Year 3
Unit 1: Creating Media: Desktop Publishing
During the Autumn term, the children became familiar with the terms ‘text’ and ‘images’ and emojis and understood that they can be used to communicate messages offline and online. They used desktop publishing software and considered careful choices of font size, colour and type to edit and improve premade documents. The children were introduced to the terms ‘templates’, ‘orientation’, and ‘placeholders’ and began to understand how these can support them in making their own template for a magazine front cover. They has to add text and images to create their own pieces of work using desktop publishing software. The children looked at a range of page layouts thinking carefully about the purpose of these and evaluating how and why desktop publishing is used in the real world.
Unit 2: Computing Systems and Networks
During this unit, the children developed their understanding of digital devices, there was an initial focus on inputs, processes, and outputs. They compared digital and non-digital devices. The children were introduced to computer networks, including devices that make up a network’s infrastructure, such as wireless access points and switches. They discovered the benefits of connecting devices in a network
Unit 3: Programming - Sequencing Sound
During this unit, the children explored the concept of sequencing in programming through Scratch. It began with an introduction to the programming environment. They were introduced to a selection of motion, sound, and event blocks which they used to create their own programs, featuring sequences. The final project was to make a representation of a piano.
Unit 4: Data and information: Branching Databases
The children developed their understanding of what a branching database is and how to create one. They used yes/no questions to gain an understanding of what attributes are and how to use them to sort groups of objects. The children created physical and on-screen branching databases and they created an identification tool using a branching database, which they tested by using it. They also discussed and considered real-world applications for branching databases.
