In this unit, Year 3 will be learning about the significance of the Eucharist and the Mass, focusing on key stories and teachings of Jesus. They will retell the story of the feeding of the five thousand and explore the connection between Jesus' words and actions at the Last Supper and the miracle of the loaves. Pupils will understand how Jesus showed love at the Last Supper and how this love is shared in the celebration of the Eucharist, especially during First Communion. They will recognise that the Eucharist is a special moment in which God offers himself to communicants, bringing them closer as one body in the Church. By studying the symbols and actions of the Mass, particularly in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, they will gain insight into the beliefs behind these practices.

Through critical thinking, Year 3 will wonder about the offertory prayer and its connection to Creation, and they will explore different cultural traditions associated with Holy Week. They will also reflect on how participating in Lent—through prayer, fasting, and helping others—builds community.

Our focus in Catholic Social Teaching will be on the principle of Participation. Children will consider how the practices of Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—demonstrate care and responsibility for others, strengthening their connection to the community in the spirit of this season.

Our Catholic Social Teaching principle this term is participation, focusing on how we can give our time and resources to support others during Lent. As part of this, children volunteered for a community litter pick with Timegivers. They were shocked by the amount of litter but eagerly worked together to clean up the area. To encourage others to care for their surroundings, they also created posters reminding people to dispose of rubbish responsibly.

In preparation for Easter and their Stations of the Cross performance, children have been learning about the 14 stations. To deepen their understanding, they worked in pairs to research and sequence each station. In the coming weeks, they will explore what the Stations of the Cross mean for us as Catholics today and create their own modern-day Stations of the Cross, reflecting on their relevance in the world around us.

This week, the children recalled the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. First, we revisited the miracle. Next, children were challenged to think about how this miracle might look today. They came up with ideas such as giving to charity, not having enough resources to go to school, and helping those in need in our community. After brainstorming, the children retold the feeding of the 5,000 with a modern twist, making Jesus' words and actions relevant to them today. The main message the children took from the story was that even if we cannot solve a problem by ourselves, we can give a little, which can, in turn, go a long way - like a ripple. 

Today, on Ash Wednesday, we gathered as a school community to mark the beginning of Lent. 

During Mass, we listened to the Gospel reading from Matthew 6:1-18, where Jesus teaches us about the importance of doing good deeds in secret:

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them… But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Back in class, we reflected on the three key practices of Lent: fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. The children thought carefully about how they could live these out over the coming weeks. Each child then wrote a letter to Jesus, sharing their Lenten promises and personal commitments. These letters were then posted as a symbol of offering their intentions to Him. Our Lenten Prayer box will remain in our classroom for the duration of Lent, so that children can offer prayers and messages to Jesus at any time.

The children have been learning about the Stations of the Cross and reflecting on them more deeply. They considered all 14 stations and what they mean for us as Christians today. Drawing on their knowledge of transparent and opaque materials in science, they planned stained glass windows depicting modern interpretations of the Stations of the Cross.

For example, the station where Jesus falls for the third time and gets up again represents perseverance in the face of challenges. The children carefully designed and created their new Stations of the Cross, ensuring that light shone through certain areas while others remained blocked - each decision was made with purpose and meaning.

Year 3 have been exploring the connection between the Mass and the Last Supper. The children worked in small groups to match key elements we experience during the Mass with those from the Last Supper. They gained a greater understanding of how the words Jesus said at the Last Supper, "Do this in memory of me," are lived out every time we gather for the Eucharist.  We reflected on how the acts of sharing bread and wine at Mass are a direct connection to what Jesus did with His disciples. By linking these two moments, the children now have a deeper appreciation of how the Mass continues to bring us closer to Jesus, as we remember His sacrifice.

For St. Patrick’s Day, the children completed messages and decorations, which were donated to the Companions of the Order of Malta (CoM). The CoM volunteers run vital projects in London, supporting the elderly and those who are homeless.

This was part of our Lenten promise of almsgiving, reflecting our call to give to those in need during this special time of the year. We also linked this activity to the Catholic social teaching principle of Participation, where we recognise the importance of everyone contributing to the well-being of the community. The children recognised that through small acts of generosity, they can make a big difference in the lives of others.

Children have been thinking more deeply about the Stations of the Cross and making connections with other areas of their learning. They explored links between Jesus’ journey to the cross and Ancient Egyptian beliefs about death, reflecting on how different cultures understand life after death.

As part of this, they created projects at home, comparing Jesus' teachings on death and resurrection with Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife. They expressed their learning in a variety of ways, including artwork, written comparisons, PowerPoints and creative models. Above are some examples of their fantastic work.

Children have been deepening their understanding of the Eucharist, exploring its significance beyond being a symbol - it is truly Jesus. They reflected on what happens during the consecration and linked their learning to the Last Supper, considering how we should respond after receiving the Eucharist.

We also discussed how Catholics around the world receive the Eucharist, recognising that it unites us all as one family of God, no matter where we are. This helped the children appreciate the global nature of our faith and the shared experience of the Eucharist across different cultures.