
  • 3.
    Identify magnets that attract or repel
Compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of whether they are attracted to a magnet, and identify some magnetic materials
  • 1.
    What objects can a magnet pull?
  • 2.
    Solve problems using magnets
Compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of whether they are attracted to a magnet, and identify some magnetic materials
  • 1.
    What objects can a magnet pull?
  • 2.
    Solve problems using magnets
Describe magnets as having two poles
  • 1.
    How do magnets attract and repel each other?
  • 2.
    Label magnets that attract or repel
Describe magnets as having two poles
  • 1.
    How do magnets attract and repel each other?
  • 2.
    Label magnets that attract or repel
Predict whether two magnets will attract or repel each other, depending on which poles are facing
  • 1.
    How do magnets attract and repel each other?
  • 2.
    Identify magnets that attract or repel
Predict whether two magnets will attract or repel each other, depending on which poles are facing
  • 1.
    How do magnets attract and repel each other?
  • 2.
    Identify magnets that attract or repel
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