Year 3 Curriculum Guide

All learning at our school is based around the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme (PYP), an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework.

Throughout the year, students will be guided through six Units of Inquiry of global significance, providing opportunities to broaden their learning by developing their conceptual understandings, strengthening their knowledge and skills across, between and beyond subject areas.

The following six Units of Inquiry will be explored throughout the year. Each unit is developed around a concept, a Central Idea and Lines of Inquiry.

Central Idea: Knowledge of ourselves and the impact of our interactions helps us to flourish

An inquiry into:

• Myself: My health and wellbeing
• Interactions: My relationships with others and my sense of belonging
• Growth: The impact on my learning and development

Unit timing: all year

Central Idea: Our experiences influence our sense of humour 我們的經歷會影響我們的幽默感

An inquiry into:

• Different types of humour 不同種類的幽默
  
• Why people use humour 為什麼人們要幽默
  
• Personal interpretations of humour 幽默的個人詮釋
  

Unit timing: Term Three

Central Idea: Explorations lead to new discoveries, opportunities & understandings 探索帶來新的發現、機會和理解

An inquiry into:

• Case study - reasons for exploration 案例學習-探索的原因
• Types of exploration 探索的類型
• The impact of exploration 探索的影響

Unit timing: Term One

Central Idea: The Earth’s position in the solar system enables it to support life 地球在太陽系中的位置使其能支持生命

An inquiry into:

• Case study - how scientists know about space 案例學習-科學家如何了解太空
  
• Earth's position in the solar system 地球在太陽系中的位置
  
• How Earth supports life 地球如何支持生命
  

Unit timing: Term Two

Central Idea: Different parts of an ecosystem compete for resources 生態系統的不同部分爭奪資源

An inquiry into:

• The parts of an ecosystem 生態系統的組成部分
  
• How the parts of an ecosystem are related to each other 生態系統的各個部分如何相互關聯
• Case study - how living things compete for resources 案例研究 - 生物如何爭奪資源

Unit timing: Term Two

Central Idea: Systems directly relate to the needs of the community (THIS IS A NEW UNIT FOR 2024-25)

Unit timing: Term One

The development of language is fundamental to all areas of our learning programs. Language helps us communicate our thinking and understanding.

Language is socially constructed - it is dependent on social interactions and relationships. It permeates all subject areas. As such, we view all of our teachers and assistants to be language teachers.

English is our main language of instruction, with Chinese (Mandarin) taught as an additional language.

Our English curriculum is taught via five main strands: speaking and listening, reading, writing, spelling and handwriting and information literacy.

In Year 3, we consolidate our phonics and camera words program, providing the students with the essential building blocks for reading and writing. Our reading program focuses on developing decoding strategies, fluency and comprehension. These are developed through a mixture of guiding reading, shared reading, read aloud and independent reading sessions. Readers will be sent home on a regular basis so students can practise taught skills after school.

Students will explore a range of text types: to entertain, to inform and to persuade. Specific writing skills will be developed around how to entertain a reader through recounts, stories and poems.

Our Chinese curriculum is taught via three main strands: speaking and listening, reading and writing. In Year 3, our Chinese program is taught through three streams: Chinese Foundation, Chinese Language and Chinese Language and Literature. Traditional characters are used in all streams.

Chinese Foundation focuses on speaking, listening and social Chinese. Students read texts and environmental print and learn to write the most commonly occurring characters.

Chinese Language focuses on Chinese speaking, listening and the reading of longer texts. Students write their own longer pieces of writing.

Chinese Language and Literature focuses on extended reading and writing tasks, using more complex language.

Mathematics is a global language of concepts and symbols through which we make sense of the world around us.

Mathematics is taught through three main stages:

1. Constructing meaning and ideas about a mathematical concept through interactions with objects, discussions, experimentation and play;
2. Transferring these ideas and understandings into symbols;
3. Applying these ideas and understanding in real-life and hands-on problem solving activities.

Mathematics is taught through the strands of number, data, shape and space, measure and problem solving.

In Year 3 students will learn multiplication facts involving 3s, 4s and 8s. They will learn different addition and subtraction strategies such as compensating, combining, partitioning and rounding. They will explore the concept of multiplication through arrays and division through grouping. They also learn to recognise and represent halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, eighths and tenths, as well as, the difference between a numerator & a denominator.

Students will explore the concept of space by using and creating simple maps. They will measure and compare length, mass and capacity using metric units. They will create 3D objects and discover symmetry and angles in their environment. They will tell time to the minute.

Our outdoor learning is a central pillar of our school and a wide range of engaging experiences enable our students to learn about and connect with nature. Students develop specific skills in school and are provided opportunities to apply them during Forest School outings throughout the year.

In Year 3, students will explore a range of land-based and freshwater environments. They will learn how to identify a range of native reptiles. Students will also create and maintain a garden of native plants.

Our PE program from Year 3 focuses on developing fitness and an understanding of four different types of games: target, net/wall, striking/fielding and invasion. Each unit focuses on developing appreciation for the game, different tactics that can be applied, how to make decisions within a game, how to apply a range of skills and performance.

Wellbeing is another central pillar of our school. Throughout our wellbeing program, our students explore relationships, identity and aspects of health (physical, social, emotional and spiritual). Our wellbeing program also teaches our students about child protection, anti-bullying and mindfulness strategies.

In Year 3, students will learn about identity, character strengths and ways to overcome challenges. They will explore protective behaviours to stay safe near water, roads and in the community. They will learn strategies to use when they feel unsafe, uncomfortable or need help - including assertive behaviours. Students will learn about their physical development and the importance of healthy food choices, sleep and physical activity, as well as, mindfulness practices.

Our Arts program is taught through four main strands: music, visual arts, drama and dance. Music and visual arts are taught by specialist teachers.

In Music, Year 3 students will learn how to play the bamboo flute. They will explore formal notation and time signatures.

In Visual Art, Year 3 students will experiment with different materials and techniques to discover new ways of using them. They will be provided opportunities to recognise different forms of art from different artists, styles and cultures. They will continue to develop their ability to draw different shapes and lines.

In Drama, Year 3 students will explore how to use voice and body movements in a range of roles and situations.

In Dance, Year 3 students will explore how to use direction, time, dynamics and relationships to communicate ideas.

Science and Social Studies are primarily taught through the Units of Inquiry (see above).

In Year 3, students will explore the elements of the Universe. Students will learn about the basics of geography, such as, countries, continents and oceans. They will investigate different explorers and the impact they have had on the world. They will also learn about basic elements of finance.

Our technology program in taught through two strands: ICT and Design.

In Year 3, students will explore visual programming languages. They will learn about the need for cyber safety when online and the need to make ethical decisions when using the work of others. They will investigate different materials, components, tools and equipment to discover their characteristics and properties.

• Comprehend information presented by teachers.
• Follow two-step instructions.
• Communicate effectively with classmates and teachers.
• Ask questions when needed.

• Listen to stories daily.
• Decode text at a PM level 20 or higher, with a teacher.
• Independently read and comprehend texts with a reading age of 6.5 or higher.
• Read silently for more extended periods of time.
• Read a variety of text independently, including picture books, graphic novels, information texts and simple chapter books.

• Write simple, compound, and complex sentences, extending sentences with connecting words.
• Add more detail to descriptions of character and setting when writing narratives, using descriptive language.
• Add more subject-specific vocabulary to information writing.
• Develop a more fluent handwriting style, starting to join letters.
• Use full stops and capital letters mostly accurately.
• Start to use a wider variety of punctuation including apostrophes and speech marks.
• Spell most common words correctly and use knowledge of phonics to attempt to spell more complex words

• Recognise, write and compare numbers up to 10,000.
• Count on or back from a given number between 0 -10,000.
• Use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 times tables and understand that multiplication is repeated addition.
• Apply knowledge and understanding of place value when carrying out calculations.
• Use an increasing number of formal written methods to record calculations, working with numbers up to three digits.
• Recognise, find and write fractions of shapes or quantities.
• Find information from basic tables, charts and graphs.

• Connect 3-D objects with their nets and other 2-D representations.
• Describe position and direction.
• Start to identify angles as a measure of turn.
• Recognise line symmetry and rotational symmetry.
• Identify and describe relationships between units of measure.
• Measure the perimeter of simple 2D shapes.

• Use problem-solving skills, such as visualising and trial and improvement, when solving simple problems relating to real-life situations.

To see the Subject Guidance for all subjects from Nursery to Year 6 please click on this link

A happy, healthy learning community empowering all members to flourish

Email: info@ichkhly.edu.hk
Website: www.ichkhly.edu.hk
Location: 3 Hong Lok Yuen 20th Street, Hong Lok Yuen, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3955 3000
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