Mitchell Brook
Primary School
Black History
‘The colours of
Innovation’
A History-based topic
Benjamin Banneker
Black History - Year 3
Autumn 1 2016/2017
Overview of theme:
This half term, the whole school will be focusing on Black History ‘The Colours of
Innovation’. Each class will then have a focus text for their learning, Year 3 is learning about
Benjamin Banneker.
Children’s learning:
The children will investigate the extraordinary life of Benjamin
Banneker. We will discuss his many achievements and focus on
their significance at a time in history when slavery was accepted
and common.The children will discover that he was a curious and
determined man that, despite his hardship and disadvantage,
made significant contributions to American life and history. At the
same time, we will investigate the life President Barak Obama
and his historical significance.
By the term’s end, the children will be able to explain that
Benjamin Baneeker was most famous for hand-crafting a clock
entirely from wood (a great feat of engineering at the time), selfstudying astronomy, surveying the site of land that was to
become Washington D.C. and producing an almanac that advised
many farmers of farming practice and weather patterns. They
will also discuss and debate the importance of these
achievements.
Core Quality texts:
Benjamin Banneker: Pioneering Scientist by Ginger Wadsworth
Dear Benjamin Banneker by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Benjamin Banneker by Isabel Martin
Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barak Obama
Key vocabulary:
Benjamin Banneker, telescope, freedom, slavery, Thomas
Jefferson. Benjamin Banneker, Washington D.C., surveyor,
astronomy, clock, almanac, inventors, scientist, solar eclipse,
capital city, predict.
Black History - Year 3
Autumn 1 2016/2017
Home Learning
linked to
curriculum
theme:
There is a wealth of information available on the internet about Black
History Month. Similarly, local libraries should be well-stocked with a
variety of child-friendly non-fiction texts. We encourage children to
research inspirational/ significant historical figures and role models.
They can present this as a poster or booklet. Alternatively, they could
design a fact file, story board or sculpture. Creativity is welcomed and
encouraged!
Information for
parents:
Please continue to listen to your child read every day and discuss their
book. Reading books will be sent home and we ask that you sign the
reading record each day making not of the book and pages read. Please
feedback to the class teacher if the books are too easy difficult. We also
advise that you read to your child regularly so they may have the
processes modelled.
Home practice is to be completed each week as it provides and
opportunity for children to practice and consolidate their learning. We
ask that you assist your child’s spelling words and times table learning.
Home practice is now handed out on a Friday and returned on
Wednesday.
Certificates will now be awarded on Friday afternoons at year group
assemblies.
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Black History - Year 3
Important dates to remember:
Tuesday, 4th October 2016 - Year Group Information Evening
COL
Achievement Assembly
Autumn 1 2016/2017
Literacy:
This half term we will focus on two main areas of literacy:
 Biographies and autobiographies
 Letter writing (formal and informal)
We are extending the time we allocate to each genre of writing so that we
allow the children the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the
features and purpose of each text type. Similarly, it will allow them
additional time to engage in the complete writing process; drafting, editing
and publishing.
The above mentioned texts will form the foundations of our literacy learning
this half term. These quality and detailed texts will allow the children to
identify and understand the features/purpose of each writing genres. By
extension, this will allow the children to apply their understanding to their
Educational own writing.
This half term, the children will be investigating forces and magnets as
Experiences:
part of their science learning. As such, we will be arranging a trip to
London’s Science Museum where the children can access relevant
hands-on galleries. We will also visit the ‘clockmakers’ gallery to
compliment our learning in topic and literacy.
This half term, the children will be investigating forces and magnets as part
of their science learning. As such, we will be arranging a trip to London’s
Science Museum where the children can access relevant hands-on galleries.
We will also visit the ‘clockmakers’ gallery to compliment our learning in
Maths:
topic and literacy.
Number and Place Value and Measurement
This term children will be covering the following objectives in Numeracy:
 Knowing which each digit means in Hundred Tens and Unit numbers
such as 438
 Finding 10 or 100 more or less than a given number
 Comparing and ordering numbers up to 1000
 Reading and writing numbers up to 1000 in digits and in words
 Counting in 4’s, 8’s, 50s and 100s
 Identifying and estimating numbers in different units such as length
(mm and m) and weight (g and kg)
 Solving number problems working with numbers up to 1000 and in
different units of measurement
Please continue to help the children to learn their 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 5’s,
8’s and 10’s times tables this term.
Science:
Forces and magnets. Children will compare how things move on different
surfaces. They will notice that some forces need contact between two
objects, but that magnetic forces can act at a distance.
They will observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some
Black History - Year 3
Autumn 1 2016/2017
materials and not others. Children will 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.
They will describe magnets as having two poles and predict whether two
magnets will attract or repel each other, depending on which poles are
facing.
Design and
Technology
Children will improve upon an existing clock design; they will use their
imagination and creativity to design and create their own new and improved
clock. Children will use research to improve upon and develop an existing
design. Children will produce a detailed drawing of various clocks: both the
inside and outside. Children will then research and explore the inner
workings of a clock: the mechanical systems and how they work.
They will explore the functions of their new clock and the materials needed
to build their clock. They will focus on selecting from a wider range of
materials according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities and
they will discuss why they have chosen a particular material and why it is fit
for purpose.
History
They will be learning and applying historical skills by exploring the life of
Benjamin Banneker. Children will be researching using Ipads and laptops
and plotting events on a timeline as well as exploring Benjamin Banneker’s
thoughts and feelings; in the form of a diary entry. Children will describe
different accounts of a historical event; the day that Benjamin Banneker
first unveiled his clock, and explain some of the reasons that the accounts
may differ. They will use more than one source of evidence for historical
enquiry to gain a more accurate understanding of history.
Music
Singing assembly is taught once a week for all children, where they get to
develop their musical skills and train their vocal cords.
P.D.
This term children will be delving further into our school values. Children
will look at inspirations, goals, role models and successes. They will look to
the future and celebrate achievements. They will explore a growth mindset
and learn to focus on the positive. Children will explore equality and what
this means.
References,
Resources
and
Web-links:
There is wealth of fantastic and easily accessed information about Benjamin
Banneker, the Obamas and Black History Month online. We have included a
variety of websites below.
 TIME (Black History Month)
http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/black-history-month
There
is wealth
of fantastic
andhttp://mrnussbaum.com/africaneasily accessed information about
 Mr Nussbaum
(Benjamin
Banneker)
Benjamin
Banneker,
the
Obamas
and Black History Month online.
americans/benjamin_banneker/
We have included a variety of websites below.
 Ducksters (Benjamin Banneker)
 TIME (Black History Month)
http://www.ducksters.com/biography/scientists/benjaminbanneker.p
http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/black-history-month
hp
 Mr Nussbaum (Benjamin Banneker)
 Ducksters (Barak Obama)
http://mrnussbaum.com/africanhttp://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/barackobama.ph
Black History - Year 3
Autumn 1 2016/2017
p
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americans/benjamin_banneker/
Ducksters (Benjamin Banneker)
http://www.ducksters.com/biography/scientists/benjamin
banneker.php
Ducksters (Barak Obama)
http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/barac
kobama.php
Sequence and structure to curriculum theme
Phase 1
Children will investigate why Benjamin Banneker is a key figure in history.
They will research using a range of sources of information and record their
findings.
Phase 2
Children will create a chronological timeline based on the life and works of
Benjamin Banneker.
Phase 3
Children will plan and write a diary entry based on a day in the life of
Benjamin Banneker. They will review the features of a diary entry, using
complex sentences and asking questions.
Phase 4/5
Children will plan and write a newspaper article: based upon the day that
Benjamin Banneker first unveiled his clock. Chn will interview a number of
different witnesses to the event; those who saw the clock work for the first
time. Children will explore various sources of evidence and will discuss
some of the reasons why the accounts may differ. Chn will take turns at
interviewing eye-witnesses to the key event: brainstorm key questions as a
class. They will explore the features of a newspaper report. They will peer
assess/ review/ edit and publish their final newspaper reports.
Phase 6
Chn will have explored the work of Benjamin Banneker and will be aware
that he created an almanac. Chn will research the type of information
found in an almanac; and will review the changes which have taken place
in history; how information was recorded in the past and make
comparisons with how we research and where we find our sources of
information today . Children will select a topic of interest in the almanac
and create their own page in ‘The Year 3 Mitchellbrook Almanac’.
Phase 7
Children will be aware of the letter written by Benjamin Banneker to
Thomas Jefferson encouraging him to free the slaves he had working on
his plantation. Chn will explore the persuasive phrases used by Banneker to
persuade Jefferson in his letter. Chn will briefly explore the changes that
have happened: slavery has been abolished. Discuss the importance of
Banneker’s letter; highlight Banneker as a person who fought for freedom
and equality for all. Children will select an issue which they feel strongly
about and will write their own persuasive letter. Chn will focus on
persuasive writing openers, persuasive/ emotive language, extending their
writing and making their point and writing a concluding statement.
Black History - Year 3
Autumn 1 2016/2017
Black History - Year 3
Autumn 1 2016/2017