Long-term overview - Skeletons and Muscles - Year 3

The Year 3 science curriculum delves into the fascinating world of the human body, focusing on skeletons and muscles. Pupils are expected to explore and understand the necessity of a balanced diet and the role of nutrition in the human body. They learn that unlike plants, animals—including humans—cannot produce their own food and must obtain nutrients from their diet. The curriculum also highlights the significance of the skeletal and muscular systems, explaining their functions in providing support, protection, and enabling movement. Students will become familiar with the names of common joints and the various parts associated with the human skeleton.

Through a combination of substantive knowledge and practical scientific inquiry, pupils will investigate why humans have skeletons and muscles, and how these systems operate. They will conduct experiments, such as using balloons to model how muscles work, and carry out research into the names of joints and skeletal parts. Additionally, they will learn about the transportation of nutrients, water, and oxygen within the body. Investigative activities will also include examining the effects of exercise on the body. This unit on biology and the human body not only builds upon knowledge from previous years but also sets the stage for future learning about the digestive system in Year 4.